In this post we’re going to look at Swahili vocabulary and expressions that will help you talk about computers, emails, social media, and the internet.
Komputa yangu: My Computer
Let’s start with some basic vocabulary that will help you talk about computer hardware: kompyuta/tarakilishi (a computer), kipakatalishi (a laptop), kompyuta za mezani (a desktop), skrini (a screen), kibodi (a keyboard), kipanya (a mouse), pedi ya kipanya (a mouse pad), printa (a printer), betri (a battery), waya ya umeme (a power cord), kamera ya wavuti (a webcam), kipaza sauti (a microphone), kipazasauti cha masikio/hedseti (a headset), simu mahiri (a smartphone), kibao (a tablet).
- Nahitaji kununua kompyuta (tarakilishi) mpya.
I need to buy a new computer. - Uko na kipakatalishi au kompyuta za mezani?
Do you have a laptop or a desktop? - Skirini yangu imepasuka.
My screen is cracked. - Kibodi yangu imevunjika.
My keyboard is broken.
- Inabidi nichaji tena kipakatalishi changu/simu.
I have to recharge my laptop/phone. - Nahitaji batri mpya ya kipanya changu.
I need a new battery for my mouse. - Kamera yangu ya wavuti imewashwa.
My webcam is on. - Naweza azima hedseti kwa ajili ya mkutano wangu?
Can I borrow a headset for my meeting? - Situmii tarakilishi. Naweza fanya kila kitu kwenye simu ya kibao yangu.
I am not using a computer. I can do everything on my tablet.
Barua pepe: Email
Now let’s look at some vocabulary that you can use to talk about email: barua pepe (an email), kutuma barua pepe (to send an email), kupokea barua pepe (to get/receive an email), kiambatanisho (attachment), kuambatanisha picha/faili (to attach a photo/file), kujibu barua pepe (to reply to an email), kujibu zote (to reply all), kusambaza barua pepe (to forward an email).
- Nahitaji kuangalia barua yangu pepe.
I need to check my email. - Barua pepe yako ni gani?
What’s your email address? - Naandika barua pepe kwa rafiki yangu/bosi/mshiriki wa kazi.
I’m writing an email to my friend/boss/colleague. - Napata barua pepe nyingi sana.
I get too many emails. - Nilisahau kiambatanisho.
I forgot the attachment. - Tafadhali jibu zote.
Please reply all. - Tafadhali nijibu mimi tu.
Please reply just to me. - Unaweza kuisambaza barua pepe hiyo kwangu?
Could you forward the email to me?
Ujumbe wa maandishi na programu: Text Messages and Apps
If you’re sending a text message instead of an email, you’ll need to know: maandishi (a text), ujumbe (a message), kutuma ujumbe (to send a text), kupata/kupokea ujumbe (to get/receive a text), kujibu ujumbe (to answer a text), kutuma ujumbe wa kikundi (to send a group text), programu (an app), kupakua programu (to download an app), kusasisha programu (to update an app), kufuta programu (to delete an app).
- Ninapata maandishi/ujumbe.
I’m getting a text/message. - Nitakutumia ujumbe/maandishi.
I’ll send you a text. - Niandikie anwani, tafadhali.
Text me the address, please. - Naandika ujumbe kwa rafiki wangu wa kiume/rafiki wa kike.
I’m writing a text to my boyfriend/girlfriend. - Niliandika ujumbe kwa kikundi.
I sent a message to the group. - Usitume ujumbe ukiendesha.
Don’t send texts while you’re driving! - Sikupata ujumbe wako, sikuwa na signali.
I didn’t get your text, I had no signal. - Unatumia mtandao wa kijamii wa whatsapp ama programu ingine ya kutuma ujumbe?
Do you use WhatsApp or another messaging app? - Hii ni programu kubwa lakini sio bure.
This is a great app, but it’s not free. - Nilifuta ile programu kwa sababu huwa siitumii.
