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Photos: Bongo Camping - July 2008

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Learn Swahili - Part Five: Around the table

Course Part Five (KI-VI NOUN CLASS)
PRACTICE SWAHILI AROUND THE TABLE

Grammatical themes:

THE KI-VI NOUN CLASS:

In sentences with Ki-Vi nouns the often used sound-unit in singular is -ki- (i as the ea-sound in ´eagle´), and in plural -vi- (i as the ea-sound in ´eagle´).

Examples: Thing = Kitu
Things = Vitu
A good thing =
Kitu ki-zuri
(thing good)
Good things =
Vitu vi-zuri
(things good)


NARRATIVE TENSE and FAMILY MEMBERS

The narrative tense article is -ka- Example: Then they started to fight
(wao wa-ka-anza kupigana)
(they they-then-start to-fight)
The ka-tense is used a lot in everyday language when people are giving shorter or longer descriptions of events happening in time. It can be used to represent narrative time in both present and future tense.

Mother = Mama

Father = Baba

Big brother = Kaka

Big sister = Dada

Smaller sibling = Mdogo (”little”)

Grandfather = Babu

Grandmother = Bibi

Wife = Mke

Husband = Mume


Course Part Five, exercises

After practicing on the above mentioned grammatical features, make short dialogues with the sentences while repeating them:

This chair is for my grandmother = Kiti hiki ni kwa ajili ya bibi yangu
(chair this is for sake of grandmother my)

They sat down in the chairs and then fell asleep = Wao waliketi kwenye viti wa-ka-lala
(they they did sit down in the chairs
they-then-sleep)

I would like the big knife = Mimi naomba kisu ki-kubwa
(I I-like knife big)


The knives fell down and she started to cry = Visu vi-li-anguka chini a-ka-lia
(knives they-fell down she-then-cry)

Where are the matchboxes? Je, vibiriti vi-ko wapi?
(je = sound used before asking a question,
matchboxes they-are where?)

We will find the matchbox and light the candle = Tu-ta-ki-tafuta kibiriti tu-ka-washa mshumaa
(we-will-it-find matchbox we-then-light candle)

”I don´t have a spoon”, he said, and left = ”Mimi sina kijiko” alisema a-ka-ondoka
(I I-have-no spoon he-did-say he-then-leave)

We use our spoons to stir the coffee = Sisi tu-na-vi-tumia vijiko vyangu kukoroga kahawa
(we we-are-they-use spoons our to-stir coffee)

Learn Swahili - Part Four: Planning the future

Course Part Four (N-N NOUN CLASS):
PRACTICE SWAHILI WHILE PLANNING THE FUTURE

Grammatical themes:

THE N-N NOUN CLASS:

In sentences with N-N nouns the often used sound-unit in singular is -i- (-i- as the e-sound in ´ear´), and in plural -zi-.

Examples: road = barabara
roads = barabara
there is a road =
barabara i-po
(road it-exists)
the roads will be built =
barabara zi-ta-tengenezwa
(roads they-will be-built)


FUTURE TENSE and NUMBERS

The future tense article is -ta-. Example: they will go = wao wa-ta-enda
(they they-will-go)

In negation the past present tense article is also –ta-.
Example: they will not go = wao hawa-ta-enda
(they they-will not-go)


One = moja

Two = mbili

Three = tatu

Four = nne

Five = tano

Six = sita

Seven = saba

Eight = nane

Nine = tisa

Ten = kumi


Course Part Four, exercises

After practicing on the above mentioned grammatical features, make short dialogues with the sentences while repeating them:

Would you like to eat now? Je, m-ta-penda kula sasa hivi?
(je = sound used before asking a question,
You-will-like to eat now)

Yes, we will eat two plates of rice = Ndio, sisi tu-ta-kula sahani mbili za wali
(we we-will-eat plates two of rice)

The plates will stand on the table = Sahani zi-ta-kaa mezani
(plates they-will-stand table on)

After ten minutes = Baada ya dakika kumi
(after minutes ten)

