Learn the question Are you hungry? in Swahili and how to answer it
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| Eric: Top 25 Swahili Questions You Need to Know - Lesson 21 “Are you hungry?” 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 “Are you hungry?” In Swahili this is |
| Medina: Wewe uko na njaa? |
| Eric: The first word in the question is |
| Medina: Wewe |
| Eric: meaning “you.” |
| Medina: (Slow, by syllable) Wewe |
| Eric: Now 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: Uko |
| Eric: meaning “are” in English. |
| Medina: (Slow, by syllable) uko |
| Eric: Listen again and repeat. |
| Medina: uko |
| {Pause} |
| Eric: Listen to the first two words of the question and repeat. |
| Medina: Wewe uko |
| {Pause} |
| Eric: And next is |
| Medina: na njaa |
| Eric: meaning “hungry.” |
| Medina: (Slow, by syllable) na njaa |
| Eric: Now repeat. |
| Medina: na njaa |
| {Pause} |
| Eric: Listen to the entire question and repeat. |
| Medina: Wewe uko na njaa? |
| {pause} |
| Eric: (You will hear this common question again and again throughout your studies.) Master the following pattern and responses to the question “Are you hungry?” |
| Medina: Ndio, niko na njaa kiasi. |
| Eric: "Yes, I'm a little hungry.” You’ll hear it one more time, slowly. Repeat the phrase. |
| Medina: (Slow) Ndio, niko na njaa kiasi. |
| {pause} |
| Eric: Let's break it down from the beginning. The first word is |
| Medina: Ndio |
| Eric: meaning “yes.” |
| Medina: (Slow, by syllable) Ndio |
| Eric: Now repeat. |
| Medina: Ndio |
| {Pause} |
| Eric: And next is |
| Medina: Niko |
| meaning “I am” |
| Medina: (Slow, by syllable) niko |
| Eric:Now repeat. |
| Medina: Niko |
| {Pause} |
| Eric: And after that is |
| Medina: na njaa |
| Eric: meaning “hungry” |
| Medina: (Slow, by syllable) na njaa |
| Eric:Now repeat. |
| Medina: na njaa |
| {Pause} |
| Eric: And next is |
| Medina: kiasi |
| Eric: meaning “a little.” |
| Medina: (Slow, by syllable) kiasi |
| Eric: Now repeat. |
| Medina: kiasi |
| {Pause} |
| Eric: Listen to the speaker say “Yes, I'm a little hungry” and then repeat. |
| Medina: Ndio, niko na njaa kiasi. |
| {pause}Eric: To make a different phrase, replace “a little” with “pretty.” |
| Medina: sana |
| Eric: “pretty” |
| Medina: (slow) sana (regular) sana |
| Eric: Listen to the phrase again, this time with “pretty.” |
| Medina: Ndio, niko na njaa sana. |
| Eric: It mostly stays the same, just replace “a little” with “pretty.” Now say “Yes, I'm pretty hungry.” |
| {pause} |
| Medina: Ndio, niko na njaa sana. |
| Eric: To give a different answer, replace “pretty” with “very.” |
| Medina: kabisa |
| Eric: “very” |
| Medina: (slow) kabisa (regular) kabisa |
| Eric: Listen to the phrase again, this time with “very.” |
| Medina: Ndio, niko na njaa kabisa. |
| Eric: It’s almost the same, just replace “pretty” with “very.” Let’s practice. Say “Yes, I'm very hungry.” |
| {pause} |
| Medina: Ndio, niko na njaa kabisa. |
| Eric: For more practice, replace “very” with “always.” |
| Medina: daima |
| Eric: “always” |
| Medina: (slow) daima (regular) daima |
| Eric: Listen to the phrase again, this time with “always.” |
| Medina: Ndio niko na njaa daima. |
| Eric: Here we just replace “very” with “always.” Now try. Say “Yes, I'm always hungry.” |
| {pause} |
| Medina: Ndio, niko na njaa daima. |
| Eric: To say “no” in a simple way, just say |
| Medina: Hapana, sina. |
| Eric: This is like saying “No, I'm not” in English. Let's hear it slowly. |
| Medina: (Slowly) Hapana, sina. |
| Eric: And one more time at normal speed. |
| Medina: Hapana, sina. |
| Eric: Now it's time for a quiz. Imagine you’re visiting Kenya and someone asks you if you're hungry. You want to answer that you’re a little hungry. What would you say? |
| Medina: Wewe uko na njaa? (five seconds) Ndio, niko na njaa kiasi. |
| Eric: Now you want to say you’re pretty hungry. Respond to the question. |
| Medina: Wewe uko na njaa? (five seconds) Ndio, niko na njaa sana. |
| Eric: You want to say that you’re very hungry. Answer the speaker's question. |
| Medina: Wewe uko na njaa? (five seconds) Ndio, niko na njaa kabisa. |
| Eric: You want to say that you’re always hungry. How would you answer? |
| Medina: Wewe uko na njaa? (five seconds) Ndio, niko na njaa daima. |
| Eric: You want to ask someone if they are hungry. Ask the question. |
| (5 seconds) |
| Medina: Wewe uko na njaa? |
| {pause} |
| Eric: Now it's time to answer the question for yourself. |
| Medina: Wewe uko na njaa? |
| {pause} |
| Eric: This is the end of Lesson 21. |
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