FOOD AND SHOPPING

Olenji = Orange.

Papayi = Pawpaw.

Hanyezi = Onion.

Khowani = Mushroom.

Chingoma = (Singular for Maize).

Vingoma = (Plural for maize).

Zobala = Lemon.

Delele = ladies fingers.

Biringanya = Eggplant

Nkhaka = Cucumber.

Sabola = Chilies.

Chikhawu = Cassava.

Mapeyala = Avocado.

Nthochi = Banana.

Sghawa = Groundnuts.

Ntchunga = Beans.

Kabichi = Cabbage.

Chinanazi = Pineapple.

Mphatata = Sweet Potatoes.

Mpunga = Rice.

Mchele = Salt.

Shuga = Sugar.

Mbambayila = Irish potatoes.

Majungu = Pumpkins.

Mpwetekele = Tomatoes.

Mbuzi = Goat.

Ng’ombe = Cow.

Nyama = Meat.

Chiwindi = Liver.

Mtima = Heart.

Nyama ya kalulu = Rabbit.

Nyama ya Nkhumba = Pork.

Nyama ya mberere = Mutton.

Nyama ya mbuzi = Goat meat.

Nyama ya ng’ombe = Beef.

Nyama ya baka = Duck.

Nyama ya nkhuku = Chicken.

DIRECTIONS AND TRAVEL

Hamba luwilo = Go faster.

Hamba pachoko = Go slower.

Leka = Stop.

Hamba = Go.

Hamba ku malyelo = Go right.

Hamba ku mazere = Go left.

Hamba ku manyuma = Go back.

Hamba ku thazi = Go forward.

Hamba pasi = Go down.

Ningenda uli kukafika ku Mutatha = How do I get to Mutatha?

Chiteskeni cha sitima = The train station

Chiteskeni cha basi = Bus station

Chibanja = The airport

Sukulu = The school

Musika = The market

Resiti hausi = The resthouse

Yili nkhu? = Where are? (The noun comes first and there are different modifiers for different nouns ie: chili, yili, etc)

Mahotelo yali nkhu? = (where are hotels?)

Malo yakugona yali nkhu? = Where is the place to sleep?

Chilabo malo yakumwela mowa = Place to drink beer (traditional bar)

Munganilongola pa mapu? = Can you show me on the map?

Nthowa = Path

Musewu = Road

Mzinda = City

Boma = Government

Patukila ku mazele = Turn left

Patukila ku malyelo Turn right
Mazele = left

Malyelo = Right

Ku nthazi = Straight ahead

Chaku = Towards the

kujumpha = Past

Pambere = Before the

Mpoto = North

Mwela = South

Vuma = East

Kumanjiriro = West

Chikwera = Uphill

Kusika = Downhill

Chikhizga = slope

Chiduli = Antihill

AUTHORITY

Nindachite chili chose chiheni = I have not done anything wrong.

Chita = Do

Chili chose = Anything.

Vose = Everything.

Mukunitolela nkhu? = Where are you taking me to?

Nkhu? = Where?

Vichi? = What?

Mbu? = How?

Pambu? = When?

Nja? = Who?

Nchi? = Which?

Kasi nakakika? = Am I under arrest?

Nkhukhumba niyowoyesgane na mu manyi ma lango = I want to talk to a lawyer.

DRIVING

NKhukhumba ku bwereka galimoto = I want to rent a car.

Bwereka = Rent.

Galimoto = Car.

Kasi ninga katolo musokho? = Can i get insurance?

Yima pa chiphambani cha msewu = Stop on a street sign.

Thowa yi moza = One way.

Kuyimika yayi = No parking.

Umaliro wa kachimbizgiro = Speed limit.

Gasi = Gas.

Petulo = Petrol.

Dizilo = Diesel.

SHOPPING

Nizilinga ichi? = How much is this?

Vadula chomene = It's too expensive.

Unga yegha? = Would you take?

