Learn Hardcore Swahili: Friza ikiwa imejaa, tutahifadhi matunda kwenye friji la jirani. - If the freezer is full, we will store the fruits in the neighbor’s fridge.

ikiwa = if/when it is (from kuwa, “to be”). Here it introduces a real conditional: “if it is full.”
kama also means “if” and is very common and neutral: Kama friza imejaa, …
-ki- in a verb like ikijaa often implies “when/whenever/once … then …,” a natural-time link: Friza ikijaa, tutahifadhi… = “When/once the freezer fills (then) we’ll store…”
For a one-time check at the moment, ikiwa/kama is more explicit; -ki- often feels like a trigger-then-result sequence.

Why is it imejaa and not limejaa?

Agreement follows the noun class of the subject. Many speakers treat friza as noun class 9, whose subject marker is i-, hence imejaa.
If the subject were a class 5 noun (e.g., many treat friji as class 5), you’d say friji limejaa (class 5 subject marker li-).
So: Friza imejaa (class 9) vs. Friji limejaa (class 5).

What’s the difference between friza and friji?

friza = freezer. Often class 9/10 in agreement.
friji = fridge/refrigerator. Commonly treated as class 5/6 (singular friji, plural mafriji), though some speakers use 9/10.
Meaning difference: freezer vs. refrigerator. Class behavior can vary by speaker/region; be consistent within your own usage.

Why is it kwenye friji? Can I use katika or ndani ya?

kwenye = “in/at/on,” very common and natural here: kwenye friji = “in the fridge.”
katika is more formal/literary; also fine: katika friji.
ndani ya = “inside (of),” emphasizes interior: ndani ya friji.

Why la jirani and not ya jirani?

The possessive linker agrees with the thing possessed, not the possessor. Many speakers treat friji as class 5 singular, whose possessive is la: friji la jirani (“neighbor’s fridge”).
If plural class 6: mafriji ya jirani.
Some speakers treat friji as class 9, yielding friji ya jirani in colloquial speech. Pick one system and be consistent; in many teaching contexts, class 5/6 for friji is preferred.

What does tutahifadhi literally mean, and could I say tutaweka instead?

Morphology: tu- (we) + -ta- (future) + hifadhi (keep/preserve/store) → “we will store/keep (safely).”
tutaweka = “we will put/place.” It’s fine but less specific about preservation.
With perishable items like matunda, hifadhi highlights “store/preserve (to keep fresh).”

Do I need an object marker, like Tutayahifadhi matunda …?

It’s optional when the object is stated. Tutahifadhi matunda… is perfectly normal.
Adding the object marker can mark definiteness/emphasis or continuity: Tutayahifadhi matunda… (“We’ll store them, the fruits…”).
For class 6 matunda, the object marker is -ya-: tutayahifadhi.

Can I move the conditional clause to the end, and do I need the comma?

Yes: Tutahifadhi matunda kwenye friji la jirani ikiwa friza imejaa.
Commas simply mirror speech pause; they’re optional but common when the condition comes first.

Could I say Friza ikijaa, … instead of Friza ikiwa imejaa, …?

Yes. Friza ikijaa, … = “When/if the freezer fills (then) …” Slightly more event-like/sequence-feeling.
Friza ikiwa imejaa, … leans toward a state-based condition (“if it is full (at that time)”).

Is matunda always plural? How do I say “a piece of fruit”?

tunda (class 5) = “a piece of fruit.” Plural matunda (class 6) = “fruits/fruit.”
matunda often functions as a mass noun (“fruit” in general). For one piece, use tunda.

Does la agree with the possessor (jirani) or with the possessed noun (friji)?

With the possessed noun. Hence friji la jirani, friji lake (“his/her fridge”), friji letu (“our fridge”)—all use la- because friji is treated as class 5 singular in this pattern.

What’s the difference between imejaa and imejazwa?

imejaa (from jaa, intransitive) = “is full/has become full” (state).
imejazwa (passive of jaz(a)) = “has been filled (by someone/something)” (focus on the filling action/agent).
Here the state is what matters, so imejaa fits best.

Could I just say kwa jirani instead of kwenye friji la jirani?

kwa jirani = “at the neighbor’s (place).” It’s fine if the context already makes “fridge” obvious.
To be explicit: Tutahifadhi matunda kwa jirani, kwenye friji lake. (“… at the neighbor’s, in their fridge.”)

Any quick pronunciation tips for kwenye, jirani, friza, friji?

r is a tap/flap [r], not an English “r.”
j is like English “j” in “judge.”
Syllables are open and evenly timed: kwe-nye, ji-ra-ni, fri-za, fri-ji.