LEARN NYANJA (CHICHEWA) & BEMBA LANGUAGE PHRASES FOR YOUR TRAVELS TO ZAMBIA

Common & Daily Greetings & Appreciation

Safari Nyanja Simplified & Detailed

Common / Useful Words
Hello.
Moni
Sir (or) Mister
Abambo
Madam
Amayi
How are you?
Muli bwanji?
Fine, thank you. (And you?)
Ndiri bwino.(Kaya inu? [or] Kaya anzathu?)
What is your name?
Dzina lanu ndani?/Dzina lanu ndi yani?
My name is ______ .
Dzina langa ndi ______ .
Please.
chonde
Thank you.
Zikomo. (very common – ends most conversations)
Yes
Ee / Eya / Inde (can also mean “indeed”).
Truly (or) Really
Ndithu
No
Iyayi (used strongly) or ayi (more polite)
Bad
Woipa (person), or choipa (thing)
Excuse me
Zikomo
I’m sorry.
Pepani
“See you later”/We shall meet.
Tionana
Goodbye (meaning, I’m going.)
Ndapita
Have a safe journey
Yendani bwino / Muyende bwino
Stay well
Tsalani bwino / Mutsale bwino
I don’t speak Nyanja.
Sindimalankhula chinyanja.
Do you speak English?
Mumalankhula chizungu/chingelesi?
Is there someone here who speaks English?
Alipo munthu pano olankhula chizungu?
Help me!
Mundithandize!
Don’t be rude (or) cheeky
Osapanga chipongwe
Swear words
Mau Otukwana
Good morning.
Mwauka bwanji? / Mwadzuka bwanji? (greeting) Ndadzuka bwino (response)
Good afternoon.
Mwasewela bwanji? (greeting) Ndasewela bwino (response)
Good evening.
Mwachoma bwanji (greeting) Ndachoma bwino (response)
Good night.
Usiku wabwino
Sleep well.
Gonani bwino or Mugone bwino
I don’t understand
Sindimvetsa or sindikumvetsa
I know
Ndidziwa
I don’t know
Sindidziwa
I want
Ndifuna
I don’t want
Sindikufuna
I heard
Ndamva
I didn’t hear
Sindinamva
Where is the toilet?
Chimbuzi chili kuti?
Ladies (toilet)
Chimbuzu cha Akazi (Gentlemen – never ask for the Kazi..!!)
Gents (toilet)
Chimbuzi cha Amuna
White person
Mzungu / Azungu (plural)
Indian
Mmwenye / Amwenye

Problems
Leave me alone.
Ndilekeni or Ndisiyeni
Don’t touch me!
Osandigwira
Don’t swear (or) bad-mouth
Osatukwana
I’ll call the police.
Ndiitana apolisi
Police!
Wapolisi!
Stop! Thief!
Gwirani! Wakubayo!
I need your help.
Mundithandize, or Thandizeni
It’s an emergency.
N’zofunika mwamsanga
I’m lost.
Ndasochera
I lost my bag.
Ndataya chikwama
I lost my wallet.
Ndataya kachikwama kanga kandalama
I’m sick.
Ndikudwala
Head ache.
Ndikudwala mutu
Pain.
Kupweteka
Stomache ache.
Kupweteka m’mimba
Chest pain.
Kupweteka chifuwa
Cough.
Kutsokomola
Diarrhoea.
Kotsekula m’mimba
I’ve been injured.
Ndapweteka
I need a doctor.
Ndikufuna dokotala
Hospital.
Chipatala
Can I use your phone?
Ndingaimbe nawo foni yanuyo?
There’s been an accident
Kuli Ngozi
Hurry quickly
Fulumira Msanga
Run!
Thamanga
Hit (or) clout
Menya
Go away (as in scram)
Choka
I don’t want
sindikufuna

