Learn Hardcore Swahili: Usije ukachelewa darasani; kengele italia dakika tano zijazo. - Do not end up being late to class; the bell will ring in five minutes.

Swahili uses the pattern usije uka- + verb to warn against an undesired result: “lest you (end up) … / make sure you don’t …”. The first verb usije (negative subjunctive of kuja, “to come”) sets up the caution, and the second verb ukachelewa states the unwanted outcome. It’s a natural, idiomatic way to caution someone.

What does the -ka- in ukachelewa do?

-ka- is a sequential/consecutive marker: “and then/so.” After usije, it links to a possible (bad) consequence: “and then you’re late.” It doesn’t mark tense by itself; context supplies the time.

Could I say Usichelewe or Usije kuchelewa instead? What’s the difference?

Usichelewe: plain negative imperative, “Don’t be late.” Direct and straightforward.
Usije kuchelewa: acceptable but less idiomatic; it lacks the explicit “and (then)” sense that uka- adds.
Usije ukachelewa: emphasizes “lest you end up late,” sounding like a stronger, preventative warning.

All are grammatical; choose based on tone and nuance.

How is usije formed?

It’s the 2nd-person singular negative subjunctive of kuja:

u- (you) + si- (negative) + subjunctive stem of kuja → -je. Together: u-si-je → usije. For plural: msije (m- + si- + -je).

What does darasani mean with -ni? Why not just darasa?

The suffix -ni marks a locative (“in/at/on”). darasa (“class/classroom”) → darasani (“in class/in the classroom”). Many nouns take -ni for location/time, e.g., nyumbani (“at home”).

Why is it kengele italia and not something like ata lia?

Kengele (“bell”) is a class 9 noun, so its subject agreement is i-, not a- (which is for class 1, people). The future of kulia (“to ring/cry”) is i-ta-lia → italia: “the bell will ring.”

Does italia mean “Italy” here?

No. Lowercase italia is i-ta-lia (“it will ring”). The country is capitalized Italia. Context and capitalization keep them distinct.

Can I use piga instead of lia for bells?

Yes, but mind the syntax:

If someone rings the bell: wata(p)iga kengele (“they will ring the bell”).
If the bell is the subject, use intransitive lia: kengele italia (“the bell will ring”), or passive with piga: kengele itapigwa (“the bell will be rung”). Avoid kengele itapiga (it sounds like “the bell will hit”).

What does dakika tano zijazo do, and how does agreement work?

dakika (“minutes”) is class 10 plural here; tano = “five”; zijazo is a plural relative adjective from kuja (“to come”) meaning “that are coming.” It agrees with class 10 via zi-. Literally “the five minutes that are coming” → “the next five minutes.”

Why zijazo and not ijayo?

Because dakika is plural in this phrase. Class 10 takes zi- → zijazo (plural “coming”). The singular would use class-9 i-: dakika ijayo (“the next minute”), wiki ijayo (“next week”).

Could I say dakika tano zitakazokuja instead?

Yes. zitakazokuja (“that will come”) is the full relative future. zijazo is a concise, idiomatic equivalent for time periods. Both are correct.

Is the semicolon necessary?

No. It simply links two closely related clauses. You can use a period: … darasani. Kengele italia … A comma is less formal in writing but common in speech-like text. The grammar is unaffected.

How do I address several students (plural “you”)?

Switch to 2nd-person plural markers:

Msije mkachelewa darasani; kengele italia dakika tano zijazo. Here msije (2pl) and mkachelewa (m- + -ka- + verb) replace the singular forms.

What tense/aspect is ukachelewa? Is it future?

The -ka- form is aspectually “sequential,” not a tense. After usije, it refers to a potential future result. In narratives, -ka- often sequences past events (“and then …”).

Can I move darasani elsewhere?

Yes, word order is flexible for adverbials:

Neutral: Usije ukachelewa darasani …
Fronted (emphasis on place): Darasani usije ukachelewa … Keep the two-verb unit usije ukachelewa together.

How would I negate the second clause (“the bell won’t ring …”)?

Use class-9 negative future: kengele haitalia dakika tano zijazo (ha- + i- + -ta- + lia).

Is chelewa transitive? Do I need kuwa?

kuchelewa is intransitive (“to be/arrive late”). No kuwa is needed: nimechelewa (“I’m late/I’ve arrived late”). In the sentence it’s the bare stem after uka-: ukachelewa.

Any pronunciation tips for Usije ukachelewa?

Link vowels smoothly: u-si-je u-ka-che-le-wa (no glottal stop between e u).
Penultimate stress: u-si-JE u-ka-che-LE-wa.

Are there other common “lest/don’t end up …” patterns?

Yes:

2sg: Usije uka-…
2pl: Msije mka-…
Other persons: asije akasahau (“lest he forget”), tusije tukapoteza muda (“let’s not end up wasting time”).