Learn Hardcore Swahili: Daktari anataka kuchoma sindano kesho asubuhi. - The doctor wants to give an injection tomorrow morning.

Primarily desire or intention, but with a time phrase like kesho asubuhi it effectively points to a planned future action. If you want a plain future without the “want” idea, use future tense on the main verb: Daktari atadunga/atachoma sindano kesho asubuhi.

Why do we need ku- in kuchoma?

ku- marks the infinitive (the “to” form). After verbs like taka (want), the next verb appears in the infinitive: anataka kuchoma = wants to inject.

Is kuchoma sindano the only way to say “to give an injection”?

No. Common options:

kudunga sindano (very standard/medical)
kuchoma sindano (widely used; literal “pierce/burn,” but with sindano it means inject)
kupiga sindano (heard regionally/colloquially) All are understood; for a clinic/hospital register, kudunga sindano is the safest.

Where’s the person being injected (me/you/him/her) in this sentence?

It isn’t specified. To include it, attach an object marker to the infinitive:

Anataka kunichoma/kunidunga sindano = He/she wants to inject me
Anataka kukuchoma/kukudunga sindano = … inject you
Anataka kumchoma/kumdunga sindano = … inject him/her

How do I say “wants me to give an injection” (i.e., I’m the one who should do it)?

Use the subjunctive in the second clause:

Anataka nichome/niidung(e) sindano (kesho asubuhi). This is “He/she wants me to give an injection.”

Can I include the patient as a noun too?

Yes. Common everyday phrasing:

Anataka kumdunga mgonjwa sindano kesho asubuhi. You’ll also hear the applied form, which is very clear and grammatical:
Anataka kumdungia mgonjwa sindano kesho asubuhi. Both are understood; the applied form -ia highlights the recipient.

Can I move the time phrase? Is Kesho asubuhi, daktari… okay?

Yes. Time expressions are flexible:

Daktari anataka kuchoma/dunga sindano kesho asubuhi.
Kesho asubuhi, daktari anataka kuchoma/dunga sindano. You can also say asubuhi ya kesho (“tomorrow’s morning”).

Do I need a preposition like “in/at” before asubuhi?

No. Swahili typically uses bare time words:

kesho asubuhi = tomorrow morning If you need a clock time: kesho asubuhi saa tatu (see next Q about Swahili time).

How do I say “tomorrow morning at 9 o’clock,” and what about Swahili time?

Say kesho asubuhi saa tatu. In Swahili time, hours start at sunrise, so:

saa moja asubuhi = 7:00 a.m.
saa mbili asubuhi = 8:00 a.m.
saa tatu asubuhi = 9:00 a.m. Add asubuhi/mchana/jioni/usiku to clarify the part of day.

How do I negate this sentence?

Change anataka to hataki:

Daktari hataki kuchoma/dunga sindano kesho asubuhi. Negative present uses the negative subject prefix and the verb ends in -i (e.g., sitaki, hataki, hatutaki).

How do I turn it into a yes–no question?

Intonation only: Daktari anataka kuchoma sindano kesho asubuhi?
With Je: Je, daktari anataka kuchoma sindano kesho asubuhi?

What about plurals—how do I say “The doctors want to…”?

Plural of daktari is madaktari, and the subject prefix becomes wa-:

Madaktari wanataka kuchoma/dunga sindano kesho asubuhi.

Where’s “the/a” in Daktari? How do I say “the doctor” vs “a doctor”?

Swahili has no articles. Daktari can mean “a doctor” or “the doctor” from context. To be specific, add a demonstrative:

huyu daktari (this doctor), yule daktari (that doctor).

How do I specify gender (“he” vs “she”)?

Swahili doesn’t mark gender in the verb; anataka is he or she. If needed:

Add yeye for emphasis (context tells gender), or specify: daktari mwanamke (female doctor), daktari mwanaume (male doctor), also daktari wa kike/wa kiume.

Does kuchoma also mean “to burn/roast”? Is that confusing here?

Yes, choma can mean burn/roast/pierce. With sindano, it’s idiomatic for injecting, so there’s no confusion:

kuchoma/kudunga sindano = to give an injection For receiving an injection, you’ll hear the passive: Nitadungwa sindano kesho asubuhi (= I will be injected tomorrow morning).