Unapozungumza na wazazi wako, uwe mstaarabu.

to be

Breakdown of Unapozungumza na wazazi wako, uwe mstaarabu.

• na: with
• mzazi: the parent
• wako: your

Questions & Answers about Unapozungumza na wazazi wako, uwe mstaarabu.

How is unapozungumza built up?

It can be broken down like this:

• u- = you (singular)
• -na- = present/habitual marker
• -po- = when / at the time when
• zungumza = speak / talk

So unapozungumza means something like when you speak or whenever you are speaking.

What does -po- mean here?

In this sentence, -po- gives a time meaning: when.

So:

• unazungumza = you are speaking
• unapozungumza = when you are speaking / when you speak

This is a very common Swahili pattern for time clauses.

Could I also say ukizungumza instead of unapozungumza?

Yes. Ukizungumza na wazazi wako, uwe mstaarabu is also natural.

The difference is roughly:

• unapo- = more clearly when / whenever
• uki- = often if / when

In many everyday situations, both work. Here, unapozungumza sounds a little more explicitly like a general rule about the time when you speak to your parents.