Learn Hardcore Swahili: Tutakapokutana kesho asubuhi, tutapanga ratiba ya mkutano. - When we meet tomorrow morning, we will arrange the meeting schedule.

The prefix tu- on both verbs marks the subject as we (1st person plural). It appears on both the dependent verb (tutakapokutana) and the main verb (tutapanga) because each clause needs its own subject marking in Swahili.

How is tutakapokutana built, and what does it literally mean?

It’s a future-time “when” relative form:

tu- = we
-takapo- = when (in the future)
-kutana = meet

So tutakapokutana means “when we meet (in the future).” Pattern: [subject] + takapo + verb = “when [subject] [verb] (future).” Examples: nitakapofika (when I arrive), atakapopiga simu (when he/she calls).

What’s the difference between tutakapokutana, tukikutana, and tulipokutana?

tutakapokutana = when we meet (future-specific “when”).
tukikutana = when/if we meet (general, open-ended time; also used for habitual or conditional).
tulipokutana = when we met (past).

Could I just say Tutakutana kesho asubuhi, tutapanga ratiba ya mkutano? Is that the same?

Grammatically correct, but the meaning shifts slightly:

Tutakapokutana… = “When we meet… (then we’ll plan…)” emphasizes a time condition.
Tutakutana…, tutapanga… = “We will meet…, and we will plan…” Two sequential future events without the explicit “when” conditional flavor.

Why is there a comma after kesho asubuhi?

It marks the boundary between the dependent “when”-clause and the main clause. It’s optional but helpful. You can also put the dependent clause second: Tutapanga ratiba ya mkutano tutakapokutana kesho asubuhi (usually without a comma).

Where can I place the time phrase kesho asubuhi?

All of these are fine and natural:

Tutakapokutana kesho asubuhi, …
Kesho asubuhi tutakapokutana, …
…, tutakapokutana kesho asubuhi. You can also say asubuhi ya kesho, but kesho asubuhi is more common in speech.

Why is it ratiba ya mkutano and not ratiba wa mkutano?

The connector “of” must agree with the head noun’s class:

ratiba is noun class 9/10, which takes the connector ya.
wa is for class 1/2 head nouns (people), not used here. So: head noun ratiba (class 9) + ya
- mkutano (“meeting”) = “schedule of the meeting.”

Does ratiba ya mkutano mean “meeting agenda”? I’ve also seen ajenda.

ratiba ya mkutano = the meeting’s schedule/timetable (times, order of items).
ajenda ya mkutano = the agenda (list of topics to discuss). Use ajenda when you mean discussion points; use ratiba when you mean timing/sequence.

Is tutapanga the only natural verb here? Could I use others?

You’ll often hear:

tutaandaa ratiba ya mkutano (we’ll prepare the schedule)
tutaweka ratiba ya mkutano (we’ll set the schedule) All are natural. panga = arrange/plan; andaa = prepare; weka = set/establish.

Why does the verb look like it still has ku- inside tutakapokutana? Isn’t ku- the infinitive marker?

Don’t worry about that here—kutana is the verb “meet,” and in finite forms you still see it as -kutana (e.g., wanakutana, “they meet”). The ku you see is part of how this verb is realized in its stem forms, not the standalone infinitive prefix in this context.

How would I negate the “when”-clause, like “If we don’t meet tomorrow morning, …”?

Use the negative with the “when/if” relative:

Tusipokutana kesho asubuhi, tutapanga baadaye. = If we don’t meet tomorrow morning, we’ll plan later. Here tu- (we) + -si- (negative) + -po- (when/if) + verb.

Is there any pronunciation tip for tutakapokutana?

Stress is fairly even, vowel sounds are pure and short: tu-ta-ka-po-ku-ta-na. Every vowel is pronounced; there are no silent letters.