Chichewa

20 Chichewa phrases for greetings and everyday courtesy, from Hello (Moni) to I don't understand (Sindimvetsa).

Hello

Moni, pronounced MO-ni

Good morning

Mwauka bwanji, pronounced mwau-KA bwa-NJI

Good afternoon

Mwachoma bwanji, pronounced mwa-CHO-ma bwa-NJI

Good evening

Mwadzuka bwanji, pronounced mwa-DZU-ka bwa-NJI

Goodbye

Pitani bwino, pronounced pi-TA-ni BWI-no

Please

Chonde, pronounced CHON-de

Thank you

Zikomo, pronounced zi-KO-mo

You're welcome

Zikomo kwambiri, pronounced zi-KO-mo kwam-BI-ri

Yes

Inde, pronounced IN-de

No

Ayi, pronounced A-yi

Sorry

Pepani, pronounced pe-PA-ni

Excuse me

Pepani, pronounced pe-PA-ni

My name is

Dzina langa ndi, pronounced DZI-na LAN-ga ndi

What is your name?

Dzina lako ndani?, pronounced DZI-na LA-ko nda-NI

How are you?

Muli bwanji?, pronounced MU-li bwa-NJI

I'm fine

Ndili bwino, pronounced NDI-li BWI-no

Nice to meet you

Ndikukondwa kukumana nanu, pronounced ndi-ku-KON-dwa

See you later

Tionane, pronounced tio-NA-ne

Do you speak English?

Mumakamba Chingerezi?, pronounced mu-ma-KAM-ba chin-ge-RE-zi

I don't understand

Sindimvetsa, pronounced sin-dim-VET-sa

20 Chichewa phrases for getting around, from Where is the hotel? (Hotelo ili kuti?) to Ticket (Tikiti).

Where is the hotel?

Hotelo ili kuti?, pronounced ho-TE-lo I-li KU-ti

How much does this cost?

Nchingaki?, pronounced nchi-NGA-ki

Where is the airport?

Lotniska ili kuti?, pronounced lot-NIS-ka I-li KU-ti

I need a taxi

Ndikufuna takisi, pronounced ndi-ku-FU-na ta-KI-si

Where is the bus stop?

Malo oimira basi ali kuti?, pronounced MA-lo oi-MI-ra BA-si

I am lost

Ndasokera, pronounced nda-SO-ke-ra

Help me please

Ndithandizeni chonde, pronounced ndi-than-di-ZE-ni CHON-de

I need a doctor

Ndikufuna dokotala, pronounced ndi-ku-FU-na do-ko-TA-la

Where is the hospital?

