So one of the things we are doing this month is teaching english at the church. However, they didn’t want to be the only ones being taught so we are also being taught Swahili. So I thought it would be fun to share some of the simple Swahili that we learned in our lesson yesterday.
How much? – Shilingi ngapi?
Who are you? – Wewe nani?
What is this? – Hiki ni nini?
What is that? – Kile ni nini?
When – Lini
Where – Wapi
Here – Hapa
There – Pale
Now – Sasa
Later On – Baadaye
Together – Pamoja
Alone – Peke yako
All – Wote
Few – Chache
Baby – Mtoto
Big – Kubwa
Small – Kidogo
Sing – Imba
Song – Wimbo
Say – Ongea
Speak – Sema
Cry – Lia
Fall down – Anguka chini
Down – Chini
Jump – Ruka
Run – Kimbia
Climb – Kwea / Panda
Walk – Tembea
War – Vita
Wall – Ukuta
Sea – Bahari
See – Ona
Vote – Kura
Eat – Kula
Aids/HIV – Ukimwi
Earlier today we were walking home from church and Sarah wanted to stop and look at some Jeans on the side of the road because it’s really cold here at night. She was having trouble trying to find out the price so I got to use some of what we learned yesterday by saying Shilingi ngapi? Or, how much? However, I didn’t really think it through because when I asked in Swahili he assumed I spoke and went off speaking very last and all I had in return was a blank look and a shake of my head. But I felt cool and african for a small instant before my little bubble burst.
