Art & Museums

1. Jumba la makumbusho ya sanaa / galeria liko wapi?

   Ju-mba la ma-ku-mbu-sho ya sa-naa / ga-le-ri-a li-ko wa-pi?

   Where is the art museum / gallery?

   Usage

   Used to ask for the location of an art museum or gallery

   Grammar Note

   "Liko wapi?" = where is it? "Jumba" (building) is class 5, so the locative verb is "liko" (not class 9 "iko")

2. Masaa ya kufungua ni yapi?

   Ma-saa ya ku-fun-gua ni ya-pi?

   What are the opening hours?

   Usage

   Used to ask about opening hours

   Grammar Note

   "Ni yapi?" = what are they? "Ya" is the class 6 concordant used with "masaa" (hours)

3. Nauli ya kuingia ni kiasi gani?

   Nau-li ya ku-in-gi-a ni ki-a-si ga-ni?

   How much is the entrance fee?

   Usage

   Used to ask about the admission price

   Grammar Note

   "Kiasi gani?" = how much/what amount? "Nauli" = fee/fare (originally from Arabic)

4. Je, inaruhusiwa kupiga picha ndani?

   Je, i-na-ru-hu-si-wa ku-pi-ga pi-cha nda-ni?

   Is photography allowed inside?

   Usage

   Used to ask whether photography is permitted inside

   Grammar Note

   "Je" is the Swahili question particle. "Inaruhusiwa" = is allowed (passive of "-ruhusu": i- subject prefix + -na- present + -ruhusiwa)

5. Je, mna mwongozo wa sauti?

   Je, mna mwo-ngo-zo wa sau-ti?

   Do you have an audio guide?

   Usage

   Used to ask for an audio guide

   Grammar Note

   "Mwongozo wa sauti" = audio guide (guide of sound). "Wa" is the class 3 concordant

6. Mkusanyiko wa sanaa ya eneo / ya jadi uko wapi?

   Mku-sa-nyi-ko wa sa-naa ya e-ne-o / ya ja-di u-ko wa-pi?

   Where is the collection of local / traditional art?

   Usage

   Used to locate the local or traditional art collection

   Grammar Note

   "Jadi" = traditional/ancestral (from Arabic). Swahili has many Arabic loanwords

7. Kazi hii ya sanaa ni ya kupendeza — msanii ni nani?

   Ka-zi hi-i ya sa-naa ni ya ku-pen-de-za — msa-nii ni na-ni?

   This artwork is stunning — who is the artist?

   Usage

   Used to express admiration and ask who the artist is

   Grammar Note

   "Ni nani?" = who is it? "Msanii" = artist (prefix "m-" + "sanaa" = art)

8. Ninaweza kununua nakala ya kazi hii?

   Ni-na-we-za ku-nu-nu-a na-ka-la ya ka-zi hi-i?

   Can I buy a print / reproduction of this work?

   Usage

   Used to ask about buying a print or reproduction

   Grammar Note

   "Ninaweza" = I can. Swahili verb structure: "ni-" (I) + "-na-" (present) + "-weza" (can)

9. Je, kuna ziara ya kuongozwa?

   Je, ku-na zi-a-ra ya ku-o-ngo-zwa?

   Is there a guided tour available?

   Usage

   Used to ask whether guided tours are offered

   Grammar Note

   "Kuna" = there is (existential). "Kuongozwa" = passive infinitive of "-ongoza" (to guide); "ziara ya kuongozwa" = a guided tour

10. Ningependa kushiriki katika warsha ya sanaa.

    Nin-ge-pen-da ku-shi-ri-ki ka-ti-ka war-sha ya sa-naa.

    I'd like to attend an art workshop.

    Usage

    Used to express interest in joining an art workshop

    Grammar Note

    "Ningependa" = I would like (conditional of "-penda"). "Warsha" = workshop (from Arabic)

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