Latest / Learn Swahili with Fexingo / Swahili Common Verbs - Soma Andimika
Transcript
- Lucas: Welcome back to Learn Swahili with Fexingo! I'm Lucas. Luna: And I'm Luna. So glad to be here again. Lucas: We've covered a lot of ground — greetings, numbers, food, family, time, directions... Today, let's do something practical: two common verbs you'll use every day. Luna: Ooh, verbs! I love verbs. Lucas: The first one is 'soma'. Soma — meaning 'to read'. Luna: Soma. Lucas: Yes. Soma. For example, 'Ninasoma kitabu.' — I am reading a book. Luna: Ninasoma kitabu. So 'nina' means 'I am'? Lucas: Right. 'Nina' is the subject prefix for 'I' in present tense. So 'Ninasoma' — I read or I am reading. Luna: Got it. Ninasoma. Lucas: Now you try: 'Ninasoma gazeti.' — I am reading a newspaper. Luna: Ninasoma gazeti. Lucas: Excellent. Another example: 'Yeye anasoma kitabu.' — He/She is reading a book. Luna: Yeye anasoma kitabu. So 'ana' is for he/she. Lucas: Exactly. Now the second verb: 'andika' — to write. Luna: Andika. That sounds like 'andika' — write. Lucas: Yes. 'Unaandika barua.' — You are writing a letter. Luna: Unaandika barua. 'Una' is 'you'? Lucas: Right. 'Una' for 'you' singular. So 'Unaandika' — you write. Luna: Unaandika. And what about 'I write'? Lucas: Ninaandika. 'Ninaandika barua.' — I write a letter. Luna: Ninaandika barua. Lucas: Perfect. Let's practice a little scene. Imagine you're at home. You pick up a book. What do you say? Luna: Ninasoma kitabu. Lucas: Yeah! And then you see your friend writing a letter. What do you say to them? Luna: Unaandika barua. Lucas: Exactly. Now let's mix it up. How would you say 'She is reading a newspaper'? Luna: Yeye anasoma gazeti. Lucas: Perfect. And 'We are writing a book'? 'We' is 'tuna'. Luna: Tunaandika kitabu. Lucas: Yes! 'Tunaandika kitabu.' — We are writing a book. Luna: That's cool. So we can use 'soma' and 'andika' with different subjects just by changing the prefix. Lucas: Exactly. Here's a quick recap: 'Ninasoma' — I read, 'Unasoma' — you read, 'Anasoma' — he/she reads, 'Tunasoma' — we read, 'Mnasoma' — you all read, 'Wanasoma' — they read. Same pattern for 'andika'. Luna: Let me try: 'Ninaandika', 'Unaandika', 'Anaandika', 'Tunaandika', 'Mnaandika', 'Wanaandika'. Did I get them? Lucas: You did. Nice work! Luna: Hmm. So if I want to say 'They are reading magazines', it would be... 'Wanasoma magazeti'. Lucas: Perfect. 'Wanasoma magazeti.' You're a natural. Luna: Aww, thanks. This is really helpful. Now I can talk about what I'm reading or writing. Lucas: And you can ask others too. 'Unasoma nini?' — What are you reading? 'Unaandika nini?' — What are you writing? Luna: Unasoma nini? Unaandika nini? I like those questions. Lucas: Great. Let's do a short conversation. I'll be a friend, you be you. I say: 'Hujambo? Unasoma nini?' Luna: Sijambo. Ninasoma kitabu. Na wewe? Unaandika nini? Lucas: Ninaandika barua kwa rafiki yangu. — I am writing a letter to my friend. Luna: Nice. So 'rafiki' is friend? Lucas: Yes. Rafiki. So you could say 'Ninaandika barua kwa rafiki yangu.' Luna: Ninaandika barua kwa rafiki yangu. Lucas: Perfect. And remember 'yangu' means 'my'. Luna: Right, from episode 36. So 'rafiki yangu' — my friend. Lucas: Exactly. Let's go back to 'soma' and 'andika' one more time. Try saying: 'I am reading a book and writing a letter.' Luna: Ninasoma kitabu na ninaandika barua. Lucas: Yes! 'Na' means 'and'. So 'Ninasoma kitabu na ninaandika barua.' Luna: That's a full sentence. I feel like I can actually say something useful. Lucas: You can. And with just these two verbs, you can describe a lot of daily activities. Luna: So today we learned 'soma' and 'andika'. Soma — to read, andika — to write. Lucas: And how to conjugate them with 'nina', 'una', 'ana', 'tuna', 'mna', 'wana'. Luna: Ninasoma, unasoma, anasoma... I think I've got it. Lucas: Keep practicing. Try using them in your day: when you pick up a book, say 'Ninasoma'. When you write a note, say 'Ninaandika'. Luna: I will. And I'll ask my friends 'Unasoma nini?' Lucas: That's the spirit. And remember, you can always revisit earlier episodes on Fexingo to review. Luna: Right. Thanks for another great episode, Lucas. Lucas: You're welcome, Luna. And to all our listeners: keep practicing, and see you next time on Learn Swahili with Fexingo! Luna: Kwaheri!