COMMANDS AND REQUESTS – Chichewa to English Phrasebook
Please eat*Idyani
Please sit*Khalani
! Come here!*Bwerani kuno
Please wait*Dikirani!
Let’s go/come on!*Tiyeni!
False / untrue*Bodza
True*Zowona
That’s enough!*Basi!
Do you understand?*Mukumvetsa?
I need_(coke)_ please.*Ndikufuna coke chonde
Ndipatseni madzi chonde. Give me _(water)_ please.*Give me _(water)_ please.
Go well*Pitani bwino
BASIC NEEDS – Chichewa to English Phrasebook
tired.*Ndatopa
I am hungry.*Ndili ndi njala
I am full.*Ndakhuta
I am thirsty .*Ndili ndi ludzu
Where is the toilet?*Chimbudzi chili kuti?
I want to drink water*Ndikufuna kumwa madzi.
I want to sleep.*Ndikufuna kugona
I want to eat .*Ndikufuna kudya
Iam feeling hot*Ndikumva kutentha
I am feeling cold*Ndikumva kuzizira
Toilet*Chimbudzi
Shower room*Bafa
I want to bathe*Ndikufuna kusamba
I don’t like meat.*Sindimakonda nyama
How do you say ……..in Chichewa?*Mumati chiyani………mu Chichewa?
PARTS OF THE DAY – Chichewa to English Phrasebook
Morning*M`mawa
Noon*Masana
Evening*Usiku
QUESTIONING WORDS – Chichewa to English Phrasebook
Who?*Ndani?
Where?*Kuti?
What?*Chiyani?
How many?*Angati?
What time?*Nthawi yanji?
When?*Liti?
How much?*Ndalama zingati?
Why?*Chifukwa chiyani?
How?*Bwanji
Because*Chifukwa?
RELATIONS – Chichewa to English Phrasebook
Family*Banja
Father*Bambo
Mother*Mayi
Brother*Achimwene
Sister*Achemwali
Grand father*Agogo amuna
Grand mother*Agogo akazi
Children*Ana
To be married*Kukwatira/kukwatiwa
Single child*Mwana m`modzi
Twins*Mapasa
Boy/girlfriend*Chibwenzi
My friend*Mzanga
GETTING – Chichewa to English Phrasebook
Chonde, patse ndalama (money),*Please give me the money.
Chonde, tenga ndalama..*Please take the money.
Ndi tenga ndalama.*I take the money.
Chonde, patse tikiti.*Please give me the ticket.
Chonde, tenga tikiti.*Please take the ticket.
Ndi tenga tikiti.*I take the ticket.
Chonde, patse ichi (thing).*Please give me the thing.
Chi li kuti (where)?*Where is the thing?
Si-ndi ku dziwa*I do not know.
Chonde, patse mamuna/mzi bambo (man)!*Please give me a man
Zoipa. . Mkazi li ti!*Darn-t!!! What a woman!!
A li osangalatsa!*She is intertaining
WAITING – Chichewa to English Phrasebook
Ndi funa (want).*I want.
Ndi funa ku-dya pang’ono (a little).*I want to eat a little.
Ndi funa ku-mwa madzi.*I want to drink water.
Ndi funa ku-pita ku chiumbudzi (toilet) !!!!*I want to go to the toilet!!!
Kodi, mu funa ku-dya pangono?*Do you want to eat a little?
Iyayai, si ndi funa ku-dya*No, I do not want to eat.
Zoipa, Ndi kufuna kuku-patsa pang’ono (some*Darn! I want to give you a bit.
Iyayi, zikomo.*No, thank you.
Ndi funa ku-bwera (come).*I want to come.
Kodi, mu-funa ku gona ndi ine?*Do you want to sleep with me?
Ayi Si, ndi funa ku-gona No,*I do not want to sleep.
Miguel, kodi, mu funa ku-dya achule?*Miguel do you want to eat the frogs?
Zoipa. Si tsopano, zikomo.*Darn! Not just now, thank you!
Ti li osangalala!*We are wonderful
NUMBERING – Chichewa to English Phrasebook
Ndi li ndi vuto li modzi*I have one problem.
Inde, mu li ndi vuto limodzi*Yes, you have a problem.
Ayi, mu li ndi mavuto awiri.*No, you have two (of them).
A li ndi atatu.*He has three.
A li ndi anai (4).*She has four.
Ti li ndi asanu (5).*We have five.
Kodi, mu li ndi asanu?*Do you have five?
Inde, tsopono, ndi li ndi asanu!!*Yes now, I have five problems!!!
Ana onse!*All the children!
Ana ali/ndi osangalatsa!*Children are wondeful!
UNDERSTANDING – Chichewa to English Phrasebook
Ndi mvetsa.*I understand.
si ndi mvetsa.*I do not understand.
U/mu mvetsa.*You understand.
siMu mvetsa (understand).*You do not understand.
Kodi, muwa mvetsa a-kazi (women)?*Do you understand women?
Ayi, ayi, si ndi a mvetsa iwo!!*No. No. I do not understand them!!!
Oh. zoipa Oh.*Darn! Mate!
Chonde musanene/musati Ipa-ipa ayi.*Please do not say Mate!
Mu li osangalatsa!*You are intertaining!
COMMON WORDS – Chichewa to English Phrasebook
Thank you*Zikomo
Hello*Moni
Mr.*A-Bambo
Mrs.*A-Mayi
Yes*Inde
No*Iyay
Good*Bwino?
Please*Chonde
Do you have?*Kodi mu li ndi…?
Goodbye*Tsalani bwino
See you soon!*Ndikuwona posachedwa
Who?*Ndani?
What?*Chani?
I want*Ndi funa
Where?*Kuti?
today (lero)
tomorrow (mawa)
paper pepala)
newspaper (gazeti/pepala)
day*(tsiku)
week*(mulungu)
year*(chaka)
hour*(hora)
minute*(mphindi, many (ambiri)
hamburger,*(hamburger)
think*(ganiza)
read*(werenga)
write*(lemba)
laugh*(seka)
dance*(bvina)
later*(patsogolo)
stop*(ima)
policeman*(polisi)
six*(-zisanu ndi-chimodzi)
seven*(zisanu ndi-ziwiri)
eight*(zisanu ndi-zitatu)
nine*(zisanu ndi-zinai)
ten*(khumi)
hundred*(zana)
thousand*(chikwi)
mate*(bwenzi)
see you soon*(tionana posachedwa)