Learn how to ask for first- and second-class train tickets, as well as the basics for buying a long-distance train ticket
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| INTRODUCTION |
| In the previous lesson, we covered how to buy a train ticket. Once you’ve confirmed your destination, it’s time to select the type of seat you want. |
| BODY |
| Normally in Kenya, you can choose amongst daraja la kwanza - “first class”, or daraja la pili - “second class”, or daraja la tatu - “third class” . |
| Let's break those down: |
| (slow) da - ra - ja la kwa - nza |
| daraja la kwanza |
| (slow) da - ra - ja la pi - li. |
| daraja la pili. |
| (slow) da - ra - ja la ta-tu |
| daraja la tatu |
| daraja literally means “bridge”, but in this case it implies “class”. |
| (slow) da - ra - ja |
| daraja |
| Towards the end we have la kwanza, which means “the first”. |
| la kwanza |
| (slow) la kwanza |
| la kwanza |
| The second phrase has the same structure as the first, except that instead we used la pili, which means “the second”. |
| (slow) la pi - li. |
| la pili. |
| The third phrase has a similar structure as the two mentioned before, except that instead we used tatu, which means “the third”. |
| (slow) la ta - tu |
| Once again, those are daraja la kwanza, daraja la pili and daraja la tatu. |
| Imagine you want to buy a first-class ticket. The destination this time will be Mombasa. |
| “A first-class ticket to Mombasa, please,” in Swahili is |
| Tiketi la daraja la kwanza hadi Mombasa, tafadhali. |
| Let’s break that down: |
| (slow) Ti - ke - ti la da - ra - ja la kwa - nza ha - di Mo - mba - sa, ta - fa - dha - li. |
| And once again: |
| Tiketi la daraja la kwanza hadi Mombasa, tafadhali. |
| We saw this structure in the previous lesson. All we’ve done this time is add daraja la kwanza,“first-class”, to the word “ticket” |
| Tiketi, as we have seen before, means “ticket” |
| tiketi |
| (slow) tiketi |
| tiketi |
| daraja la kwanza literally means “the first bridge” because daraja is the word for “bridge”, but in this case, it means “class” |
| daraja |
| (slow) daraja |
| daraja |
| The phrase la kwanza is a word for “first.” |
| la kwanza |
| (slow) la kwanza |
| la kwanza |
| If you want to buy a second-class ticket, you just change kwanza, “first”, to pili, “second”: |
| Tiketi la daraja la pili hadi Mombasa, tafadhali. |
| (slow) Tiketi la da - ra - ja la pi - li ha - di Mo - mba - sa, ta - fa - dha - li. |
| Tiketi la daraja la pili hadi Mombasa, tafadhali. |
| Imagine you want to buy a third class ticket. You just change kwanza, “first”, or pili, “second” to tatu: |
| “A third-class ticket to Mombasa, please.” |
| Tiketi la daraja la tatu hadi Mombasa, tafadhali. |
| (slow) Tiketi la da - ra - ja la ta - tu ha - di Mo - mba - sa, ta - fa - dha - li. |
| Tiketi la daraja la tatu hadi Mombasa, tafadhali. |
| ・ |
| In Kenya, both first and second classes offer bed and breakfast services, but the third class offers the seat only. First class offers two-berth compartments, while second class offers four. The sexes are separated, unless you book the whole compartment. These differences makes a first class ticket a little expensive. Now let’s imagine you want a ticket for the first class with both compartments. |
| The sentence for this is |
| Tiketi la daraja la kwanza na vyumba vyote mbili, tafadhali. |
| “First class with both compartments, please.” |
| Tiketi la daraja la kwanza “Ticket for the first class” is a phrase we already learned. Do you remember? |
| The next two words na vyumba mean “and rooms.” |
| na vyumba |
| (slow) na vyumba |
| na vyumba |
| The next word, vyote, means “all.” |
| vyote |
| (slow) vyote |
| vyote |
| Now we meet mbili again. Do you remember it’s the word for “two?” |
| mbili |
| (slow) mbili |
| mbili |
| The whole sentence will be |
| (3 sec) Tiketi la daraja la kwanza na vyumba vyote mbili, tafadhali. |
| (slow) Tiketi la da - ra - ja la kwa - nza na vyu - mba vyo - te mbi - li, ta - fa - dha - li. |
| Tiketi la daraja la kwanza na vyumba vyote mbili, tafadhali. |
| Altogether, these words refer to a ticket for the whole compartment in the first class. |
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