Significado
Requesting a specific item.
Contexto cultural
In Zanzibar, being direct can sometimes be seen as 'bara' (upcountry/rude). It is common to start with a greeting before saying 'Nipe kile'. In Nairobi, 'Nipe kile' is often used very fast in 'Matatus' (minibuses) when asking for change or a specific seat. The right-hand rule is absolute. Even if you say 'Nipe kile' perfectly, receiving it with the left hand will cause a social frown. In a professional setting, 'Nipe kile' is replaced by 'Nipatie kile' to sound more collaborative and less like a boss giving an order.
The 'Ki' Rule
If the object starts with 'Ki', use 'Kile'. It's a perfect rhyme!
Mind the Hands
Never use your left hand to take what you asked for.
Significado
Requesting a specific item.
The 'Ki' Rule
If the object starts with 'Ki', use 'Kile'. It's a perfect rhyme!
Mind the Hands
Never use your left hand to take what you asked for.
Add Tafadhali
Even at A1, adding 'tafadhali' makes you sound 100% more fluent and polite.
Ponte a prueba
Fill in the correct demonstrative for a distant object.
Nipe ____ kitabu (that one over there).
'Kitabu' is singular Ki-class, and the distance requires 'kile'.
Which phrase is the most polite for an elder?
How do you ask an elder for a distant cup?
'Naomba' and 'tafadhali' add the necessary respect.
Match the Swahili to the English.
Match the following:
Demonstratives change based on distance and number.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Unataka nini? B: ____ kile kiti.
The speaker is asking for themselves, so 'Ni-' (me) is used.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Ayudas visuales
Distance in Swahili
Banco de ejercicios
4 ejerciciosNipe ____ kitabu (that one over there).
'Kitabu' is singular Ki-class, and the distance requires 'kile'.
How do you ask an elder for a distant cup?
'Naomba' and 'tafadhali' add the necessary respect.
Empareja cada elemento de la izquierda con su par de la derecha:
Demonstratives change based on distance and number.
A: Unataka nini? B: ____ kile kiti.
The speaker is asking for themselves, so 'Ni-' (me) is used.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Preguntas frecuentes
10 preguntasNo, for people use 'yule'. 'Kile' is for objects in the Ki-Vi class.
It's neutral. With friends it's fine, but with strangers add 'tafadhali'.
The plural is 'Nipe vile' (Give me those).
In casual speech, many people use 'ile' or 'hiyo' as a generic 'that'.
Yes, 'Mpe kile' means 'Give him/her that'.
You would say 'Usinipe kile'.
Yes, 'kipindi kile' means 'that period/time'.
'Kile' is far from everyone; 'hicho' is near the person you are talking to.
Yes, it's very common in texting when asking for files or photos.
Technically yes, it's the imperative mood.
Frases relacionadas
Niletee kile
similarBring me that
Nionyeshe kile
similarShow me that
Chukua kile
contrastTake that
Nipe hicho
specialized formGive me that (near you)
