INTRODUCTION |
In this lesson you’ll learn how to get to places by taxi. |
BODY |
Imagine you want to go Bomas of Kenya, an important place in Nairobi. |
In Swahili, “To Bomas of Kenya, please.” is |
Hadi Bomas of Kenya, tafadhali. |
Let’s break it down: |
(slow) Ha - di Bomas of Kenya, ta - fa - dha - li. |
Once more: |
Hadi Bomas of Kenya, tafadhali. |
Just add hadi, which means “to” before your destination. |
hadi |
(slow) hadi |
hadi |
This is the easiest way to say where you want to go. |
・ |
Of course, it’ s good to have more than one option! |
You can also say “Let’s go to Bomas of Kenya please.” |
Twende Bomas of Kenya, tafadhali. |
Let’s break it down: |
(slow) Twe - nde Bo - ma - s of Ke - nya, ta - fa - dha - li. |
And again: |
Twende Bomas of Kenya, tafadhali. |
The first word, Twende, means something like “let’s go.” |
Twende |
(slow) Twende |
Twende |
This is followed by the destination, in this case, it’s “Bomas of Kenya” |
Finally, the familiar tafadhali which means “please”. |
Altogether, we have, |
Twende Bomas of Kenya, tafadhali. |
・ |
When you want to get out, you can say “Here, please.” |
Hapa, tafadhali. |
Just say these words and the driver will stop. |
Hapa, tafadhali. |
(slow) Ha - pa, ta - fa - dha - li. |
Hapa, tafadhali. |
Hapa, as we’ve seen, means “here.” |
(slow) Hapa |
Hapa |
Once more, all together, that’s |
(slow) Ha - pa, ta - fa - dha - li. |
Hapa, tafadhali. |
It could also be nice to add “thank you” after the driver stops: |
Asante. |
・ |
If you want to be really specific about it, you can say |
Tutasimama hapa, tafadhali. |
which means “We’ll stop here, please.” |
(slow) Tu - ta - si - ma - ma ha - pa, ta - fa - |
dha - li. |
Tutasimama hapa, tafadhali. |
Tutasimama means “we shall stop.” |
(slow) Tu - ta - si - ma - ma |
Tutasimama |
hapa means “here” and is followed by the obvious |
tafadhali (“please”) |
All together, that’s (slow) Tu - ta - si - ma - ma ha - pa, ta - fa - dha - li. |
Tutasimama hapa, tafadhali. |
・ |
When it’s time to pay, you may want to know |
Naweza lipa kutimi kadi kope? |
“Can I pay by credit card?” |
Since Kenyan taxis might not accept credit cards, it helps to ask before you get in. |
Naweza lipa kutumia kadi kope? |
Let’s break it down: |
(slow) Na - we - za li - pa ku - tu - mi - a ka -di ko - pe? |
Again at natural speed: |
Naweza lipa kutumia kadi kope? |
The first word, naweza, means “can I.” |
(slow) na - we - za. |
naweza |
The next word, lipa, means “pay,” |
(slow) li - pa |
lipa |
It is followed by kutumia, which means “using.” |
(slow) ku - tu - mi - a |
kutumia |
The last two words, kadi kope, mean “credit card, |
kadi is a word for “card” |
kadi |
(slow) kadi |
kadi |
While kope is a literal word for “credit.” |
kope |
(slow) kope |
kope |
Together we have, |
(slow) ka - di ko - pe |
kadi kope |
The entire question is |
(slow) Na - we - za li - pa ku - tu - mi - a ka - di ko - pe? |
Naweza lipa kutumia kadi kope? |
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