Numbers
English numbers are very commonly used even when speaking in Nyanja.
1
Modzi
2
Wiri
3
Tatu
4
Nayi
5
Sanu
6
Sanu n’chimodzi (five and one)
7
Sanu n’ziwiri (five and two)
8
Sanu n’zitatu
9
Sanu n’zinayi
10
Khumi
11
khumi n’chimodzi (ten and one)
12
khumi n’ziwiri
13
khumi n’zitatu
14
khumi n’zinayi
15
khumi n’zisanu
16
khumi n’zisanu n’chimodzi (ten and five and one)
17
khumi n’zisanu n’ziwiri
18
khumi n’zisanu n’zitatu
19
khumi n’zisanu n’zinayi
20
makumi awiri (two tens)
21
makumi awiri n’chimodzi
22
makumi awiri n’ziwiri
23
makumi awiri n’zitatu
30
makumi atatu
40
makumi anayi
50
makumi asanu
60
makumi asanu n’limodzi
70
makumi asanu ndiawiri
80
makumi asanu ndiatatu
90
makumi asanu ndianayi
100
chikwi chimodzi
200
zikwi ziwiri
300
zikwi zitatu
1000
zana limodzi
2000
mazana awiri
1,000,000
one million (…)
1,000,000,000
one billion
1,000,000,000,000
one trillion
number _____ (train, bus, etc.)
number _____ (…)
half
theka
less
kuchepera
more
kuchulukira

Time
what is the time?
Nthawi ili bwanji?
now
panopa (or) Tsopano
later
patsogolo
before
before (…)
tomorrow
mawa
early tomorrow
mawa, pa mamawa
morning
m’mawa
afternoon
masana
evening
madzulo
night
usiku
yesterday
dzulo
day before yesterday
dzana

Clock time
one o’clock AM
one o’clock AM (one koloko m’mawa kwambiri)
ten o’clock AM
two o’clock AM (ten koloko m’mawa)
noon
noon (twelve koloko m’masana)
two o’clock PM
two o’clock PM (two koloko m’masana)
five o’clock PM
five o’clock PM (five koloko m’madzulo)
midnight
midnight (twelve koloko m’usiku)

Duration
_____ minute(s)
_____ minute(s) (…)
_____ hour(s)
_____ hour(s) (…)
_____ day(s)
_____ day(s) (…)
_____ week(s)
_____ week(s) (…)
_____ month(s)
_____ month(s) (…)
_____ year(s)
_____ year(s) (…)

Days
today
lero
yesterday
dzulo
tomorrow
mawa
this week
mlungu uno / sabata ino
last week
mlungu watha / sabata yatha / sabata idapita
next week
mlungu wa mawa / sabata ya mawa / sabata ikubwera
Sunday
pasabata, lamulungu
Monday
lolemba
Tuesday
lachiwiri
Wednesday
lachitatu
Thursday
lachinayi
Friday
lachisanu
Saturday
loweluka

Months
January
January (…)
February
February (…)
March
March (…)
April
April (…)
May
May (…)
June
June (…)
July
July (…)
August
August (…)
September
September (…)
October
October (…)
November
November (…)
December
December (…)

Colors
black
kuda
white
yera
gray
gray (…)
red
wofiira (also used, impolitely, to describe a white person)
blue
kamtambo (…)
yellow
chikasu (…)
green
green (…)
orange
orange (…)
purple
purple (…)
brown
brown (…)
what colour?
mtundu uti (also means ‘what sort?’)

Transportation

Bus and train
How much is a ticket to _____?
Tikiti ndi bwanji ku _____? (…)
One ticket to _____, please.
Tikiti imodzi ku _____. (…)
Where does this train/bus go?
Sitima/Basi ikupita kuti?
Where is the train/bus to _____?
Sitima/Basi ya ku______ ili kuti?
Does this train/bus stop in _____?
Sitima/Basi iyi imayima pa _____? (…)
When does the train/bus for _____ leave?
Sitima/Basi yaku ______ inyamuka nthawi yanji?
When will this train/bus arrive in _____?
Sitima/Basi iyi ikafika ku _______ nthawi yanji?

