Our Swahili-speaking abilities improve every time we visit Zanzibar (and even in between trips, thanks to classes and internet radio), but we still slip up and confuse words now and then.
Okay, more than now and then. But Zanzibaris are polite enough to not point them out to us. Unless the mistake is so bad that all we get is blank stares or hearty laughs or shocked gasps.
Here are a couple examples of our funnier mistakes and mispronunciations:
"Niligonga mguu uchumi." I banged my foot against the economy.
It should have been, "Niligonga mguu chuma!" I banged my foot against the steel pole.
"Nipe sabuni ya kuongea na kulea." Can I have soap so I can talk to people and raise children?
It should have been, "Nipe sabuni ya kuoga na kunawa." Can I have soap for bathing and washing hands?
"Wanawake wote wa Merikani huvaa serikali." Most American women wear governments.
It should have been, "Wanawake wote wa Merikani huvaa suruali." Most American women wear pants.
"Ninasoma chooni." I study in the bathroom.
It should have been, "Ninasoma chuoni." I study at the university.
4 comments:
Okay, the fact that you can even remotely speak Swahili is amazing to me...I think your bloopers should be totally forgiven! But I did get a great laugh out of them!! Glad you guys are back safe and sound. Happy late birthday to Juma, I see so much of you (Sarah) in him! What a gorgeous little boy! Hope all is well!
The soap blooper cracked me up.
Awesome! :)
Is that last one because spending too much time at the university is like flushing your life down the toilet?
(asks the girl about to start yet another grad program in about 3 weeks ;) )
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