Tutakutana karibu na msikiti jioni.

Tutakutana means we will meet.

It breaks down like this:

• tu- = we
• -ta- = future marker, like will
• -kutana = meet

So Swahili puts we and will inside the verb itself. That is very common in Swahili.

In normal usage, tutakutana is understood as we will meet in the sense of coming together / meeting each other.

English usually just says meet, but Swahili verbs often carry a slightly more relational sense. In everyday translation, we will meet is the best natural English equivalent.

Because Swahili usually builds that information into the verb.

In English, you need separate words:

• we
• will
• meet

In Swahili, one verb can contain all of that:

• tu-ta-kutana

So this is a normal feature of Swahili grammar, not something missing.

Yes, karibu can mean different things depending on context.

For example:

• Karibu! = Welcome! / Come in!
• karibu na = near

In this sentence, the important thing is the full expression karibu na, which means near or close to.

Because karibu na is the normal way to say near something.

So:

• karibu na msikiti = near the mosque

You should learn karibu na as a set expression. The na is not the ordinary English-style and here; it is part of the phrase meaning near.

Swahili does not use articles like a, an, and the.

So msikiti can mean:

• a mosque
• the mosque

The exact meaning depends on context. In a sentence like this, English often uses the mosque if both speakers already know which mosque is meant.

Msikiti means mosque.

Its plural is misikiti = mosques.

It belongs to a noun class that often has:

• singular m-
• plural mi-

In this sentence, you do not see much noun-class agreement, but it is useful to know the plural for later.

Jioni means in the evening, this evening, or simply evening, depending on context.

Swahili often uses time words without adding a separate preposition like English in or at.

So:

• jioni = in the evening

That is completely normal Swahili.

Time expressions often come near the end in Swahili, especially after the main action and location.

So this order is very natural:

• Tutakutana karibu na msikiti jioni.
• We will meet near the mosque in the evening.

But Swahili also allows some flexibility. For example:

• Jioni tutakutana karibu na msikiti.

This still means the same thing, but it puts more emphasis on in the evening.

Not quite.

Tutakutana means we will meet. It is a statement about the future.

If you want to suggest or propose it, Swahili more naturally uses:

• Tukutane karibu na msikiti jioni.

That means:

• Let’s meet near the mosque in the evening.

So the difference is:

• Tutakutana = we will meet
• Tukutane = let’s meet

A helpful approximate pronunciation is:

too-tah-koo-TAH-nah kah-REE-boo nah msee-KEE-tee jee-OH-nee

A few useful points:

• Swahili words are usually pronounced as written.
• Stress usually falls on the second-to-last syllable of each word.
• So you get:
  • tuta kuTAna
  • kaRIbu
  • msiKIti
  • jiOni

That makes pronunciation much more regular than in English.