Learn Hardcore Swahili: Tutatoa shukrani kwa walimu kesho asubuhi. - We will give thanks to the teachers tomorrow morning.

tu- = we (1st person plural subject prefix)
-ta- = future tense marker
-toa = verb stem meaning give/take out/issue (final vowel -a) So Tutatoa = we will give.

Does toa only mean give?

No. toa is versatile:

give/offer: kutoa shukrani (give thanks), kutoa pesa (give/pay money)
take out/remove: kutoa viatu (take off shoes)
issue/release: kutoa taarifa (issue a statement)
emit/provide: kutoa mwanga/sauti (give off light/sound)
in arithmetic: subtract In this sentence, with shukrani, it means give (thanks).

Why say kutoa shukrani instead of kuwashukuru?

Both are natural:

kutoa shukrani kwa walimu = give thanks to the teachers (light-verb idiom)
kuwashukuru walimu = thank the teachers (direct verb) You could also say: Tutawashukuru walimu kesho asubuhi. The meaning is the same; the second is a bit more direct.

Why is kwa used before walimu?

With kutoa (give), kwa marks the recipient (to/for): kutoa kitu kwa mtu (give something to someone). It can also mean by/with/at depending on context, but here it introduces the recipient of the thanks.

How do I say it for one teacher?

Use the singular of teacher:

Tutatoa shukrani kwa mwalimu kesho asubuhi. Singular: mwalimu; plural: walimu.

What noun class is mwalimu/walimu, and how does agreement work?

They’re Class 1/2 (M-WA):

Singular (Class 1): mwalimu mzuri (a good teacher), verb subject prefix a- (e.g., mwalimu anafika)
Plural (Class 2): walimu wazuri (good teachers), verb subject prefix wa- (e.g., walimu wanafika)

Is shukrani singular or plural?

shukrani is an N-class loanword that is usually treated as plural in agreement, even though the form doesn’t change:

Common: shukrani nyingi, shukrani zangu/zetu (many thanks, my/our thanks) It can function like a mass noun (thanks), but plural agreement is typical.

Is the order kesho asubuhi required? Can I say asubuhi kesho or asubuhi ya kesho?

Most natural: kesho asubuhi (tomorrow morning).
asubuhi kesho is unusual.
asubuhi ya kesho (the morning of tomorrow) is correct and a bit more explicit/formal. Similar patterns: leo asubuhi, jana asubuhi, kesho jioni.

Where can the time phrase go in the sentence?

Time expressions commonly go at the beginning or end:

Kesho asubuhi tutatoa shukrani kwa walimu.
Tutatoa shukrani kwa walimu kesho asubuhi. Both are natural; fronting adds emphasis on time.

Can I drop asubuhi and just say kesho?

Yes. Tutatoa shukrani kwa walimu kesho is fine (we will do it tomorrow, unspecified time). You can also use other times: kesho jioni (tomorrow evening), keshokutwa asubuhi (the morning of the day after tomorrow).

How do I make it negative?

Future negative: Hatutatoa shukrani kwa walimu kesho asubuhi. (we will not give thanks…)
Present/habitual negative: Hatutoi shukrani kwa walimu.
Past negative: Hatukutoa shukrani kwa walimu.
Not yet (perfect negative): Hatujatoa shukrani kwa walimu.

What’s the past tense of Tutatoa?

Tulitoa (we gave). Example: Tulitoa shukrani kwa walimu jana asubuhi. Note it’s -litoa, not -litowa.

Would native speakers say Tutatoa kwa walimu shukrani?

That’s unnatural. kutoa shukrani is a fixed chunk, so keep shukrani right after kutoa, then add the recipient: kutoa shukrani kwa…

Could kwa walimu be misunderstood as at the teachers’ place?

kwa can mean at someone’s place (e.g., kwa mama = at mom’s place). Here, with kutoa shukrani, context strongly favors to the teachers (recipient). If you want to be unambiguous and direct, use the verb shukuru: Tutawashukuru walimu…

How would I say we’re going to (intend to) give thanks to the teachers tomorrow morning?

Tunaenda kutoa shukrani kwa walimu kesho asubuhi. This expresses an intention/plan using go to. The plain future Tutatoa… is also perfectly natural.

Any pronunciation tips for the sentence?

Swahili stress is on the penultimate syllable of a word.
Tutatoa: tu-ta-O-a (stress on O); oa is two vowels, pronounced separately.
shukrani: shu-KRA-ni; roll the r lightly.
walimu: wa-LI-mu.
kesho: KE-sho.
asubuhi: a-su-BU-hi. Say it smoothly: tu-ta-O-a shu-KRA-ni kwa wa-LI-mu KE-sho a-su-BU-hi.