Latest / Learn Swahili with Fexingo / Swahili at the Market – Buying Fish
Transcript
- Lucas: Welcome back to Learn Swahili with Fexingo. I'm Lucas. Luna: And I'm Luna. Episode 136 — can you believe it? Lucas: I know. And today we're heading to the market, but not just any market. We're going to a fish market. Luna: Oh I love fish. But I've never bought it in Swahili. I'd be so lost. Lucas: Well, that's exactly what we're here for. If Fexingo has been helping you make progress with Swahili, the way this stays ad-free is listener support. You can find us at buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. Luna: Yeah, a little goes a long way. Now let's get to the fish. Lucas: Alright. So the first thing you need to say is 'Nataka samaki.' That means 'I want fish.' Luna: Nataka samaki. I want fish. Lucas: Yes. Nataka samaki. Say it again. Luna: Nataka samaki. Lucas: Perfect. Now, the seller might ask you 'Samaki gani?' which means 'Which fish?' Luna: Samaki gani? Which fish? Lucas: Exactly. So you can say 'Samaki wa kupika' — that's 'fish for cooking.' Luna: Samaki wa kupika. So that's like, not fried or anything, just raw fish for cooking at home. Lucas: Right. Samaki wa kupika. Good. Luna: Samaki wa kupika. Lucas: Now, if the price is fixed and you want to say 'same price', you say 'Same kwa same.' Luna: Same kwa same. That's easy to remember. Lucas: It is. And if you want to ask the price, you say 'Bei gani?' — 'How much?' Luna: Bei gani? How much? So let me try a full sentence: 'Nataka samaki. Samaki wa kupika. Bei gani?' Lucas: That's perfect, Luna. You just bought fish. Let's practice it again. Repeat after me: 'Nataka samaki.' Luna: Nataka samaki. Lucas: 'Samaki gani?' Luna: Samaki gani? Lucas: 'Samaki wa kupika.' Luna: Samaki wa kupika. Lucas: 'Same kwa same.' Luna: Same kwa same. Lucas: 'Bei gani?' Luna: Bei gani? Lucas: Excellent. So imagine you're at the market. You see a big pile of fish. You say 'Nataka samaki.' The seller says 'Samaki gani?' You say 'Samaki wa kupika.' And if the price is good, you say 'Same kwa same.' Or ask 'Bei gani?' first. Luna: That feels so real now. I can actually picture myself doing that. Lucas: That's the goal. Alright, let's do one more round. I'll be the seller. Luna: Okay. 'Nataka samaki.' Lucas: 'Samaki gani?' Luna: 'Samaki wa kupika.' Lucas: 'Bei gani?' you should ask now. Luna: 'Bei gani?' Lucas: 'Shilingi elfu tano.' That's five thousand shillings. If you're okay with that, say 'Same kwa same.' Luna: 'Same kwa same.' And then I pay and leave with my fish. Lucas: Exactly. You've just completed a market transaction in Swahili. Luna: That was fun. I'm going to practice this before my next trip. Lucas: Do it. And remember, all these phrases are in the show notes. So go ahead and practice. We'll see you next time. Luna: Thanks for learning with us. Bye!