SPECIAL FEATURES!

Table of Contents

There are also other sites with good Chitumbuka language or phrase info.

The list that follows is based on a document used by Marion Medical Mission.

GREETINGS:
Monire mose - hello all (words of greeting given when meeting more than one person)
Monire wa mama - hello (greeting extended to a woman)
Monire wa dada - hello (greeting extended to a man)
Monire wa gogo - hello (to old person)

Muli uli? - How are you?
Nili makola, kwali imwe? - I’m fine, how about you? (offered in response to "Muli uli")

Nauka makola, kwali imwe? -Fine, and you?
Natandara makola, kwali imwe? -I had a fine day, how about you??
Mwatandara uli? - Second hello of the day (good afternoon, sort of)

Tawonga chomene -We thank you
Nawonga chomene -I thank you

yewo (or yevo) - thank you, very nice, excuse me, pardon, yes, etc.
yewo chomene - Thank you very much.
yewo (abbreviated response used in many situations, may mean "very nice", "excuse me", "pardon me", or "good to see you")

Mwagona uli? - How did you sleep?
Mwa uka uli? - How is your morning?
paweme - goodbye

pepani  - sorry
pepani chomene - very sorry.

chomene - very
imwe - you (plural)
makola - fine
muli - you are
ndili - I am
tili- we are

 Nkhuyowoya Chizungu na Chitumbuka pachoko. - I speak English and a little Chitumbuka (‘Chizungu’ is the language of the muzungu or white man)

CHURCH RELATED:
Chiuta - God
Chiuta dada - God the Father or Father God
fumu - Lord
mzimu - spirit
Tirombe - Let us pray.
Ucindami kwa Chiuta - Glory be to God
Yesu Khristu - Jesus Christ

Tirombe. Tikumuwogani Chiuta dada chifukwa chakutipa chakurya ichi. Muchitumbike mutumbikeso mathupi ghithu. Mutipeso chakurya cha mzimu. Tikuromba mwa Yesu Khristu. Uchindami kwa Chiuta. Amen

 (This is a blessing for food [chakurya] which asks that it be used to nourish our spirit. The blessing is asked "in Christ’s name.")

FOOD:
dendi - greens used as a sort of relish eaten with nsima
ngoma - maize,corn
sima - staple food like a corn meal mush or porridge
switi - candy
vikhawo - cassava

PEOPLE:
bonda - baby
dada - father or generically man
gogo - old person (sign of respect)
mama - mother or generically woman
mnyane - my friend
msepuka - boy
msungwana - girl
muzungu - white man
mwana - child
nganya - friend
vimbuza - witch-hunt dance
wana - children

ANIMALS:
chaholi - black and white crow
cokoko - heron
luhela - hawk
mbewa - mouse
mbuzi - goat
mtondoli - lizard
nchewe - dog (pronounced with v, not w)
ng’ombe - cattle, cow
nkhuku - chicken

QUESTIONS, DIRECTIONS ETC.
chifukwa uli? - For what reason or why?
njani? - Who?
nkhuni? - Where?
odi odi - May I come in?
odini - come in.
pambuni? - When?
paweme - goodbye.

apa - here
apo - there
chonde - please.
kufuntha chomene - very crazy
luta uku - go this way
maryelo - right
mazere - left
zangakuno - Come here.

PHRASES:
Nkhugwira ku nyuzi pepala. - I work for a newspaper.
Mwanakazi wane ni Julie. - My wife’s name is Julie.
Mwana wane munyamata ni August. - My son’s name is August.
Tom Logan wana chinkhonono chikulu. - Tom snores loudly.
Nili wa chikanga chomene. - I am very brave.
Navuka. Nkhuluta namgona. - I’m tired. I’m going to sleep.
Nkhwiza luwiro - I am coming soon.
Malawi nicharo chakutowa. - Malawi is a beautiful country.
Chonde yowoyanga pachoko pachoko. - Please speak slowly.
Ndingamujambulani? - May I take your picture?
Tijambulani. - Take our picture.
Una vyaka vilinga? - How old are you?
Nina vyaka 34. -I am 34.
Nkhumanya (yayi.) - I (don’t) know.
Nkhupurika (yayi.) - I (don’t) hear.
Nkhupanikizga (yayi.) - I (don’t) understand.
Kasi ukupanikizga? - Do you understand?

MISC NOUNS:
charu - earth or country
dimba - garden
dongo - dirt
galimoto - automobile
maji - water
mlengalenga - sky
moto - fire
mwezi - moon
ndowa - bucket or pail
nyondo - hammer
zuwa - sun

NOTES:
This vocabulary list is based on a list generated by Dennis Magee and updated by Jerry Miller. I have added a few words and clarified others.  Some corrections were suggested by Mike Malanzi.

 In Chitumbuka, the letters L and R are often interchanged.   For example it might be makola or makora and still be the same word.  This also leads to interchanging the letters in English words, such as Grory to God.