Originally posted by: machieng https://forum.duolingo.com/comment/34337567
This was requested by one of you, so here it is! This is just a simplistic rundown of some basic responses to yes or no questions, as well as how they're phrased:
Question | Swali | Answer | Jibu |
---|---|---|---|
Would you like (some) water? | (Je), ungependa maji? | Yes, thank you | Ndiyo/Naam, shukran |
Will you visit me tomorrow? | Utanitembelea kesho? | No, sorry | Hapana/La**, samahani |
She is married, isn't she? | Ameolewa, siyo? | Yes | Naam/Ndiyo |
Who broke the cup? | Nani alivunja kikombe? | Not I! | Siyo mimi!*** |
Do you want to go? | (Je,) unataka kuenda? | Not at all! | La hasha! |
Please repeat what you said | Tafadhali rudia ulichosema | Never mind/Don't worry about it | Haidhuru/Usijali |
Will Ann travel? | (Je,) Ann atasafiri? | Maybe, I'm not sure | Pengine/Labda, sina uhakika |
To note:
*the use of 'je' is optional, and is mostly, in my opinion, more useful for sentences that can be interpreted as statements rather than questions e.g. 'amepona' vs 'amepona?' can be 'je, amepona?'
**'naam' and 'la' are more formal ways to say 'yes' and 'no' and are considered more respectful ways of responding to someone older/of higher status than yourself
***'siyo mimi' can also simply be 'si mimi'. Means the same