The road has four holes = Barabara i-na ma-shimo ma-nne
(road it-has holes four)

The roads will not be repaired = Barabara ha-zi-ta-rekebishwa
(roads they-will not be-repaired)

In this country we will see three lakes = Katika nchi hii tu-ta-ona ma-ziwa ma-tatu
(in country this we-will-see lakes three)

The African countries will change = Nchi za Afrika zi-ta-badilisha
(countries of Africa they-will-change)

They will see six places = Wao wa-ta-zi-ona sehemu sita
(they they-will-them-see places six)

We will stay in one place only = Sisi tu-ta-kaa sehemu moja tu
(we we-will-stay place one only)

Learn Swahili - Part Three: Meeting People

Course Part Three: (M-WA NOUN CLASS)
PRACTICE SWAHILI MEETING PEOPLE AND ANIMALS


Grammatical themes:

THE M-WA NOUN CLASS:

In sentences with M-WA nouns the often used sound-units in singular are -a- and -m- (-a- as the a-sound in ´car´), and in plural -wa- (the a-sound as the german word for yes, ´ja´).

Examples: Person = Mtu
Persons = Watu
The person has been singing =
Mtu a-me-imba
(person he-has been-sing)
People have been happy =
Watu wa-me-furahi
(people they-have been-happy)
The lion has been resting =
Simba a-me-pumzika
(lion he-has been-resting)
The lions have been sleeping =
Simba wa-me-lala
(lions they-have been-sleeping)



PAST PRESENT TENSE and GREETINGS

The past present tense article is -me-. Example: I have been laughing = Mimi ni-me-cheka
(I I-have been-laugh)

In negation the past present tense article becomes –ja-.
Example: I have not been laughing = Mimi si-ja-cheka
(I I have not been laughing)

The most common greetings in swahili start with the word ´habari´ (news), and often are followed by ´za´ (of), so that you ask the ´news of´ different things ´habari za …?´, after which you are supposed to reply ´salama´ (peaceful) or ´nzuri´ (fine).

Hello = habari? Answer: salama (peaceful) or
(news?) nzuri (fine)

Good morning = habari za asubuhi? Answer: salama (peaceful) or
(news of morning?) nzuri (fine)
Good afternoon = habari za mchana?
(news of afternoon?) Answer: salama (peaceful) or
nzuri (fine)
Good evening = habari za jioni?
(news of evening?) Answer: salama (peaceful) or
nzuri (fine)


Course Part Three, exercises

After practicing on the above mentioned grammatical features, go to stand in greeting position and make short dialogues with the sentences while repeating them:

Good morning my friend = Habari za asubuhi rafiki yangu?
(news of morning friend my)

Answer: Salama (peaceful)

Have you been sleeping peaceful? = Je, u-me-lala salama?
(je = sound used before asking a question,
you-have been-sleep peaceful)



Yes, I have been sleeping peaceful = Ndio, ni-me-lala salama.
(yes, I-have been-sleep peaceful)

Good evening = Habari za jioni?
(news of evening?)


Answer: Nzuri (fine)

How is work? Habari za kazi?
(news of work?)

Not bad Sio mbaya
(not bad)

Have you been working today? Je, u-me-fanya kazi leo?
(je = sound used before asking a question,
you-have been-do work today)

Learn Swahili - Part Two: The Garden

Course Part Two (M-MI NOUN CLASS)
PRACTICE SWAHILI IN THE GARDEN

Grammatical themes:

THE M-MI NOUN CLASS:

In sentences with M-Mi nouns the often used sound-unit in singular is -u- (as the oo-sound in ´google´), and in plural -i- (as the e-sound in ´eagle´).

