Nina shughuli; tunahitaji kubadilisha mipango.

Nina can be understood as:

• ni- = I
• na = have / with

So nina means I have.

You will see the same pattern with other subjects:

• una = you have
• ana = he/she has
• tuna = we have

In Swahili, the subject is usually built into the verb, so you often do not need a separate pronoun.

For example:

• ni- in nina already means I
• tu- in tunahitaji already means we

You can add mimi or sisi for emphasis, but they are not required.

Tunahitaji breaks down like this:

• tu- = we
• -na- = present tense marker
• -hitaji = need

So tunahitaji means we need or we are needing in the present sense. In normal English, we need is the best translation.

After verbs like need, Swahili normally uses the infinitive, which begins with ku-.

So:

• kubadilisha = to change
• tunahitaji kubadilisha = we need to change

This works much like English to change after need.

Because kubadilisha means to change something, while kubadilika means to change / become different by itself.

Here, mipango is the thing being changed, so a transitive verb is needed:

• kubadilisha mipango = to change plans

If you used kubadilika, the meaning would shift toward the plans change rather than we change the plans.

Because mipango is the plural form of mpango.

• mpango = plan
• mipango = plans

So kubadilisha mipango means to change plans or to change the plans, depending on context.

It can be a little tricky for English speakers. Shughuli often keeps the same form in singular and plural, and in real usage it can also feel collective, like business or things to do.

So depending on context, it might be understood as:

• an activity
• activities
• business
• work
• things to do

In nina shughuli, the idea is usually broad: I have something to do or I’m busy.

This is a very normal Swahili order:

• tunahitaji = we need
• kubadilisha = to change
• mipango = plans

So the pattern is:

verb + infinitive + object

That matches the English idea we need to change plans quite closely.

The semicolon links two closely related thoughts:

• Nina shughuli
• tunahitaji kubadilisha mipango

It suggests a pause stronger than a comma but weaker than a full stop. In speech, you would usually pause briefly. The relationship is something like:

• I’m busy; we need to change plans
• possibly I’m busy, so we need to change plans

The exact connection depends on context.

A few useful pronunciation points:

• Swahili vowels are usually pronounced clearly: a, e, i, o, u
• Stress is usually on the second-to-last syllable

Rough guides:

• nina → NEE-na
• shughuli → shu-GHU-li
• tunahitaji → tu-na-hi-TA-ji
• kubadilisha → ku-ba-di-LI-sha
• mipango → mi-PA-ngo

Also, try to pronounce each vowel clearly rather than reducing sounds the way English often does.