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In this post we’re going to look at some useful vocabulary and expressions to talk about a room where you probably spend a lot of time, the living room. (If you’re thinking, hey, I spend a lot of time in the kitchen, we’ve got you covered. Check out this post.)

Sofa kubwa ya starehe A Big Comfortable Sofa

Let’s start with the samani furniture and other basic things that you’re likely to find in the living room: sofa/kochi a sofa/couch, kiti cha mkono an armchair, meza ya kahawa a coffee table, meza a table, rafu a shelf, otomani an ottoman, mekoni a fireplace, mlango a door, dirisha a window, sakafu the floor, ukuta a wall, dari the ceiling, dohani a chimney, kabati la nguo a closet.

• Sofa yetu inastarehesha.
  Our sofa is really comfortable.
• Mara nyingi mimi hukaa kwenye kiti cha mkono na kusoma.
  I often sit in the armchair and read.
• Kuna vitabu vingi kwa rafu za vitabu.
  There are a lot of books on the bookshelves.

• Rimoti iko kwa meza ya kahawa.
  The remote control is on the coffee table.
• Mimi huweka miguu kwenye otomani ninapotazama runinga.
  I put my feet on the ottoman when I watch television.
• Kuna meza ndogo mbele ya dirisha.
  There’s a small table in front of the window. 
• Tafadhali acha viatu vyako karibu na mlango.
  Please leave your shoes next to the door. 
• Sisi hutundika nguo zetu kwenye kabati la nguo..
  We hang our coats in the closet.
• Mwangaza mwingi wa jua hupitia dirishani.
  A lot of sunlight comes through the window.
• Sebule inaonekana kutoka kwa bustani.
  The living room looks out over a garden. 

Matakia ya rangi Colorful Cushions

In addition to the basic pieces of furniture you probably have in your living room, you most likely have: zulia a carpet, ragi a rug, matakia a cushion, blanketi a blanket, taa a lamp, chengeu a lampshade, picha a photograph, uchoraji a painting, fremu ya picha  a picture frame, chombo a vase, pazia curtains.

• Tunahitaji kubadilisha zulia kwenye chumba hiki.
  We need to replace the carpet in this room. 
• Kuna ragi nzuri mbele ya mlango.
  There’s a beautiful rug in front of the door. 
• Tuna mito mingi na blanketi kwa sofa.
  We have a lot of cushions and blankets on the sofa. 
• Hiyo taa ina chengeu nzuri.
  That lamp has a beautiful lampshade. 
• Tuna  picha za familia yetu kwenye fremu ukutani.
  We have photos of our family in frames on the wall. 
• Tuupachike wapi mchoro huu mpya?
  Where should we hang this new painting? 
• Nahitaji kuweka maua kwa chombo/chungu/vesi.
  I need to put some flowers in the vase. 
• Kuna giza humu. Tafadhali fungua mapazia.
  It’s dark in here. Please open the curtains. 

Rimoti nyingi sana! Too Many Remote Controls!

Nowadays there are loads of gadgets in the typical living room. How many of these do you have? kompyuta a computer, WI-FI WiFi, saa a clock, runinga a television, stereo a stereo, radio a radio, kipaza sauti a speaker, mashine ya kuchezea DVD a DVD player, modemu a modem, kipanga njia a router, rimoti a remote control.

• Nenosiri lako la Wi-Fi ni lipi?
  What’s your WiFi password? 
• Tunahitaji runinga mpya. 
  We need a new television. 
• Rimoti ya runinga iko wapi?
  Where’s the remote control for the television? 
• Tuna mashine ya kucheza DVD , lakini hatutumii.
  We have a DVD player, but we never use it. 
• Vipaza sauti ni vidogo lakini sauti ni kubwa.
  The speakers are small, but they sound great. 
• Nahitaji kuanzisha tena modemu.
  I need to restart the modem. 
• Saa ni ya kale lakini bado inafanya kazi.
  The clock is an antique, but it still works! 

Kazi ya nyumbani na ukarabati: Housework and Repairs

Like any room in the house, you’ve got to keep the living room clean. And sometimes, you may want to redecorate. Which brings us to: kusafisha to clean, kupanga to tidy up, kisafishaji cha utupu a vacuum cleaner, kusafisha sakafu to vacuum the floor, kutoa vumbi to dust, kuosha dirisha to clean the windows, kupaka rangi to paint, kukarabati to fix/repair, kufufua to replace.

• Sebule ni chafu. Tunahitaji kuipanga kabla wageni wetu wafike hapa.
  The living room is messy. We need to tidy up before our guests get here.
• Inabidi nifute zulia na kisafishaji cha utupu.
  I have to vacuum the carpet. 
• Rafu za vitabu zina vumbi! Nahitaji kupanguza. 
  The bookshelves are dusty! I need to dust them. 
• Madirisha ni machafu. Tunahitaji kuyasafisha.
  The windows are dirty. We need to clean them. 
• Tafadhali panguza meza ya kahawa na kitambaa cha karatasi.
  Please wipe the coffee table with a paper towel.
• Nataka kupaka ukuta rangi tofauti.
  I want to paint the walls a different color. 
• Vesi imevunjika. Tunaweza kuitengeza?
  The vase is broken. Can we repair it? 
• Hayo mapazia ni mazee sana. Tuyabadilishe na mengine.
  Those curtains are really old. Let’s replace them. 
• Kuna doa kubwa kwa zulia.
  There’s a big stain on the carpet. 

Tuangalie filamu. Let’s watch a film.

How do you use your living room?

• Sisi hutazama runinga kila jioni.
  We watch television every evening. 
• Tukae kwenye kochi tuongee.
  Let’s sit on the sofa and talk. 
• Kila mara mimi huweka miguu yangu kwa otomani na kupumzika.
  I always put my feet on the ottoman and relax.
• Tutazame  filamu usiku.
  Let’s watch a film tonight. 
• Kuna kitu kizuri kwenye runinga /netflix?
  Is there anything good on TV / Netflix?
• Nililala kwenye kiti nikisoma kitabu.
  I fell asleep in the chair reading a book. 
• Tunacheza kadi kwenye meza.
  We’re playing cards at the table. 
• Watoto wanacheza michezo kwenye kompyuta.
  The kids are playing games on the computer. 
• Tafadhali keti hapa. Unaweza penda divai?
  Please sit here. Would you like some wine? 
• Wacha tuweke mishumaa na muziki mtulivu.
  Let’s put on candles and soft music. 
• Naenda kujilaza chini kwenye sofa nilale kidogo.
  I’m going to lie down on the sofa and take a nap. 

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Check out our other posts on Swahili language, culture, and more. And if you’re looking for convenient and affordable live Swahili lessons with a real teacher, check out The Language Garage Swahili. Our lessons are given online in a virtual classroom, so it doesn’t matter where you live or work. We can come to you. And we have flexible options, with a free trial so that you can decide if there’s a fit. Check us out!