Mwisho unaweza kutabirika.

Mwisho means end, ending, or conclusion.

Swahili does not use articles like English the or a/an, so mwisho could mean the end, an end, or the ending, depending on context. In this sentence, it is the subject.

Yes, it can mean you can in other sentences, but not here.

In Swahili, the beginning of the verb shows what the subject is. The u- in unaweza can refer either to:

• you singular, or
• a class 3 singular noun

Here it agrees with mwisho, so unaweza means it can or the end can, not you can.

It breaks down like this:

• u- = subject prefix agreeing with mwisho
• -na- = present tense
• -weza = be able, can

So unaweza literally means it is able to, and more naturally it can.

The ku- is the infinitive marker, similar to English to in to go or to predict.

So after unaweza (can), Swahili uses an infinitive:

• anaweza kwenda = he/she can go
• mwisho unaweza kutabirika = the ending can be predicted / is predictable

Kutabirika means to be predictable or to be capable of being predicted.

It is related to kutabiri, which means to predict.

These two forms are close in meaning, but they are not exactly the same:

• kutabiriwa = to be predicted
  This is a passive form. It focuses on the action being done by someone.

• kutabirika = to be predictable
  This is a stative/potential form. It focuses on the thing itself being predictable.

So Mwisho unaweza kutabirika suggests that the ending is predictable by nature, not just that someone predicts it.

Swahili often does not need a separate present-tense word for is/are.

English says The ending is predictable or The ending can be predicted, but Swahili can express that idea directly with the verb phrase unaweza kutabirika.

So the sentence sounds natural without a separate word for is.

The tense marker is -na-, which usually marks the present.

So unaweza is present tense: can / is able to.

In this sentence, that gives a general present meaning such as:

• The ending can be predicted
• The ending is predictable

If you changed the tense marker, the meaning would change too:

• uliweza = it could / it was able to
• utaweza = it will be able to

You would say:

• Mwisho hauwezi kutabirika.

That means:

• The ending cannot be predicted
• The ending is not predictable

Here hauwezi is the negative form used with a singular class 3 noun like mwisho.

A rough pronunciation guide is:

• Mwisho = MWI-sho
• unaweza = u-na-WE-za
• kutabirika = ku-ta-bi-RI-ka

A few useful points:

• sh sounds like sh in ship
• vowels are pronounced clearly: a, e, i, o, u
• stress in Swahili usually falls on the next-to-last syllable
• r is usually a light tap or trill, not the strong English r