Chipatala chili kuti?, pronounced chi-pa-TA-la CHI-li KU-ti

Call the police

Yitanani apolisi, pronounced yi-ta-NA-ni a-po-LI-si

Passport

Pasipoti, pronounced pa-si-PO-ti

Train station

Siteshoni ya sitima, pronounced si-te-SHO-ni ya SI-ti-ma

Left

Kumanzere, pronounced ku-man-ZE-re

Right

Kumanja, pronounced ku-MAN-ja

Straight ahead

Patsogolo, pronounced pa-tso-GO-lo

Entrance

Khomo lolonjeza, pronounced KHO-mo lo-lon-JE-za

Exit

Kutuluka, pronounced ku-tu-LU-ka

Open

Tsegula, pronounced tse-GU-la

Closed

Tseka, pronounced TSE-ka

Ticket

Tikiti, pronounced ti-KI-ti

20 Chichewa phrases for eating and drinking, from I am hungry (Ndili ndi njala) to Beer (Mowa).

I am hungry

Ndili ndi njala, pronounced NDI-li ndi NJA-la

I am thirsty

Ndili ndi ludzu, pronounced NDI-li ndi LU-dzu

Water

Madzi, pronounced MA-dzi

Food

Chakudya, pronounced cha-KU-dya

Rice

Mpunga, pronounced mPUN-ga

Bread

Mkate, pronounced mKA-te

Meat

Nyama, pronounced NYA-ma

Fish

Nsomba, pronounced nSOM-ba

Vegetables

Masamba, pronounced ma-SAM-ba

Fruit

Zipatso, pronounced zi-PAT-so

Menu

Menyu, pronounced ME-nyu

The bill please

Bili chonde, pronounced BI-li CHON-de

Delicious

Chakudya chokoma, pronounced cha-KU-dya cho-KO-ma

Restaurant

Malo odya, pronounced MA-lo O-dya

Breakfast

Chakudya cha m'mawa, pronounced cha-KU-dya cha mMA-wa

Lunch

Chakudya cha masana, pronounced cha-KU-dya cha ma-SA-na

Dinner

Chakudya cha usiku, pronounced cha-KU-dya cha U-si-ku

Coffee

Khowfi, pronounced KHOW-fi

Tea

Tiyi, pronounced TI-yi

Beer

Mowa, pronounced MO-wa

15 Chichewa phrases for emergencies and health, from Help! (Thandizani!) to Allergic reaction (Kuchita mantha).

Help!

Thandizani!, pronounced than-di-ZA-ni

Fire!

Moto!, pronounced MO-to

Stop!

Imani!, pronounced i-MA-ni

Call an ambulance

Yitanani ambulansi, pronounced yi-ta-NA-ni am-bu-LAN-si

I am sick

Ndikudwala, pronounced ndi-ku-DWA-la

I am injured

Ndapweteka, pronounced nda-pwe-TE-ka

I need medicine

Ndikufuna mankhwala, pronounced ndi-ku-FU-na man-KHWA-la

Emergency

Zachitukuko, pronounced za-chi-tu-KU-ko

Danger

Chandamale, pronounced chan-da-MA-le

Police

Apolisi, pronounced a-po-LI-si

Thief!

