Latest / Learn Swahili with Fexingo / Swahili at the Pharmacy - Basic Phrases
Transcript
- Lucas: Hey Luna, welcome back. Ready for another small Swahili win? Luna: Yes! I've been practicing from last episode — at the doctor. I hope I don't need it, but it's good to know. Lucas: Exactly. And today we're staying in that health theme, but a little more specific — the pharmacy. Luna: Oh, that's smart. Like if you need medicine but don't need to see a doctor. Lucas: Right. So first phrase: Nataka dawa. Say it with me: Nataka dawa. Luna: Nataka dawa. Lucas: Good. It means 'I want medicine.' Let's break it down: nataka is 'I want,' dawa is 'medicine.' So Nataka dawa. Luna: Nataka dawa. Simple enough. Lucas: Now, sometimes you need to say what kind. For example, if you have a cold. Say: Nina mafua. Luna: Nina mafua. Lucas: That's 'I have a cold.' Nina means 'I have,' mafua is 'cold.' So Nina mafua. Luna: Nina mafua. Good. What if I have a cough? Lucas: Then say: Nina kikohozi. Luna: Nina kikohozi. Lucas: Perfect. Kikohozi is 'cough.' So Nina kikohozi. Luna: Okay, so if I have a cold and a cough, I can say Nina mafua na kikohozi? Lucas: Exactly! Na means 'and.' So Nina mafua na kikohozi. That's a great sentence. Luna: Nina mafua na kikohozi. Lucas: Now, if you want medicine for a fever, you'd say: Dawa ya homa. Luna: Dawa ya homa. Lucas: Homa is 'fever.' So dawa ya homa is 'medicine for fever.' And if you want cough medicine: Dawa ya kikohozi. Luna: Dawa ya kikohozi. Lucas: Right. So at the pharmacy, you can say: Nataka dawa ya kikohozi. Luna: Nataka dawa ya kikohozi. That sounds like a full sentence. Lucas: It is. Let's practice a mini dialogue. Imagine you walk into a pharmacy. You say: Nataka dawa. Luna: Nataka dawa. Lucas: The pharmacist asks: Una shida gani? That means 'What's the problem?' You can say: Nina mafua. Luna: Nina mafua. Lucas: Then you can add: Nataka dawa ya mafua. Luna: Nataka dawa ya mafua. Lucas: Perfect. And don't forget to say tafadhali and asante. Luna: Of course. Tafadhali, nataka dawa ya mafua. Asante. Lucas: You sound ready for a real pharmacy visit! Let's quickly run through all the phrases again. Luna: Sure. Lucas: Nataka dawa. Luna: Nataka dawa. Lucas: Nina mafua. Luna: Nina mafua. Lucas: Nina kikohozi. Luna: Nina kikohozi. Lucas: Dawa ya homa. Luna: Dawa ya homa. Lucas: Nataka dawa ya kikohozi. Luna: Nataka dawa ya kikohozi. Lucas: Awesome. You know, it's great that we can offer these episodes without any ads interrupting. Luna: Yeah, I love that. It keeps the focus on learning. Lucas: If Fexingo has been helping you make progress with Swahili, you can support that ad-free mission at buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. Luna: Yeah, it's a small way to keep this going. But no pressure. Lucas: Exactly. Now, let's imagine you're at the pharmacy and you need to ask for something specific. How would you say 'I want medicine for a cough'? Luna: Nataka dawa ya kikohozi. Lucas: Perfect. And if you have a fever, you'd say? Luna: Nina homa. Nataka dawa ya homa. Lucas: You got it. Practice these phrases, and next time you're in a pharmacy in East Africa, you'll be set. Luna: Thanks Lucas. This was really helpful. Lucas: My pleasure. Keep practicing, and see you next time for another tiny Swahili win.