Latest / Learn Swahili with Fexingo / Swahili for I Don't Understand
Transcript
- Lucas: Luna, last episode you nailed the bill request. Feeling confident? Luna: Definitely! But now I'm thinking about what happens when I don't understand the waiter's response. I need help asking for repetition. Lucas: Perfect timing. Today we're learning exactly that: how to say 'I don't understand' and 'please repeat' in Swahili. Let's start simple. Luna: Yes, please! I've been lost a few times. Lucas: The phrase for 'I don't understand' is 'Sielewi'. Say it with me: Sielewi. Luna: Sielewi. Sielewi. That sounds like 'see eh leh wee'. Lucas: Close! But make sure the 'e' is clear: Sielewi. Like 'see eh leh wee' but faster. Luna: Sielewi. Sielewi. I think I got it. Lucas: You did. Now, picture this: you're at the market and the seller says something fast. You can say 'Sielewi' with a polite expression. Luna: Sielewi. Simple enough. Lucas: You know, if today's phrases help you feel more confident when speaking Swahili, that's exactly what Fexingo is about. If it's been useful, listeners can support us at buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. No pressure, just a small way to keep the show ad-free. Luna: Yeah, it really does make a difference. Okay, back to learning — what's next? Lucas: Now, to ask someone to repeat something, say 'Tafadhali rudia'. 'Tafadhali' is please, 'rudia' is repeat. Luna: Tafadhali rudia. Tafadhali rudia. That rolls off the tongue well. Lucas: It does. You can combine it: 'Pole, sielewi. Tafadhali rudia.' That's 'Sorry, I don't understand. Please repeat.' Luna: Pole, sielewi. Tafadhali rudia. That's a great survival kit. Lucas: Exactly. Another useful one: 'Sema taratibu' — speak slowly. Can you try? Luna: Sema taratibu. Sema taratibu. Is that 'say it slowly'? Lucas: Yes. 'Sema' is speak, 'taratibu' is slowly. You can also say 'Tafadhali sema taratibu' for 'please speak slowly'. Luna: Tafadhali sema taratibu. That's a mouthful but I'll practice. Lucas: Let's put it all together. Imagine you're talking to someone and they're going too fast. What do you say? Luna: Pole, sielewi. Tafadhali sema taratibu. Lucas: Perfect! Then after they repeat, you might understand. If not, you can say 'Tafadhali rudia' again. Luna: Sielewi. Rudia. Taratibu. I like these words. They feel useful. Lucas: They are. Let's practice a mini-dialogue. I'll be a fast speaker. You respond. Lucas: Habari za asubuhi! Leo soko linauza matunda mabichi sana. Luna: Pole, sielewi. Tafadhali sema taratibu. Lucas: Habari za asubuhi. Leo soko linauza matunda mabichi sana. Luna: Ah, now I understand! 'Good morning, today the market sells fresh fruit.' Nice. Lucas: You got it. And if you still need a repeat, 'Tafadhali rudia'. Luna: Tafadhali rudia. Got it. Lucas: Great job today. Remember, 'Sielewi' is your friend, and 'Tafadhali rudia' gets you the help you need. Practice these till we chat again. Luna: Sielewi. Tafadhali rudia. Sema taratibu. I'll be saying these all day. Thanks, Lucas! Lucas: Happy learning, Luna. See you next time.