Learn the question What time is it? in Swahili and how to answer it
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| Matt: Top 25 Swahili Questions You Need to Know - Lesson 17 “What time is it now?” 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 “What time is it now?” In Swahili this is |
| Medina: Sasa ni saa ngapi? |
| Matt: The first word in the question is |
| Medina: sasa |
| Matt: meaning “now” in English. |
| Medina: (Slow, by syllable) sasa |
| Matt: Listen again and repeat. |
| Medina: sasa |
| {Pause} |
| Matt: 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 |
| Matt: meaning “is” |
| Medina: (Slow, by syllable) ni |
| Matt: Now repeat. |
| Medina: ni |
| {Pause} |
| Matt: Listen to the first two words of the question and repeat. |
| Medina: sasa ni |
| {pause} |
| Matt: And next is |
| Medina: saa |
| Matt: meaning “time” |
| Medina: (Slow, by syllable) saa |
| Matt: Now repeat. |
| Medina: saa |
| {Pause} |
| Matt: Listen to the first three words of the question and repeat. |
| Medina: sasa ni saa |
| {pause} |
| Matt: And after that is |
| Medina: ngapi |
| Matt: literally meaning “how many” but in this case “what” |
| Medina: (Slow, by syllable) ngapi |
| Matt: Now repeat. |
| Medina: ngapi |
| {Pause} |
| Matt: Listen to the entire question and repeat. |
| Medina: sasa ni saa ngapi? |
| {pause} |
| Matt: (You will hear this common question again and again throughout your studies.) Master the following pattern and responses to the question “What time is it now?” |
| Medina: Ni saa kumi na mbili. |
| Matt: "It's twelve o'clock.” You’ll hear it again, slowly. Repeat the phrase. |
| Medina: (Slow) Ni saa kumi na mbili. |
| {pause} |
| Matt: Let's break it down from the beginning. The first word is |
| Medina: ni |
| Matt: meaning “is.” |
| Medina: (Slow, by syllable) ni |
| Matt: Now repeat |
| Medina: ni |
| {Pause} |
| Matt: And next is |
| Medina: saa |
| Matt: meaning “time” or “o’clock” in this case |
| Medina: (Slow, by syllable) saa |
| Matt: Now repeat. |
| Medina: saa |
| {Pause} |
| Matt: Next is |
| Medina: kumi na mbili |
| Matt: meaning “twelve.” |
| Medina: (Slow, by syllable) kumi na mbili |
| Matt:Now repeat. |
| Medina: kumi na mbili |
| {Pause} |
| Matt: Listen to the speaker say “It's twelve o'clock” and then repeat. |
| Medina: Ni saa kumi na mbili |
| {pause}Matt: To make another phrase, replace “twelve o'clock” with “three p.m.” |
| Medina: saa tisa mchana |
| Matt: “three p.m.” |
| Medina: (slow) saa tisa mchana (regular) saa tisa mchana |
| Matt: Listen to the phrase again, this time with “three p.m.” |
| Medina: Ni saa tisa mchana. |
| Matt: It’s almost the same. Just replace “twelve o'clock” with “three p.m.” Say “It's three p.m.” |
| {pause} |
| Medina: Ni saa tisa mchana. |
| Matt: For more practice, replace “three p.m.” with “five p.m.” |
| Medina: saa kumi na moja mchana |
| Matt: “five pm” |
| Medina: (slow) saa kumi na moja mchana(regular) saa kumi na moja mchana |
| Matt: Listen to the phrase again, this time with “five p.m.” |
| Medina: Ni saa kumi na moja mchana. |
| Matt: Here we just replace “three p.m.” with “five p.m.” Now Say “It's five pm.” |
| {pause} |
| Medina: Ni saa kumi na moja mchana. |
| Matt: To use a different phrase, replace “five p.m.” with “four a.m.” |
| Medina: saa kumi asubuhi |
| Matt: “four a.m.” |
| Medina: (slow) saa kumi asubuhi (regular) saa kumi asubuhi |
| Matt: Listen to the phrase again, this time with “four a.m.” |
| Medina: Ni saa kumi asubuhi. |
| Matt: It’s almost the same, just replace “five” with “four” and add “a.m.” Let’s practice. Say “It's four a.m.” |
| {pause} |
| Medina: Ni saa kumi asubuhi. |
| Matt: Now it's time for a quiz. Imagine you’re visiting Kenya and someone asks you what time it is. It's twelve o'clock. What would you say? |
| Medina: Sasa ni saa ngapi? (five seconds) Ni saa kumi na mbili |
| Matt: Now imagine it's three p.m. Respond to the question. |
| Medina: Sasa ni saa ngapi? (five seconds) Ni saa tisa mchana. |
| Matt: Imagine it's five p.m. Answer the speaker's question. |
| Medina: Sasa ni saa ngapi? (five seconds) Ni saa kumi na moja mchana. |
| Matt: Imagine it's four a.m. What would you say? |
| Medina: Sasa ni saa ngapi? (five seconds) Ni saa kumi mchana. |
| Matt: You want to ask someone what time it is. Ask the question. |
| (5 seconds) |
| Medina: Sasa ni saa ngapi? |
| {pause} |
| Matt: This is the end of Lesson 17. |
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