Learn Hardcore Swahili: Ni vizuri utoe shukrani kwa salamu nzuri za wageni. - It is good to give thanks for the guests’ nice greetings.

Ni is the neutral present copula “is/are.” Vizuri means “good/well.” Together Ni vizuri introduces an impersonal evaluation that often leads into advice or a recommendation (“it is good that/to…”). Negative is Si vizuri… (also written Sio vizuri…).

What form is utoe, and why does it end in -e?

It’s the 2nd person singular subjunctive of toa “to give”: u-to-e (u- = “you,” no tense marker, final vowel -e). The -e marks the subjunctive/irrealis, commonly triggered after evaluative expressions like Ni vizuri…, Ni bora…, Ni heri….

Why not say unatoa instead of utoe?

Unatoa is indicative (“you give/are giving”). After an evaluation like Ni vizuri, Swahili typically uses the subjunctive to express what is recommended/desired: Ni vizuri utoe… states advice, not a simple fact.

How would this change if I’m addressing more than one person?

Use the 2nd person plural subjunctive: mtoe (m-to-e). Example: Ni vizuri mtoe shukrani….

How can I make the statement generic rather than aimed at “you”?

Use the infinitive: Ni vizuri kutoa shukrani…. Subjunctive (utoe) = directed advice; infinitive (kutoa) = general statement.

How do I negate this idea properly?

To negate the evaluation: Si vizuri utoe shukrani… (“It’s not good that you give thanks…”).
To say “It’s not good not to give thanks”: Si vizuri usitoe shukrani…, where usi- is the negative subjunctive (u-si-to-e).

What does kwa mean here?

Here kwa marks cause/reason (“for/because of”). It can also mean “by/with/at/through” in other contexts; the intended sense is determined by what follows.

Could I use kwa ajili ya instead of kwa?

Yes: … kutoa/utoe shukrani kwa ajili ya salamu nzuri za wageni. It’s a bit more explicit/formal (“for the sake of/because of”). You can also thank people directly: … shukrani kwa wageni (“thanks to the guests”).

What noun class is salamu, and is it singular or plural?

Salamu is N-class (9/10). Singular and plural look the same. In practice it’s often treated as plural (“greetings”), but it can be singular in context (salamu moja = one greeting). The use of za in the sentence shows it’s treated as plural here.

Why is the adjective nzuri shaped that way?

Adjectives agree with the noun’s class. For class 9/10 nouns like salamu, the agreeing form is nzuri. Compare: mtu mzuri (class 1), wageni wazuri (class 2), salamu nzuri (class 9/10).

Why is it za wageni and not ya/wa wageni?

The associative “of” particle agrees with the head noun (salamu), not with the possessor (wageni). Since salamu is class 10 (plural here), use za: salamu … za wageni. If singular: salamu … ya mgeni.

Is wageni singular or plural, and what’s the singular?

Wageni is plural (class 2). The singular is mgeni (class 1).

Can I say “their greetings” with a possessive pronoun?

Yes: salamu zao (“their greetings”). The possessive agrees with the possessed noun, so for class 10 it’s -zao. Example: … kwa salamu zao nzuri.

Is toa shukrani the only way to say “thank”?

No. You can also use the verb shukuru (“to thank/be grateful”): Ni vizuri umshukuru mgeni / Ni vizuri ushukuru mgeni. Exclamations like asante / asante sana are common in conversation.

Do I need an object marker when thanking a specific person?

With a full noun object, the object marker is optional and often omitted unless the object is topical/definite. So both are heard: Ni vizuri ushukuru mgeni (no object marker) and Ni vizuri umshukuru mgeni (with -m-).

Can kwa be ambiguous with “with/by using”?

Yes, kwa can mark instrument/means. Context disambiguates. If you want to force the causal reading, use kwa ajili ya.

Are there articles (“the/a”) in this sentence?

Swahili has no articles. Definiteness comes from context. wageni can mean “guests/visitors” in general or “the guests” already known in the situation.

Can I front the kwa… phrase?

Yes, for topicalization/focus: Kwa salamu nzuri za wageni, ni vizuri utoe/kutoa shukrani. It’s grammatical but marked; the neutral order keeps the kwa… phrase after the verb phrase.

Any quick pronunciation tips?

utoe: u-TOH-eh (three syllables; final -e is its own vowel).
shukrani: shoo-KRAH-nee.
wageni: wah-GEH-nee.
salamu nzuri: sah-LAH-moo n-ZOO-ree (the n in nzuri forms a cluster with z).