Learn the question What are you doing? in Swahili and how to answer it
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| Eric: Top 25 Swahili Questions You Need to Know - Lesson 18 What are you doing? 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 are you doing?” In Swahili, this is |
| Medina: Wewe unafanya nini? |
| Eric: The first word in the question is |
| Medina: Wewe |
| Eric: meaning “you” in English. |
| Medina: (Slow, by syllable) wewe |
| Eric: Listen again and repeat. |
| Medina: wewe |
| {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: unafanya |
| Eric: meaning “doing” |
| Medina: (Slow, by syllable) unafanya |
| Eric: Now repeat. |
| Medina: unafanya |
| {Pause} |
| Eric: Listen to the first two words of the question and repeat. |
| Medina: wewe unafanya |
| {pause} |
| Eric: Next is |
| Medina: nini |
| Eric: meaning “what” |
| Medina: (Slow, by syllable) nini |
| Eric: Now repeat. |
| Medina: nini |
| {Pause} |
| Eric: Listen to the entire question and repeat. |
| Medina: Wewe unafanya nini? |
| {pause} |
| Eric: (You will hear this common question again and again throughout your studies.) Master the following pattern and responses to the question “What are you doing?” |
| Medina: Mimi nafikiria. |
| Eric: "I'm thinking.” You’ll hear it again, slowly. Repeat the phrase. |
| Medina: (Slow) Mimi nafikiria. |
| {pause} |
| Eric: Let's break it down from the beginning. The first word is |
| Medina: mimi |
| Eric: meaning “I.” |
| Medina: (Slow, by syllable) mimi |
| Eric: Now repeat. |
| Medina: mimi |
| {Pause} |
| Eric: Next is |
| Medina: nafikiria |
| Eric: meaning “thinking.” |
| Medina: (Slow, by syllable) nafikiria |
| Eric: Now repeat. |
| Medina: nafikiria |
| {Pause}Eric: Listen to the speaker say “I'm thinking” and then repeat. |
| Medina: Mimi nafikiria. |
| {pause}Eric: For a different answer, replace “thinking” with “watching TV.” |
| Medina: naona runinga |
| Eric: watching TV |
| Medina: (slow) naona runinga(regular) naona runinga |
| Eric: Listen to the phrase again, this time with “watching TV.” |
| Medina: Mimi naona runinga. |
| Eric: It’s almost the same, we just replace “thinking” with “watching TV.” Say “I'm watching TV.” |
| {pause} |
| Medina: Mimi naona runinga. |
| Eric: To use a different phrase, replace “watching TV” with “cooking.” |
| Medina: napika |
| Eric: “cooking” |
| Medina: (slow) napika (regular) napika |
| Eric: Listen to the phrase again, this time with “cooking.” |
| Medina: Mimi napika. |
| Eric: It’s almost the same, just replace “watching TV” with “cooking.” Say “I'm cooking.” |
| {pause} |
| Medina: mimi napika. |
| Eric: For more practice, replace “cooking” with “sleeping.” |
| Medina: nalala |
| Eric: “sleeping” |
| Medina: (slow) nalala (regular) nalala |
| Eric: Listen to the phrase again, this time with “sleeping.” |
| Medina: Mimi nalala. |
| Eric: Here we just replace “cooking” with “sleeping.” Let’s practice. Say “I'm sleeping.” |
| {pause} |
| Medina: Mimi nalala. |
| Eric: Now it's time for a quiz. Imagine you’re visiting Kenya and someone asks you what you're doing. You’re thinking. What would you tell them? |
| Medina: Wewe unafanya nini? (five seconds) Mimi nafikiria. |
| Eric: Now imagine you’re watching TV. Respond to the question. |
| Medina: Wewe unafanya nini? (five seconds) Mimi naona runinga. |
| Eric: Imagine you’re cooking. How would you answer? |
| Medina: Wewe unafanya nini? (five seconds) Mimi napika. |
| Eric: Imagine you're sleeping. What would you say? |
| Medina: Wewe unafanya nini? (five seconds) Mimi nalala. |
| Eric: You want to ask someone what they are doing. Ask the question. |
| (5 seconds) |
| Medina: Wewe unafanya nini? |
| {pause} |
| Eric: This is the end of Lesson 18. |
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