Learn Hardcore Swahili: Tafadhali tuma maelezo kwa barua pepe kesho asubuhi. - Please send the details by email tomorrow morning.

tuma is the affirmative imperative for the 2nd person singular (a direct command/request to one person): Tuma maelezo… (Send the details…).
To address more than one person, use the plural imperative: tumeni. Example: Tafadhali tumeni maelezo…
Negative imperatives use the negative prefix and the subjunctive ending:
- Singular: usitume (Please don’t send…)
- Plural: msitume (Please don’t send… to you all)

Where does tafadhali go, and are there other polite ways to ask?

tafadhali commonly appears at the beginning: Tafadhali tuma…
It can also appear after the verb or at the end: Tuma maelezo, tafadhali.
Softer or more deferential options:
- Naomba utume maelezo… (I request that you send…)
- Tafadhali, unaweza kunitumia maelezo…? (Please, could you send me the details…?)
- Ningependa utume maelezo… (I’d like you to send…)
Using both tafadhali and naomba together is possible but not necessary.

What exactly does maelezo mean? Do I need a singular form?

maelezo means information/details/explanation(s). It’s a so‑called “mass plural” (Class 6); a singular elezo exists but is rare in everyday use.
To specify definiteness, use demonstratives or quantifiers:
- maelezo hayo (those/the details just mentioned)
- maelezo yote (all the details)
Agreement with Class 6 shows up elsewhere if needed (e.g., maelezo yote yamefika – all the details have arrived).

Why kwa barua pepe? Could I say it another way?

kwa marks the instrument/means: kwa barua pepe = by/via email.
Natural alternatives:
- kupitia barua pepe (through/by way of email)
- kwa njia ya barua pepe (by the means of email)
All are acceptable; kwa barua pepe is the shortest and most common.

Is barua pepe the only way to say email? Any spelling variants?

The most standard and widely accepted term is barua pepe.
You will also see baruapepe or barua-pepe; choose one style and be consistent.
Colloquial borrowings like imeili/imeli are heard in some places, but barua pepe is safest in formal or neutral contexts.

How do I say “send me the details”?

Use the applicative form tumia with an object marker for the recipient:
- Tafadhali nitumie maelezo (Please send me the details).
Other persons:
- mtumie (send to him/her): Tafadhali mtumie maelezo.
- tutumie (send to us), watumie (send to them), etc.
You can still keep the medium: Tafadhali nitumie maelezo kwa barua pepe.

How do I include the recipient’s name? Should I use kwa or the verb applicative?

Most natural is the applicative with the name:
- Mtumie Juma maelezo kwa barua pepe (Send Juma the details by email).
You may also hear a prepositional option:
- Tuma maelezo kwa Juma kwa barua pepe, but the applicative is generally preferred in good style.
It’s okay to include both the object marker and the name for clarity/emphasis: Mtumie Juma maelezo…

Can I move the time phrase to the front?

Yes. Time expressions are flexible in Swahili.
- Kesho asubuhi, tafadhali tuma maelezo kwa barua pepe.
You could also say Asubuhi ya kesho, tafadhali tuma… for the same meaning.

Is asubuhi the only way to say morning? What about very early morning?

asubuhi = morning (roughly after dawn to late morning).
alfajiri = very early morning/dawn.
Examples:
- kesho alfajiri (tomorrow at dawn)
- kesho asubuhi (tomorrow morning)

Is asubuhi kesho okay?

The most natural options are kesho asubuhi or asubuhi ya kesho (tomorrow morning).
asubuhi kesho is much less common and can sound odd.

How would I add a specific time, like 9 a.m.?

Swahili commonly uses local “Swahili time,” where 7:00 a.m. = saa 1 asubuhi. So 9:00 a.m. is saa 3 asubuhi.
Example: Tafadhali tuma maelezo kesho asubuhi saa tatu (Please send the details tomorrow morning at 9:00).
If needed, clarify with a 24‑hour clock: saa 9:00 asubuhi (some people do this for avoidance of doubt).

How do I make a softer, more deferential request than a bare imperative?

Use a polite verb phrase instead of the imperative:
- Naomba utume maelezo kwa barua pepe kesho asubuhi.
- Tafadhali, unaweza kunitumia maelezo…?
- Ningependa utume… / Ikiwezekana, nitumie…
These sound less direct and are common in formal or respectful contexts.

How do I say “Please don’t send the details tomorrow morning”?

What’s the difference between tuma and tumia?

tuma = send (basic verb): Tuma maelezo (Send details).
tumia = use; and with the applicative sense, send to someone:
- nitumie (send to me), mtumie (send to him/her), watumie (send to them), etc.
So you use tuma for the action and tumia when you want to mark the recipient as an indirect object.

Any pronunciation tips for this sentence?

Stress is on the second‑to‑last syllable of each word: ta-FA-dha-li TU-ma ma-e-LE-zo KWA ba-RU-a PE-pe KE-sho a-su-BU-hi.
dh in tafadhali is like the English th in “this” (voiced ð).
Each vowel is pronounced clearly; no silent letters.

Do I need a word for “the” before maelezo?

Swahili has no articles (no “the”/“a”). maelezo can mean details/information in general.
To specify “the details,” use a demonstrative or context:
- maelezo hayo (those/the details just mentioned)
- maelezo yale (those details, more distant in context)
For emphasis like “all the details,” say maelezo yote.