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​Chichewa LangUAGE GUIDE 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           






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This page is courtesy of Orbus and consists of a list of some Chichewa words/phrases and their meanings in English. It should be noted that the interpretation is based on their basic meanings. In some contexts the meanings may be different.

Chichewa Language:

Chichewa is the main local language of Malawi. The following will assist you to learn some Chichewa.

Online Chichewa Dictionary:  chichewadictionary.org/ 

The following link is helpful: www.digitaldialects.com/Chichewa.htm
As is: Learn Chichewa with online language games (digitaldialects.com)

Chichewa pronunciation guide.

\a\ as a in father
\e\ as e in bed
\i\ as i in hit
\o\ as o in go
\u\ as u in put

The following has been compiled by Vin Lopes:

Chichewa Practical and Helpful Basics:

Is your morning good?                          Mwadzuka Bwanji?
Reply                           
My morning is good and yourself?                     Ndadzuka Bwino.Kaya Inu?
Or
I’m fine and yourself                                          Ndiri Bwino. Kaya Inu?
Is your afternoon/evening good?                        Mwaswera Bwanji?
Reply                                       
My afternoon/evening is good and yourself?      Ndaswera Bwino.Kaya Inu?
Goodnight                                                        Mugone Bwino
See you later                                                     Tionana
Travel or go well                                                Muyende bwino
See you in the morning                          Tionana Mamawa
I’m leaving or goodbye                          Ndapita or Ndikupita
I’m tired                                                            Ndatopa
I‘m happy                                                          Ndakondwa or Ndakondwera
I’m sick                                                 Ndikudwala
Are you full?                                                     Mwakhuta
I’m full                                                  Ndakhuta
I am sorry                                                         Pepani
I am very sorry                                      Pepani Kwambiri
Thank You                                                        Zikomo
Thank you very much                                         Zikomo Kwambiri
Your Friend                                                       Mzako
My friend                                                          Nzanga
Nice day                                                           Tsiku la bwino
Have a nice day                                                Mukhale ndi tsiku labwino
God bless you                                                  Mulungu Akudalitseni
Money                                                  Ndalama
How much is the cost?                          Ndalama Zingati
Yes                                                                  Inde                
No                                                                    Ayi
Why                                                                  Chifukwa Chiyani        
Welcome                                                          Takulandirani  
How’s things (a friends greeting)                        Zikuyenda
Everything’s good                                             Zabwino
Lady or mother                                      Mayi
Ladies                                                              Amayi or Azimayi
Girl                                                                   Mtsikana
Girls                                                                 Atsikana
Difficult                                                            Zovuta 
Is difficult                                                         Chovuta          
Is very difficult                                      Chovuta Kwambiri
You are trouble                                     Ndiwe Mavuto
Crazy man                                                         Wa Misala or Wopenga
Brother                                                 Achimwene
Sister                                                                Achemwali
Chief or King                                                     Mfumu
Many Chiefs                                                      Mafumu
Big Chief                                                          Amfumu
Chief of chiefs                                                  Mfumu Yaikuli or Mfumu yamafumu
Love                                                                 Chikondi
Mercy                                                               Chifundo
Where is? (a person)                                          Alikuti
Where is? (a thing)                                             Chilikuti
Where is? (a place)                                            Ilikuti
Where is? (a street)                                            Ulikuti
Where are? (many things)                                   Zilikuti
I am pleased to meet you                                  Ndakondwera kukudziwani

The following has been compiled by Harry Gombachika:

* hello --- moni
* how are you ? --- muli bwanji ?
* I am fine --- ndiri bwino
* Thank you --- zikomo
* I am happy --- ndakondwa/ndili wokondwa/ndasangalala/ndili wosangalala
* I am sick/ill --- ndikudwala
* I have arrived --- ndafika
* I have departed - ndanyamuka
* I am tired - ndatopa
* I love you --- ndimakukonda/ndimakukondani
* I love you too --- ndimakukondanso/ndimakukondaninso
* God --- Mulungu/Chauta/Namalenga
* person --- munthu
* father --- bambo
* mother --- mayi
* child --- mwana
* boy --- mnyamata
* girl --- mtsikana
* garment --- chobvala (shirt, dress etc)
* shorts --- kabudula
* chilundu --- a piece of cloth wrapped round the waist covering from waist down.
* shoe(s) --- nsapato
* house --- nyumba
* aeroplane - ndege
* village --- mudzi
* country --- dziko
* way/ path --- njira
* road --- nseu
* bicycle --- njinga
* car --- galimoto
* plane --- ndenge
* eating - kudya
* food --- chakudya
* water --- madzi
* beer --- mowa
* meat --- nyama
* rice --- mpunga
* corn/maize --- chimanga
* fish --- nsomba
* salt --- mchere
* pepper --- tsabola
* tobacco --- fodya
* smoking - kusuta
* money --- ndalama
* ndalama zingati ? --- how much ? ( asking for a price of a commodity )
* lion --- mkango
* elephant --- njobvu
* zebra --- mbidzi
* buffalo --- njati
* crocodile --- ng'ona
* hippo --- mvuwu/bokho
* hare kalulu
* dog --- galu
* cat --- mphaka/chona/chome
* bird --- mbalame
* chicken --- nkhuku
* snake --- njoka
* frog --- chule
* toad --- finye
* tree --- mtengo
* chair --- mpando
* fence --- mpanda
* hoe handle --- mpini
* sarvior --- mpulumutsi
* knife --- mpeni
* cave --- phanga
* wing --- phiko
* germinate --- phuka
* parcel --- phukusi
* cook (verb) --- phika
* shoulder --- phewa
* run away --- thawa
* buttock --- thako
* a tale --- nthano
* solid rock --- thanthwe
* bed --- kama
* to milk --- kukama
* hoe --- khasu
* ear --- khutu
* pig --- nkhumba
* fire wood --- nkhuni
* to eat --- kudya
* to buy --- kugula
* to want --- kufuna
* to walk --- kuyenda
* to go --- kupita
* to sleep --- kugona
* to write --- kulemba
* to think --- kuganiza
* to steal --- kuba
* to drink --- kumwa
* to sing --- kuyimba
* to dance --- kuvina
* to jump --- kulumpha/kudumpha
* to walk --- kuyenda
* to laugh --- kuseka
* to read--- kuwerenga
* to runkuthamanga
* to lie --- kunama
* to put --- kuika
* to doubt --- kukayika
* to go --- kupita
* to come --- kubwera
* to send --- kutumiza
* to receive --- kulandira
* to hide --- kubisa
* to complain --- kudandaula
Zikomo kwambiri ---- thank you very much.

