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.