Learn the question What's this? in Swahili and how to answer it
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| Eric: Top 25 Swahili Questions You Need to Know - Lesson 22 “What's this?” 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 this?” In Swahili this is |
| Medina: Hii ni nini? |
| Eric: The first word in the question is |
| Medina: Hii |
| Eric: meaning “this” in English. |
| Medina: (Slow, by syllable) hii |
| Eric: Listen again and repeat. |
| Medina: hii |
| {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: ni |
| Eric: meaning “is.” |
| Medina: (Slow, by syllable) ni |
| Eric: Now repeat. |
| Medina: ni |
| {Pause} |
| Eric: Listen to the first two words of the question and repeat. |
| Medina: Hii ni |
| {pause} |
| Eric: And after that |
| 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: Hii ni 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's this?” |
| Medina: Ni kamera. |
| Eric: "It's a camera.” Listen as it’s repeated one more time, slowly. Repeat the phrase. |
| Medina: (Slow) Ni kamera. |
| {pause} |
| Eric: Let's break it down from the beginning. The first word is |
| Medina: Ni |
| Eric: meaning “is ” |
| Medina: (Slow, by syllable) ni |
| Eric: Now repeat |
| Medina: ni |
| Eric: And next is |
| Medina: kamera |
| Eric: meaning “camera” |
| Medina: (Slow, by syllable) kamera |
| Eric: Now repeat. |
| Medina: kamera |
| {Pause}Eric: Listen to the speaker say “It's a camera” and then repeat. |
| Medina: Ni kamera. |
| {pause}Eric: To give a different answer, replace “camera” with “watch.” |
| Medina: saa |
| Eric: “watch” |
| Medina: (slow) saa (regular) saa |
| Eric: Listen to the phrase again, this time with “watch.” |
| Medina: Ni saa. |
| Eric: It mostly stays the same, simply replace “camera” with “watch.” Now say “It's a watch.” |
| {pause} |
| Medina: Ni saa. |
| Eric: To expand on the pattern, replace “watch” with “chair.” |
| Medina: kiti |
| Eric: “chair” |
| Medina: (slow) kiti (regular) kiti |
| Eric: Listen to the phrase again, this time with “chair.” |
| Medina: Ni kiti. |
| Eric: Here we just replace “watch” with “chair.” Now say “It's a chair.” |
| {pause} |
| Medina: Ni kiti. |
| Eric: For more practice, replace “chair” with “computer.” |
| Medina: kompyuta |
| Eric: “computer” |
| Medina: (slow) kompyuta (regular) kompyuta |
| Eric: Listen to the phrase again, this time with “computer.” |
| Medina: Ni kompyuta. |
| Eric: It’s almost the same, just replace “chair” with “computer.” Now say “It's a computer.” |
| {pause} |
| Medina: Ni kompyuta. |
| Eric: Now it's time for a quiz. Imagine you’re visiting Kenya and someone asks you what something is. It’s a camera. What do you tell them? |
| Medina: Hii ni nini? (five seconds) Ni kamera. |
| Eric: Now imagine that it's a watch. Respond to the question. |
| Medina: Hii ni nini? (five seconds) Ni saa. |
| Eric: Imagine that it's a chair. What do you say? |
| Medina: Hii ni nini? (five seconds) Ni kiti. |
| Eric: Imagine that it's a computer. How would you answer? |
| Medina: Hii ni nini? (five seconds) Ni kompyuta. |
| Eric: You want to ask someone what something is. Ask the question. |
| (5 seconds) |
| Medina: Hii ni nini? |
| {pause} |
| Eric: This is the end of Lesson 22. |
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