Dialogue

Vocabulary

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Lesson Notes

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Lesson Transcript

Introduction
Dana: Welcome to 3-Minute Swahili Season 1, Lesson 8 - Talking About Your Age. In this lesson, you’ll learn how to ask someone's age and to say your own in Swahili.
Body
Dana: Here's the way to ask "How old are you?" in Swahili.
Medina: [Normal] Una miaka mingapi?
Dana: First is a word meaning "to have."
Medina: [Normal] Una [Slow] Una
Dana: Next is the word meaning "years."
Medina: [Normal] miaka [Slow] miaka
Dana: Last is the word meaning "how many."
Medina: [Normal] mingapi [Slow] mingapi
Dana: Listen again to the question meaning "How old are you?"
Medina: [Slow] Una miaka mingapi? [Normal] Una miaka mingapi?
Dana: Now, imagine you're speaking to a friend. Here's another way to ask, "How old are you?"
Medina: [Normal] Una umri gani?
Dana: First is a word meaning "to have."
Medina: [Normal] Una [Slow] Una
Dana: Next is the word meaning "age."
Medina: [Normal] umri [Slow] umri
Dana: Last is the word meaning "what."
Medina: [Normal] gani [Slow] gani
Dana: Listen again to the question meaning "How old are you?"
Medina: [Slow] Una umri gani? [Normal] Una umri gani?
Dana: Here's a response meaning "I am 17."
Medina: [Normal] Ninamiaka kumi na saba (17).
Dana: First is a word meaning "I have years."
Medina: [Normal] Ninamiaka [Slow] Ninamiaka
Dana: Last is the word-phrase meaning "seventeen."
Medina: [Normal] kumi na saba (17). [Slow] kumi na saba (17).
Dana: Listen again to the response, "I am 17."
Medina: [Slow] Ninamiaka kumi na saba (17). [Normal] Ninamiaka kumi na saba (17).
Dana: Here's a response meaning, "I prefer not to say."
Medina: [Normal] Ninapendelea nisiseme.
Dana: First is a word meaning "I prefer."
Medina: [Normal] Ninapendelea [Slow] Ninapendelea
Dana: Last is the word meaning "not to say."
Medina: [Normal] nisiseme [Slow] nisiseme
Dana: Listen again to the response, "I prefer not to say."
Medina: [Slow] Ninapendelea nisiseme. [Normal] Ninapendelea nisiseme.
Cultural Insight
Dana: Now it's time for a quick cultural insight.
Medina: Age is a sensitive topic for Kenyans and it may be rude to ask someone their age. It is common for people to be asked their age in the hospital. Job applicants are required to give their age and usually this is indicated in the resume. Knowing the history of someone, such as when he started and finished school, can give a hint to someone's age and, of course, you can create an atmosphere where one can be comfortable to say their age. It only calls for wisdom.

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!

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