Learn Hardcore Swahili: Ukiandika barua pepe batili, ujumbe hautafika. - If you write an invalid email, the message will not arrive.

It’s the real conditional marker, often translated as either “if” or “when/whenever.” It states a general or likely condition whose truth leads to the result. Context decides whether it feels more like “if” or “when.”

How is ukiandika built morphologically?

Breakdown:

u- = 2nd person singular subject prefix “you (sg)”
-ki- = real conditional marker (“if/when”)
andika = verb root “write”
final -a = default final vowel

So, u-ki-andik-a = “if/when you write.”

Can I say ukandika (dropping the -ki-)?

No. The conditional requires -ki-. Without it, ukandika would be ungrammatical in standard Swahili. Keep uki-.

Does barua pepe here mean an “email address”?

In everyday usage, yes, barua pepe can stand in for “email address,” especially in app/system prompts. The more explicit term is anuani ya barua pepe (“email address”). You could say:

Ukiandika anuani ya barua pepe batili, ujumbe hautafika.

Are there spelling variants of barua pepe?

Yes. You’ll see:

barua pepe (very common)
baruapepe (also used)
sometimes barua-pepe (less common) All mean “email.” Style guides vary; consistency is what matters most.

What does batili mean exactly, and does it agree with the noun?

batili means “invalid, void” (often for forms, cards, addresses, reasons).
It’s an invariable adjective (no class agreement changes), so it stays batili regardless of the noun class:
- barua pepe batili, nambari batili, kadi batili. For “not correct,” you might also see a relative clause: barua pepe isiyo sahihi (“an email [address] that is not correct”).

Why is it ujumbe hautafika and not ujumbe haitafika?

Because ujumbe belongs to a noun class that takes the subject prefix u- (often treated as class 11/14). In the negative future:

ha- (negative) + u- (subject) + ta- (future) + fika = hautafika. By contrast, class 9 nouns (like barua) take i-: barua haitafika (“the letter won’t arrive”).

What’s inside the verb hautafika?

Breakdown:

ha- = negative
u- = subject prefix agreeing with ujumbe
-ta- = future
fika = “arrive” Affirmative future would be utafika (“it will arrive”). Negative past: haukufika (“it didn’t arrive”). Negative present/habitual: haufiki (“it doesn’t arrive”).

Can I put the result clause first? Do I need the comma?

Yes, you can switch the order:

Ujumbe hautafika ukiandika barua pepe batili. A comma after the first clause is common and helps readability, especially when the conditional clause comes first:
Ukiandika …, ujumbe …

How do I address plural “you”?

Use the plural subject prefix m-: mkiandika.

Mkiandika barua pepe batili, ujumbe hautafika. The second clause stays the same because ujumbe is still singular and takes u-.

How do I say “If you don’t write …”?

Use the negative conditional usipo- with 2nd person singular:

Usipoandika (anuani ya) barua pepe, ujumbe hautafika. (“If you don’t write an email address, the message won’t arrive.”) For plural “you”: msipoandika …

Is andika the best verb for “enter/type,” or is there a better choice?

Kuandika is fine for “to type/write.” Alternatives:

kuingiza = “to input/enter”
kuchapa = “to type” (older but still heard) Examples:
Ukiingiza anuani ya barua pepe batili, ujumbe hautafika.
Ukichapa anuani ya barua pepe vibaya, ujumbe hautafika.

Do adjectives normally come after the noun like barua pepe batili?

Yes. Adjectives typically follow the noun phrase in Swahili. Many adjectives show class agreement (e.g., barua pepe nzuri), but some invariable ones like batili, bora, halisi, imara don’t change form.

Could I use ujumbe vs. meseji here?

ujumbe = “message” in a broad sense (notification, message, errand, delegation). Very standard.
meseji (from “message”) often refers to a text/SMS and is class 9, so you’d say: meseji haitafika (“the text won’t arrive”). Both are natural depending on context; for system/app messages, ujumbe is very common.

How is the sentence pronounced?

Syllables: u-ki-an-di-ka | ba-ru-a pe-pe ba-ti-li | u-ju-mbe | ha-u-ta-fi-ka. Primary stress is light and usually falls on the penultimate syllable of each word (e.g., ba-RU-a, ba-TI-li, ha-u-ta-FI-ka).