Learn the question What do you do? in Swahili and how to answer it
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| Eric: Top 25 Swahili Questions You Need to Know - Lesson 4 “What do you do?” in Swahili. In each lesson of this 25 part series, you'll encounter a common question for Swahili learners, and learn how to answer it 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 do you do?” In Swahili this is |
| Medina: Wewe hufanya nini? |
| Eric: The first word in the question is |
| Medina: Wewe |
| Eric: meaning “you” in English. |
| Medina: (Slow, by syllable) wewe |
| Eric: Listen again and 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: hufanya |
| Eric: meaning “you do” in English. |
| Medina: (Slow, by syllable) hufanya |
| Eric: Listen again and repeat. |
| Medina: hufanya |
| {Pause} |
| Eric: Listen to the first two words of the question and then repeat. |
| Medina: Wewe hufanya |
| {pause} |
| Eric: Next is |
| Medina: nini |
| Eric: meaning “what.” |
| Medina: (Slow, by syllable) nini |
| Eric: Now repeat. |
| Medina: nini |
| {Pause} |
| Eric: Now listen to the entire question and repeat. |
| Medina: Wewe hufanya 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 do you do?” |
| Medina: Mimi ni mwalimu. |
| Eric: "I'm a teacher.” Listen as the phrase is repeated slowly. Repeat the phrase. |
| Medina: (Slow) Mimi ni mwalimu. |
| {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, |
| Medina: ni |
| Eric: meaning “am” |
| Medina: (Slow, by syllable) ni |
| Eric:Now repeat. |
| Medina: ni |
| {Pause} |
| Eric: And after that is |
| Medina: Mwalimu |
| Eric: meaning “teacher” |
| Medina: (Slow, by syllable) mwalimu |
| Eric:Now repeat. |
| Medina: mwalimu |
| {Pause}Eric: Listen to the speaker say “I'm a teacher” and repeat. |
| Medina: Mimi ni mwalimu. |
| {pause}Eric: To expand on the pattern, let’s replace “teacher” with “lawyer.” In Swahili this is |
| Medina: mwanasheria |
| Eric: “lawyer” |
| Medina: (slow) mwanasheria (regular) mwanasheria |
| Eric: Listen to the phrase again, this time with “lawyer.” |
| Medina: Mimi ni mwanasheria. |
| Eric: We replaced “teacher” with “lawyer,” but the phrase mostly stays the same. Now say, “I'm a lawyer.” |
| {pause} |
| Medina: Mimi ni mwanasheria. |
| Eric: To expand on the pattern, replace “lawyer” with “plumber.” |
| Medina: fundi |
| Eric: “plumber” |
| Medina: (slow) fundi (regular) fundi |
| Eric: Listen to the phrase again, this time with “plumber.” |
| Medina: Mimi ni fundi. |
| Eric: It mostly stays the same, just replace “lawyer” with “plumber.” Say “I'm a plumber.” |
| {pause} |
| Medina: Mimi ni fundi. |
| Eric: For more practice, let’s replace “plumber” with “office worker.” |
| Medina: mfanyakazi wa ofisi |
| Eric: “an office worker” |
| Medina: (slow) (regular) mfanyakazi wa ofisi |
| Eric: Listen to the phrase again, this time with “office worker.” |
| Medina: Mimi ni mfanyakazi wa ofisi |
| Eric: Here we simply replaced “plumber” with “office worker.” Now say, “I'm an office worker.” |
| {pause} |
| Medina: Mimi ni mfanyakazi wa ofisi. |
| Eric: Now it's time for a quiz. Imagine you’re visiting Kenya and someone asks what you do. You’re a teacher. Respond to the question. |
| Medina: Wewe hufanya nini? (five seconds) Mimi ni mwalimu. |
| Eric: Imagine you’re a lawyer. How would you respond? |
| Medina: Wewe hufanya nini? (five seconds) Mimi ni mwanasheria. |
| Eric: Imagine you’re a plumber. Answer the speaker's question. |
| Medina: Wewe hufanya nini? (five seconds) Mimi ni fundi. |
| Eric: Imagine you're an office worker. How will you answer? |
| Medina: Wewe hufanya nini (five seconds) Mimi ni mfanyakazi wa ofisi. |
| Eric: You want to learn what that person does. Ask the question. |
| (5 seconds) |
| Medina: Wewe hufanya nini? |
| {pause} |
| Eric: Now it's time to answer the question with actual information about yourself. Make sure to practice out loud. |
| Medina: Wewe hufanya nini? |
| Eric: This is the end of Lesson 4. |
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