Upepo ukivuma kwa kasi, tutafunga madirisha.

Ukivuma breaks down like this:

• u- = subject marker agreeing with upepo (wind)
• -ki- = if/when
• -vuma = blow, roar, rush

So upepo ukivuma literally means something like the wind if/when it blows.

This is a very common Swahili pattern: a noun is stated, and the verb still shows agreement with that noun.

There is no separate word for if here, because the idea of if/when is built into -ki- inside ukivuma.

So:

• ukivuma = if/when it blows

This is one of the most important things for English speakers to get used to in Swahili: meanings that English often expresses with separate words are often built into the verb.

Yes. In many sentences, -ki- can be understood as either if or when, depending on context.

So this sentence could be understood as:

• If the wind blows hard, we will close the windows
• When the wind blows hard, we will close the windows

The exact nuance depends on the situation. If you are talking about a possible condition, English often uses if. If you mean something expected or habitual, English may use when.

Because upepo belongs to a noun class that uses u- for subject agreement in the singular.

In Swahili, verbs must agree with their subjects, not just by person (I, you, we) but also by noun class. So even though upepo is not a person, the verb still shows the correct agreement:

• upepo ukivuma = the wind if/when it blows

This agreement is normal and required in good Swahili.

Tutafunga can be divided into:

• tu- = we
• -ta- = future marker (will)
• -funga = close, shut

So:

• tutafunga = we will close

This is a very standard Swahili verb structure: subject marker + tense marker + verb root

Because Swahili usually puts tense inside the verb.

In tutafunga, the future meaning comes from -ta-. So instead of using a separate word like English will, Swahili builds the future directly into the verb form.

Compare:

• tunafunga = we are closing / we close
• tutafunga = we will close

Kwa kasi means fast, quickly, or in this context strongly / at high speed.

With wind, kwa kasi is naturally understood as something like:

• strongly
• hard
• at high speed

So upepo ukivuma kwa kasi means if/when the wind blows strongly/hard.

Swahili often uses phrases like kwa kasi where English might use a single adverb.

That is just a normal Swahili way of expressing manner.

• kwa often introduces a manner expression
• kasi means speed

So kwa kasi literally relates to with speed / at speed, but in natural English it usually becomes quickly, fast, or here hard/strongly.

English speakers often expect a single adverb, but Swahili frequently uses a short phrase instead.

Swahili does not have articles like English a, an, and the.

So madirisha can mean:

• windows
• the windows

The exact meaning depends on context.

Also, madirisha is the plural form of dirisha:

• dirisha = window
• madirisha = windows

Because madirisha is the object, not the subject.

The verb agrees with the subject:

• in ukivuma, the subject is upepo
• in tutafunga, the subject is understood as we

Since madirisha is what is being closed, it does not control the subject marker on the verb here.

Yes, but not in exactly the same way as in English.

This sentence starts with the condition:

• Upepo ukivuma kwa kasi, tutafunga madirisha.

That is very natural: If/when the wind blows hard, we will close the windows.

Swahili often places a conditional clause first, especially when setting the scene. The order helps the sentence feel clear and natural.

Yes, you can use ikiwa in some contexts to make the if idea more explicit.

For example, a learner may encounter forms like:

• Ikiwa upepo unavuma kwa kasi, tutafunga madirisha.

That also means If the wind is blowing hard, we will close the windows.

But the version with -ki- is very normal and compact:

• Upepo ukivuma kwa kasi, tutafunga madirisha.

English speakers should get comfortable with both patterns.

Not only. -vuma has a broader sense depending on context. It can be used for things like:

• wind blowing
• a loud rushing or roaring sound
• strong movement or intensity

In this sentence, because the subject is upepo, the meaning is clearly blow.

It can be either, depending on context.

It might mean:

• a specific future plan: If the wind blows hard later, we’ll close the windows
• a more general reaction: Whenever the wind blows hard, we close/will close the windows

The future verb tutafunga makes the response sound forward-looking, but the sentence can still be used in a general, practical sense.