Eric: Top 25 Swahili Questions You Need to Know - Lesson 25 “How much is 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 “How much is this?” In Swahili this is |
Medina: Hii ni pesa ngapi? |
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: Next is |
Medina: pesa ngapi |
Eric: meaning “how much” |
Medina: (Slow, by syllable) pesa ngapi |
Eric: Now repeat. |
Medina: pesa ngapi |
{Pause} |
Eric: Listen to the entire question and repeat. |
Medina: Hii ni pesa ngapi? |
{pause} |
Eric: (You will hear this common question again and again throughout your studies.) Master the following pattern and responses to the question “How much is this?” |
Medina: Ni shilling hamsini. |
Eric: "It's 50 shillings.” Listen as it’s repeated again slowly. Repeat the phrase. |
Medina: (Slow) Ni shilling hamsini. |
{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 |
{Pause} |
Eric: Next is |
Medina: shillingi |
Eric: meaning “shillings” |
Medina: (Slow, by syllable) shillingi |
Eric:Now repeat. |
Medina: shilingi |
{Pause} |
Eric: Next is |
Medina: hamsini |
Eric: meaning “fifty.” |
Medina: (Slow, by syllable) hamsini |
Eric:Now repeat. |
Medina: hamsini |
{Pause}Eric: Listen to the speaker say “It's fifty shillings” and then repeat. |
Medina: Ni shilling hamsini. |
{pause}Eric: To make a different price, replace “fifty shillings” with “ten shillings.” |
Medina: shillingi kumi |
Eric: “ten shillings” |
Medina: (slow) shillingi kumi (regular) shillingi kumi |
Eric: Listen to the phrase again, this time with “ten shillings.” |
Medina: Ni shillingi kumi. |
Eric: It mostly stays the same, simply replace “fifty shillings” with “ten shillings.” Now say “It's ten shillings.” |
{pause} |
Medina: Ni shillingi kumi. |
Eric: To use a different phrase, replace “ten shillings” with “one hundred shillings.” |
Medina: shillingi mia moja |
Eric: “one hundred shillings” |
Medina: (slow) shillingi mia moja (regular) shillingi mia moja |
Eric: Listen to the phrase again, this time with “one-hundred shillings.” |
Medina: Ni shillingi mia moja. |
Eric: It’s almost the same, just replace “ten shillings” with “one hundred shillings.” Now say “It's one hundred shillings.” |
{pause} |
Medina: Ni shillingi mia moja. |
Eric: For more practice, replace “one hundred shillings” with “twenty shillings.” |
Medina: shillingi ishirini |
Eric: “twenty shillings” |
Medina: (slow) shillingi ishirini (regular) shillingi ishirini |
Eric: Listen to the phrase again, this time with “twenty shillings” |
Medina: Ni shillingi ishirini. |
Eric: Here we just replace “one hundred shillings” with “twenty shillings.” Say “It's twenty shillings.” |
{pause} |
Medina: Ni shillingi ishirini. |
Eric: Now it's time for a quiz. Imagine you’re visiting Kenya and someone asks you how much something is. It’s fifty shillings. What do you tell them? |
Medina: Hii ni pesa ngapi? (five seconds) Ni shilling hamsini. |
Eric: Now imagine it's ten shillings. Respond to the question. |
Medina: Hii ni pesa ngapi? (five seconds) Ni shilling kumi. |
Eric: Imagine it's one hundred shillings. Answer the speaker's question. |
Medina: Hii ni pesa ngapi? (five seconds) Ni shilling mia moja. |
Eric: Now imagine it's twenty shillings. What would you say? |
Medina: Hii ni pesa ngapi? (five seconds) Ni shilling ishirini. |
Eric: You want to learn how much something is. Ask the question. |
(5 seconds) |
Medina: Hii ni pesa ngapi? |
{pause} |
Eric: This is the end of Lesson 25. |
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