Examples: Tree = mti
Trees = mi-ti
That tree = u-le mti
Those trees = i-le mi-ti
Door = mlango
Doors = milango
The door is open =
Mlango u-ko wazi
(door it-is open)
The doors are open
Milango i-ko wazi
(doors they-are open)

PAST TENSE and DEMONSTRATIVES

The past tense article is –li-. Example: I was walking = Mimi ni-li-tembea
(I I-was-walk)
In negation the past tense article becomes –ku-
Example: I did not walk = Mimi si-ku-tembea
(I I-was-not-walk)

The unit-sounds in each demonstrative corresponds to the noun class unit-sounds for singular and plural sentences.
In the m-mi noun class, the sound-units are -u- and -i-, therefore the demonstratives are:

This = Huu

These = Hii

That = Ule

Those = Ile.


Course Part Two, exercises

After practicing on the above mentioned grammatical features, go to stand in the nature / garden and touch or point to the things mentioned in the sentences while repeating them:


This football was white = mpira huu u-li-kuwa mweupe
(football this it-was-be white)

You planted this tree = wewe u-li-u-panga mti huu
(you you-did-it-plant tree this)

Those trees were once small = miti i-le i-li-kuwa mi-dogo
(trees those they-were-being small)

That plant was growing = mmea u-le u-li-ota
(plant that it-was-growing)

These plants are not growing anymore = mimea hii ha-i-oti tena
(plants these not-they-grow again)

I bought that push-cart = mimi ni-li-u-nunua mkokoteni u-le
(I I-was-it-buy push-cart that)

They had many push-carts = wao wa-li-kuwa na mikokoteni mingi
(they they-did-be with push-carts many)

The saw was behind that door = msumeno u-li-kuwa nyuma ya mlango u-le
(saw it-was-be behind of door that)

These saws were new = misumeno hii i-li-kuwa mi-pya
(saws these they-were-be new)

Denne fodbold var hvid = mpira huu u-li-kuwa mweupe
(fodbold denne den-fortid-er hvid)


Those balls were round = mipira i-le i-li-kuwa duara
(balls those they-were-be round)

Learn Swahili - Part One: The Kitchen

You can learn Swahili at Bongo Camping. But we have also made a little course in 5 parts which we will post here.
Picture from a Swahili-English tandem course class at Bongo Camping:

Swahili Course Part One (JI-MA NOUN CLASS):
PRACTICE SWAHILI IN THE KITCHEN

Grammatical themes:

THE JI-MA NOUN CLASS:

In sentences with Ji-Ma nouns the often used sound-unit in singular is -li- (as the ly-sound in ´holy´), and in plural -ya- (as the german word for yes, ´ja´).

Examples: Fruit = tunda
Fruits: ma-tunda
The fruit falls down =
Tunda li-naanguka chini
(fruit it-is-falling down)
The fruits are lying on the table =
Matunda ya-na-kaa mezani
(Fruits they-are-lying the-table-on)


PRESENT TENSE and PERSONAL PRONOUNS:

The present tense article is –na-. Example: He is running = Yeye a-na-kimbia
(he he-is-running)

In negation the present tense article disappars and the last vowel changes to –i.
Example: He is not running = Yeye ha-kimbii
(he is not-running)
I = mimi

You = wewe

He/she/it = yeye

We = sisi

You = ninyi

They = wao


Course Part One, exercises:
After practicing on the above mentioned grammatical features, go to stand in the kitchen and touch or point to the things mentioned in the sentences while repeating them:

This is a fruit = Hi-li ni tunda
(this is fruit)

These are fruits = Ha-ya ni ma-tunda
(these are fruits)

The eggs are lying inside the refrigeator = Ma-yai ya-na-kaa ndani ya friji
(eggs they are lying inside of refrigeator)

The egg is being boiled = Yai li-na-chemka
(egg it-is-being-boiled)

You like oranges = Wewe u-na-ya-penda machungwa
(you you-are-them-like oranges)

He peels the orange = Yeye a-na-li-menya chungwa
(he he-is-it-peels orange)

I open the window = Mimi na-li-fungua dirisha
(I I-am-it-open window)

They stand by the windows = Wao wa-na-simama madirisha-ni
(they they-are-standing windows by)

We are cooking = Sisi tu-na-pika chakula
(we we-are-cooking food)

You are cooking = Ninyi m-na-pika chakula
(You you-are-cooking food)

Welcome

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