A CHAGGA WEEKLY MARKET!

A Market in Marangu.
Banana is the most popular food for the Chaggas and other people in the Lake Victoria zone.In Moshi and other Chagga villages,a market like this is normally twice a week.People meet to trade,ripe banana is also used to make a local brew known as "Mbege".It has a certain level of alcohol.In these markets yuo'll find a range of products icluding second-hand clothes from Europe and America known as "mitumba".It's always very busy.!!

Lesson 12-Somo la Kumi na mbili

The simplest way to use Swahili words is to put them into a simple conversation.Let's try to learn few words below while trying to construct sentenses in swahili using these words and other previous words that we have learnt.

Uliza----ask (an act),pronounced--who--lee-zer

Ku-uliza--to ask

Kuhusu---About.

e.g:I want to ask you about Moshi.
Nataka kuuliza wewe kuhusu Moshi.

Listen---Sikiliza,to listen---Kusikiliza.pronounce--c-key-lee-zer

Hear---Sikia--to hear---kusikia.pronounce as c-key-ah.

Let's see how the above two words are used in a sentence:

a)Can you listen to this?
Unaweza kusikiliza hii?(hii---this)

b)Hear what she said.
Sikia alichosema (sema(semar)-say)

Europe-------Ulaya(pronounce it as "who-liar")

She lives in Europe (Anaishi Ulaya)

America-----Marekani(pronounce as "mar-re-can)

Mountain----Mlima
To the mountain--Mlimani

e.g:I went to the mountain today
Nilikwenda mlimani leo.

I don't like----Sipendi
Wait----Subiri.
I'll see---Nitaona (see----ona pronounce,oner)
I'll plan---Nitapanga (plan---panga,a plan --mpango)

I've a plan----Nina mpango.

Lesson 11---Somo la Kumi na Moja

Animals---Wanyama

The following names are used for animals in Swahili langusge.
I'll start with the English name,followed by the Swahili name.
Remember how the vowels are pronounced.

Let's start:

Dog-----Mbwa,in african traditions are dog's not always a pet animal,it's used for hunting and security purposes around the homestead.

Donkey-----Punda,used to carry luggages,it's also a word used to call someone who works without resting(sarcastic word),:"You are a donkey",means "Punda wewe"(harsh)

Elephant----Tembo

Frog----Chura

Fish----Samaki

Goat----Mbuzi

Giraffe--Twiga

Horse---Farasi.

Hippo--Kiboko,(note that a wheeping stick is also called kiboko in Swahili)

Hen(Chicken)----Kuku

Hyena----Fisi

Hare---Sungura

Leopard---Chui

Lion---Simba

Rat----Panya

Rhino--Kifaru

Sheep---Kondoo

Snake--Nyoka

Zebra---Pundamilia

A TYPE OF A TRADITIONAL AFRICAN HOUSE

Found in most African Villages!The walls are built up with mad and huge sticks sometimes put together using nails!It's then roofed with either grasses or corrugated iron sheets.You can also found houses like these in slum areas in African towns.One house can accomodate a family and used for animals at the same time.Very common houses in northen Tanzania villages,Moshi,Arusha areas.In very developed families with modern houses,you can find a house like this not for accomodation but for animals and performing rituals.

Lesson Ten---Somo la Kumi---Joseph pays John a visit

Joseph:Hodi hodi-----Is there anybody?

John:Nipo,karibu----I'm in,welcome.

Joseph:Hujambo John?---How are you John?

John:Sijambo Joseph,na wewe je?----I am fine Joseph and you?

Joseph:Salama tu----Just so.

John:Karibu ukae tafadhali.----Come and sit please.

Joseph:Asante---Thank you.

Additional phrases for lesson 10.

a)Masomo----studies
b)Habari za masomo yako?---How are your studies?
c)Habari za asubuhi?---How are you this morning?
d)Habari za mchana?---How are you this afternoon?
e)Habari za jioni?--How are you this evening?
f)Tutaonana kesho---See you tomorrow.

A Market in Zanzibar

Swahili Vowels

The biggest difference in pronunciation lies in the way the vowels (a, e, i, o and u) are pronounced in Swahili (very similar to Spanish)

A,a-----pronounced like "ah" as in Africa.
E,e-----pronounced like "eh" as in Trey.
I,i-----pronounced like "ee" as in Miss
O,o-----pronounced like "oh" as in Tone.
U,u-----pronounced like "uh" as in Flue.

Zanzibar

Lesson Nine-Somo la Tisa

Quickly-----haraka
Plate-----sahani
Give me----nipe/nipatie

e.g:Give me a plate a plate(English)
Nipatie sahani(Swahili)

Pepper-----pilipili
A littlle more---ongeza kidogo.
A little----kidogo---kii-doo--go.
Bread----Mkate
Bananas---Ndizi.

e.g:Give me some bananas(English)
Nipatie ndizi(Swahili)

Ice cubes----barafu.

Need------nahitaji,pronounced,naa--hii--tar-ji.

e.g:I need ice cubes(English)
Nahitaji barafu(Swahili)

Please-----tafadhali,pronounced tar--fur--dha--li.
e.g:Please come.(English)
Tafadhali njoo.(Swahili)

What?----nini?
What are you saying?----Unasema nini?
Say---sema pronounced,se--emar.
Take it---chukua-chuu--kua.

