Learn the question When is your birthday? in Swahili and how to answer it
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| Eric: Top 25 Swahili Questions You Need to Know - Lesson 12 “When is your birthday?” in Swahili. In each lesson of this 25 part series, you'll encounter a common question for Swahili learners, and then learn how to answer like a native. You'll learn how these key phrases work by breaking them down into each component. Then, through repetition and new vocabulary, you'll expand your understanding of the question, its answers, and any variations. |
| In this lesson, you'll learn how to respond to the common question “When is your birthday?” In Swahili this is |
| Medina: Siku yako ya kuzaliwa ni lini? |
| Eric: The first part of the question is |
| Medina: Siku yako ya kuzaliwa |
| Eric: meaning “birthday” in English. |
| Medina: (Slow, by syllable) Siku yako ya kuzaliwa |
| Eric: Listen again and repeat. |
| Medina:Siku yako ya kuzaliwa |
| {Pause} |
| Eric: This pattern of first introducing a word at natural speed, providing the translation, breaking it down, and then giving it again at natural speed will be repeated throughout the series. Try to speak aloud as often as possible. The next word in the question is |
| Medina: ni |
| Eric: meaning “is.” |
| Medina: (Slow, by syllable) ni |
| Eric: Now repeat. |
| Medina: ni |
| {Pause} |
| Eric: Listen to the first part the question and repeat. |
| Medina: Siku yako ya kuzaliwa ni |
| {pause} |
| Eric: Next is |
| Medina: lini |
| Eric: meaning “when” |
| Medina: (Slow, by syllable) lini |
| Eric: Now repeat. |
| Medina: lini |
| {Pause} |
| Eric: Listen to the entire question and repeat. |
| Medina: Siku yako ya kuzaliwa ni lini? |
| Eric: You will hear this common question again and again throughout your studies. Master the following pattern and responses to the question “When is your birthday?” |
| Medina: Agosti ishirini na mbili. |
| Eric: "It's August 22nd.” Listen as it’s repeated again, slowly. Repeat the phrase. |
| Medina: (Slow) Ni Agosti ishirini na mbili. |
| {pause} |
| Eric: Let's break it down from the beginning. The first word is |
| Medina: Ni |
| Eric: meaning “is” |
| Medina: (Slow, by syllable) ni |
| Eric: Now repeat. |
| Medina: ni |
| {Pause} |
| Eric: And next is |
| Medina: Agosti |
| Eric: meaning “August.” |
| Medina: (Slow, by syllable) Agosti |
| Eric: Now repeat. |
| Medina: Agosti |
| {Pause} |
| Eric: And next is |
| Medina: Ishirini na mbili |
| Eric: meaning “22nd” |
| Medina: (Slow, by syllable) ishirini na mbili |
| Eric: Now repeat. |
| Medina: ishirini na mbili |
| {Pause} |
| Eric: Listen to the speaker say “It's August 22nd” and then repeat. |
| Medina: Ni Agosti ishirini na mbili. |
| {pause} |
| Eric: Let’s try another and replace August 22nd with April 4th. |
| Medina: Aprili nne |
| Eric: “April 4th” |
| Medina: (slow) Aprili nne (regular) Aprili nne |
| Eric: Listen to the phrase again, this time with “April 4th.” |
| Medina: Ni Aprili nne. |
| Eric: It’s almost the same, simply replace “August 22nd” with “April 4th.” Now say, “It's April 4th.” |
| {pause} |
| Medina: Ni Aprili nne. |
| Eric: To expand on the pattern, replace “April 4th” with “June 13th.” |
| Medina: Juni kumi na tatu |
| Eric: “June 13th” |
| Medina: (slow) juni kumi na tatu (regular) Juni kumi na tatu |
| Eric: Listen to the phrase again, this time with “June 13th.” |
| Medina: Ni Juni kumi na tatu. |
| Eric: Here we just replace “April 4th” with “June 13th.” Now say, “It's June 13th.” |
| {pause} |
| Medina: Ni Juni kumi na tatu. |
| Eric: For more practice, replace “June 13th” with “December 1st.” |
| Medina: Desemba moja |
| Eric: “December 1st” |
| Medina: (slow) Desemba moja (regular) Desemba moja |
| Eric: Listen to the phrase again, this time with “December 1st.” |
| Medina: Ni Desemba moja. |
| Eric: It mostly stays the same. Simply replace “June 13th” with “December 1st.” Now say, “It's December 1st.” |
| {pause} |
| Medina: Ni Desemba moja. |
| Eric: Now it's time for a quiz. Imagine you’re visiting Kenya and someone asks you when your birthday is. Your birthday is August 22nd. How would you answer? |
| Medina: Siku yako ya kuzaliwa ni lini? (five seconds) Ni Agosti ishirini na mbili. |
| Eric: Imagine your birthday is April 4th. Respond to the question. |
| Medina: Siku yako ya kuzaliwa ni lini? (five seconds) Ni Aprili nne. |
| Eric: Now imagine your birthday is June 13th. What would you say? |
| Medina: Siku yako ya kuzaliwa ni lini? (five seconds) Ni Juni kumi na tatu. |
| Eric: Imagine your birthday is December 1st. Answer the question. |
| Medina: Siku yako ya kuzaliwa ni lini? (five seconds) Ni Desemba moja. |
| Eric: You want to ask someone when their birthday is. Ask the question. |
| (5 seconds) |
| Medina: Siku yako ya kuzaliwa ni lini? |
| {pause} |
| Eric: This is the end of Lesson 12. |
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