Learn Hardcore Swahili: Je, unaweza kulipa kwa pesa taslimu leo?

Je is a yes/no question marker placed at the beginning of a sentence. It signals that what follows is a question. The comma after Je is common and recommended in writing, but in casual writing you’ll also see it omitted. Spoken Swahili just uses a brief pause.

Can I drop Je and still have a correct question?

Yes. You can say Unaweza kulipa kwa pesa taslimu leo? and rely on rising intonation to indicate a question. Je is more formal/clear in writing; intonation alone is very common in speech.

Why is kwa used before pesa taslimu? Could I use na?

Use kwa to indicate the instrument or means (pay by/with). Na means “with” in the sense of accompaniment or possession and isn’t used for payment method here. So it’s kulipa kwa kadi, kwa M-Pesa, kwa pesa taslimu.

Is pesa taslimu a fixed phrase? Can I just say taslimu?

Pesa taslimu literally “cash money” is very common, but you can also say just taslimu after verbs like kulipa:

Unaweza kulipa taslimu leo? (short, natural)
Unaweza kulipa kwa pesa taslimu leo? (a bit more explicit) Both are fine.

What exactly does taslimu mean, and does it change form?

Taslimu means “cash (payment)” and comes from Arabic. It behaves like an invariable descriptor; it doesn’t take noun-class agreement or change form. You’ll see it in collocations like pesa/fedha taslimu and after kulipa: kulipa taslimu.

Could I use fedha or hela instead of pesa?

Yes:

fedha = money (more formal/standard)
pesa = money (very common, neutral)
hela = money (colloquial/regional) Examples: kulipa kwa fedha taslimu, kulipa taslimu (no noun needed), or colloquially kulipa cash (code-switching).

What does unaweza contribute here? How is it different from utalipa or ungeweza?

unaweza = “are you able/can you” (ability/possibility, also a polite request)
utalipa = “will you pay” (future action/commitment)
ungeweza = “could you” (conditional; politer, more tentative) So: Je, unaweza…? (can/are you able), Je, utalipa…? (will you), Je, ungeweza…? (could you, more polite).

How is the verb phrase built in unaweza kulipa?

u- (2nd person singular subject)
-na- (present/habitual marker)
weza (root “be able”)
ku- (infinitive marker)
lipa (root “pay”) Together: u-na-weza ku-lipa = “you can pay.”

Where can leo go in the sentence?

It’s flexible:

Je, unaweza kulipa kwa pesa taslimu leo? (default)
Je, unaweza kulipa leo kwa pesa taslimu? (focus on “today” earlier)
Leo, unaweza kulipa kwa pesa taslimu? (fronted for emphasis on “today”) All are natural; position slightly shifts emphasis, not meaning.

How would I make the request more polite?

Add please: Tafadhali, unaweza kulipa taslimu leo?
Use the conditional: Je, ungeweza kulipa taslimu leo? (softer)
Use a polite command: Tafadhali lipa taslimu leo. (direct but courteous)

How do I say it in the negative or ask a negative question?

Statement: Siwezi kulipa taslimu leo. (I can’t pay in cash today.)
Question: Je, huwezi kulipa taslimu leo? (Can’t you pay in cash today?)

Are there simple substitutions for other payment methods?

Yes, keep the structure and swap the method:

…kwa kadi (by card)
…kwa M-Pesa (via M-Pesa/mobile money)
…kwa uhamisho wa benki (by bank transfer) Example: Je, unaweza kulipa kwa kadi leo?

Should it be kulipa or kulipia here?

Use kulipa for “to pay (settle a bill).” Kulipia (applicative) is “to pay for [something/someone],” often taking an object: Ningependa kulipia ada (I’d like to pay the fee). In your sentence, kulipa is correct.

Any pronunciation tips for the whole sentence?

Stress the second-to-last syllable of each word: je, u-na-WE-za, ku-LI-pa, KWA, PE-sa, ta-SLI-mu, LE-o.
Vowels are pure and short; e as in “get,” u as in “food.”
Je is like “jeh,” and leo has two syllables: “LEH-oh.”

Is this sentence formal or informal?

With Je, it leans slightly more formal or written. Without Je and with rising intonation, it’s everyday conversational. Adding tafadhali or using ungeweza raises politeness regardless of Je.