Latest / Learn Swahili with Fexingo / Swahili: Cheap and Expensive at Market
Transcript
- Lucas: Welcome back to Learn Swahili with Fexingo. I'm Lucas. Luna: And I'm Luna. Last time we talked about likes and dislikes. I've been saying 'Sipendi kahawa' everywhere. Lucas: That is a very useful phrase. Today we are going to the market again, but with a new focus: talking about prices. Luna: Oh, I love bargaining. I need to know how to say 'cheap' and 'expensive'. Lucas: Exactly. First, let's start with the question you ask: 'Bei gani?' — 'How much?'. Lucas: Listen: 'Bei gani?' Say it with me. Luna: Bei gani? Lucas: Perfect. Now for 'cheap', we say 'rahisi'. Repeat after me: rahisi. Luna: Rahisi. Lucas: Yes. And for 'expensive', 'ghali'. Ghali. Luna: Ghali. That one feels a bit heavy. Lucas: It does. Now put it together: 'Bei hii ni rahisi' — 'This price is cheap'. And 'Bei hii ni ghali' — 'This price is expensive'. Luna: Bei hii ni rahisi. Bei hii ni ghali. I think I've got that. Lucas: You're doing great. You know, these episodes are completely ad-free, and we keep them that way because of listeners who support us. Lucas: If Fexingo helps you make progress with Swahili, consider buying us a coffee at buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. It helps us keep the show ad-free. Luna: It's a small way to give back if this show is helping you learn. Lucas: Exactly. So let's practice with some market items. Suppose you see mangoes for five hundred shillings. Is that cheap or expensive? Luna: Five hundred? That seems cheap. So, 'Bei hii ni rahisi'. Lucas: Right. Now imagine an avocado for two thousand shillings. That's a lot. Luna: Wow. 'Bei hii ni ghali'. Lucas: Exactly. You can also just say 'rahisi' or 'ghali' as a quick comment. Lucas: Now, you are at the market. You ask 'Bei gani?' and the seller says 'Shilingi elfu moja'. Luna: That's one thousand. I might say 'Rahisi' if I think it's okay. Lucas: Or 'Ghali' if you want to negotiate. But today we are just learning the words. Remember: rahisi for cheap, ghali for expensive. Luna: Rahisi, ghali. Got it. Lucas: Practice these with items around you. Ask yourself 'Bei gani?' and decide if it's rahisi or ghali. Luna: I'm going to start doing that at the grocery store. Everyone will think I'm strange. Lucas: That is fine. Keep practicing. We'll have more market phrases next time. Luna: Can't wait. Until then, Kwaheri! Lucas: Kwaheri! See you next time.