Learn Hardcore Swahili: Samahani, sifahamu anwani yako. - Sorry, I do not know your address.

Tafadhali = “please” (used to make a request politely).
Pole = “sorry” in the sense of sympathy/condolence (e.g., when someone is hurt or has had bad luck), not for getting attention.

How is sifahamu formed? What are its parts?

sifahamu = si- (1st person singular negative subject prefix “I don’t”) + fahamu (verb “understand/know”).
Affirmative present would be nafahamu (“I understand/know”). In the negative present, Swahili drops the present marker -na- and uses the negative subject prefix.

Why doesn’t sifahamu end in -i like other negative present verbs (e.g., hasomi)?

The -a→-i change in the negative present applies to verbs whose stem ends in -a (e.g., soma → hasomi).
fahamu ends in -u, so it stays -u: sifahamu (not “sifahami”).

What’s the difference between sifahamu, sijui, and sielewi?

sifahamu: “I don’t understand/know (in a more formal or cognitive sense).”
sijui (from kujua): “I don’t know” (most common, broadest everyday use).
sielewi (from kuelewa): “I don’t understand” (comprehension, e.g., of speech or an explanation).
In this sentence, you could also say Samahani, sijui anwani yako (very natural) or Samahani, sielewi anwani yako (if you mean you don’t catch/understand it when spoken).

Why is it yako and not wako after anwani?

Possessives agree with the noun class. anwani is a class 9/10 noun (N-class), whose possessive concord is ya-.
So “your” (singular) becomes yako (= ya- + -ko). wako is for class 1/2 nouns (people), e.g., mwalimu wako (“your teacher”).

What noun class is anwani, and what does that affect?

anwani (“address”) is typically class 9/10 (N-class). Effects:

Possessive: anwani yako (ya- agreement).
Plural is often unchanged in form: anwani (context shows singular/plural), so “your addresses” would be anwani zako (za- + -ko).
Object marker for this class is i-.

Could I use an object marker and say Siifahamu anwani yako?

You could, in principle: si- (I not) + i- (class 9 object “it”) + fahamu → Siifahamu anwani yako.
However, when you already say the full object (anwani yako), many speakers omit the object marker unless they’re topicalizing or emphasizing it. Sifahamu anwani yako is the most neutral.

Is there a difference between anwani and anuani?

Both are seen, but anwani is the common modern form (e.g., anwani ya barua pepe = “email address”). You may encounter anuani in older texts or some regions.

Can I switch the word order and say yako anwani?

No. The possessor adjective follows the noun in Swahili. Correct: anwani yako (“your address”).
For emphasis you can say anwani ya kwako (“address of yours”), but it’s stylistic and less common here.

How do I say your (plural) vs your (singular) with anwani?

Singular “your”: anwani yako.
Plural “your” (address belonging to you all): anwani yenu.

What are the other possessive forms I might need?

With class 9/10 nouns like anwani:

yangu (my): anwani yangu
yako (your sg): anwani yako
yake (his/her): anwani yake
yetu (our): anwani yetu
yenu (your pl): anwani yenu
yao (their): anwani yao

Is the comma after Samahani required?

It’s standard and helpful. Samahani is an interjection; a comma signals a slight pause: Samahani, … You can also place Samahani after the sentence: Sifahamu anwani yako, samahani.

How do I pronounce the sentence naturally?

Samahani: sa-ma-HA-ni (stress the second-to-last syllable: HA)
sifahamu: si-fa-HA-mu (stress HA)
anwani: an-WA-ni (the cluster n+w is pronounced sequentially; stress WA)
yako: YA-ko (stress YA)

Are there more direct or alternative ways to ask for/mention someone’s address?

Yes:

Asking: Anwani yako ni ipi? (“Which is your address?”)
Asking where someone lives: Unaishi wapi? (“Where do you live?”)
Requesting: Tafadhali, nipe anwani yako. (“Please give me your address.”)

What would the affirmative version of the sentence look like?

Samahani, nafahamu anwani yako = “Sorry/Excuse me, I know your address.”
More naturally without the apology: Nafahamu anwani yako (“I know your address.”)

How do I say this in other tenses/aspects?

Recent past (didn’t know): Sikujua anwani yako.
Perfect (haven’t yet understood/figured it out): Sijafahamu anwani yako.
Future negative: Sitajua anwani yako. (literal “I will not know your address.”)

Why not say ya wewe instead of yako?

Swahili uses possessive adjectives that agree with the noun class, not the preposition “of” + pronoun in this position. So anwani yako is correct. anwani ya wewe is unidiomatic here (acceptable only in special emphatic constructions).

Is sifahamu more formal than sijui?

Often, yes. sifahamu and sielewi can sound a bit more formal/educated. sijui is the most common everyday choice for “I don’t know.”