Night---Usiku
Morning---asubuhi
Noon---mchana.

Lesson 8- Somo la nane- Tours-Kutalii

Tours-Kutalii

Next----Ijayo

Trip----Safari

When---lini

Accomodation---mavazi

How long?----itachukua muda gain

Fee---ada

Entrance fee---kiingilio

To be back---kurudi.

Listen---Sikiliza

Can I?—Naweza?

Can I listen to this?-----Naweza kusikiliza hii.

This---Hii

Accept---Kubali

Do you accept?---Unakubali?

Drinks

Water---maji

Naomba maji---please give me water.

Drinking water---maji ya kunywa.

Drink---Kunywa

Milk---Maziwa

Coffee---Kahawa

Sugar---Sukari

With---na

With sugar—Na sukari

Without----bila

Without sugar---bila sukari

Lesson 7----Somo la 7

Some useful translations
I will write the words in the form of: a word in English followed by it's translation in Swahili and at the end how the word is pronounced in Swahili.

I'm looking for-----Natafuta----naa-taa-foo-taa-
Can I ?-----------Naweza----naa-wee-za?
How much is it?----ni bei gani?---ni bey gaa-nee
It's faulty-------Haifanyi kazi----haa-ee-faa-nyee-kaa-zee.
Tour------Safari----saa-faa-ree-yaa-see-koo.
I'de like-----naomba----naa-ohm-baa-
Clean----safi--saa-fee.

Lesson 6-Somo la Sita

Greetings,Introductions-Maamkizi na Utambulisho
First let's learn these few words:

Goats----Mbuzi
Milk----Maziwa
Milking---Kamua maziwa
Kitchen----Jiko
Cook----Pika
Food---Chakula
Is---ni
And----na
Also---pia
Or---Au
Left---Kushoto
Right---Kulia


Then let's go to lesson 6

Goodnight---Ukalale salama or Usiku mwema.
I am very glad to meet you----Nimefurahi kukuona.
Keep left---Pia kushoto
Keep right----Pita kulia
Stop -----simama
Tell me---Niambie mimi.
Help me---Nisaidie mimi.
I want----Mimi nataka
Climb---Kupanda
A good heart--Mwema e.g You have a good heart---Wewe ni mwema.
Dances-----Ngoma
Wear---Vaa
I will be back---Nitarudi

Lesson 5-Somo la Tano-Weather ( Hali ya Hewa)

It is (warm) (cold) -----Ni (jua kali) (baridi)
It is bad-------ni kubaya
It is raining------Mvua inanyesha
What is the weather?---Kunakuwaje nje?
The sun----Jua
The moon---Mwezi
The Stars---Nyota
The sun is out---Jua limetoka.


Addititional Useful Expressions-Misemo muhimu ya kuongezea

I think so----Nadhani
I understand----Nafahamu
It is all right---Ni sawa
It is early---Ni mapema
It is empty----Hakuna kitu ndani
It is full----Imejaa
It is my fault---Ni kosa langu
It is new---Ni mpya
It is old--Imechakaa
Please---Tafadhali
Do this--Fanya hivi

Lesson 4-Somo la Nne

Different Expressions-Misemo mbalimbali

Again-----Tena
Bad------Mbaya
At once----Mara Moja
Can You help me?----Unaweza kunisaidia?
Come here-----Njoo hapa
Excuse me-------Pole/nisamehe/samahani.
How long?-----Muda gani?
How do you say?----Unasemaje?
How much?-----Kiasi gani?
I am thirsty----nina kiu.
I am in a hurry---Nina haraka
I am looking for---Natafuta
I don't know-----Sijui

Lesson 3-Somo la Tatu

a)Part 1-Sehemu ya Kwanza-Days of the week-Siku za wiki

Monday------Jumatatu
Tuesday------Jumanne
Wednesday----Jumatano
Thurdsay----Alhamisi
Friday-------Ijumaa
Saturday-----Jumamosi
Sunday------Jumapili


b)Part 2-Sehemu ya Pili-In a bus

Daladala------public transport within the town,minibuses.
Nauli--------Fare
Pesa--------Money
Shusha hapo---Drop me there.
Wapi inaenda?-----Where does this bus go?
Siendi------I am not going.
Bei gani?-----How much is the fare?

Lesson 2-Somo la Pili-

Introduction-Kujitambulisha

Jina lako ni nani?-What is your name?
Jina langu ni Joseph-My name is Joseph.
Una umri gani?-How old are you?
Nina miaka 22-I am 22 years old.
Unatoka nchi gain?-Which country do you come from?
Natokea Tanzania-I come from Tanzania.

Additions-Nyongeza

English Swahili
I ---Mimi
You ----Wewe
Us----- Sisi
They ---Wao
Children -----------Watoto
Water ----------Maji
Open -------------Fungua
Close-------------- Funga
Go ------------Nenda
Come --------------Njoo

Lesson 1 -Somo la kwanza

Swahili is a language that's used in East Africa and different parts of the world.I'll talk much about the evolution of the language later but let's start learning a few words with a translation to English.Here:

Jambo/Habari gani?-means hi,how are u doing/hello/hi
Unaitwa nani?-what's your name?
Rafiki-Friend
Nzuri-Good
Habari nzuri-means,'I am okay'
Asante sana-Thank you a lot.
Hakuna matata-means,no problem,everything is fine.
Poa-means,it's fine.