Latest / Learn Swahili with Fexingo / Swahili Kitchen Basics - Cutting and Chopping
Transcript
- Lucas: Welcome back to Learn Swahili with Fexingo. I am Lucas. Luna: And I am Luna. We are so happy to be here with you again. Lucas: Last time we talked about tasting and seasoning. Today we talk about the work before that. Luna: The actual cutting. The chopping. Getting the food ready. Lucas: Exactly. In the kitchen, the first big action is often cutting something into pieces. Luna: Like when you have a big onion or a potato that needs to be small. Lucas: Right. The verb for that general action is 'kukata'. It means to cut. Luna: Okay. Kukata. To cut. Lucas: Let's say it slowly. Kukata.... Kukata. Luna: Kukata.... Kukata. That sounds sharp. Lucas: It is sharp. You use a knife to kukata vegetables. You use a knife to kukata meat. Luna: I want to kukata some tomatoes for my salad today. Lucas: Good choice. Nataka kukata pombe. That is 'I want to cut tomatoes'. Luna: Nataka kukata pombe. Wait, did I say it right? Lucas: You said it perfectly. Very good. Now, sometimes you do not just cut. Sometimes you slice very thin. Luna: Like for garnish? Or for a sandwich? Lucas: Yes. There is another word for that finer action. It is 'kuchoma'. It means to slice. Luna: Kuchoma. To slice. Is it different from kukata? Lucas: Yes. Kukata is general cutting. Kuchoma is slicing into thin pieces. Like slicing bread. Luna: So if I am making toast, I might kuchoma the bread? Lucas: Or if you are slicing cucumber for a drink. Kuchoma. Let's try it. Luna: Kuchoma.... Kuchoma. To slice. Lucas: Nice. Kuchoma.... Kuchoma. You are getting the rhythm. Luna: Kuchoma vizuri. Slice it well. Is that correct? Lucas: Yes. Vizuri means well. So kuchoma vizuri is a great phrase to remember. Luna: Okay. So we have kukata for cutting, and kuchoma for slicing. Lucas: Correct. And once everything is cut and sliced, what happens next? Luna: We cook it? We put it in the pan? Lucas: Yes. The general word for cooking food is 'kupika'. It covers boiling, frying, baking. Luna: Kupika. To cook. Simple and strong. Lucas: Very simple. Nimepika chakula. I have cooked food. Siku nyingine kupika ni nzuri. Luna: Siku nyingine kupika ni nzuri. Cooking another day will be good. Lucas: Exactly. Kupika.... Kupika. Say it with me. Luna: Kupika.... Kupika. I love this one. Lucas: It is a favorite. Now, before we start all this cutting and cooking, there is one important safety rule.