Kudula = To be expensive

Shipi = Cheap

Ningakwanisga yayi = I can't afford it.

Nkhuchikhumba yayi = I don't want it.

Ukunitetezga = You are cheating me.

Nkhunekwa yayi = I'm not interested.

Nekwa = Interested

Oho, nitolenge = OK, I will take it.

Nkhukhumba = I need

Muswaju = Toothbrush.

Munkhwala = Medicine.

Munthumbo = Stomach.

BARS

Mukuguliska mowa?= Do you sale beer

Mowa = Beer.

Mowa wu biri = Two beers.

Kachasu = whiskey

Unyakeso umoza chonde = One more please.

Mukujala nyengo uli? = What time do you close?

Nijulileni = Open for me.

EATING

Thebulu ya wanthu wawiri = A table for two people.

Kasi ninga bekamo mu khichini? = Can I look in the kitchen?

Nkurya yayi nyama = I don't eat meat.

Nkurya yayi nyama ya nkumba = I don’t eat pork.

Nkurya yayi nyama ya ng'ombe = I don't eat beef.

Ine nkhukhumba = I want .

Nkhuku = Chicken.

Nyama ya Ng'ombe = Beef.

Somba = Fish.

Usipa (Kapenta)= Small fish.

Masumbi = Eggs.

Mphangwe = vegetables.

Kuphika = Cooking.

Vipaso = Fruits.

Nthochi = Banana.

Bala = porridge.

Dende = Relish.

Gawa = Serve.

Chingwa = Bread.

Mpunga = Rice.

Ntchunga = Beans.

Maji = Water.

Khombo = Cup.

Ni paniko nkhombo ya maji? = May I have a cup of water?

Maji = Water.

Mowa = Beer.

Vinyo viswesi/Vinyo vituwa = Red/white wine.

Nipeniko muchere = May I have some salt.

Muchere = Salt.

Suga = Sugar.

Chakurya chikunowa. = It is delicious food.

MONEY

Kasi mukuzomerezga ma dolazi gha Amereka na Kanada? = Do you accept American and Canadian dollars?

Kasi mukuzomerezga ndalama za ma Paundi gha Buriteni= Do you accept British pounds?


Zomela = Allow/ accept.

Na = And.

Kasi mukuzomerezga ngongoli = Do you accept credit?

Kasi mungani sinthira ndalama? = Can you change money for me?

Kasi ni nkhu uko ninga sintha ndalama? = Where can i get money changed?

LODGING

Malo yalipo? = Do you have any rooms available?

Ni ndalama zilinga chipinda chimoza cha munthu umoza? = How much is a room for one person?

Munthu = Person

Kasi vipinda vili na vyakudika? = Does the rooms have beddings?

Gombeza = Blanket

Vyakudika = Beddings

Niyawone malo ndakha = May I see the room first?

Chikulu = Bigger

Kutowa = Clean/beautiful.

Mbwenu, nitolenge = OK, I'll take it.

Nikhalenge ma usiku gha wiri = I will stay for two nights

Kasi munga sachizgaso hotelo yinyake? = Can you suggest another hotel?

Chakurya cha mulenji = Breakfast

Tiyi = Tea

Chakurya chamuhanya = Lunch

Chakurya cha namise = Supper

Chakurya cha namise ni nyengo uli? = What time is supper?

Chakurya cha mulenji ni nyengo uli? = What time is breakfast?

Chonde muni nozgelemo mu chipinda chane = Please clean my room.

Chipinda = Room

Chane = Mine

Kasi munganiusga pa nyengo ya 2 koloko namise = Can you wake me at 2 O’clock in the afternoon?

Nkhukhumba kuluta = I want to go.

TAXI

Matola = Taxi.

Muni tole ku tawuni = Take me to town please.

Muni phalile pala mu ku hamba = Inform me when you are going.

Ni zilinga kuluta ku Blantyre = How much is to go to Blantyre?

Nitoleni ine = Take me.

Uko = There.

Apa = Here.