Directions
How do I get to _____ ?
How do I get to _____ ? (…)
…the train station?
…the train station? (…)
…the bus station?
…the bus station? (…)
…the airport?
…the airport? (…)
…downtown?
…downtown? (…) …the youth hostel?
…the youth hostel? (…)
…the _____ hotel?
…the _____ hotel? (…)
…the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate?
…the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate? (…)
…the office(s) of______
Boma wa ______
Where are there a lot of…
Where are there a lot of… (…)
…hotels?
…hotels? (…)
…restaurants?
…restaurants? (…)
…bars?
…bars? (…)
…sites to see?
…sites to see? (…)
Can you show me on the map?
Can you show me on the map? (…)
street
street (…)
Turn left.
Turn left. (…)
Turn right.
Turn right. (…)
Road
Mseu (pronounced Msay-oo)
left
left (…)
right
right (…)
straight ahead
straight ahead (…)
towards the _____
towards the _____ (…)
past the _____
past the _____ (…)
before the _____
before the _____ (…)
Watch for the _____.
Watch for the _____. (…)
intersection
intersection (…)
north
north (…)
south
south (…)
east
east (…)
west
west (…)
uphill
uphill (…)
downhill
downhill (…)

Taxi
Taxi!
Taxi! (…)
Take me to _____, please.
Munditengere ku________, chonde.
How much does it cost to get to _____?
Ndibwanji kupita ku _____? (…)
Take me there, please.
Munditengere kumeneko, chonde.

Accommodation
Do you have any rooms available?
Alipo Malo?
How much is a room for one person/two people?
Ndalama zingati room ya munthu m’modzi/anthu awiri? (…)
Does the room come with…
Room iri ndi ……
…bedsheets?
Ma bedsheet?
…a bathroom?
…kosambira? (…)
…a telephone?
…telephone? (…)
…a TV?
…a TV? (…)
May I see the room first?
Choyamba, ndingathe kuona malo?
Do you have anything quieter?
Pali kwina kopanda phokoso? (…)
…bigger?
…yokulirapo? (…)
…cleaner?
…cleaner? (…)
…cheaper?
…yochipirapo? (…)
OK, I’ll take it.
Chabwino, nditenga yomweyi.
I will stay for _____ night(s).
NdiKhala kuno masiku_______
Can you suggest another hotel?
Mungandiuze hotel ina? (…)
Do you have a safe?
Do you have a safe? (…)
…lockers?
…lockers? (…)
Is breakfast/supper included?
Is breakfast/supper included? (…)
What time is breakfast/supper?
What time is breakfast/supper? (…)
Please clean my room.
Chonde, ndikonzereni room. (…)
Can you wake me at _____? | Mundidzutse nthawi ya ________
I want to check out.
Ndikufuna ndituluke mu hotel. (…)

Money
Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?
Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars? (…) kodi mu vomera kutenga ndalama zaku ma chalo ena?
Do you accept British pounds?
Do you accept British pounds? (…)
Do you accept credit cards?
Do you accept credit cards? (…)
Can you change money for me?
Can you change money for me? (…)
Where can I get money changed?
Where can I get money changed? (…)
Can you change a traveler’s check for me?
Can you change a traveler’s check for me? (…)
Where can I get a traveler’s check changed?
Where can I get a traveler’s check changed? (…)
What is the exchange rate?
What is the exchange rate? (…)
Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)?
Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)? (…)

Eating
A table for one person/two people, please.
Can I look at the menu, please?
Ndingaone menu?
Can I look in the kitchen?
Ndingakaone ku khitchini?
Is there a house specialty?
Is there a local specialty?
I’m a vegetarian.
Ndimadya masamba basi/
I don’t eat pork.
Sindimadya nyama ya nkhumba.
I don’t eat beef.
Sindimadya nyama ya ng’ombe.
Can you make it “lite”, please? (less oil/butter/lard)
fixed-price meal
à la carte
breakfast
lunch
tea (meal)
supper
I would like _____.
Ndifuna _____.
I would like a dish containing _____.
Ndikufuna chakudya chokhala ndi___________
chicken
nkhuku
beef
nyama ya ng’ombe
pork
nyama ya nkhumba
fish
nsomba
maize porridge
nsima
eggs
mazira
salad
saladi, masamba
(fresh) vegetables
masamba.
(fresh) fruit
chipatso (one), zipatso (many)
bread
buledi
rice
mpunga
beans
nyemba
May I have a glass of _____?
May I have a cup of _____?
May I have a bottle of _____?
coffee
khofi
tea (drink)
tiyi
maize drink
maheu
water
madzi
beer (Western)
mowa
beer (maize)
masese
May I have some _____?
Mundipatseko ________?
salt
mchere
black pepper
Tsabola
butter
Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)
I’m finished.
Ndakhuta
It was delicious.
Chakudya chinali bwino.
Please clear the plates.
Chotsani mbale, zikomo.
The check, please.
Ndipatseni bill.

