Learn Hardcore Swahili: Kesho saa mbili asubuhi, utakuwa ukifanya mazoezi ya viungo uwanjani na kocha. - Tomorrow at eight in the morning, you will be doing physical exercises on the field with the coach.

So saa mbili asubuhi literally means the second hour in the morning, which corresponds to 8:00 a.m. in the Western (12‑hour/24‑hour) system.

Can I change the order of kesho, saa mbili, and asubuhi?

Yes, there is some flexibility. Common options include:

Kesho saa mbili asubuhi (very natural)
Kesho asubuhi saa mbili (also fine)
Asubuhi saa mbili kesho (less common, but understandable; sounds a bit marked)

Time expressions often come at the beginning of the sentence in Swahili, moving from larger to smaller units: day → part of day → exact hour. The given order Kesho saa mbili asubuhi follows that pattern and sounds very natural.

What is the difference between utakuwa ukifanya and utafanya?

Both refer to the future, but the aspect is different:

utafanya mazoezi = you will do exercises (simple future, a single event or general future action)
utakuwa ukifanya mazoezi = you will be doing exercises (future continuous/progressive, focusing on the action being in progress at that time)

So in the sentence:

Kesho saa mbili asubuhi, utakuwa ukifanya mazoezi…
= Tomorrow at eight in the morning, you will be in the middle of doing exercises…

How is utakuwa ukifanya built grammatically?

It is a combination of the future tense of kuwa (to be) and the -ki- form of the main verb:

utakuwa = u- (you, singular) + -ta- (future) + -kuwa (be) → you will be
ukifanya = u- (you, singular) + -ki- (marker for ongoing / while) + -fanya (do) → roughly while you are doing / (you) doing

When you put them together:

utakuwa ukifanya ≈ you will be (in the process of) doing

This kuwa + -ki- structure is a common way to express a continuous or progressive action in Swahili.

Could I just say Kesho saa mbili asubuhi, utafanya mazoezi ya viungo…? Would that be wrong?

It would not be wrong; it is grammatically correct. The meaning changes slightly:

utafanya mazoezi = a simple, future action (you will do them)
utakuwa ukifanya mazoezi = emphasizes that at that specific time you will already be in the middle of doing them

In many contexts, both are fine; the original just highlights the ongoing nature of the activity at saa mbili asubuhi.

What does mazoezi ya viungo literally mean, and why ya?

Breakdown:

mazoezi = exercises, practice, training
viungo = body parts, joints, limbs
ya = of (agreement marker for the noun class of mazoezi)

So mazoezi ya viungo is literally exercises of (the) body parts/joints, i.e. physical exercises / body exercises.

The word ya is a possessive/genitive linker:
Noun 1 + ya + Noun 2 → Noun 1 of Noun 2
Here, mazoezi (ya) viungo → exercises of the body.

Is there a difference between just mazoezi and mazoezi ya viungo?

Yes, in nuance:

mazoezi by itself is general: practice, training, exercises (could be sports, language practice, school drills, etc.).
mazoezi ya viungo is more specific: physical exercises, especially body‑movement exercises such as stretching, fitness drills, gymnastics‑style work, warm‑ups, etc.

You might also hear mazoezi ya mwili (body exercises), which is very similar in meaning to mazoezi ya viungo.

What does uwanjani mean, and how is it different from uwanja or kwenye uwanja?

uwanja = field, ground, pitch, open space (bare noun)
uwanjani = on/at the field, using the locative suffix -ni
kwenye uwanja = at/on the field, using the preposition kwenye

So:

uwanjani and kwenye uwanja both mean at the field.
uwanjani is shorter and very common in speech and writing.

The -ni at the end of uwanjani turns the place into a location, roughly equivalent to in / on / at in English, depending on context.

Why is there no word like at before saa mbili asubuhi (time) or with before the coach’s name?

Swahili often does not need separate prepositions where English does:

Time:
- Kesho saa mbili asubuhi literally: Tomorrow, hour two morning
  English adds at: Tomorrow at eight in the morning
  Swahili usually does not insert kwa or pa here.
With a person:
- na kocha = with the coach
  The word na covers meanings like and as well as with, depending on context.
  So you do not need a separate word just for with; na already does that job.

What does kocha mean? Is it a Swahili word or a loanword?

kocha means coach (a sports coach, trainer). It is a loanword from English, adapted to Swahili spelling and pronunciation.

It behaves like a normal Swahili noun:

singular: kocha
plural: makocha

In the sentence, na kocha simply means with the coach (context decides which specific coach).

How would I say the same sentence if I were talking to more than one person (you plural)?

For you (plural), both the subject marker and some verb forms change:

nyinyi = you (plural) – often omitted if clear from the verb
mtakuwa = you (plural) will be
mkifanya = you (plural) doing (with -ki-)

So the sentence becomes:

Kesho saa mbili asubuhi, mtakuwa mkifanya mazoezi ya viungo uwanjani na kocha.
= Tomorrow at eight in the morning, you (all) will be doing physical exercises on the field with the coach.

Is it necessary to put all the time information at the start, like Kesho saa mbili asubuhi, or can it go at the end?

It is not strictly necessary, but putting time expressions at the beginning is very common and natural in Swahili.

You could say:

Utakuwa ukifanya mazoezi ya viungo uwanjani na kocha kesho saa mbili asubuhi.

This is still correct and understandable. However, Kesho saa mbili asubuhi, … sounds more typical because:

Swahili often starts with time or topic information.
It prepares the listener for when before saying what will happen.

Could ukifanya here mean when you do or while you do, like in other contexts with -ki-?

In general, -ki- can mean while / when / as:

Ukifanya kazi, usisikilize muziki sana.
= When/while you work, don’t listen to too much music.

But in combination with kuwa (as in utakuwa ukifanya), -ki- is reinterpreted as a progressive aspect, i.e. be doing:

utakuwa ukifanya mazoezi
= you will be doing exercises (ongoing action in the future)

So the basic -ki- meaning (while/when) is still there historically, but in this pattern with kuwa, speakers understand it primarily as a continuous tense.