Jioni, hakikisha lango limefungwa vizuri ili mbwa wasiingie ndani ya ua.

Jioni usually means in the evening / during the evening. It refers to the time of day, not specifically tonight.

In this sentence, Jioni works like a time expression:

• Jioni = in the evening

Swahili often does not need a preposition like in here. The time word by itself can do the job.

Hakikisha is the singular imperative of the verb -hakikisha, which means to make sure, to ensure, or to verify.

So:

• hakikisha = make sure (said to one person)
• hakikisheni = make sure (said to more than one person)

It is a direct command, so the sentence is speaking to someone and telling them to check that the gate is closed.

Yes. Lango and mlango are related, but they are not the same thing.

• lango = gate, especially a gate to a yard, compound, or enclosure
• mlango = door

Because the sentence later says ndani ya ua meaning inside the yard/compound, lango is the natural word here. A gate fits the context better than a door.

The li- agrees with lango.

In Swahili, verbs must agree with the noun class of the subject. Lango belongs to noun class 5, and the subject marker for that class is li-.

So:

• lango = class 5 noun
• class 5 subject marker = li-
• therefore: lango limefungwa

This is one of the most important features of Swahili grammar: verbs agree with noun classes, not just with singular/plural in the English sense.

Yes. Limefungwa can be broken down like this:

• li- = subject marker for lango
• -me- = perfect marker
• -fung- = root meaning close
• -w- = passive
• -a = final vowel

So literally it is something like:

• it has been closed

In natural English, this often becomes:

• it is closed
• it has been closed

In this sentence, the meaning is basically make sure the gate is properly closed. The passive is useful because the important thing is the state of the gate, not who closed it.

Vizuri literally means well, but in this kind of sentence it is often better translated as:

• properly
• securely
• correctly

So limefungwa vizuri means:

• is properly closed
• is securely shut

This sounds more natural in English than just closed well.

Ili means so that or in order that. It introduces a purpose clause.

So the structure is:

• hakikisha lango limefungwa vizuri = make sure the gate is properly closed
• ili mbwa wasiingie... = so that the dogs do not enter...

This tells you the purpose of closing the gate.

Because after ili, Swahili normally uses the subjunctive for purpose.

So:

• ili mbwa wasiingie = so that the dogs do not enter

If you said hawataingia, that would mean:

• they will not enter

That is more like a plain future statement, not a purpose clause. After ili, wasiingie is the natural grammatical form.

Yes, mbwa is one of those nouns that often has the same form in singular and plural.

So:

• mbwa can mean dog
• mbwa can also mean dogs

In this sentence, we know it is plural because of the verb agreement:

• wasiingie
• wa- = they

So here:

• mbwa wasiingie = the dogs should not enter

Yes. It can be understood like this:

• wa- = they
• -si- = negative marker in this subjunctive form
• -ingi- / -ingia = enter / go in
• -e = subjunctive final vowel

So wasiingie means:

• that they not enter
• so that they do not go in

This is a very common kind of form in Swahili after words like ili.

Because ndani normally connects to the following noun with ya.

So:

• ndani = inside
• ndani ya ua = inside the yard/compound

The ya is the linker, similar to saying inside of the yard in English.

Without ya, the phrase would sound incomplete or incorrect.

In this sentence, ua most naturally means:

• yard
• courtyard
• compound
• enclosed area around a house

Depending on context, ua can sometimes relate to an enclosure or fenced area more generally. Here, since there is a lango and dogs are being kept out, yard/compound is the best fit.

So:

• ndani ya ua = inside the yard / inside the compound