Learn Hardcore Swahili: Wakimwona mwalimu, wanafunzi wanamsalimia kwa heshima. - When they see the teacher, the students greet him/her respectfully.

wa- = subject prefix for they (noun class 2, people in plural)
-ki- = when / whenever / if (a kind of temporal/conditional marker)
-mw- = object prefix for him/her (class 1, a person in singular – here, the teacher)
-ona = verb root see

So wa-ki-mw-ona → wakimwona ≈ when(ever) they see him/her.

Why does wakimwona mean “when(ever) they see…” instead of just “they see…”?

The key is the -ki- in the middle.

A plain present like they see him would normally look more like wanamwona (wa-na-mw-ona: they-PRES-him-see).
-ki- creates a subordinate clause that often means when, whenever, if, while.

So:

Wakimwona mwalimu, … = When(ever) they see the teacher, …
It sets up a condition or time frame for what happens in the main clause (wanafunzi wanamsalimia kwa heshima).

Could wakimwona also mean “if they see him” instead of “when they see him”? How do I know?

Yes, wakimwona can mean either:

“when(ever) they see him” (time-related)
“if they see him” (conditional)

The Swahili -ki- often covers both when and if. Which one is intended depends on context:

If it’s a habitual or predictable situation:
Wakimwona mwalimu, wanafunzi wanamsalimia kwa heshima.
→ Whenever / when they see the teacher, the students greet him respectfully.
If it’s uncertain / conditional:
Wakimwona mwalimu, watamwambia kuhusu tatizo lao.
→ If they see the teacher, they will tell him about their problem.

In your example, the habitual meaning (whenever/when) is the natural reading.

Why do we have both mw- inside wakimwona and also the noun mwalimu after it? Isn’t that redundant?

This is normal in Swahili and not considered wrong or strange.

mw- in wakimwona = him/her (object prefix)
mwalimu = the teacher (full noun)

Reasons for using both:

Natural grammar: Swahili commonly uses an object marker on the verb even when the object noun is also stated.
Clarity and emphasis:
- The object marker tells you early in the verb that there is an object, and which noun class/gender it belongs to.
- The noun mwalimu then clarifies exactly who that person is.
Agreement pattern: In more complex sentences, the object marker helps keep track of who is doing what to whom.

So wakimwona mwalimu literally feels like when they see-him, the teacher and is stylistically very normal.

Why is the object marker mw- and not just m- before -ona?

The basic object prefix for a singular person in class 1 is m-, but when it appears before a vowel (like the o in -ona), Swahili typically inserts a w glide for pronunciation:

m- + -ona → m-w-ona → mwona

Spelling reflects this glide: mwona, not mona.

That’s why we get:

wa-ki-mw-ona → wakimwona

The same pattern happens with many words:

m- + -alimu → mwalimu
m- + -enda → mwenda (in some forms)

What’s the difference between wakimwona and wanapomwona? Could I say Wanapomwona mwalimu, wanafunzi wanamsalimia kwa heshima instead?

Both are grammatically correct and can work in this sentence, but they differ slightly in nuance.

wakimwona
- -ki- is a more general when/if/whenever marker.
- Often used for habitual or conditional situations.
- Can feel slightly more conditional or general.
wanapomwona
- Structure: wa-na-po-mw-ona
  - wa- = they
  - -na- = present
  - -po- = when/where (specific time or place)
  - -mw-ona = see him/her
- -po- often suggests a more definite time: at the time when they see him.
- Feels more like a specific “when” than an “if”.

In your sentence:

Wakimwona mwalimu, wanafunzi wanamsalimia kwa heshima.
Wanapomwona mwalimu, wanafunzi wanamsalimia kwa heshima.

Both mean essentially: When they see the teacher, the students greet him respectfully.
The -po- version is a bit more “when(at the time that)”, while -ki- is slightly more general/conditional.

How is wanamsalimia built up, and what does each part mean?

