Learn Hardcore Swahili: Usisambaze udaku mtandaoni; kwanza hakiki habari. - Don’t spread gossip online; first verify the information.

So Usisambaze means “Don’t spread,” addressed to one person. The -e is the standard ending for negative commands with -a verbs. For verbs ending in -i or -u, the final vowel usually stays -i or -u in the negative imperative (e.g., Usisubiri, “don’t wait”).

How do I say it to several people?

Use the plural negative command:

Msisambaze udaku mtandaoni; kwanza hakiki habari. = “Don’t (you all) spread gossip online; first verify information.”

For reference, the plural affirmative command is Sambazeni! (e.g., Sambazeni ujumbe huu = “Spread this message”).

What would the affirmative command look like for one person?

Singular affirmative: Sambaza! (e.g., Sambaza habari njema = “Spread the good news”)
Plural affirmative: Sambazeni!

Can I soften the tone or make it more polite?

Yes:

Add “please”: Tafadhali usisambaze udaku mtandaoni; kwanza hakiki habari.
Use a gentler caution: Tafadhali usije ukasambaza udaku mtandaoni; hakiki habari kwanza. (literally “Please don’t end up spreading gossip online…”—a softer, cautionary feel)

What exactly does udaku mean, and how does it compare with related words?

udaku: gossip, especially tabloid/celebrity-style gossip; mass noun (no plural).
uvumi: a rumor (often mass, “rumor(s)”); e.g., uvumi kuzuka = a rumor arises.
tetesi: rumors/hearsay (plural).
umbea: the habit/practice of gossiping (backbiting).
majungu: malicious backbiting/bad-mouthing.

In many contexts you could replace udaku with uvumi or tetesi depending on whether you mean “gossip” or “rumors.”

What’s the verb for “to gossip”?

kusengenya = to gossip/backbite. Examples:
Usisengenye = Don’t gossip.
Ameeneza udaku = He/She has spread gossip.

What does mtandaoni literally mean, and how else can I say “online”?

mtandao = network/internet; -ni is a locative ending (“in/at/on”), so mtandaoni = “on the internet/online.” Other natural options:
kwenye mtandao = on the internet
katika mtandao = in the internet (more formal/literal)
mitandaoni = on the (social) networks, often used to mean “on social media/online” in general
kupitia/kwa mtandao = via/over the internet (focuses on the channel, not location)

Can I move kwanza around, and does the punctuation matter?

Yes. Common placements:

At the start: Kwanza, hakiki habari.
After the verb phrase: Hakiki habari kwanza.
As in your sentence: …; kwanza hakiki habari. A comma after Kwanza is optional but common when it opens a sentence.

Why is there a semicolon here? Could I use something else?

The semicolon neatly links two closely related independent clauses. You could also use:

A comma (less formal): Usisambaze …, kwanza hakiki habari.
A period: two separate sentences.
A connector like kisha/halafu (then): Usisambaze …; kisha hakiki habari. “Lakini” (but) would change the meaning, so it’s not appropriate here.

What’s the nuance of hakiki versus hakikisha and thibitisha?

hakiki: verify/scrutinize by checking details/sources (audit-like).
hakikisha: make sure/ensure that something happens or is true (often: hakikisha kwamba…).
thibitisha: confirm/validate (certify that something is true). In this context, hakiki habari (“verify the information”) or thibitisha habari (“confirm the information”) both fit well. Hakikisha habari tends to mean “make sure (you check) the news,” often used with an understood action.

Why is there no ku- before hakiki?

Commands use the bare verb stem:

Infinitive: kuhakiki = to verify
Imperative (singular): hakiki = verify! So Kwanza hakiki habari is the natural imperative.

How does habari work grammatically? How do I say “this/that/these” news?

habari is a class 9/10 noun meaning “news/information” or “story.” Swahili has no articles (“a/the”).
To be specific, use demonstratives:
- Singular (a specific item/story): habari hii (this), habari hiyo (that/that just mentioned), habari ile (that over there/that known one).
- Plural (several items/stories): habari hizi (these), habari hizo (those), habari zile (those over there). Example: Kwanza hakiki habari hizi = “First verify these stories.”

Can I use an object marker, like “don’t spread it” for known gossip?

Yes. For a known udaku (class 14), the object marker is u-:

Usiusambaze (mtandaoni). = Don’t spread it (online). If you front the object for emphasis, you must include the object marker:
Udaku usiusambaze mtandaoni. = As for the gossip, don’t spread it online.

How can I rephrase the sentence using “before…”?

Two natural patterns:

Kabla ya kusambaza udaku mtandaoni, hakiki habari kwanza. (Before spreading gossip online, verify the information first.)
Kabla hujasambaza udaku mtandaoni, hakiki habari. (Before you’ve gone and spread gossip online, verify the information.) The “huja-” form is common in speech and feels cautionary.

How do I pronounce the sentence? Where’s the stress?

Swahili stress is on the second-to-last syllable.

Usisambaze: oo-see-sam-BAH-ze
udaku: oo-DAH-koo
mtandaoni: m-tan-dah-OH-nee
kwanza: KWAHN-zah
hakiki: ha-KEE-kee
habari: ha-BAH-ree

Is there a more formal or neutral way to say it?

Yes, for a more formal/information-literacy tone:

Usieneze uvumi mtandaoni; kwanza thibitisha taarifa.
Or: Tafadhali usieneze tetesi mtandaoni; hakiki vyanzo kwanza. (Please don’t spread rumors online; verify sources first.)

Should it be mtandaoni or mitandaoni?

Both appear, but they’re slightly different:

mtandaoni = on the (singular) internet/network; common for “online” in general.
mitandaoni = on the networks (plural); often used when you specifically mean social media platforms collectively.