Tunataka kuongeza akiba.

Tunataka breaks down as:

• tu- = we
• -na- = present tense marker
• -taka = want

So tunataka literally means we are wanting, but in natural English it is usually just we want.

In Swahili, ku- is the infinitive marker, like to in English.

So:

• kuongeza = to add / to increase

After a verb like -taka (to want), Swahili normally uses the infinitive:

• tunataka kuongeza = we want to increase

Kuongeza is the infinitive form, meaning to increase / to add.

Ongeza without ku- is commonly the imperative, meaning increase! / add!

So in this sentence, kuongeza is used because it follows tunataka:

• Tunataka kuongeza... = We want to increase...

not

• Tunataka ongeza... which would be ungrammatical here

It can mean either, depending on context.

With akiba (savings / reserves), it often has the sense of:

• to increase savings
• to add to savings

So the exact English wording can vary, but the Swahili is natural in either sense.

Akiba usually means savings, reserve, or stock/reserve kept for future use.

In a financial context, it often means savings. In other contexts, it can mean a reserve supply.

So it is broader than just money. It refers more specifically to something set aside.

Swahili does not have articles like the or a/an.

So akiba can mean:

• savings
• the savings
• some savings

The exact interpretation comes from context.

Not by itself. Akiba just means savings / reserves.

If you want to say our savings explicitly, you would say:

• akiba yetu = our savings

So Tunataka kuongeza akiba does not literally contain our, even if English context might imply it.

The subject is already included in tu- inside tunataka.

So:

• Tunataka kuongeza akiba = We want to increase savings

You can add sisi for emphasis:

• Sisi tunataka kuongeza akiba

That would mean something like We want to increase savings with extra emphasis on we.

Yes. This is a very normal pattern:

• Subject + verb + infinitive + object

So:

• Tunataka = we want
• kuongeza akiba = to increase savings

The whole sentence is straightforward and natural.

You would say:

• Hatutaki kuongeza akiba.

This means We do not want to increase savings.

Notice the change:

• tunataka = we want
• hatutaki = we do not want

In the negative present, Swahili does not use the -na- present marker here.

A simple syllable breakdown is:

• Tu-na-ta-ka
• ku-on-ge-za
• a-ki-ba

A few useful pronunciation notes:

• Swahili vowels are usually pure and consistent:
  • a as in father
  • e as in bed or a bit tenser
  • i as in machine
  • o as in go but shorter
  • u as in rule
• In ongeza, ng is pronounced like ngg in finger, not like ng in singer.
• Stress in Swahili usually falls on the second-to-last syllable of each word:
  • tu-na-ta-ka
  • ku-on-ge-za
  • a-ki-ba

Because pesa means money, while akiba means savings or reserves.

Compare:

• kuongeza pesa = to increase money or add money
• kuongeza akiba = to increase savings

So akiba is more specific and is the better word if you mean money set aside.