Learn Hardcore Swahili: Warsha itaanza saa tatu kamili; usije ukachelewa. - The workshop will start at nine o’clock sharp; don’t end up being late.

In everyday Swahili timekeeping (common in Kenya, Tanzania, etc.), saa tatu is 9:00. Swahili hours count from roughly sunrise, so you can usually think “add 6 hours.”

saa moja = 7:00
saa mbili = 8:00
saa tatu = 9:00 To avoid confusion, people may add time-of-day words (see another answer below).

What does kamili add to the meaning?

Kamili means “exactly/on the dot.” So saa tatu kamili is “exactly 9:00.” Compare:

saa tatu = 9:00 (around nine)
saa tatu kamili = exactly 9:00
saa tatu na robo = 9:15
saa tatu na nusu = 9:30
saa nne kasorobo = 9:45 (a quarter to ten)

How is itaanza built, and why does it start with i-?

Itaanza comes from the verb kuanza (to start/begin) and agrees with the noun warsha.

warsha is a class 9 noun (N-class). Class 9 singular takes the subject marker i-.
Structure: i- (3rd sg, class 9) + -ta- (future) + anza (verb root) → itaanza (“it will start”).
The double “aa” is just -ta-
- anza running together; the spelling keeps both a’s: itaanza.

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

Warsha (“workshop”) is in noun class 9/10 (N-class). Agreement:

Singular (class 9): subject marker i- → warsha itaanza (“the workshop will start”).
Plural (class 10): subject marker zi- → warsha zitaanza (“the workshops will start”). The plural form is the same shape as the singular for many N-class nouns.

What does the phrase usije ukachelewa literally mean, and why that form?

Literally, usije ukachelewa is “don’t come and then be late,” but idiomatically it means “make sure you don’t end up being late / don’t be late.”

usije = u- (you) + -si- (negative) + -je (subjunctive of kuja, “come”) → “don’t come.”
ukachelewa = u- (you) + -ka- (consecutive/‘and then’) + chelewa (be late). This negative-with-then construction expresses a warning about an unwanted outcome (“lest you be late”).

Why is it ukachelewa with -ka- and not just uchelewe?

After usije, Swahili normally uses the -ka- consecutive to express the potential undesired result: usije ukachelewa. Using plain subjunctive (usije uchelewe) is either ungrammatical or very nonstandard. Think of -ka- here as “and (then) end up …”.

Could I simply say Usichelewe to mean Don’t be late? Is there a difference?

Yes: Usichelewe is perfectly fine for “Don’t be late.” Nuance:

Usichelewe: straightforward prohibition.
Usije ukachelewa: stronger caution, “don’t (go and) end up late,” often used to warn against an undesirable outcome. It can feel a touch more emphatic/urgent.

How do I say this to more than one person?

Use plural forms:

Msije mkachelewa = “Don’t (you all) end up being late.” Breakdown: msije (plural “don’t come”) + mkachelewa (plural “and then be late”). If talking about multiple workshops: Warsha zitaanza saa tatu kamili; msije mkachelewa.

How can I make the time unambiguous (morning/evening)?

Add time-of-day words:

saa tatu asubuhi = 9:00 a.m.
saa tatu jioni = around 9:00 p.m. (in many areas, people prefer usiku for night)
saa tatu usiku = 9:00 at night So: Warsha itaanza saa tatu kamili asubuhi.

Is the semicolon here normal in Swahili?

Yes, it’s fine. You’ll also see a comma, a dash, or even two sentences:

Warsha itaanza saa tatu kamili; usije ukachelewa.
Warsha itaanza saa tatu kamili—usije ukachelewa.
Warsha itaanza saa tatu kamili. Usije ukachelewa.

Could I use present instead of future for scheduled events?

Yes. Swahili often uses present for fixed schedules:

Warsha inaanza saa tatu kamili = “The workshop starts at exactly nine.” Future (itaanza) is also fine, especially for a one-off upcoming event.

Are there other natural ways to warn someone not to be late?

Yes, with slightly different nuances:

Usichelewe. (Don’t be late.)
Hakikisha huchelewi. (Make sure you’re not late.)
Jaribu usichelewe. (Try not to be late.)
Uje mapema. (Come early.)
Usifike umechelewa. (Don’t arrive having become late.)

How do I pronounce the tricky parts?

warsha: WAHR-sha (the “sh” as in English “shoe”)
itaanza: ee-tah-AHN-zah (double “aa” is a long a)
saa: SAH-ah (two a’s, pronounced separately or as a long a)
usije: oo-SEE-jeh (j = English “j”)
ukachelewa: oo-kah-cheh-LEH-wah (ch = English “ch”)

Is kuchelewa “to be late” or “to make something late”?

Kuchelewa is intransitive: “to be late.” If you delay something, you’d use kuchelewesha (“to delay [something/someone]”): e.g., Usicheleweshwe na foleni (“Don’t be delayed by traffic”).