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!
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
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
ASKING – Chichewa to English Phrasebook
bukhu ndi ndalama zingati?*How much is the book?
Ma dollar asanu(5).*Five dollars.
Ichi ndi zi ngati?*How much is this thing?
Zingati?*How much?
Ma dollar anai (4).*Four dollars.
Chi li kuti (where) ?*Where is it?
Chi li apo.*It is there.
Ayi, sichi li apo.*No, it is not there.
Chimbudzi chili kuti?*Where is the toilet, please?
Chimbudzi chili apo.*The toilet is over there.
Chani ichi/icho ?*What is that?
Pepani. chani?*Pardon. What?
Icho.*That.
O. ndi bukhu la bwino (good).*Oh, it is a good book.
U/Mu funa chani (what)?*What do you want?
Ndi-funa (want) vinyo, chonde.*I want the wine, please.
Pali ndani pano?*Who is here?
HAVING – Chichewa to English Phrasebook
bukhu ndi ndalama zingati?*How much is the book?
Ma dollar asanu(5).*Five dollars.
Ichi ndi zi ngati?*How much is this thing?
Zingati?*How much?
Ma dollar anai (4).*Four dollars.
Chi li kuti (where) ?*Where is it?
Chi li apo.*It is there.
Ayi, sichi li apo.*No, it is not there.
Chimbudzi chili kuti?*Where is the toilet, please?
Chimbudzi chili apo.*The toilet is over there.
Chani ichi/icho ?*What is that?
Pepani. chani?*Pardon. What?
Icho.*That.
O. ndi bukhu la bwino (good).*Oh, it is a good book.
U/Mu funa chani (what)?*What do you want?
Ndi-funa (want) vinyo, chonde.*I want the wine, please.
Pali ndani pano?*Who is here?
EVERYTHING – Chichewa to English Phrasebook
Ndi li pano.*I am here.
U/Mu li apo.*You are there.
Ndi konda iwe/inu.*I like you.
U/Mu konda ndalama.*You like the money.
A/ma chita ichi.*He does this.
A machita icho*She does that.
Ndi tha ku-lankhula pong’ono Chichewa!*I can speak a little Chichewa!
Si u nga nene Ipa-ipa.*You can not say Mate?
Ndi kumvetsa iwe/inu (you).*I understand you.
Si mu ndi mvetsa ine (me).*You do not understand me.
Ndi funa ku-pita ku bar (mowa).*I want to go to the bar.
U/Mu funa ku-pita ku chimbudzi (toilet).*You want to go to the toilet.
Ndi li ndi nthawi, yochepa chemwali*I have a little time, Miss!
Koma muli ndi ndalama zochepa, a-bamba?*But, do you have a little money, Sir?
Chonde, osamwa madzi ku Fransi!!*Please don’t drink the water in France!!
Imwa vinyo.*Drink the wine.
uli bwanji, Eliza?*How are you, Eliza?
Ndi-li bwino, Zikomo.*I am well, thank you.
Ndi ya/cha chi kulu?*Is it big?
Ayi, ndi ka ka ng’ono.*No, it is small.
Si umu dziwa mzimayi !*You do not know her!
zoipa. A li osanagalatsa!*Darn! She is wonderful!
Inde, tsopano, ndi li ndi mavuto asanu*Yes now, I have five problems!!!
Ana onse!*All the children!
Ndi chain icho?*What is that?
Pepani. Chani?*Pardon. What?
Iyo apo.*There it is.
Si zo ipa.*Not bad.
Chabwino?*OK?
Inde, a li bwino.*Yes, it’s cool!
Inde, a li bwino.*Yes, it’s cool! (classy)
Inde, a li bwino.*Yes, it’s cool! (upper class)
Chonde, u/musanene ipa-ipai.*Please do not say Mate!
Ayi li bwino.*It is not upper class)!!!
Ndi yenala ku-chita ichi.*I must do this.
Mu yenala ku chita icho.*You must do that
zosangalatsa?*Wonderful?
Inde, mu li osangalatsa.*Yes you are wonderful!
Tsalanai bwino tsopano.*Bye bye, for now!
Tsala, tsopano.*Bye bye, for now!
Tsa lani bwino patsono.*Bye bye, for now!
Tionana posachedwa!*Be seeing you soon!!
VOCABULARY – Chichewa to English Phrasebook
Thank you*Zikomo
Hello Bob!*Moni, Bob!
I like*Ndi ma-konda
Yes/no*Inde/iyayi
Not*ayi/si/sa
Where from?*Kuchokera kuti?
Please*Chonde
How much?*-zingati?
OK!*Chabwino
Give me*ndi-patse/patseni
Excuse me*Pepani
Go to*pita-ni ku
Good morning*Moni
Wait for me*U/mun-ndidi-kire
I must*Ndi yenela
I want*Ndi-kufuna
What is your name?*Dzina lako/lanu ndani
My name is …*Dzina langa ndi
How are you?* Muli bwanji?
I am well*Ndi-li bwino
Do you speak?*Kodi mu-malankhula?
Where is … *Kuti?
FOOD – Chichewa to English Phrasebook
bread/butter*buledi/batala
cheese*tchizi
eggs*dzila
meat/potatoes*nyama/mbatata ya kachewere
apples/oranges*apulo/lalanje
coffee*khofi
milk*mkaka
fruit juice*madzi adzipatzo (fruit)
water*madzi
tea*tiyi/tchaeFood*Chakudya
Rice *Mpunga
Side*-dishes Ndiwo
Meat*Nyama
Pork*Nyama ya nkhumba
Beef*Nyama ya ng`ombe
Chicken*Nkhuku
Fish*Nsomba
Eggs*Mazira
Greens*Masamba
Beans*Nyemba
Peanut butter*Chiponde
Peanut*Mtedza
Oil*Mafuta
Salt*Mchere
Pepper*Tsabola
Irish potatoes*Mbatatesi
Sweet Potatoes*mbatata
Tomato*Matimati
Pumpkin leaves*Masamba a nkhwani
Pigeon peas*Nsawawa
Fruits*Zipatso
Paw paw*Papaya
Pineapple*Chinananzi
Mango*Mango
Cassava*Chinangwa
Corn*Chimanga
Cucumber*Nkhaka
Drinks*Zakumwa
Water*Madzi
Rice-water*Madzi a Mpunga
Tea*Tiyi
Beer*Mowa
Milk*Mkaka
GREETINGS – Chichewa to English Phrasebook
Moni Michelle.*Hello Michelle.
Moni Paula.*Hello Paula.
Moni Miche.*Good morning Miche.
Moni Sancos.*Good morning Sancos.
Muli bwanji, Eliza?*How are you, Eliza?
Ndi li bwino, zikomo, Khulu.*I am well, thank you, Khulu.
Uli bwanji, Xavier?*How goes it, Xavier?
Ndi li bwino, zikomo, Miguel.*OK , thank you Miguel.
Tsala bwino, Giles.*Goodbye Giles.
Tsalani/tsala tsalani/tsala,*Judith. Bye bye Judith.
Inde, chabwino, Holly Yes OK, Holly.
Zosangalatsa, Heidi!*It is wonderful, Heidi!
Chabwino Sam?*OK Sam?
Inde, chabwino, Lucie.*Yes OK, Lucie.
Zosaipa kwenikweni, Henri.*Not too bad, Henri.
Uli bwino dale?*Are you well, my darling?
Ayi*No!!!
Zoipa. A li osangalatsa!*Darn! She is wonderful!
COLORS – Chichewa to English Phrasebook
Black*kuda
Blue*buluu
Red*fiira
White*yera
Green*tsamba