Tukipita dukani, tutanunua shampuu na sabuni.

Tukipita can be broken down like this:

• tu- = we
• -ki- = a marker often meaning if or when
• -pita = pass, go past, go by

So tukipita literally means something like if we pass by or when we pass by.

In this sentence, it introduces the condition or situation for the next action.

Because in Swahili, the subject is usually marked on each verb.

So:

• Tukipita = we-if/when-pass
• tutanunua = we-will-buy

Even though English only says we once, Swahili normally repeats the subject marker on both verbs.

In this sentence, -ki- is a tense/aspect marker that often gives a meaning like:

• if
• when
• whenever

So tukipita dukani can mean:

• if we pass by the shop
• when we pass by the shop

The exact English translation depends on context. In everyday speech, -ki- often expresses a condition or a likely situation.

They do different jobs:

• -ki- in tukipita gives a conditional/time meaning: if/when
• -ta- in tutanunua marks the future: will

So:

• tukipita = if/when we pass by
• tutanunua = we will buy

This is a very common Swahili pattern: [if/when clause] + [future result clause]

Duka means shop/store.

When you add -ni, you get a locative meaning, so dukani means:

• at the shop
• to the shop
• in the shop
• sometimes by the shop

In this sentence, dukani is best understood as at/by the shop.

So:

• duka = shop
• dukani = at/to/in the shop

No. Swahili usually does not use articles like a, an, or the.

So dukani can mean:

• at a shop
• at the shop
• at the store

And shampuu na sabuni can mean:

• shampoo and soap
• the shampoo and the soap
• some shampoo and soap

The exact meaning comes from context.

Here, na means and.

So:

• shampuu na sabuni = shampoo and soap

Be careful, though: na can also mean with in other sentences. Its meaning depends on context.

tutanunua breaks down like this:

• tu- = we
• -ta- = future marker (will)
• -nunua = buy

So tutanunua means we will buy.

This is a very common future form in Swahili.

It can be either, depending on context.

• if we pass by the shop = more conditional
• when we pass by the shop = more expected or likely

Swahili -ki- often covers both ideas, so English may translate it in different ways.

The comma separates the first clause from the main clause:

• Tukipita dukani = the condition/time clause
• tutanunua shampuu na sabuni = the main clause

It works much like English:

• If we pass by the shop, we will buy shampoo and soap.

In writing, the comma helps readability. In speech, there may just be a slight pause.

shampuu is a loanword meaning shampoo.

The spelling with uu reflects Swahili pronunciation, where vowels are usually pronounced clearly and separately/fully. So shampuu is pronounced roughly like:

• sha-mpuu

with a long u sound at the end.

This kind of spelling is common when Swahili adapts borrowed words.

Yes, sometimes.

You can keep the same meaning and say something like:

• Tutanunua shampuu na sabuni tukipita dukani.

But the original order is very natural because it presents the condition first:

• Tukipita dukani, tutanunua shampuu na sabuni.

That order is especially common when the speaker wants to emphasize the condition or situation first.