Cooking & Markets

1. Hii inapikwa vipi?

   How is this cooked?

   Usage

   Used to ask about cooking methods

   Grammar Note

   "inapikwa" is the passive present tense form

2. Ninahitaji viungo gani?

   What spices do I need?

   Usage

   Used to ask about required spices and ingredients

   Grammar Note

   "gani" is a question word meaning "what kind/which"

3. Tafadhali nifundishe kupika pilau.

   Please teach me how to cook pilau.

   Usage

   Used when learning to make pilau, a Swahili spiced rice dish

   Grammar Note

   The subjunctive (final -e) makes a polite request. "Teach me" uses the object prefix ni- with -fundisha ("teach").

4. Weka mafuta kidogo tu.

   Add just a little oil.

   Usage

   Used to give cooking instructions about oil quantity

   Grammar Note

   "tu" is a limiting particle meaning "only/just"

5. Chakula kimepikwa vizuri.

   The food has been cooked well.

   Usage

   Used to compliment well-cooked food

   Grammar Note

   "kimepikwa" is the perfect passive meaning "has been cooked"

6. Ninapenda kupika ugali wa mahindi.

   I like cooking maize ugali.

   Usage

   Used when talking about ugali, the East African staple cornmeal dish

   Grammar Note

   "ninapenda" means "I like/love"

7. Changanya pamoja kwa dakika tano.

   Mix together for five minutes.

   Usage

   Used when giving cooking instructions

   Grammar Note

   "changanya" is the imperative form meaning "mix"

8. Pika kwa moto wa chini.

   Cook on low heat.

   Usage

   Used to give heat level instructions while cooking

   Grammar Note

   "moto wa chini" literally "fire of below" means "low heat"

9. Nipe chombo cha kupikia.

   Give me a cooking utensil.

   Usage

   Used to ask for a cooking utensil

   Grammar Note

   "-ia" in "kupikia" is the applicative suffix indicating purpose

10. Huu ni mchuzi wa nazi.

    This is coconut curry sauce.

    Usage

    Used to introduce mchuzi wa nazi, a classic Swahili coconut curry

    Grammar Note

    "mchuzi wa nazi" is a noun phrase meaning "coconut sauce/curry"

11. Chumvi

    Salt

    Usage

    To ask for salt or to ask for less of it; "bila chumvi" means "without salt"

    Grammar Note

    A class 9/10 noun, unchanged in the plural.

12. Sukari

    Sugar

    Usage

    To ask for sugar or refuse it; tea is served heavily sweetened, so "bila sukari" is worth having ready

    Grammar Note

    A class 9/10 noun, unchanged in the plural; the word for diabetes, "kisukari", is built from it.

13. Pilipili manga

    Black pepper

    Usage

    Black pepper. Bare "pilipili" means chili, so always add "manga" when you want pepper

    Grammar Note

    "Manga" refers to Arabia and things brought from overseas, distinguishing the imported peppercorn from the local chili.

14. Mafuta ya kupikia

    Cooking oil

    Usage

    Oil for cooking; bare "mafuta" also covers fuel, body lotion, and fat, so add "ya kupikia" when you mean the edible kind

    Grammar Note

    "Mafuta" is a class 6 noun with no singular form.

15. Siki

    Vinegar

    Usage

    Vinegar, for the kitchen or the supermarket shelf

    Grammar Note

    A class 9/10 noun of Arabic origin, unchanged in the plural.

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