The following has been prepared by Dean Carroll:

Basic Chichewa Greetings
______________________________________________
 
How are you?                Muli Bwanj?   (moo – lee   bwarnj)
 
I am well                        Ndiri bwino    (n’dirry   bwee – noh)
 
And you?                       Kaya inu?    (kie – yar   i – noo)
 
__________________________________________________
 
Thankyou                      Zikomo    (zi – koh – moh)
 
Sorry/ Excuse me          Pepani    (pe – par – nee)
 
See you later                  Tionana    (tea - oh – nar - nar)
 
Initial greetings:

1st muli bwanji?
how are you?

2nd ndiri bwino – kaya inu?
I am well – and you?

(alt) ndiri bwino - koma ndatopa
I am well, but tired

(alt) ndiri bwino pang’ono
I am not well / sick

1st inenso ndiri bwino
I am also well

Short greetings
 
zikomo
thank you / excuse me

ndapita
I’m leaving (say, from a home)

pitani bwino
good bye (lit. go well!)

mafuno abwino kwa …. (amayi)
(give) my good wishes to …

ndikanena
I will say it to …

ndikapereka
I will give it to …

tionananso
see you soon (less formal)

tsalani bwino
stay well (informal)

pepani
sorry or excuse me

chabwino
things are alright, OK

inde
yes

ayi (pron “aye”)
no

zikomo kwambiri
thank you very much

khalani pansi
sit (down)

lowani
enter (a house)

chonde
please

chonde tsogolani
please you go first

pronouns
 
ine, ife
I, we/us

inu
you (pl, or respect for one)

iye, iwo
he / she, they

iyi, iyo, icho
this, that (close), that (far)

Announcing yourself
 
ndinu bambo ndani
What is your name sir?

ine ndine bambo Carroll
I am Mr Carroll

awa ndi alendo
these are visitors

awa ndi anzanga, anzathu
these are my/our friends


Feelings
 
chikondi
love

chidani
hatred

ndatopa, alt kumva kutopa
tired, alt feel tried

kumva njala
feel hungry

chimbuzi chiri kuti?
where is the toilet?

idya
eat

Conversation re: family
 
1st ndinu okwatira?
are you married?

2nd inde, ndine okwatira
yes, I am married

1st muli ndi ana?
do you have any children?

2nd inde, ndiri ndi mwana modzi
yes, I have one child

or ndi ana awiri or ana atatu or ana anayi or ana asanu
or two or three or four or five children

mkazi wanga
my wife

mwamuna wanga
my husband

mwana wanga
my child

ana anga
my children

ana anga atatu
my three children

mwana mpongozi
my son-in-law

 
Odd words
 
​mzungu, azungu
white person, people

dzulo
yesterday

mawa
tomorrow

lero
today

madzi
water

mnzanga, anzanga
friend, friends

zonse
all

leka
stop it

kokakola
…. guess!!!

chipatso
fruit

ndalama
money

sindimvera
I don’t understand

kama
bed

galimoto
car

Numbers
 
modzi, wiri, tatu, nayi, sanu
one, two, three, four, five

sanu ndi modzi
six

sanu ndi wiri
seven

sanu ndi tatu
eight

sanu ndi nayi
nine

khumi
ten

zana
hundred

chikwi
thousand

titamande Mulungu
we praise God

moni onse
greetings to you all

nyimbo
hymn

mzimu woyera
Holy Spirit

Mulungu akudalitseni
may God bless you

chalichi
church

pemphero … pemphera
prayer  …  pray

lalika
preach

chikhulupiriro
faith (noun)

khulupirirani
faith (verb) = believe

khalani muchikhulupiriro cha Ambuye Yesu Kristu
stay in the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ

chikondi
love

khulupirirani Yesu Kristu
believe in Jesus Christ

​mfa ya Yesu
death of Christ

mtanda wa Yesu
the cross of Jesus

khulupirirani mtanda wa Yesu
believe in the cross of Jesus

kuwuka kwa akufa
resurrection

Yesu anawuka kwa akufa
Jesus rose from the dead

baibulo
Bible

 
Courtesy of OrbusMinistries.org

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