Chonde = Please.

Niperekezgani chonde = Escort me please.

TRANSPORTATION

Ulendo = Journey/trip

Nyamuka = Depart

Fika = Arrive

kwenda ulendo = Travel.

Muku lipirisga zilinga kukafika ku Euthine? = How much do you charge to reach Euthine?

Ka basi iyi yi kuya nkhu? = Where does this bus go?

Ka basi iyi yi ku ka yima pa Mutantha? = Does this bus stop at Mutantha?

Basi ya ku Mutantha yi nya mu kenge nyengo uli? = What time does the bus going to Mutantha depart?

Yi ku ka fika nyengo uli? = What time does it arrive?

COLOURS

Ufipa = Black.

Utuwa = white.

Tuwulufu = Gray.

Uswesi = Red.

Ubidi = Blue.

Ngati nthula = Yellow.

Ubiliwiri = Green.

Ngati ma lalanje (Like oranges) = Orange.

Pepu = purple.

Buluwuni = Brown.

WRITING TIME AND DATE

In ChiTumbuka, traditionally times have been indicated by the position of the sun in the sky. The hand is used as in waving goodbye but turned round with the inside palm facing you and pointing to the eastern horizon for 6 o'clock am and western horizon for 6 pm. Pointing Overhead for midday. 6 O'clock am: Dazi likufuma, namulenje ("6:00 is generally the time when the sun rises in the tropics") 12 O'clock am: generally signalled as the position in the sky between sunrise and mid-day

MONTHS

English names are generally used but pronounced in ChiTumbuka as follows:

Janyuwale = January.

Feburuwar= February.

Marichi = March.

Epurelo = April.

Mei = May.

Juni = June.

Julayi July.

Ogasiti = August.

Seputembala = September.

Okutobala = October.

Novembala = November.

Disembala = December.

Mwezi ukwiza = Next month.

Chaka chamala = Last year.

Chaka chikwiza = Next year.

DAYS

Sabata = Sunday.

Mande = Monday.

Chibiri = Tuesday.

Chitatu = Wednesday.

Chinayi = Thursday.

Chinkondi = Friday.

Chisulo = Saturday.

Muhanya uno = Today.

Mayiro = yesterday.

Namachero = Tomorrow.

Sabata Yino = This week.

Sabata Yamala = Last week.

Sabata Yikwiza = Next week.

DURATION

Ola (plural - maola) = Hour.

Dazi (plural - madazi) = Day.

Sabata (plural -masabta) = Week.

Mwezi (plural - miyezi) = Month(s)

Chaka (plural - vyaka) = Year

CLOCK TIME

The twenty-four hour clock is used in all ChiTumbuka speaking areas.

Sono = Now.

Namwenekale = Later.

Pambere = Before.

Mulenji = Morning.

Na mulenji = In the morning.

Mise = Afternoon.

Na mise = In the afternoon.

Usiku = Evening (night).

Nyengo yili uli? = What is the time?

Wanu koloko ya mulenji = One o'clock AM.

Thu koloko ya na mise = Two o'clock PM

Na mu hanya pakati = Noon.

Wanu koloko ya mise = One o'clock PM

Thu koloko ya mise = Two o'clock PM

Usiku pa kati = Midnight.

TUMBUKA MYTHOLOGY

The Tumbuka are an ethnic group living in Malawi. God is called Chiuta (in ChiTumbuka), who is all-powerful, omniscient and self-created. He is also a God of rain and fertility.

Tumbuka, like most African languages, has many myths that constitute its cultural heritage. These myths, told around fires late in the evening they are commonly called "Vidokoni" (fictitious stories) have a moral behind them. often to the accompaniment of drumming and choral responses, aim to teach children moral behavior and to entertain.

Most of these myths have been weakened by contact with Western mores, but many have stood the test of changing times.

There are three animals mentioned more than any others in Tumbuka mythology and these are fulu (tortoise), kalulu (hare) and chimbwe (hyena). Fulu is considered the wisest animal, chimbwe the villain and kalulu the clever manipulator who can only be defeated by fulu.