Wanamsalimia breaks down like this:

wa- = subject prefix for they (class 2 plural)
-na- = present tense / present progressive (do / are doing)
-m- = object prefix for him/her (class 1)
-salimi- = verb root/stem from salimia (to greet)
-a = final vowel

So wa-na-m-salimi-a → wanamsalimia ≈ they (are) greet(ing) him/her → they greet him/her.

Why is it wanamsalimia and not wanamsalimu? Is kusalimu also a verb?

Both kusalimia and kusalimu exist, but:

kusalimia is the most common everyday verb in modern Standard Swahili for to greet.
kusalimu is also used, often a bit more formal/Arabic-influenced, and may be heard in some regions or stylistic contexts.

In practice:

wanamsalimia = they greet him (common, natural)
wanamsalimu = they greet him (understood, but may sound a bit less neutral / more stylistic depending on the dialect and context)

For a learner, salimia is the safer default.

Why is the subject prefix on wanamsalimia also wa-, the same as in wakimwona?

Because both verbs share the same subject: wanafunzi (students), which belongs to noun class 2 (plural human beings).

Class 1 (singular person):

noun: mwanafunzi (student)
verb subject prefix: a- (he/she)

Class 2 (plural persons):

noun: wanafunzi (students)
verb subject prefix: wa- (they)

So we get:

Wakimwona mwalimu, wanafunzi wanamsalimia kwa heshima.
- wa-kimwona = they-when-see-him
- wanafunzi wanamsalimia = the students they-greet-him

Both verbs agree with the plural subject wanafunzi via wa-.

What exactly does kwa heshima mean, and why is kwa used here?

heshima = respect (a noun)
kwa = a preposition that can mean with, in, by, using, in a… way

When you put kwa before a noun like this, it often creates an adverbial phrase:

kwa heshima = with respect / respectfully / in a respectful manner

So:

wanamsalimia kwa heshima
= they greet him with respect
= they greet him respectfully

Swahili regularly uses kwa + noun to describe how something is done, e.g.:

kuandika kwa uangalifu = to write carefully (with care)
kusema kwa sauti ya chini = to speak quietly (with a low voice)

Can I leave out kwa heshima? What changes?

Yes, you can omit it:

Wakimwona mwalimu, wanafunzi wanamsalimia.

This still means When they see the teacher, the students greet him.
You just lose the extra detail about the manner (respectfully). The basic structure and meaning of the conditional/time relationship (when they see him, they greet him) stay the same.

Can I change the word order and say: Wanafunzi wanamsalimia kwa heshima wakimwona mwalimu?

That sentence is grammatically possible, but the most natural and common order in Swahili for this meaning is:

Wakimwona mwalimu, wanafunzi wanamsalimia kwa heshima.

Putting the “when they see the teacher” part first clearly sets up the condition/time for what follows, and it matches written style (comma, then main clause).

If you move wakimwona mwalimu to the end:

Wanafunzi wanamsalimia kwa heshima wakimwona mwalimu.

…it can still be understood, but it’s less standard and might sound slightly awkward or overly spoken/colloquial in many contexts.

How would this sentence look in the past or future tense instead of the present/habitual?

You mainly change the tense markers in the verbs.

Present / habitual (your sentence):

Wakimwona mwalimu, wanafunzi wanamsalimia kwa heshima.

Past:

More natural would be to switch to a past “when” form:
- Walipomwona mwalimu, wanafunzi walimsalimia kwa heshima.
  - wali-po-mw-ona = when they saw him
  - wali-m-salimia = they greeted him

Future:

You would usually use -takapo- or -ki- with future:
- Watakapomwona mwalimu, wanafunzi watamsalimia kwa heshima.
  = When they see the teacher (in the future), the students will greet him respectfully.
- Or: Wakimwona mwalimu kesho, wanafunzi watamsalimia kwa heshima.
  = If/when they see the teacher tomorrow, they will greet him respectfully.

So the structure stays similar, but tense/“when” markers change.