Usiri ni muhimu.

Confidentiality is important.

Breakdown of Usiri ni muhimu.

• kuwa: to be
• muhimu: important
• usiri: confidentiality; secrecy

Questions & Answers about Usiri ni muhimu.

What is the difference between usiri and siri?

Usiri is an abstract noun. It means something like secrecy, confidentiality, or privacy.

Siri, on the other hand, means a secret or secrets, depending on context.

So:

• Usiri ni muhimu. = Secrecy/Confidentiality is important.
• Siri ni muhimu. = A secret / secrets are important or The secret is important, depending on context.

A useful pattern to notice is that u- often helps form abstract nouns in Swahili.

What does ni mean in this sentence?

Ni is the linking word between the subject and what is being said about it. In this sentence, it works like English is.

So the structure is:

• Usiri = subject
• ni = is
• muhimu = important

Together: Usiri ni muhimu. = Secrecy is important.

A helpful thing for learners is that ni does not change here the way English is/are/am does.

Why is there no word for the or a?