Learn the question What's wrong? in Swahili and how to answer it
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| Eric: Top 25 Swahili Questions You Need to Know - Lesson 19 “What's wrong?” 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's wrong?” In Swahili this is |
| Medina: Nini mbaya? |
| Eric: The first word in the question is |
| Medina: nini |
| Eric: meaning “what” in English. |
| Medina: (Slow, by syllable) nini |
| Eric: Listen again and repeat. |
| Medina: nini |
| {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: mbaya |
| Eric: meaning “wrong.” |
| Medina: (Slow, by syllable) mbaya |
| Eric: Now repeat. |
| Medina: mbaya |
| {Pause} |
| Eric: Listen to the entire question and repeat. |
| Medina: Nini mbaya? |
| {pause} |
| Eric: (You will hear this common question again and again throughout your studies.) Master the following pattern and responses to the question “What's wrong?” |
| Medina: Nini mbaya? |
| Eric: “I'm weak.” Listen as the phrase is repeated again, slowly. Repeat the phrase. |
| Medina: (Slow) Mimi ni mnyonge. |
| {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: And after that is |
| Medina: ni |
| Eric: meaning “am” |
| Medina: (Slow, by syllable) ni |
| Eric:Now repeat. |
| Medina: ni |
| Eric: meaning “am” |
| Medina: (Slow, by syllable) ni |
| Eric:Now repeat. |
| Medina: ni |
| Eric: The last word is |
| Medina: mnyonge |
| Eric: meaning “weak” |
| Medina: (Slow, by syllable) mnyonge |
| Eric: Now repeat. |
| Medina: mnyonge |
| Eric: meaning “am” |
| Medina: (Slow, by syllable) mnyonge |
| Eric:Now repeat. |
| Medina: mnyonge |
| {Pause}Eric: Listen to the speaker say “I'm weak” and then repeat. |
| Medina: Mimi ni mnyonge. |
| {pause}Eric: To use a different phrase, replace “weak” with “sad.” |
| Medina: nina huzuni |
| Eric: “sad” |
| Medina: (slow) nina huzuni (regular) nina huzuni |
| Eric: Listen to the phrase again, this time with “sad.” |
| Medina: Mimi nina huzuni. |
| Eric: It mostly stays the same, just replace “weak” with “sad.” Now say “I'm sad.” |
| {pause} |
| Medina: Mimi nina huzuni. |
| Eric: To give a different answer, replace “sad” with “sick.” |
| Medina: mgonjwa |
| Eric: “sick” |
| Medina: (slow) mgonjwa (regular) mgonjwa |
| Eric: Listen to the phrase again, this time with “sick.” |
| Medina: Mimi ni mgonjwa. |
| Eric: It’s almost the same, just replace “sad” with “sick.” Let’s practice. Say “I'm sick.” |
| {pause} |
| Medina: Mimi ni mgonjwa. |
| Eric: For more practice, replace “sick” with “worried.” |
| Medina: nina wasiwasi |
| Eric: “worried” |
| Medina: (slow) nina wasiwasi (regular) nina wasiwasi |
| Eric: Listen to the phrase again, this time with “worried.” |
| Medina: Mimi nina wasiwasi |
| Eric: Here we just replace “sick” with “worried.” Now say “I'm worried.” |
| {pause} |
| Medina: “ Mimi nina wasiwasi.” |
| Eric: Now it's time for a quiz. Imagine you’re visiting Kenya and someone asks you what's wrong. You want to answer that you’re tired. What would you say? |
| Medina: Nini mbaya? (five seconds) Mimi ni mnyonge. |
| Eric: Now you want to say you’re sad. Respond to the question. |
| Medina: Nini mbaya? (five seconds) Mimi nina huzuni. |
| Eric: You want to say you’re sick. Answer the speaker's question. |
| Medina: Nini mbaya? (five seconds) Mimi ni mgonjwa. |
| Eric: Imagine you're worried. What do you say? |
| Medina: Nini mbaya? (five seconds) Mimi nina wasiwasi. |
| Eric: Now you want to ask someone what's wrong. Ask the question. |
| (5 seconds) |
| Medina: Nini mbaya? |
| {pause} |
| Eric: This is the end of Lesson 19. |
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