Mwalandiridwa -- Welcome

This page consitsts of a list of some Chichewa words/phrases and their meanings in English. It should be noted that the interpretation is based on their basic meanings. In some contexts the meanings may be different.

Chichewa Background and History and Sentence Drills

Chichewa pronunciation guide.

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--- Compiled by Harry Gombachika

hello --- moni
how are you ? --- muli bwanji ?
I am fine --- ndiri bwino
Thank you --- zikomo
I am happy --- ndakondwa/ndili wokondwa/ndasangalala/ndili wosangalala
I am sick/ill --- ndikudwala
I have arrived --- ndafika
I have departed - ndanyamuka
I am tired - ndatopa
I love you --- ndimakukonda/ndimakukondani
I love you too --- ndimakukondanso/ndimakukondaninso

God --- Mulungu/Chauta/Namalenga
person --- munthu
father --- bambo
mother --- mayi
child --- mwana
boy --- mnyamata
girl --- mtsikana

garment --- chobvala (shirt, dress etc)
shorts --- kabudula
chilundu --- a piece of cloth wrapped round the waist covering from waist down.
shoe(s) --- nsapato

house --- nyumba
aeroplane - ndege
village --- mudzi
country --- dziko
way/ path --- njira
road --- nseu
bicycle --- njinga
car --- galimoto
plane --- ndenge

eating - kudya
food --- chakudya
water --- madzi
beer --- mowa
meat --- nyama
rice --- mpunga
corn/maize --- chimanga
fish --- nsomba
salt --- mchere
pepper --- tsabola
tobacco --- fodya
smoking - kusuta

money --- ndalama
ndalama zingati ? --- how much ? ( asking for a price of a commodity )

lion --- mkango
elephant --- njobvu
zebra --- mbidzi
buffalo --- njati
crocodile --- ng'ona
hippo --- mvuwu/bokho
hare kalulu
dog --- galu
cat --- mphaka/chona/chome
bird --- mbalame
chicken --- nkhuku
snake --- njoka
frog --- chule
toad --- finye

tree --- mtengo
chair --- mpando
fence --- mpanda
hoe handle --- mpini
sarvior --- mpulumutsi
knife --- mpeni

cave --- phanga
wing --- phiko
germinate --- phuka
parcel --- phukusi
cook (verb) --- phika
shoulder --- phewa

run away --- thawa
buttock --- thako
a tale --- nthano
solid rock --- thanthwe

bed --- kama
to milk --- kukama
hoe --- khasu
ear --- khutu
pig --- nkhumba
fire wood --- nkhuni

to eat --- kudya
to buy --- kugula
to want --- kufuna
to walk --- kuyenda
to go --- kupita
to sleep --- kugona
to write --- kulemba
to think --- kuganiza
to steal --- kuba
to drink --- kumwa
to sing --- kuyimba
to dance --- kuvina
to jump --- kulumpha/kudumpha
to walk --- kuyenda
to laugh --- kuseka
to read--- kuwerenga
to runkuthamanga
to lie --- kunama
to put --- kuika
to doubt --- kukayika
to go --- kupita
to come --- kubwera
to send --- kutumiza
to receive --- kulandira
to hide --- kubisa
to complain --- kudandaula

Miyambi --- Proverbs

Chikomekome cha mkuyu, mkati muli nyerere==Appearances often deceives
Akulu ndi mdambo mozimira moto
Mutu ukakula sulewa nkhonya
Lero lomwe lidadetsa nthengu
Muluzu wa galu ndi umodzi
Guluwe inalira msampha utaning'a
Mbuto ya kalulu inakula mtadzaonani
Ulenji umasimba wako
Kulasa mtengo mchamuna chomwe
Phukusi la moyo sasungilana
Fodya wako ndi uyo ali pamphuno, wam'manja ngwa mphepo
Ukayendera mzengo usamati asakhwi a fumbula
Khwangwala wa mantha, anafa ndi ukalamba
Kwaweni kukudyetsa nthanga, dzungu ukuliwona
Guwo yobwera samagwira banja
Chimanga chimalola opanda manu
Mutu umodzi susenza denga
Chala chimodzi sichiswa msabwe
Ulidele nkulinga utayenda naye
Watchera kumwezi, nkhanga zawona
Wokaona nyanja anakaona mvuwu
Awonenji anapha mvuvu ndi phuma
Wopenga anaona nkhondo
Chinasala chinalaka fisi
Phongo ya chiwala siyichepa
Pagona tode padzinukha
Timba sachepa ndi mazira ake
Timba anathyoka mwendo mphando litatha kale
Papsa tong'ola sudziwa mtima wa moto
Moto umapita kuli ntchire
thumba la tambe amasula ndi tambe yemwe
Mumandiyitana pakalowa njoka, pakalowa mbewa mumakumba nokha
Mulendo ndi amene akhala ndi kampeni ka kutwa
Chikondi cha nkhwangwa, chokoma pokwera
Chiri kwa nzako, nkumati chigwire nyanga
Ichi chakoma, ichi chakoma, pusi anagwa chagada
Akule bvumbe wotatha pa tsekera
Kumpha mbalame ziwiri ndi mwala umodzi
Khoswe akakhala pa mkhate sapheka
mbalame ikatera pauta silasika
Chibale nchipsera sichitha
Anasi ndi nkhondo
Kalulu anatuma njobvu
nyimbo imodzi sachezera gule
Umanena chatsitsa dzaye, kuti njobvu ithyoke mnyanga
Pang'ono pang'ono, tsokonombwe anatha mtunda mkudumpha
Fisi anakana msatsi
Chidakwa chinakana kulipira ngongole ya thobwa
Dazi lilibe mankhwala
Madzi akatayika sawoleka
Kwanu ndi kwanu, mthengo munalaka njoka
Tsamba likagwa, manyazi agwira mtengo
Tsabola wakale sawawa
Kuno ndi kunja, kuyanja lichero
Nkhuyu zodya ana, zipota akulu
Mako ndi mako, usamuone kuchepa mwendo
Tsoka sasimba
Tsoka likalimba, umakuwotcha ndi mkute
Mwana wa nzako ndiwako yemwe, ukachenjera manja, udya naye
Mamuna nzako mpachulu, nkulinga utakwerapo
Tsiku limodzi siliwoza mbewa
Nkhoswe wa pa denga anaulula wa padzala
Ukakwera pansana wa njobvu, usamati kulibe mame
Buluzi wa mnyenyo anapanidwa ndi chitseko
Lunga lunga pobwadwa, chilema chichita kudza
Chuma ndi mchira wa khoswe, suchedwa kupululuka
Pati bi, pali minga

Mikuliwiko---Figurative Expressions

Kanga ndiwamba
Mbiya ngambe--chidakwa==drunkard
Chiphadzuwa--ngenge-- beautiful girl/lady
Konsekonse mpeni wansengwa--mthira kuwiri== showing double standards
Bowa bwanga-- kukayika== to hastate
mtentha ndebvu === tea
Kukhomera ku Dowa-- kusabereka--

This is all at the moment. I hope these words/phrases will be helpful. Zikomo kwambiri ---- thank you very much

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