Category: Chichewa To English

Chichewa To English Dictionary – M

Madoda*Older men; Elders
Maloto*1. Dreams. 2. Aspirations. 3. Hopes.
Manja lende*Laziness. Unwillingness to work or
do task regardless of the available
resources and capabilities.
Sometimes used as a derogatory
term for cash transfer programmes.
Maphunziro*Education
Masalamusi*1. Superstition. 2. Magic
Masamba a mchezo*Social media
Masewera*1. Lack of seriousness; playful
attitude. 2. Sports
Masomphenya*1. Vision. 2. Mission. 3. Goal. 4.
Objective
Maso ndi maso*Face to face
Matenda a mgonagona*Chronic illness.
Mathanyula*Homosexuality.
Matsenga*1. Superstition. 2. Magic
Mbaula*1. Stove. 2. Heater. 3. Charcoal
burner
Mfumu*Traditional authority; Chief.
Mgwazo*1. Implementing haphazardly. 2. A
system of manual work where you
knock off when you finish your
portion.
Migodi*1. Mines. 2. Extracting precious
minerals from the ground.
Milungu*Gods.
Mkombaphala*Nursery school
Mkumano*1. Meeting. 2. Dialogue; Discussion.
Mkomya*Preparing delicious food for the
loved one.
Mkute*1. Leftover food especially nsima. 2.
Refers to the job that was not
finished and has been carried to the
following day.
Mlangizi*1. Extension workers. 2. Advisor;
counsellor.
Mlatho*Bridge.
Mlembi wankulu*Secretary who takes minutes during
meetings.
Mlingo*1. Quantity. 2. Scale. 3. Extent.
Mmera mpoyamba *The beginning matters. This is used
to refer to Early Childhood
Development (nursery schools).
Mpando*Chair. The top leadership position in
a certain group.
Mphamvu*1. Power. 2. Strength. 3. Authority
Mphamvu ku wanthu*Decentralisation. Communities’
right to decide.
Mphepo ya mkuntho*Heavy blowing wind; Cyclone.
Mpingo*1. Crowd. 2. Congregation.
Mpungwepungwe*1. Commotion. 2. Confusion. 3.
Where groups or people have failed
to agree.
Mtendele*Peace.
Mtsutso*Debate.
Mtukulapakhomo*1. Social protection. 2. Cash
transfer. 3. Livelihood. 4. Household
development. This phrase refers to
the provision of livestock and
monetary assistance to provide
relief to poor households.
Mudzi*Village.
Munthu wogwira ntchito
modzipereka*Volunteers.
Muyezo*1. Volume. 2. Measurement
Mwanabele*Enlarged lymph node

Chichewa To English Dictionary – N

Namkungwi*Female initiation counsellor.
Namondwe*Cyclone.
Namtindi*Crowd attending a function.
Ndale*1. Politics. 2. A trap using legs.
Ndondomeko*1. Procedures. 2. Policy.
Nduna*1. Minister. 2. Chief’s adviser(s)
Ngaliba*Male initiation counsellor.
Ngodya*Corner of a building.
Njala*1. Hunger. 2. Famine.
Nkhalango*Forest.
Nkhanza*Abuse. This refers to a range of
actions whose aim is to victimise or
hurt an individual, deliberately or
unintentionally.
Nkhokwe*Granary.
Nkhongo gwaa *Used as a derogatory term for cash
transfer programmes.
Ntchembere*Older Mother(s).
Ntchito za manja *Vocational skills.
Nthambi*1. Tree branch. 2. Sub-office to main office
Nyakwawa*Village headman.
Nyama zakutchire*Wild animals.
Nyumba ya Malamulo*Parliament.
Nzeru*Knowledge; Wisdom; Intelligence.
Nzika*Citizen

Chichewa To English Dictionary – O

Opindula*Beneficiaries.

Chichewa To English Dictionary – P

Pa bwalo*1. Court; Chief’s court. 2. Arena.
Open space where sporting
activities are done, where people
gather.
Pakhomo pamwana alirenji*Self-sufficient in food; Rich enough
to buy whatever food you need.
Pambalambanda*Transparency; not being done in
secrecy.
Polisi*Police.
Poto*Cooking pot

Chichewa To English Dictionary – S

Sendawana*Magic spell for getting rich. Refers to
an animal (pongoline) that is used to
steal other people’s money.
Sing’anga*Herbalist; Witch doctor.
Sukulu ya mkombaphala*Nursery school

Chichewa To English Dictionary – T

Thandizo*Donation.
Thangata*Exploitation. The system of wage
labour in which workers are paid
below the survival threshold.
Thanzi*Good health.
Tsankho*1. Discrimination. 2. Favouritism. 3.
Nepotism.
Tsogolo*Future