Latest / Learn Swahili with Fexingo / Swahili Questions - Nani? Wapi? Lini?
Transcript
- Lucas: Welcome back to Learn Swahili with Fexingo! I'm Lucas. Luna: And I'm Luna. Episode 24, can you believe it? Lucas: I know, right? We've come a long way since greetings and numbers. Luna: Yeah, I still remember 'Jina langu ni Luna' from way back. Lucas: That's a good callback! Today, we're going to ask questions. Simple ones. Luna: Ohh, like 'who', 'where', 'when'? Lucas: Exactly. In Swahili, 'who' is nani. Say it with me: nani. Luna: Nani. Lucas: Good. 'Where' is wapi. Luna: Wapi. Lucas: And 'when' is lini. Luna: Lini. Lucas: Perfect. Now let's put them in full sentences. 'Who is that?' — Yule ni nani? Luna: Yule ni nani? Lucas: Yep. Yule means 'that person'. So 'Yule ni nani?' literally 'That is who?'. Luna: Okay, so if I see someone, I can ask 'Yule ni nani?'. Lucas: Exactly. Now try asking me: 'Who is that?' in Swahili. Luna: Yule ni nani? Lucas: Perfect. I'd answer 'Yule ni Lucas'. Luna: Oh, that's easy. So 'Yule ni Luna' would be 'That is Luna'. Lucas: There you go. Now let's do 'Where are you going?' — Unaenda wapi? Luna: Unaenda wapi? Lucas: Yes. Unaenda means 'you go' or 'you are going'. So 'Unaenda wapi?'. Luna: So if I'm going to the market, I'd say... 'Ninaenda sokoni'. Lucas: Exactly! And the question is 'Unaenda wapi?'. Luna: So if you ask me 'Unaenda wapi?', I could say 'Ninaenda sokoni'. Lucas: Perfect. Now 'When will you come?' — Utakuja lini? Luna: Utakuja lini?... Utakuja is 'you will come', right? Lucas: Yes, from 'kuja' meaning 'come'. So 'Utakuja lini?'. Luna: So if I want to ask when someone is coming, I say 'Utakuja lini?'. Lucas: Exactly. Now let's practice a quick scene. Pretend I'm arriving at a party. Luna: Okay... I see you walk in. Lucas: So you could say 'Habari! Yule ni nani?' if you see someone with me. Luna: Right! So 'Habari! Yule ni nani?' And you'd answer...? Lucas: I'd say 'Yule ni rafiki yangu' — that's my friend. Luna: Ooh, new word! Rafiki means friend. Lucas: Yes. Then you might ask me 'Unaenda wapi?' if I'm leaving. Luna: And I'd say 'Unaenda wapi?' and you'd say 'Ninaenda nyumbani' — I'm going home. Lucas: Exactly. Or 'Utakuja lini?' if you want to know when I'll return. Luna: Utakuja lini? — When will you come? I think I've got these. Lucas: Let's hear all three questions one more time. Repeat after me: Yule ni nani? Luna: Yule ni nani? Lucas: Unaenda wapi? Luna: Unaenda wapi? Lucas: Utakuja lini? Luna: Utakuja lini? Lucas: Awesome. Now try them in order. Imagine you meet me and ask who I'm with. Luna: Yule ni nani? Lucas: That's my sister, 'dada yangu'. Then you ask where we're going. Luna: Unaenda wapi? Lucas: Sokoni. And you ask when we'll be back. Luna: Utakuja lini? Lucas: Perfect! You just had a whole conversation using nani, wapi, lini. Luna: That felt great. These are so useful. Lucas: Absolutely. And they work with words you already know. Like 'Huyu ni nani?' means 'Who is this?'. Luna: Huyu ni nani? — for someone close. Lucas: Right. And 'Anakwenda wapi?' — 'Where is he/she going?'. Luna: Anakwenda wapi? That's using 'ana-' for he/she. Lucas: Yes. And 'Atakuja lini?' — 'When will he/she come?'. Luna: Okay, so we can vary the subject. That's clever. Lucas: Now let's wrap up with a quick review. I'll say the English, you say the Swahili. Luna: Bring it on. Lucas: Who? Luna: Nani. Lucas: Where? Luna: Wapi. Lucas: When? Luna: Lini. Lucas: Who is that? Luna: Yule ni nani? Lucas: Where are you going? Luna: Unaenda wapi? Lucas: When will you come? Luna: Utakuja lini? Lucas: Nailed it. You've got three powerful question words now. Luna: And I can use them in real situations. Love it. Lucas: That's all for today's episode of Learn Swahili with Fexingo. Keep practicing these questions. Luna: Yeah, try asking someone 'Unaenda wapi?' today. See what happens. Lucas: And we'll see you next time for more Swahili. Kwaheri! Luna: Kwaheri! Tutaonana baadaye!