I deleted that app because I never use it. - Hii programu ilifanya simu yangu ikaponda.
This app made my phone crash. - Niko na programu nyingi kwa simu yangu/simu ya kibao
I have too many apps on my phone/tablet.
Mtandao: The Internet
Here’s some vocabulary that will help you talk about the most common things that you do online: mtandao wa kazi ya juu (high speed internet), tovuti (website), ukurasa wa wavuti (webpage), fungo (link), Url (URL), kivinjari (browser), injini ya utafutaji (search engine), kwenda mtandaoni (to go online), kupakia (to upload), kupakua (to download), kipanga njia (router), modemu (modem), WIFI (WiFi), ingia ndani (to log in), toka (to log out ).
- Mimi husoma blogi/magazeti/makala mtandaoni.
I read a lot of blogs/newspapers/articles online. - Natumia muda mwingi mtandaoni.
I spend a lot of time online. - Niko na usajili wa kidijitali/mtandaoni.
I have a digital/online subscription. - Ninapakia faili/wasifukazi yangu.
I’m uploading a file/my CV. - Napakua wimbo/picha.
I’m downloading a song/photo. - Siwezi kuingia mtandaoni ninahitaji kuwasha upya tariki.
I can’t get online, I need to restart my router. - Nina simu ya video ndani ya dakika tano.
I have a video call in five minutes. - Ninaweza kukusikia, lakini video imegandishwa.
I can hear you, but the video is frozen. - Je, ninahitaji kuingia kwenye mkutano?
Do I need to sign in to the meeting? - Nitaondoka na kuanzisha upya mkutano.
I’ll log off and restart the meeting. - Ninahitaji huduma nzuri ya mtandao kwa sababu ninafanya kazi kwa mbali.
I need good internet service because I work remotely. - Nenosiri lako la WiFi ni lipi?
What’s your WiFi password? - Una tovuti? Ni nini URL?
Do you have a website? What’s the URL?
Mtandao wa kijamii: Social media
Of course, if you’re talking about the internet you may want to talk about social media: kutumia mtandao wa kijamii (to use social media), kuwa kwa mtandao wa kijamii wa Facebook/Twitter (to be on Facebook/Twitter), kuwa na akaunti mtandao wa kijamii wa Instagram/Linkedin (to have an account on Instagram/LinkedIn), kufuata akaunti (to follow an account), kupenda chapisho (to like a post), kuacha maoni (to leave a comment), kujibu maoni (to reply to a comment), kuchapisha picha (to post a photo), kufuta akaunti (to delete an account).
- Unatumia mtandao wa kijamii?
Do you use social media? - Uko katika mtandao wa kijamii wa facebook/twitter?
Are you on Facebook / Twitter? - Ninapenda picha yako ya wasifu.
I love your profile picture! - Ninachapisha sana picha kwa mtandao wa kijamii.
I post a lot of photos on social media. - Niliacha maoni kwenye chapisho la blogi ya makala.
I left a comment on an article / blog post. - Namfuata kwa mtandao wa kijamii wa Instagram.
I follow him/her on Instagram. - Anachapisha sana kwa mtandao wa kijamii wa LinkedIn.
He posts a lot on LinkedIn. - Mbona unachapisha hiyo?
Why did you post that? - Laiti singetuma hiyo ‘‘tweet’’.
I wish I hadn’t tweeted that. - Alifuta twiti.
He/She deleted the tweet. - Uko na marafiki wengi kwa mtandao wa kijamii wa Facebook.
You have a lot of Facebook friends! - Alinitumia ombi la urafiki.
He/She sent me a friend request. - Haufai kubishana na watu usiowajua kwa mtandao wa kijamii.
You shouldn’t argue with strangers on social media. - Nachukia akaunti za mitandao ya kijamii. Nitafuta akaunti zangu zote.
I hate social media. I’m deleting all of my accounts!
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