Vocabulary

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Lesson Transcript

Welcome. Hello everyone. It’s Medina here again with Swahili top words. Are you a gift-lover? Do you like receiving gifts or do you like giving gifts? Now, if that is you, this lesson is really for you. We’re going to learn about 10 Gift Ideas You Must Know in Swahili. Welcome and let’s have fun.
Okay. Words.
Our first word is,
1. Tarakilishi la paja "laptop"
Tarakilishi la paja. Paja is your lap. “Laptop.”
Asante kwa kunipea tarakilishi la paja. "Thank you for giving me a laptop."
Really I appreciate it. I was dreaming of laptop some years back. You know, technology is changing each and every day and it’s really, I am not really sure but it was yesterday... well, I was thinking about how the world will be in 40 years to come. I don’t know. Maybe there will be something different from a laptop. Okay now, let’s get back to where I was about laptop. You know, those days when I used to see people with a laptop, I was like, oh, I really wish I could have one. Thank you for giving me a laptop. Actually, I got one and life has become normal again. I think I want more laptops. It never gets enough. I don’t know what. Do you feel something like me?
2. Kitabu "book"
Ningependa kusoma kitabu cha hadithi. "I would like to read a storybook."
Kenyans love stories and storytelling. Even before books were invented, Kenyans told stories and now, they are telling stories in writings. We have a very famous and popular writer in Kenya. I think of it among them include, who is this? Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o and one of his books that I like the most is Weep Not, Child. Then, there is Grace of God and with the Grace of God, you will learn. I mean, she’s gotten into the Kenyan culture and you will get to know much about the Kenyan culture through her books.
The Promised Land is one of those favorite books that I love. There is Binyavanga Wainaina, the name is quite long. But you know what, he’s a good writer. In fact, he has a very unique writing that even impressed Oprah Winfrey who took it as one of his book clubs to read books. Get to know the Kenyan cultures by checking out these writers and more of them.
3. Ramani ya dunia "world map"
Kwa vile unasafiri dunia shika hii ramani ya dunia. "Since you are traveling around the world, have this world map."
Would you like to have a world map as a gift? Which one would you like best? The poster one or the globe? Globe in Swahili is called ardhi, technically means Earth. Because the world is earth, Swahili just took it to translate globe to earth, ardhi.
4. Kamera "camera"
Kamera hii inatoa picha safi kabisa. "This camera produces clear pictures."
Yeah. If you see me clearly, then I just mean it.
5. Simu ya smatfon "smartphone"
Hii simu ya smatfon haiishi moto haraka. "This smartphone does not finish charging quickly."
Maybe it’s time to get a gift as a smartphone. How so cool would that be? You know, before I got a smartphone, I dreamt. I know it was one of those dreams that you want to come true. And honestly, when I got one, it was a dream come true. And I appreciate it up till now. It wasn’t really a gift but I really worked hard to get it because I wanted it. Yes, it is very convenient I would say. Smartphones are super convenient, especially in this world and age. I can use a smartphone. In fact, when I was at school, I used to write my papers using my smartphone. Sounds strange but it’s true. Whatever I would be going to work, I could write my papers, huh! Part-time jobbing, yeah, with papers on the road, huh! I will write lots of papers. I will do my researches in my smartphone. I mean, it’s like the world was with me right on my hands. And you know I could chat with my family. I could do – you know, you juggle through a number of things at the same time and your world is just, everything is consolidated. That is very convenient. I appreciate. It’s a dream come true and it’s a worthy dream. “Worthy dream” It’s a high time you get one as a gift. Yeay! I wish you luck.
6. Kamusi "dictionary"
Kamusi mpya ni pesa ngapi? "How much is a new dictionary?"
Do you think a dictionary is a good gift? Now, you ask me what kind of a dictionary? It could be a book dictionary or electronic dictionary. But which one do you like most? Electronic dictionary or book dictionary or none at all. You know, I am saying none at all because some people think dictionary especially book dictionaries are outdated. Why? Because they have the earphones as extra memory. You just you want to look for something like you can say, I want to look for a camera, or you go to your phone and you type a camera and it comes with all those things. So someone is like, oh I don’t need a dictionary. My phone really has a dictionary. I mean, really, for me, I still need dictionaries and especially those paper ones, you know, the legit thesaurus, that dictionary. The Oxford English dictionary. I mean, those ones are still on my shelf and I’ll value them forever. I think I really love them. I still use them up to now and as much as I have a phone and a computer and Google as an extra. An extra gadget for my memory, you know.
7. Usafiri wa ndege hadi Kenya "a flight to Kenya"
Nitakupea tiketi ya usafiri wa ndege hadi Kenya. "I will give you a flight ticket to Kenya."
How awesome is that gift especially if you are abroad? Honestly, you want to go to meet your friends. If the flight ticket is ranging to like $1500, I mean that’s a lot of money and if someone gives you that as a gift, really, that is awesome. Don’t you think so?
8. Vocha ya ununuzi "shopping voucher"
Katika kampuni yetu kila mtu alipewa vocha ya ununuzi. "In our company, everyone was given a shopping voucher."
You could be one of those lucky ones to get a voucher, a shopping voucher from your company. Now, which one would you prefer to buy? Electronic stuff or fashion stuff or go – Um, I mean, our shopping voucher will not take you for a picnic. You can buy stuff to use for a picnic right. It’s you to choose. I wish you luck and enjoy, enjoy those vouchers in case you get them. Use them well. And if you have a friend, please try and get a gift for that friend, you know.
9. Saa ya mkono "wrist watch"
Ile saa ya mkono ya bluu ni maridadi sana. "That wrist watch is very beautiful."
By the way, wrist watches are quite good. They show time and you don’t have to go checking your phone every time like what time is it, you know. You just make it easy. You bring your hand here and you see, you don’t even have to bring it there. You just a little bit like that and you see you know, you see the time and you are acquainted with whatever is happening as far as time is concerned. Now, do you think it’s necessary to have a wristwatch?
10 Mkoba "wallet"
Mkoba ni zawadi nzuri sana. "A wallet is a good gift."
Where is my wallet? You know, I love wallets myself. So whenever I think of buying something for someone, especially ladies, I give them wallets and I really go look for those pretty ones. And those ones that I know. You know, I know my friends. I know their style; I know whatever thing they like putting in their wallets. You know, those ladies, lady carry thingy? In the wallet. Yeah, in the wallet or in the handbag, whatever the thing is but what I am trying to say is that wallet is a really good gift and I don’t know about you. Do you wish to have a wallet or just handbag is enough or for men, what do you like? Let us know in the comments section.
Thank you again for staying with us throughout this lesson. It was fun to learn about the 10 Gift Ideas You Must Know in Swahili. Right, we’d like to hear more from you in the comments section. Just type something about the kind of gifts you like, the kind of gifts that you’ll never want to have. See you then in our next lesson. Bye-bye!

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