Kocha aliwaambia wachezaji wasibishane, bali wasikilize maoni ya kila mmoja kwa heshima.

The coach told the players not to argue, but to listen to each person’s opinion with respect.

Breakdown of Kocha aliwaambia wachezaji wasibishane, bali wasikilize maoni ya kila mmoja kwa heshima.

• kila: every
• ya: of
• kwa: with
• kuambia: to tell
• mchezaji: the player
• maoni: the opinion
• kusikiliza: to listen
• heshima: respectfully
• mmoja: one
• bali: but rather
• kocha: the coach
• kubishana: to argue

Questions & Answers about Kocha aliwaambia wachezaji wasibishane, bali wasikilize maoni ya kila mmoja kwa heshima.

What does aliwaambia literally mean, and how is the word built?

Aliwaambia breaks down into several parts:

• a- = subject prefix for he/she (3rd person singular)
• -li- = past tense marker (simple past)
• -wa- = object prefix for them (3rd person plural, people)
• -ambia = verb root meaning tell (from kuambia – to tell)

So aliwaambia literally means “he/she told them.”

If aliwaambia already means “he told them”, why do we still say wachezaji (“the players”) after it? Isn’t that redundant?

In Swahili, this is quite normal and often sounds natural.

• aliwaambia already tells us he told them.
• Adding wachezaji specifies exactly who “them” is: the players.

So you can think of it as:

• Kocha aliwaambia wachezaji…
  = The coach told them, the players, that…

The object prefix -wa- is not “wrong” or redundant; it’s common when referring to a specific group of people who are then also named. You will also see sentences without the object prefix, e.g. Kocha aliambia wachezaji…, which is also acceptable in many contexts. Native usage varies, but the version in your sentence is very typical.

Why are the verbs wasibishane and wasikilize in this particular form, instead of something like hawabishani or watasikiliza?

Wasibishane and wasikilize are in the subjunctive / jussive mood, not the normal indicative.

In Swahili, when you report what someone told or ordered others to do, you often use the subjunctive for the content of the command:

• Kocha aliwaambia wachezaji
  wasibishane = that they should not argue
  wasikilize = that they should listen

Compare:

• hawabishani = they are not arguing (statement of fact)
• wasibishane = that they should not argue (command / instruction)

The subjunctive is formed with:

• subject prefix (wa- for “they”)
• sometimes a negative marker (-si- for “not”)
• verb stem
• final vowel -e (instead of -a)

So:

• wa-si-bishan-e → let them not argue
• wa-sikiliz-e → let them listen

What does the wasi- at the beginning of wasibishane mean exactly?

Wasi- is made of:

• wa- = they (3rd person plural subject prefix)
• -si- = negative marker in the subjunctive/jussive mood

So:

• wabishane = let them argue / they should argue
• wasibishane = let them NOT argue / they should not argue

This is different from the normal present negative:

• hawabishani = they are not arguing / they don’t argue (indicative)

What is the -ane at the end of bishane and what does it do?

The -ane ending is the reciprocal suffix in Swahili. It means “each other” or “one another.”

• Verb root: bisha (to dispute / object / argue)
• Reciprocal form: bishana or bishane (to argue with each other)

So wasibishane means:

• literally: that they should not argue with each other
• not just “argue” in general, but argue among themselves.

You’ll see -ana / -ane in many reciprocal verbs, e.g.:

• kupendana – to love each other
• kusaidiana – to help each other

What is the difference between bali and lakini in this sentence?

Both bali and lakini can translate as “but”, but they’re used slightly differently.

• Lakini = but / however (general contrast)
• Bali = but rather / instead (correcting or replacing a previous idea, often after a negative)

In your sentence:

• wasibishane, bali wasikilize…
  = they should not argue, but rather they should listen…
  = instead of arguing, they should listen…

If you used lakini here, it would still be understandable, but bali is more precise because it shows “not X, but instead Y.”

Why is it wasikilize and not wasikiliza or something with ku- like kuwasikiliza?

Wasikilize is in the subjunctive mood:

• wa- = they
• verb stem: -sikiliza (to listen to)
• final -e = subjunctive ending

So:

• wanasikiliza = they are listening (indicative)
• wasikilize = that they should listen (subjunctive)

We do not use ku- here, because we are not using the infinitive kusikiliza (to listen). Instead, we are giving a command / instruction in reported form, which takes the subjunctive:

• Kocha aliwaambia… wasikilize…
  The coach told them… that they should listen…

What exactly does maoni mean, and what noun class is it in?

Maoni means “opinions, views, feedback, comments.”

• It’s the plural form of wazo (idea, thought).
• wazo (idea) = class 5 (ji-/Ø)
• mawazo / maoni = class 6 (ma-)

However, in practice:

• maoni is often used as a sort of mass plural noun for “opinions” or “feedback” and doesn’t always feel like a simple plural of wazo.

• Because maoni is class 6, it takes ya as the possessive:

  • maoni ya kila mmoja – the opinions of each person
  • (not maoni za…, which would be for class 10)

Why is it maoni ya kila mmoja and not something like maoni za kila mmoja?

The choice between ya and za depends on the noun class:

• maoni is in class 6 (ma-) → its possessive form is ya.
• za is used for class 10 (N- plural) nouns, not for class 6.

So:

• maoni ya kila mmoja = the opinions of each one (correct)
• maoni za kila mmoja = ungrammatical in standard Swahili.

Why do we say kila mmoja (“each one”) instead of just using kila wachezaji or kila mchezaji?

A few points:

1. Kila always takes a singular noun:

   • kila mchezaji = each player
   • kila mtu = each person
     So kila wachezaji (plural noun after kila) is ungrammatical.

2. In this sentence, kila mmoja is used as a pronoun:

   • mmoja = one (person), singular of class 1
   • kila mmoja = each one (of them)

3. Saying maoni ya kila mmoja focuses on each individual’s opinion, without repeating wachezaji again (which is already mentioned):

   • the opinions of each one (each player)

You could also say maoni ya kila mchezaji, which is clear and correct, but kila mmoja is a very natural and common way to say each one (of them).

What does kwa heshima literally mean, and what is the role of kwa here?

Literally:

• heshima = respect, honour
• kwa = “with / by / in a … way” (instrument or manner)

So kwa heshima means “with respect” or “in a respectful way.”

Here kwa marks manner:

• wasikilize maoni ya kila mmoja kwa heshima
  = they should listen to each person’s opinion with respect
  = they should listen *respectfully to each person’s opinion.*

Could we add kwamba before wasibishane, like aliwaambia kwamba wasibishane? Would that change the meaning?

Yes, you can add kwamba:

• Kocha aliwaambia wachezaji kwamba wasibishane, bali wasikilize…

This is still correct and natural. Kwamba works like “that” in English:

• The coach told the players *that they should not argue…*

The difference is mostly stylistic:

• Without kwamba: a bit more direct and flowing.
• With kwamba: a bit more explicit/structured, often seen in more formal or written language.

The meaning does not really change; both forms are commonly used.

Why is there a comma before bali in this sentence?

The comma marks a pause and separates two related but contrasting clauses:

• …wachezaji wasibishane,
• bali wasikilize maoni ya kila mmoja kwa heshima.

This mirrors how you might pause in English:

• …that the players should not argue, but (instead) listen…

Grammatically, bali itself already signals contrast/“instead”, but the comma helps readability and matches natural spoken rhythm.