Dialogue

Vocabulary

Learn New Words FAST with this Lesson’s Vocab Review List

Get this lesson’s key vocab, their translations and pronunciations. Sign up for your Free Lifetime Account Now and get 7 Days of Premium Access including this feature.

Or sign up using Facebook
Already a Member?

Lesson Notes

Unlock In-Depth Explanations & Exclusive Takeaways with Printable Lesson Notes

Unlock Lesson Notes and Transcripts for every single lesson. Sign Up for a Free Lifetime Account and Get 7 Days of Premium Access.

Or sign up using Facebook
Already a Member?

Lesson Transcript

Introduction
Dana: Welcome to 3-Minute Swahili Season 1, Lesson 6 - Refusing Politely. In this lesson, you’ll learn how to refuse an invitation politely in Swahili.
Body
Dana: Here's an informal way to say "No, thank you." in Swahili.
Medina: [Normal] La, asante.
Dana: First is a word meaning "No."
Medina: [Normal] La [Slow] La
Dana: Last is the word meaning "thank you."
Medina: [Normal] asante [Slow] asante
Dana: Listen again to the informal phrase meaning "No, thank you."
Medina: [Slow] La, asante. [Normal] La, asante.
Dana: Ok, now let's see a formal way to say "No, thank you."
Medina: [Normal] Hapana, nashukuru.
Dana: First is a word meaning "No"
Medina: [Normal] Hapana [Slow] Hapana
Dana: Last is the word meaning "thank you"
Medina: [Normal] nashukuru [Slow] nashukuru
Dana: Listen again to the formal phrase meaning "No, thank you."
Medina: [Slow] Hapana, nashukuru. [Normal] Hapana, nashukuru.
Dana: Now for a way to say "Sorry, but I already have plans."
Medina: [Normal] Samahani, lakini nina shughuli tayari.
Dana: First is a word meaning "Sorry."
Medina: [Normal] Samahani. [Slow] Samahani.
Dana: Next is the word meaning "but."
Medina: [Normal] lakini [Slow] lakini
Dana: Next is the phrase meaning "I have plans."
Medina: [Normal] nina shughuli [Slow] nina shughuli
Dana: Last is the word meaning "already."
Medina: [Normal] tayari [Slow] tayari
Dana: Listen again to the formal sentence meaning "Sorry, but I already have plans."
Medina: [Slow] Samahani, lakini nina shughuli tayari. [Normal] Samahani, lakini nina shughuli tayari.
Dana: Finally is a different way to say "Sorry, but I already have plans."
Medina: [Normal] Niwieradhi, ninamipango tayari.
Dana: First is a word meaning "Sorry."
Medina: [Normal] Niwieradhi [Slow] Niwieradhi
Dana: Next is the word meaning "I have plans."
Medina: [Normal] ninamipango [Slow] ninamipango
Dana: Last is the word meaning "already."
Medina: [Normal] tayari [Slow] tayari
Dana: Listen again to the formal sentence meaning "Sorry, but I already have plans."
Medina: [Slow] Niwieradhi, ninamipango tayari. [Normal] Niwieradhi, ninamipango tayari.
Cultural Insight
Dana: Now it's time for a quick cultural insight.
Medina: It is not uncommon for Kenyans to turn down an invitation. Usually, this happens when someone has an appointment or is busy with work. It is often polite to thank the invitee for the invitation and give reasons for not being able to accept the invitation.

Outro

Dana: And that’s all for this lesson. Don’t forget to check out the lesson notes, and we’ll see you in the next lesson!
Medina: Tuonane!

Comments

Hide