Latest / Learn Swahili with Fexingo / Swahili Money - Counting Shillings
Transcript
- Lucas: Welcome back to Learn Swahili with Fexingo! I'm Lucas. Luna: And I'm Luna! Episode 35, can you believe it? Lucas: I know, time flies. And today we have a super practical topic: money. Luna: Oh, I need this! Last time I tried to buy fruit at the market, I just pointed and smiled. Lucas: That works too, but let's give you some words. In Swahili, money is 'pesa'. Luna: Pesa. Lucas: Good. And the currency here is the shilling, 'shilingi'. So, 'shilingi'. Luna: Shilingi. Sounds close to 'shilling'. Lucas: Exactly. Now, the first phrase: 'Pesa ngapi?' It means 'How much money?' or just 'How much?'. Luna: Pesa ngapi? Lucas: Perfect. 'Pesa' is money, 'ngapi' is how many. So 'Pesa ngapi?' Luna: Pesa ngapi? I can ask that when I want to know the price. Lucas: Exactly. Let's say you see some nice mangoes. You ask: 'Pesa ngapi?' Luna: Right. And they might say a number. So next phrase? Lucas: Next: 'Shilingi ishirini' — twenty shillings. 'Ishirini' is twenty. Luna: Shilingi ishirini. Lucas: You've got it. So if a mango costs twenty shillings, the seller says 'Shilingi ishirini'. Luna: Shilingi ishirini. That's not much! Lucas: Nope. But let's practice the question again. I'm a seller, you ask. Luna: Uh... Pesa ngapi? Lucas: Great! And I answer: 'Shilingi ishirini'. Luna: Pesa ngapi? Shilingi ishirini. Got it. Lucas: Now another way to ask the price: 'Bei gani?' 'Bei' means price, 'gani' means what kind. So 'Bei gani?' Luna: Bei gani? Lucas: Yes. It's like saying 'What's the price?' You can use either 'Pesa ngapi?' or 'Bei gani?'. Luna: Bei gani? I like that one. Sounds clear. Lucas: Let's try a mini scene. You're at the market, you see bananas. Luna: Ndizi! I remember that from episode 20. So I say 'Pesa ngapi?' or 'Bei gani?' Lucas: Exactly. And the seller says 'Shilingi ishirini'. Luna: But what if I want to say 'only ten shillings'? Because that sounds cheap. Lucas: Good question! 'Only' is 'tu' in Swahili. So 'Shilingi kumi tu' — only ten shillings. Luna: Kumi is ten. So 'Shilingi kumi tu'. Lucas: Perfect. Let's say you're bargaining and you want to offer ten shillings. You say 'Shilingi kumi tu'. Luna: Shilingi kumi tu. That's useful. So I could say 'Bei gani?' and they say 'Shilingi ishirini', and I say 'Shilingi kumi tu'. Lucas: That's the spirit! Now let's do a full dialogue. I'm the seller, you're the buyer. Luna: Okay, I'm ready. Lucas: Karibu! Unataka nini? Welcome, what do you want? Luna: Nataka ndizi. I want bananas. Lucas: Sawa. Bei gani? What price? Luna: Wait, I ask the price! Let me redo. Hello, nataka ndizi. Pesa ngapi? Lucas: Ah, sorry. Yes, you ask. I'll say 'Shilingi ishirini'. Luna: Shilingi ishirini? Shilingi kumi tu? Lucas: Oh, you're bargaining! Okay, let's say I agree: 'Sawa, shilingi kumi tu.' Okay, only ten shillings. Luna: Ahh, yes! Nailed it. So 'Sawa' means okay. Lucas: Yes, from episode 5. Good memory. So now you have four phrases: 'Pesa ngapi?', 'Bei gani?', 'Shilingi ishirini', 'Shilingi kumi tu'. Luna: Let me repeat them. Pesa ngapi? Bei gani? Shilingi ishirini. Shilingi kumi tu. Lucas: Excellent! And remember, you can combine them. 'Pesa ngapi?' is very common. Luna: I love that. I'll use it at the market this weekend. Lucas: Perfect. Before we go, let's do one more quick round. I say the English, you say Swahili. Luna: Okay, hit me. Lucas: How much money? Luna: Pesa ngapi? Lucas: What price? Luna: Bei gani? Lucas: Twenty shillings. Luna: Shilingi ishirini. Lucas: Only ten shillings. Luna: Shilingi kumi tu. Lucas: You did it! I'm so proud. Luna: Thanks! This was really helpful. Now I won't be shy at the market. Lucas: That's the goal. Keep practicing, and next time we'll build on this. Luna: Can't wait. Thanks for learning with Fexingo, everyone! Lucas: See you next time, and remember: practice makes progress. Kwa heri!