Latest / Learn Swahili with Fexingo / Swahili Time - Telling the Hour
Transcript
- Lucas: Welcome back to Learn Swahili with Fexingo! I'm Lucas. Luna: And I'm Luna. Ready for another episode! Lucas: Today, we're going to learn how to tell time in Swahili. It's a bit different from English, but you'll get it. Luna: Oh, I love that! I never know how to say what time it is when I'm practicing Swahili. Lucas: Perfect. So the key question is 'Saa ngapi?' which means 'What time is it?' Let's say it together. Luna: Saa ngapi? Lucas: Great! Saa ngapi? Luna: Saa ngapi? That's fun to say. Lucas: Now, in Swahili, time is counted from sunrise to sunset, so 7 AM is actually 'saa moja' — the first hour of the day. Luna: Wait, what? So 7 AM is hour one? Lucas: Exactly. So if it's 9 AM, that's 'saa tatu' — the third hour. Let's practice: 'Saa tatu.' Luna: Saa tatu. Lucas: Yes! And for 5 PM, that's 'saa kumi na moja' — the eleventh hour of the day. Luna: Saa kumi na moja. That's a mouthful! Lucas: You'll get it. So let's put it together: if I ask 'Saa ngapi?' you can answer 'Saa tatu.' Luna: Saa ngapi? Saa tatu. Got it. Lucas: Now, to be more specific, you can add the time of day. For morning, 'asubuhi'. For evening, 'jioni'. So 'Saa moja asubuhi' is 7 AM. Luna: Saa moja asubuhi. Lucas: Perfect. And 'Saa tisa jioni' is 3 PM — wait, no, that's 9 PM? Let me think... Actually, 'saa tisa jioni' would be 3 PM, because 9 hours after sunrise is 3 PM. Wait, I'm confusing myself. Luna: Oh, I'm confused too! Lucas: Okay, let's simplify. In Swahili, the first hour of the day is 7 AM. So 'saa moja asubuhi' is 7 AM. 'Saa tatu asubuhi' is 9 AM. 'Saa sita mchana' is noon. 'Saa tisa jioni' is 3 PM. And 'saa kumi na moja jioni' is 5 PM. Got it? Luna: I think so. So if I want to say 10 AM, that's 'saa nne asubuhi'? Lucas: Exactly! Because 10 AM is the fourth hour after sunrise. You're a natural! Luna: Aww, thanks. Let me try asking: 'Saa ngapi?' Lucas: Saa ngapi? It's... let's say it's 8 AM, so 'saa mbili asubuhi'. Luna: Saa mbili asubuhi. Lucas: Perfect. So to wrap up, our key phrases today: 'Saa ngapi?' for asking the time, and answers like 'Saa tatu' or 'Saa moja asubuhi'. Luna: I'll practice these. Saa ngapi? Saa tatu. Saa moja asubuhi. Lucas: You're doing great. Remember, with Fexingo, you can keep practicing and build your Swahili skills. Luna: Yes, thanks Lucas! See you next time! Lucas: Kwaheri! Until next episode.