Bars
Do you serve alcohol?
Mumagulitsa mowa? (…)
Is there table service?
Is there table service? (…)
A beer/two beers, please.
Mowa umodzi/mowa uwiri, zikomo.
A glass of red/white wine, please.
Glass ya red/white wine, zikomo. (…)
A pint, please.
A pint, please. (…)
A bottle, please.
Botolo limodzi, zikomo. (…)
_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please.
_____ and _____, please. (…)
whiskey
whiskey (…)
vodka
vodka (…)
rum
rum (…)
water
madzi
club soda
club soda (…)
tonic water
tonic water (…)
orange juice
orange juice (…)
Coke (soda)
Coke (…)
Do you have any bar snacks?
Do you have any bar snacks? (…)
One more, please.
One more, please. (…)
Another round, please.
Another round, please. (…)
When is closing time?
Mumatseka nthawi yanji? (…)

Shopping
Do you have this in my size?
Do you have this in my size? (…)Alipo size wanga
How much is this?
Agula bwanji
That’s too expensive.
Akudula zambiri
Would you take _____?
Would you take _____? (…)Mumata kutenga
expensive
Wo gonitsa
cheap
cheap (…)
I can’t afford it.
Akudula zambiri – ndilibe ndarama
I don’t want it.
Sindiri kufuna
You’re cheating me.
Unama. (…)
I’m not interested.
(..) Sindikufuna
OK, I’ll take it.
Chabwino, Ndidza chigula
Can I have a bag?
ndikufina njumbo? (…)
Do you ship (overseas)?
mumatumiza kwinakwache
I need…
ndirikufuna
…toothpaste.
…toothpaste. (…)
…a toothbrush.
…a toothbrush. (…)
…tampons.
…tampons. (…)
…soap.
…soap. (…) sopo
…shampoo.
…shampoo. (…) zochapila ts isi
…pain reliever. (‘e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen’)
mankhwala(then specify ailment)
…cold medicine.
…cold medicine. (…) mankhwala achifuwa
…stomach medicine.
…stomach medicine. (…)mankhwala wa mimba
…a razor.
…a razor. (…)
…an umbrella.
…an umbrella. (…)
…sunblock lotion.
…sunblock lotion. (…)mankhwala wadzuwa
…a postcard.
…a postcard. (…)
…postage stamps.
…postage stamps. (…)
…batteries.
…batteries. (…)
…writing paper.
…writing paper. (…)kalata wolembera
…a pen.
…a pen. (…)
…English-language books.
Buku zo nena achizungu
…English-language magazines.
…English-language magazines. (…)
…an English-language newspaper.
…an English-language newspaper. (…)
…an English-English dictionary.
Buku wa mao achizungu

Driving
I want to rent a car.
Ndikufuna rent Galimoto. (…)
Can I get insurance?
Can I get insurance? (…)
stop (on a street sign)
stop (…)
one way
one way (…)
yield
yield (…)
no parking
no parking (…)
speed limit
speed limit (…)
gas (petrol) station
gas station (…)
petrol
petrol (…)
diesel
diesel (…)

Authority
I haven’t done anything wrong.
sindinapange mulandu ulionse. (…)
It was a misunderstanding.
It was a misunderstanding. (…)
Where are you taking me?
muli kundipereka kuti? (…)
Am I under arrest?
kodi mwandi manga? (…)
I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen.
I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen. (…)
I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate.
I need to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate. (…)
I want to talk to a lawyer.
I want to talk to a lawyer. (…)
Can I just pay a fine now?
Can I just pay a fine now? (…)

Useful Words
Katundu
“stuff”, “luggage” or “baggage”