Learn Hardcore Swahili: Kulingana na ratiba mpya, mapumziko ni dakika kumi. - According to the new schedule, the break is ten minutes.

Kulingana comes from the verb lingana (to match/correspond/be equal). The prefix ku- makes it an infinitive/gerund.
Kulingana na X means "according to/in line with X." The na is required in this construction. Without na, it doesn’t mean "according to."
Near-synonyms: kwa mujibu wa, sawa/sawasawa na. See more below.

Can I move the "kulingana na ..." phrase to the end?

Yes. Mapumziko ni dakika kumi kulingana na ratiba mpya. The comma is optional in either position.

Why is it "ratiba mpya"? Which noun class is "ratiba," and how does the adjective agree?

ratiba is class 9/10 (N-class). Many nouns in this class have the same form in singular and plural.
The adjective -pya (new) takes the form mpya for class 9/10, so ratiba mpya is correct.
Adjectives normally follow the noun in Swahili: ratiba mpya (not "mpya ratiba").
Other examples: nyumba mpya (new house), safari mpya (new trip), kitabu kipya (class 7), vitabu vipya (class 8).

Does "ratiba mpya" mean "the new schedule" or "a new schedule"? How do I show singular vs plural?

Swahili has no articles. ratiba mpya can be "a new schedule" or "the new schedule" depending on context.
The noun ratiba is both singular and plural in form; use demonstratives or numbers to clarify:
- Singular: ratiba mpya hii (this new schedule), ratiba mpya ile (that new schedule).
- Plural: ratiba mpya hizi (these new schedules), ratiba mpya mbili (two new schedules).

What exactly does "mapumziko" mean? Is it plural?

mapumziko (class 6) is the common word for "break/rest/vacation time." It’s morphologically plural but often refers to one period of rest in practice.
The singular is pumziko (class 5), e.g., pumziko la chakula cha mchana (a lunch break). Both forms are acceptable; mapumziko is more common for a general "break."
You’ll also hear niko mapumzikoni (I’m on leave/vacation).

How do agreement and concord work with "mapumziko"?

Verbs: use class 6 subject markers (ya-). Examples: mapumziko yanaanza (the break starts), mapumziko yameongezwa (the break has been extended).
Adjectives: use class 6 forms, e.g., mapumziko mafupi (a short break), mapumziko marefu (a long break).

How does "ni" work here? Does it mean "is" or "are"? How do I negate it or show tense?

ni is the copula "is/are" and doesn’t change for number or tense: mapumziko ni dakika kumi = "the break is ten minutes."
Negative: si (often written as sio/siyo in some contexts): Mapumziko si dakika kumi (the break is not ten minutes).
To express past/future explicitly, use a verb like kuwa or a lexical verb:
- Future: Mapumziko yatakuwa ya dakika kumi (the break will be ten minutes).
- Past: Mapumziko yalikuwa ya dakika kumi (the break was ten minutes).

Should it be "ni dakika kumi" or "ni ya dakika kumi"? What’s the difference?

Both are acceptable, with a slight nuance:
- Mapumziko ni dakika kumi states an equation/measurement plainly.
- Mapumziko ni ya dakika kumi uses the genitive "of": "the break is of ten minutes." Many speakers use this when treating the minutes as a measurement attribute.
Alternative with a verb of duration: Mapumziko yanadumu (kwa) dakika kumi = "The break lasts (for) ten minutes."

Why doesn’t "kumi" change to agree with "dakika"? Do numbers agree in Swahili?

Only numbers 1–5 agree with noun class. Numbers 6–10 (and above) are invariable.
Therefore, kumi never changes. You’ll see agreement on 1–5:
- Class 9/10 (dakika): dakika moja/mbili/tatu/nne/tano
- Class 7/8 (kitabu/vitabu): kitabu kimoja, vitabu viwili, vitabu vitatu
- Class 1/2 (mtu/watu): mtu mmoja, watu wawili

Is "dakika" singular or plural here?

dakika is a class 9/10 noun whose singular and plural look the same. Context and numbers tell you which:
- dakika moja = one minute (singular)
- dakika kumi = ten minutes (plural)
- dakika hizi = these minutes (plural, with demonstrative)

Is the comma after the introductory phrase required?

No. It’s optional and works like English. You can write it with or without a comma:
- Kulingana na ratiba mpya, mapumziko ni dakika kumi.
- Kulingana na ratiba mpya mapumziko ni dakika kumi.

Why does "mpya" come after "ratiba"? Can adjectives ever come before the noun?

In Swahili, descriptive adjectives normally follow the noun: ratiba mpya, nyumba kubwa, kitabu kipya.
Some determiners/quantifiers come before the noun (e.g., kila, baadhi ya), and demonstratives are often placed at the end of the noun phrase: ratiba mpya hii. Adjectives like mpya do not normally precede the noun.

Are there other ways to say "according to the new schedule"?

Kwa mujibu wa ratiba mpya — more formal/official (often in news reports).
Sawa/sawasawa na ratiba mpya — colloquial "in line with the new schedule."
Avoid katika ratiba mpya here; that means "in the new schedule," not "according to."

How would I say "According to the new schedule, there is a ten-minute break"?

Kulingana na ratiba mpya, kuna mapumziko ya dakika kumi.
Here kuna = "there is/are," and ya links mapumziko (class 6) to the measurement dakika kumi.

Any pronunciation tips for the sentence?

kulingana: the ng is pronounced like "ng" in "finger" (a velar nasal plus g). In Swahili, ng’ (with an apostrophe) would be "ng" as in "sing," but here there’s no apostrophe.
mapumziko: stress is typically penultimate: ma-pum-ZI-ko.
ratiba: ra-TI-ba. Swahili vowels are pure; pronounce each clearly.