NUMBERS

English numbers are often used even when speaking ChiTumbuka. In most cases the word ” Vi ” is used which simply means many.

Chi moza = 1

Vibili = 2

Vitatu = 3

Vinayi = 4

Vikhondi = 5

Vikhondi na kamoza = 6

Vikhondi na tubili = 7

Vikhondi na tutatu = 8

Vikhondi na vinayi = 9

Khumi = 10

Khumi na kamoza = 11

Khumi na Tubili = 12

Khumi na Tutatu = 13
Khumi na vinay = 14

Khumi na Vikhondi = 15

Khumi na vikhondi na kamoza = 16

Khumi na vikhondi na tubili = 17

Khumi na vikhondi na vitutatu = 18

Khumi na vikhondi na Vinayi = 19

Ma Khumi na tubili = 20

Ma Khumi na vitatu = 30

Ma Khumi na Vinayi = 40

Ma Khumi na Vikhondi = 50

Halve = Kuswa pakati,kugaba pakati

Less = Pachoko

More = Chomene

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.

VOCABULARY BASICS

Zina linu ndimwe njani? = What is your name?.

Zina lane ndine = My name is.

Chatowa kuwonana namwe. = Nice to meet you.

Chonde = Please (when used, connotes begging).

Ndimwe wakupokeleka = You’re welcome.

Palije suzgo = No problem.

Enya. = Yes. Yayi. = No.

Phepani = Excuse me. (getting attention).

Phepani = Excuse me. (begging pardon).

Phepani = I’m sorry (also means sorry as with empathy).

Novwire = Help.

Leka = Stop.

Labisga = Look out.

Nkhupulika yayi. = I don’t understand.

Chimbuzi chili nkhuni? (toilet = “chimbuzi”) = Where is the toilet? Ni leke/

Ni lekani (many) = Leave me alone.

Leka kunikola/Khwasya(Kunikhwasya yayi - Don’t touch me) = Don’t touch me.

Namu chema Kapokola(…)= I’ll call the police.

Police = Kapokola.

Leka icho = Stop that.

Nkhukhumba kuti muniwovwirie = I need your help.

Ncha luwilo = It’s an emergency.

Na sowa = I’m lost.

Na soywa chola chane, nataya chikwama chane = I lost my bag.

Na sovya chikwama chane, Nataya chikwama chane = I lost my wallet.

Nalwala = I’m sick.

Naji pwetekeka = I’ve been injured.

Nkukhumbika docotala/ng’anga = I need a doctor.

Ningayimba fone yinu = Can I use your phone?

CONSONANTS

b = like ‘b’ in “bed”, but sometimes interchangeable with ‘w’

c = like ‘k’ in “kid” ch = like ‘ch’ in “chair”

d = like ‘d’ in “dog”

f = like ‘f’ in “fit”

g = like ‘g’ in “go”

h = like ‘h’ in “help”

j = like ‘dg’ in “edge”

k = like ‘c’ in “cat”

l = like ‘l’ in “love”, but often interchangeable with ‘r’

m = like ‘m’ in “mother”

n = like ‘n’ in “nice”

nkh = like a ‘n’ sound at the back of the mouth expelling air through the nose

p = like ‘p’ in “pig”

ph = like a breathy ‘p’

r = like ‘r’ in “row”, but often interchangable with ‘l’

s = like ’ss’ in “hiss”, like ‘z’ in “haze”

t = like ‘t’ in “top”

v = like ‘v’ in “victory”

w = like ‘w’ in “weight”, but sometimes interchangeable with ‘b’

y = like ‘y’ in “yes”

z = like ‘z’ in “haze”

Vowels

a = like the “a” in “father”

e = like the “ay” in “pay” (like the French é)

i = like the “ee” in “tree” (like the French i)

o = like the “o” in “home”

u = something like the “u” in ” usual ”