Eric: Top 25 Swahili Questions You Need to Know - Lesson 2 “Where are you from?” 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 “Where do you come from?” In Swahili this is |
Medina: Umetoka wapi? |
Eric: The first word in the question is |
Medina: Umetoka |
Eric: meaning “come from” in English. |
Medina: (Slow, by syllable) umetoka |
Eric: Listen again and repeat. |
Medina: umetoka |
{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: wapi |
Eric: meaning “where” |
Medina: (Slow, by syllable) wapi |
Eric: Now repeat. |
Medina: wapi |
{Pause} |
Eric: Listen to the first two words of the question and repeat. |
Medina: Umetoka wapi? |
{pause} |
Eric: Listen to the entire question and repeat. |
Medina: umetoka wapi? |
{pause} |
Eric: (You will hear this common question again and again throughout your studies.) Master the following pattern and responses to the question “Where do you come from?” |
Medina: Nimetoka Amerika. |
Eric: “I'm from the U.S.” You’ll hear it one more time, slowly. Repeat the phrase. |
Medina: (Slow) Nimetoka Amerika. |
{pause} |
Eric: Let's break it down from the beginning. The first word is |
Medina: Nimetoka |
Eric: meaning “I am from” |
Medina: (Slow, by syllable) Nimetoka |
Eric: Now repeat. |
Medina: nimetoka |
{Pause} |
Eric: And next, |
Medina: Amerika |
Eric: which is “the U.S.” |
Medina: (Slow, by syllable) Amerika |
Eric: Now repeat. |
Medina: Amerika. |
{Pause}Eric: Listen to the speaker say “I'm from the U.S.” and then repeat. |
Medina: Nimetoka Amerika. |
{pause}Eric: Try it again, replacing “the U.S.” with “England.” |
Medina: Uingereza |
Eric: “England” |
Medina: (slow) Uingereza (regular) (Uingereza) |
Eric: Listen to the phrase again, this time with “England.” |
Medina: Nimetoka Uingereza. |
Eric: As you can hear, it mostly stays the same. Simply replace the country. Say “I'm from England.” |
{pause} |
Medina: Nimetoka Uingereza. |
Eric: For more practice with the pattern, replace “England” with “Germany.” In Swahili this is |
Medina: Ujerumani |
Eric: “Germany.” |
Medina: (slow) Ujerumani (regular) Ujerumani |
Eric: Listen to the phrase again, this time with “Germany.” |
Medina: Nimetoka Ujerumani. |
Eric: It’s almost the same. Replace “England” with “Germany.” Say “I'm from Germany.” |
{pause} |
Medina: Nimetoka Ujerumani. |
Eric: To make another phrase, replace “Germany” with “Kenya” |
Medina: Kenya |
Eric: “Kenya” |
Medina: (slow) Kenya (regular) Kenya |
Eric: Listen to the phrase again, this time with “Kenya.” |
Medina: Nimetoka Kenya. |
Eric: As you can hear, it’s still the same phrase. Just replace “Germany” with “Kenya.” Say “I'm from Kenya.” |
{pause} |
Medina: Nimetoka Kenya. |
Eric: Now it's time for a quiz. Imagine you are visiting Kenya and someone asks you where you're from. You're from the U.S. How would you answer? |
Medina: Umetoka wapi? (five seconds) Nimetoka Amerika. |
Eric: Now imagine you're from England. Respond to the question. |
Medina: Umetoka wapi? (five seconds) Nimetoka uingereza. |
Eric: Now imagine you're from Germany. Can you answer the speaker's question? |
Medina: Umetoka wapi? (five seconds) Nimetoka Ujerumani. |
Eric: Imagine you're from Kenya. Respond to the question. |
Medina: Umetoka wapi? (five seconds) Nimetoka Kenya. |
Eric: Now you want to ask that person where they're from. Ask the question. |
(5 seconds) |
Medina: Umetoka wapi? |
Eric: Now it's time to answer the question with actual information about yourself. |
Medina: Umetoka wapi? |
Eric: This is the end of Lesson 2. |
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