Wednesday, February 27, 2008

HOW TO GREET IN CHITUMBUKA LANGUAGE

Monire mose = Hello all (words of greeting given when meeting more than one person).

Monire a mama = Hello (greeting extended to a woman).

Monire a dada = Hello (greeting extended to a man).

Monire a 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”).

Mwatandala uli?. = Good afternoon. (How has your day been?)

Mugone makola = Sleep Well

Usiku uwemi = Good night.

Mwagona uli? = How did you sleep?.

Nauka makola, kwali imwe? = Fine, and you?.

Mwatandara uli? = Second hello of the day (good afternoon, sort of).

Natandara makola, kwali imwe? = I had a fine day, how about you?.

Tawonga chomene = We thank you.

Nawonga chomene = I thank you.

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”).Mwa uka uli? = How is your morning?.

Paweme = Goodbye.Phepani = Sorry.

Phepani chomene = Very sorry.

Chomene = Very.

Imwe = You (plural).Makola = Fine. Muli = You are.

Tili = We are

Nili = I am.

Chizungu = English.

Mzungu = White person.

Nkhuyowoya Chizungu na ChiTumbuka pachoko = I speak English and a littles ChiTumbuka.

8 comments:

Bryce Wesley Merkl said...

I just ran across your blog (which is wonderful, by the way) and thought you might find this site to be a great resource for teaching and practicing chiTumbuka:

chiTumbuka wiki browser

Ashley Raeside said...

Thanks for this blog!
I have a friend visiting from Mzimba who I haven't seen since I moved back home - and I couldn't for the life of me remember any chiTumbuka! (I didn't live in the North so only learned a few words of it while I was in Malawi.) You've been a great help, and I know my friend will be happy (and surprised) to be greeted by in Canada with familiar words.

Unknown said...

This is really an awesome post! I just want to learn this language because we should know the second language it is very necessary mow a days. Thanks for sharing us.
Spanish school Costa Rica

Unknown said...

Thank you so much, you've been a great help.

Fanwell Chibwe said...

This is very helpful indeed. Am a Tumbuka from Eastern Province of the Republic of Zambia. I am looking for materials that may help me understand the history of the Tumbuka people, their culture and positive names of people commonly found among Tumbuka people.

Unknown said...

Hi l would like to know fan words in tumbuka that makes people laugh and laugh more

Princess Zindaba said...

Interesting..feel free to ask me..I know all about this subject.

Tumbuka Arch said...

Nice, also if anyone wants to contribute or find more about Tumbuka language, we have a whole wikipedia in Tumbuka language which is entirely free without data charges. The site name is available at (tum.wikipedia.org). Thats not all, we have dictionaries but then we call it "wiktionary" and is available at (tum.wiktionary.org), we have books online, funny stories and alot more.
Need help?
Email me at :tumbukaarch@gmail.com