Mbala!, pronounced mBA-la

I need help

Ndikufuna thandizo, pronounced ndi-ku-FU-na than-DI-zo

Lost child

Mwana wosokera, pronounced MWA-na wo-SO-ke-ra

Accident

Ngozi, pronounced nGO-zi

Allergic reaction

Kuchita mantha, pronounced ku-CHI-ta MAN-tha

14 Chichewa phrases for work and money, from Meeting (Msonkhano) to Agreement (Chivomerezo).

Meeting

Msonkhano, pronounced mson-KHA-no

Contract

Mgwirizano, pronounced mgwi-ri-ZA-no

Price

Mtengo, pronounced mTEN-go

Invoice

Inivoyisi, pronounced i-ni-vo-YI-si

Partnership

Mgwirizano wa ntchito, pronounced mgwi-ri-ZA-no wa nTCHI-to

Profit

Phindu, pronounced PHIN-du

Manager

Woyang'anira, pronounced wo-yan-GA-ni-ra

Office

Ofesi, pronounced o-FE-si

Email

Imelo, pronounced i-ME-lo

Presentation

Kuonetsa, pronounced ku-o-NET-sa

Budget

Bajethi, pronounced ba-JET-hi

Schedule

Nthawi zochita, pronounced nTHA-wi zo-CHI-ta

Client

Kasitomala, pronounced ka-si-to-MA-la

Agreement

Chivomerezo, pronounced chi-vo-me-RE-zo

20 Chichewa phrases for numbers, days and time, from One (Chimodzi) to Friday (Lachisanu).

One

Chimodzi, pronounced chi-MO-dzi

Two

Iwiri, pronounced i-WI-ri

Three

Itatu, pronounced i-TA-tu

Four

Inayi, pronounced i-NA-yi

Five

Isanu, pronounced i-SA-nu

Six

Isanu ndi chimodzi, pronounced i-SA-nu ndi chi-MO-dzi

Seven

Isanu ndi iwiri, pronounced i-SA-nu ndi i-WI-ri

Eight

Isanu ndi itatu, pronounced i-SA-nu ndi i-TA-tu

Nine

Isanu ndi inayi, pronounced i-SA-nu ndi i-NA-yi

Ten

Khumi, pronounced KHU-mi

Twenty

Makumi awiri, pronounced ma-KU-mi a-WI-ri

Hundred

Zana, pronounced ZA-na

Thousand

Chikwi, pronounced CHI-kwi

Today

Lero, pronounced LE-ro

Tomorrow

Mawa, pronounced MA-wa

Yesterday

Dzulo, pronounced DZU-lo

Morning

M'mawa, pronounced mMA-wa

Evening

Madzulo, pronounced ma-DZU-lo

Monday

Lolemba, pronounced lo-LEM-ba

Friday

Lachisanu, pronounced la-chi-SA-nu

house

nyumba, pronounced NYUM-ba

water

madzi, pronounced MA-dzi

bread

buledi, pronounced bu-LE-di

time

nthawi, pronounced nTHA-wi

person

munthu, pronounced MUN-thu

day

tsiku, pronounced TSI-ku

road / way

njira, pronounced NJI-ra

work

ntchito, pronounced nTCHI-to

money

ndalama, pronounced nda-LA-ma

city

mzinda, pronounced mZIN-da

school

sukulu, pronounced su-KU-lu

book

buku, pronounced BU-ku

name

dzina, pronounced dZI-na

child

mwana, pronounced MWA-na

friend

bwenzi, pronounced BWEN-zi

food

chakudya, pronounced cha-KU-dya

language

chilankhulo, pronounced chi-lan-KHU-lo

earth / land

dziko, pronounced dZI-ko

hand

dzanja, pronounced dZAN-ja

dog

galu, pronounced GA-lu

to be / stay

kukhala, pronounced ku-KHA-la

to go

kupita, pronounced ku-PI-ta

to come

kubwera, pronounced ku-BWE-ra

to speak

kulankhula, pronounced ku-lan-KHU-la

to eat

kudya, pronounced KUD-ya

to drink

kumwa, pronounced KUM-wa

to see

kuona, pronounced ku-O-na

to know

kudziwa, pronounced ku-dZI-wa

to want

kufuna, pronounced ku-FU-na

to give

kupatsa, pronounced ku-PAT-sa

to take

kutenga, pronounced ku-TEN-ga

to do

kuchita, pronounced ku-CHI-ta

to think

kuganiza, pronounced ku-ga-NI-za

to live

kukhala, pronounced ku-KHA-la

to read

kuwerenga, pronounced ku-we-REN-ga

to write

kulemba, pronounced ku-LEM-ba

to work

kugwira ntchito, pronounced ku-gwi-ra nTCHI-to

to help

kuthandiza, pronounced ku-than-DI-za

to find

kupeza, pronounced ku-PE-za

to hold

kugwira, pronounced ku-GWI-ra

good

wabwino, pronounced wa-BWI-no

bad

woipa, pronounced wo-I-pa

big

wamkulu, pronounced wa-mKU-lu

small

wating'ono, pronounced wa-ti-NGO-no

new

watsopano, pronounced wa-tso-PA-no

old

wakale, pronounced wa-KA-le

beautiful

wokongola, pronounced wo-kon-GO-la

fast

wachangu, pronounced wa-CHAN-gu

slow

wopanda changu, pronounced wo-pan-da CHAN-gu

long / tall

wotalika, pronounced wo-ta-LI-ka

short

wofupika, pronounced wo-fu-PI-ka

warm / hot

wotentha, pronounced wo-TEN-tha

cold

woziziritsa, pronounced wo-zi-zi-RIT-sa

strong

wolimba, pronounced wo-LIM-ba

easy

wosavuta, pronounced wo-sa-VU-ta

difficult

wovuta, pronounced wo-VU-ta

important

wofunika, pronounced wo-fu-NI-ka

interesting

wokocita, pronounced wo-ko-CI-ta

happy

wosangalala, pronounced wo-san-ga-LA-la

expensive

wokosten, pronounced wo-kos-TEN

now

tsopano, pronounced tso-PA-no

today

lero, pronounced LE-ro

tomorrow

mawa, pronounced MA-wa

yesterday

dzulo, pronounced DZU-lo

here

pano, pronounced PA-no

there

apo, pronounced A-po

quickly

mwachangu, pronounced mwa-CHAN-gu

slowly

pang'onopang'ono, pronounced pan-go-no-pan-GO-no

well

bwino, pronounced BWI-no

very / a lot

kwambiri, pronounced kwam-BI-ri

also / too

komanso, pronounced ko-MAN-so

no / not

ayi, pronounced A-yi

yes

inde, pronounced IN-de

already

kale, pronounced KA-le

still / yet

nthawi zonse, pronounced nTHA-wi ZON-se

only / just

chabe, pronounced CHA-be

really

zoonadi, pronounced zoo-NA-di

a lot

kwambiri, pronounced kwam-BI-ri

a little

pang'ono, pronounced pan-GO-no

immediately

nthawi yomweyo, pronounced nTHA-wi yom-WE-yo