Learn Hardcore Swahili: Nenosiri batili lilikataliwa; tafadhali liandike tena. - The invalid password was rejected; please write it again.

For an on-screen message, many writers prefer the present perfect (limekataliwa), or they avoid the verb entirely and say “Nenosiri si sahihi” (“The password is incorrect”). All are grammatical.

What exactly does batili mean, and how is it different from si sahihi or si halali?

batili = “invalid/void,” often legal/technical (Arabic origin). Suggests something is not acceptable/recognized.
si sahihi = “not correct/incorrect.” Very common in UI messages (more neutral).
si halali = “not lawful/legitimate” (legal/religious nuance), not the usual choice for passwords.

So “Nenosiri si sahihi” is often the most user-friendly; “batili” sounds a bit more formal/technical.

Is nenosiri always one word? Can I also say neno la siri or nywila?

nenosiri (one word) is common and widely understood.
neno la siri (“secret word”) is acceptable but longer/less common in tech contexts.
nywila is an approved Kiswahili coinage (especially in Tanzania) and is also widely used.

All three can mean “password.” Pick the one that matches your audience and style guide.

What noun class is nenosiri, and how does that affect agreement?

nenosiri is class 5 (singular). Its agreements:

Subject prefix (on verbs): li-
Object marker: li-
Perfect: li-me- (“lime-”) Examples:
Nenosiri limefichwa. (“The password has been hidden.”)
Liandike tena. (“Write it again.”) If you used nywila (class 9), the agreement changes to i- (subject/object) and ime- (perfect): Nywila imekataliwa; tafadhali iandike tena.

Why is it liandike and not liandika?

When you add an object marker to a command, the verb takes the subjunctive ending -e:

andika! = “write!” (plain 2sg imperative)
liandike! = “write it!” (li- = “it” for class 5, and -e is the subjunctive ending used for commands with an object marker) So liandika would be past (“you wrote it”), not a command.

Do I have to include the subject prefix u- in liandike?

No. In 2nd person singular commands with an object marker, the u- is usually omitted. Compare:

Niambie. (“Tell me.”) Not u-niambie in a direct command.
Liandike. (“Write it.”) Not u-liandike in a direct command. The full subjunctive with u- appears in other contexts (e.g., “Nataka uandike” = “I want you to write”), but not typically in this imperative-like request.

How do I say it if I’m talking to more than one person?

Use the plural imperative ending -ni:

Liandikeni tena. (“Write it again, you all.”)
Tafadhali liandikeni tena. (polite) With nywila (class 9): Iandikeni tena.

Do I need the semicolon? Where can tafadhali go?

The semicolon is optional; Swahili punctuation generally follows English conventions, but UI strings often use a period or a comma. All are fine:

Nenosiri batili lilikataliwa. Tafadhali liandike tena.
Nenosiri batili lilikataliwa, tafadhali liandike tena.
Tafadhali liandike tena. (standalone) tafadhali can go at the start or before the verb; both are natural:
Tafadhali liandike tena.
Liandike tena, tafadhali.

Is andika the best verb for “type/enter,” or should I use ingiza?

andika = write/type (by hand or keyboard) ingiza = insert/enter (data) For software UI, ingiza is very common:

Ingiza nenosiri tena. / Tafadhali liingize tena. andika is also acceptable when the context is typing. Avoid chapa here because chapa often means “print” (though in some contexts it can mean “type”).

How would I say “your password was rejected”?

Use the appropriate possessive for class 5: -lako (your, sg.) / -lenu (your, pl.).

Nenosiri lako lilikataliwa. (“Your [sg.] password was rejected.”)
Nenosiri lenu lilikataliwa. (“Your [pl.] password was rejected.”) If you use nywila (class 9): nywila yako / yenu → Nywila yako ilikataliwa.

What’s the difference between kataliwa and katazwa?

kataliwa = “was rejected/refused.” Passive of kukataa (to refuse/reject).
katazwa = “was forbidden/prohibited.” Passive of kukataza (to forbid/prohibit). For a refused login attempt, kataliwa is the right choice.

Is Nenosiri batili lilikataliwa the most natural way to say this?

It’s grammatical, but UI text often prefers a simpler diagnosis plus an action:

Nenosiri si sahihi; tafadhali liandike tena. (“The password is incorrect; please type it again.”)
Ingiza nenosiri tena. (“Enter the password again.”)
Nenosiri limekataliwa; jaribu tena. (“The password has been rejected; try again.”) Pick based on tone and space constraints.

How do I pronounce tafadhali and nenosiri?

Swahili stress is on the second-to-last syllable:

tafadhali → ta-fa-DHA-li (dh is a voiced “th,” as in “this”)
nenosiri → ne-no-SI-ri
lilikataliwa → li-li-ka-ta-LI-wa
liandike → li-an-DI-ke