Image by Niek Verlaan from Pixabay
In this post we’ll talk about Swahili vocabulary and expressions related to music: what you listen to, what you dance to, and what kind of musical instruments you may play.
Napenda huu wimbo. I love this song.
Let’s start with some of the basics. If you want to talk about music, you’ll want to know how to say: wimbo song, mwimbaji singer/musician, kikundi/bendi group/band, albamu album, maneno ya nyimbo lyrics, radio radio, muziki wa video music video, kusikiliza muziki to listen to music, kuimba to sing, kucheza to dance.
- Ni bendi gani unayoipenda zaidi?
What’s your favorite band? - Ni mwimbaji gani ambaye unampenda zaidi?
Who’s your favorite singer? - Mimi husikiliza muziki kila wakati kwenye gari.
I always listen to music in the car. - Napenda/sipendi nyimbo hii.
I like/don’t like this song.
- Ongeza sauti. Napenda wimbo huu.
Turn the volume up! I love this song. - Punguza sauti. Muziki una sauti ya juu sana.
Turn the volume down! The music is too loud. - Wimbo huu una mdundo nzuri sana.
This song has a great beat. - Huwa naimba pamoja na wimbo huu.
I always sing along to this song. - Huwa nacheza na wimbo huu.
I always dance to this song. - Sijui maneno ya wimbo huu.
I don’t know the lyrics to this song. - Hii ni video yangu ya muziki ninayoipenda.
This is my favorite music video. - Hii bendi imetoa albamu mpya. Inapendeza.
This band just released a new album. It’s great. - Napenda kusikiliza nyimbo nasibu kwenye Spotify.
I like to listen to random songs on Spotify. - Nilitengeneza orodha ya kucheza ya nyimbo ninazozipenda.
I made a playlist of my favorite songs.
Unapenda muziki wa aina gani? What kind of music do you like?
People have all sorts of different taste in music. What kind of music do you like? muziki wa popu pop music, muziki wa dansi dance music, disko disco, hipu hopu hip hop, k-popu K-pop, J-popi J-pop, roki rock, roki ngumu hard rock, muziki wa nchi country music, muziki wa elekroniki electronic music, muziki jadi classical music, opera opera, jazi jazz, bluu blues, rege reggae, roki ya panki punk rock, muziki wa kitamaduni folk music, muziki wa mazingira ambient music, muziki wa injili gospel music.
- Napendelea roki/jazi/muziki wa jadi.
I prefer rock/jazz/classical music. - Sipendi disko/buluu/rege.
I don’t like disco/blues/reggae. - Ninaanza kuingia kwenye muziki wa K-popu/nchi.
I’m starting to get into K-pop/country music. - Siwezi kustahimili muziki wa kitamaduni/opera.
I can’t stand folk music/opera. - Je, ni aina gani ya muziki unaopenda zaidi?
What’s your favorite kind of music? - Tuna ladha tofauti za muziki. Hatukubaliani kamwe kwenye muziki.
We have different musical tastes. We never agree on music. - Unaweza kuchagua wimbo unaofuata.
You can choose the next song.
Je, unacheza ala zozote? Do you play any instruments?
If you want to talk about music, it’s helpful to know how to say different instruments: piano piano, gitaa guitar, gitaa ya umeme electric guitar, ngoma drum, kibodi keyboard, fidla violin, tarumbeta trumpet, filimbi flute, nzumari clarinet, saksafoni saxophone, selo cello, tarumbeta kubwa tuba, tromboni trombone, chombo organ, kodiani accordion. You will also need to know the verb kucheza ala za muziki to play (a musical instrument).
- Tunaimba katika kwaya.
We sing in a choir. - Nilichukua masomo ya piano nilipokuwa mdogo.
I took piano lessons when I was younger. - Nataka kujifunza jinsi ya kucheza gitaa.
I want to learn how to play the guitar. - Ninacheza violini lakini sio vizuri sana.
I play the violin, but not very well. - Ninapenda kuimba wakati wa kuoga.
I like to sing in the shower. - Unaimba vizuri sana. Una sauti nzuri.
You sing really well. You have a great voice. - Anacheza nzumari katika okestra.
He/She plays clarinet in an orchestra. - Anacheza ngoma kwenye bendi.
He/She plays drums in a band. - Je, unacheza cello kitaaluma au kama hobi.
Do you play the cello professionally or as a hobby?
Twende kwenye tamasha. Let’s go to a concert.
Music isn’t just for listening to at home, which brings us to: tamasha a concert, bendi orchestra, karaoke karaoke, diski joki DJ, klabu ya usiku nightclub.
- Hebu tuende kwenye baa ya karaoke!
Let’s go to a karaoke bar! - Ninataka kwenda kwenye tamasha.
I want to go to a concert. - Nilinunua tikiti za tamasha wikendi hii.
I bought tickets to a concert this weekend. - Tunapenda kwenda kwenye tamasha ya simfoni.
We love to go to the symphony concert. - Ninapenda kucheza nyimbo za polepole/haraka.
I like to dance to slow/fast songs. - Ninapenda kuona bendi zikiimba. Ninapenda muziki wa moja kwa moja.
I like to see bands perform. I love live music. - Bendi ya rafiki yangu inapiga kwenye baa wikendi hii.
My friend’s band is playing at a bar this weekend. - Tulienda kwenye klabu ya usiku na kucheza dansi usiku kucha.
We went to a nightclub and danced all night. - Yeye ndiye diski joka ninayempenda zaidi.
He/She is my favorite DJ.
No matter what you do, enjoy the music!
Do you want to learn Swahili?
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