Learn Hardcore Swahili: Twende sasa ukumbini, tusije tukapoteza muda wa mkutano. - Let’s go to the hall now, so we don’t end up wasting the meeting time.

Twende means Let’s go.
It’s the 1st-person plural subjunctive/hortative: tu- (we) + verb stem -ende (go).
You’ll also see the underlying form written as tuende; in standard usage it surfaces as twende because of sound assimilation.
Related dictionary infinitives are kwenda/kuenda (to go), but in the subjunctive it’s -ende.

Can I say Twendeni instead of Twende?

Strictly, twendeni is the 2nd-person plural imperative: Go (you all)!
To include yourself (Let’s go), use twende.
In casual speech some people do say twendeni with an inclusive feel, but the safe, standard form for Let’s go is twende.

Why is it ukumbini and not just ukumbi?

The suffix -ni makes a locative: in/at/to a place.
ukumbi = hall; ukumbini = in/at/to the hall.
With motion verbs like enda, the -ni on a place noun naturally gives the sense of going to/into that place.

Could I use kwenye ukumbi or katika ukumbi instead of ukumbini?

Yes:
- ukumbini = compact, very natural.
- kwenye ukumbi = in/at the hall (very common in conversation).
- katika ukumbi = in the hall (a bit more formal/written).
All are correct; preference is stylistic.

Can I move sasa? For example, Twende ukumbini sasa?

Yes. sasa (now) is flexible.
Twende sasa ukumbini and Twende ukumbini sasa are both natural; the first nudges the urgency upfront.

What does the structure tusije tukapoteza really express?

It’s a warning or precaution: lest we end up … / so that we don’t end up …
tusije is the negative subjunctive of kuja (to come), used idiomatically as an auxiliary of warning.
tukapoteza uses the consecutive -ka- to express the undesired eventual outcome.
Literal feel: let’s not come (to the point where) we then waste… → idiomatic: otherwise we might end up wasting…

Why is it tukapoteza and not tupoteze?

After usije/tusije/msije…, Swahili typically uses a second finite verb with -ka- (ukapoteza/tukapoteza/mkapoteza) to mark the possible, undesired result.
tupoteze would be a direct hortative subjunctive (let’s not waste if negated), which is blunter and lacks the same “lest we end up …” nuance.

Can I just say Tusipoteze muda wa mkutano?

Yes. Tusipoteze… is a straightforward instruction: Let’s not waste…
Tusije tukapoteza… is softer and more cautionary: lest we end up wasting… / otherwise we might wind up wasting…
Choose based on tone: direct prohibition vs. warning about a likely consequence.

Is Usije ukapoteza… the pattern for other persons too?

Can I say Tusije kupoteza… (with an infinitive) instead?

Not in this construction. (M/Usije…) normally takes a finite verb with -ka- (e.g., ukapoteza), not an infinitive (kupoteza).
Use the pattern: Tusije tukapoteza…

Why is it muda wa mkutano and not muda ya mkutano?

Agreement: muda (time, duration) is class 3; the associative connector for class 3 singular is wa.
Hence muda wa mkutano (the meeting’s time). ya would be wrong for class 3 singular here.

What’s the difference between muda and wakati?

muda: duration or time allotment. muda wa mkutano = the meeting’s allotted time/time budget.
wakati: a (point/period of) time or “when.” wakati wa mkutano = during the time of the meeting/at the time when the meeting is on.

Could I use kikao instead of mkutano?

You can, but they differ slightly:
- mkutano: meeting/gathering (general).
- kikao: a sitting/session (often a segment or formal sitting).
muda wa kikao would emphasize the time for a particular session.

Is the comma before tusije… required? Could I say vinginevyo or la sivyo instead?

The comma is normal but not grammatically required; it just separates clauses.
You can make the warning explicit: Twende sasa ukumbini, vinginevyo tutapoteza muda wa mkutano or … la sivyo tutapoteza … (otherwise we’ll waste…).

What’s the difference between potea and poteza?

Could you break the whole sentence into parts?

Twende = let’s go (tu- 1pl + subjunctive of -enda)
sasa = now
ukumbini = in/to the hall (ukumbi + -ni locative)
tusije = lest we (negative subjunctive of kuja used idiomatically as a warning)
tukapoteza = we then end up wasting (tu- + -ka- consecutive + poteza)
muda wa mkutano = the meeting’s time (class-3 associative wa)