Learn everything you need to know for checking in to a hotel
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| INTRODUCTION |
| In this lesson, we’ll help you check in! In Kenya, there are hotels, guesthouses and hostels, among many other types of accommodation. Let’s jump right into the lesson! |
| BODY |
| In Kenya, when you get to a hotel and you want to check in, you can use two possible phrases. If you have already booked the room and you want to say, “I have a reservation under the name David” in Swahili, it is |
| Tayari ninahifadhi katika jina Daudi. |
| Let’s break it down: |
| (slow) Tayari ninahifadhi katika jina Daudi. |
| Once more: |
| Tayari ninahifadhi katika jina Daudi. |
| The first word, tayari, means “already.” |
| (slow) tayari |
| tayari |
| The word that follows, ninahifadhi, is a one-word sentence meaning “I have a reservation.” Let’s break it down further: |
| nina means “I have.” |
| (slow) nina |
| nina |
| Whereas hifadhi means “reserve” |
| (slow) hifadhi |
| hifadhi |
| Together we have |
| (slow) ni - na - hi - fa - dhi |
| ninahifadhi |
| Next we have katika which means “under” |
| (slow) katika |
| katika |
| Then we have jina for “name” |
| (slow) jina |
| jina |
| Then you have the name, which in this case is Daudi for “David.” |
| (slow) Tayari ninahifadhi katika jina Daudi . |
| Tayari ninahifadhi katika jina Daudi . |
| So if your name is “Jones”, you would say |
| Tayari ninahifadhi katika jina Jones. |
| (slow) Tayari ninahifadhi katika jina Jones. |
| Tayari ninahifadhi katika jina Jones. |
| Or “I have a reservation under the name of Jones.” |
| If you have not booked the room yet, the phrase “I would like a room” in Swahili is |
| Ningelipenda kuhifadhi chumba. |
| Let’s break it down: |
| The first word, ningelipenda, means “I would like to” |
| (slow) ningelipenda. |
| ningelipenda |
| Then comes kuhifadhi, which means “to reserve.” |
| (slow) kuhifadhi |
| kuhifadhi |
| As you recall, chumba means “room.” |
| (slow) chumba |
| chumba |
| All together: |
| Ningelipenda kuhifadhi chumba. |
| (Slow) Ningelipenda kuhifadhi chumba. |
| Ningelipenda kuhifadhi chumba. |
| “I would like one room.” |
| You will most likely be asked, “Can I get your name, please.” In Swahili, this is |
| Waweza kunipa jina lako tafadhali? |
| Let’s break it down: |
| (slow) Waweza kunipa jina lako tafadhali? |
| Once more: |
| Waweza kunipa jina lako tafadhali? |
| The first word, waweza, implies “could you.” |
| (slow) waweza |
| waweza |
| It is followed by kunipa, which means “give me.” |
| (slow) kunipa |
| kunipa |
| You can recall that jina means “name.” The word that follows, lako, means “your” |
| (slow) lako |
| lako |
| tafadhali of course means “please”. |
| Altogether, that’s |
| (slow) Waweza kunipa jina lako tafadhali? |
| Waweza kunipa jina lako tafadhali? |
| “Could I get your name, please?” |
| Please note, this phrase is only used in highly official situations, so don’t try to start a conversation with this line in Kenya. People will think you’re the police! |
| You might also be asked, “Can you spell it?” In Swahili, this is |
| Waweza kukitahajia? |
| Let’s break it down: |
| (slow) Waweza kukitahajia? |
| Once more: |
| Waweza kukitahajia? |
| The first word, waweza, means “could you.” |
| (slow) waweza |
| waweza. |
| The next word, kukitahajia, means “spell it.” |
| (slow) kukitahajia |
| kukitahajia |
| All together: |
| (slow) Waweza kukitahajia? |
| Waweza kukitahajia? |
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