Nyanja phrasebook

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Nyanja (chinyanja), also known as Chewa (chiche?a) after the largest tribe speaking it, is a Bantu language spoken by over 15 million people in southern Africa. Chewa/Nyanja is an official language and common lingua franca in Malawi and Zambia, and is spoken by some in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and South Africa as well.

The name Nyanja actually means "lake", so chinyanja is the "language of the lake" — referring to the language of the Chewas and other tribes who have adopted their language. In Malawi the official name is Chichewa, while Zambia and Mozambique call it Nyanja.

Pronunciation

Basic Nyanja pronunciation is relatively straightforward, although getting it exactly right will require more study as the language is tonal and has some unusual sounds (for the native English speaker). Stress is usually placed on the second-last syllable. The writing system is logical if a little inconsistently applied, in no small part due to dialectal variation.

Vowels

All vowels are pronounced "pure" and as in Italian.

a: as in "father"
e: like 'e' in "bed"
i: as in "machine"
o: like 'o' in "top"
u: like 'oo' in "hoop"

Consonants

In the common orthography, 's' and 'd' change if placed before the vowel 'i', but this can also be explicitly recorded by adding in a 'z' (eg. mandi or mandzi for "water"). The consonants 'n' and 'm' can also form initial clusters.

b: like 'b' in "bed"
c: like 'c' in "cat" before vowels, but like 'ch' in "chipper" before consonants (including w)
ch: like 'ch' in "chipper"
d: like 'd' in "dog"
di: like 'dzi'
f: like 'ph' in "phone"
g: like 'g' in "go", like 'j' in "jello"
h: like 'h' in "help", emphasized in diphthongs
j: like 'dg' in "edge"
k: like 'c' in "cat"
l: like 'l' in "love"
m: like 'm' in "mother"
n: like 'n' in "nice"
ng: like 'ng' in "song" plus a hard 'g' afterward (two sounds)
ng': like 'ng' in "song" (one sound)
ny: like 'ñ' in Spanish mañana
p: like 'p' in "pig"
r: pronounced softly like 'l', often interchangeable
s: like 'ss' in "hiss"
si: like 'she' in "sheet"
t: like 't' in "top"
w: like 'w' in "wheel"
?: bilabial fricative (IPA ?, not found in English), best said like a weak 'w' edging towards 'f'
z: like 'z' in "adze"
zy: like 's' in "treasure"

Phrase list

For this , we use the polite form for all phrases, on the presumption that you'll mostly be talking to people you don't already know.

Basics

Hello.: Bwanji.
How are you?: Muli bwanji?
Fine, thank you.: Ndili bwino.
What is your name?: Dzina linu ndani?
My name is ______ .: Dzina langa ndine ______ .
Please.: chonde
Thank you.: Zikomo.
Yes: Inde.
No: Iyai.
Excuse me
I'm sorry.: Pephani
Goodbye.: Tiwonana
I don't speak Nyanja.: Sindikudziwa chinyanja.
Do you speak English?: Mukamba chizungu?
Is there someone here who speaks English?
Help!
Good morning.: Mwadzuka bwanji.
Good afternoon.: Mwaswera bwanji.
Good night.: Gonani bwino or Mugone bwino.
I don't understand.: Sindimvera.
Where is the toilet?: Chimbuzi chili kuti?

Problems

Leave me alone.
Don't touch me!: osandi gwila
I'll call the police.: ndi yitana apolisi
Police!: Kapokola!
Stop! Thief!
I need your help.: mundi thandize
It's an emergency.
I'm lost.: ndasochera
I lost my bag.
I lost my wallet.
I'm sick.: ndikudwala
I've been injured.: ndazipweteka
I need a doctor.
Can I use your phone?

Numbers

English numbers are very commonly used even when speaking in Nyanja.

1: one (...)
2: two (...)
3: three (...)
4: four (...)
5: five (...)
6: six (...)
7: seven (...)
8: eight (...)
9: nine (...)
10: ten (...)
11: eleven (...)
12: twelve (...)
13: thirteen (...)
14: fourteen (...)
15: fifteen (...)
16: sixteen (...)
17: seventeen (...)
18: eighteen (...)
19: nineteen (...)
20: twenty (...)
21: twenty one (...)
22: twenty two (...)
23: twenty three (...)
30: thirty (...)
40: forty (...)
50: fifty (...)
60: sixty (...)
70: seventy (...)
80: eighty (...)
90: ninety (...)
100: one hundred (...)
200: two hundred (...)
300: three hundred (...)
1000: one thousand (...)
2000: two thousand (...)
1,000,000: one million (...)
1,000,000,000: one thousand million in UK, one billion in USA
1,000,000,000,000: one billion in UK, one trillion in USA
number _____ (train, bus, etc.): number _____ (...)
half: half (...)
less: less (...)
more: more (...)

Time

now: now (..)
later: later (...)
before: before (...)
morning: morning (mamawa)
afternoon: afternoon (...)
evening: evening (...)
night: night (...)

Clock time

one o'clock AM: one o'clock AM (...)
two o'clock AM: two o'clock AM (...)
noon: noon (...)
one o'clock PM: one o'clock PM (...)
two o'clock PM: two o'clock PM (...)
midnight: midnight (...)

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: today (...)
yesterday: yesterday (...)
tomorrow: tomorrow (...)
this week: this week (...)
last week: last week (...)
next week: next week (...)

Sunday: Sunday (...)
Monday: Monday (...)
Tuesday: Tuesday (...)
Wednesday: Wednesday (...)
Thursday: Thursday (...)
Friday: Friday (...)
Saturday: Saturday (...)

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: black (...)
white: white (...)
gray: gray (...)
red: red (...)
blue: blue (...)
yellow: yellow (...)
green: green (...)
orange: orange (...)
purple: purple (...)
brown: brown (...)

Transportation

Bus and train

How much is a ticket to _____?: How much is a ticket to _____? (...)
One ticket to _____, please.: One ticket to _____, please. (...)
Where does this train/bus go?: Where does this train/bus go? (...)
Where is the train/bus to _____?: Where is the train/bus to _____? (...)
Does this train/bus stop in _____?: Does this train/bus stop in _____? (...)
When does the train/bus for _____ leave?: When does the train/bus for _____ leave? (...)
When will this train/bus arrive in _____?: When will this bus arrive in _____? (...)

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? (...)
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. (...)
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.: Take me to _____, please. (...)
How much does it cost to get to _____?: How much does it cost to

get to _____? (...)

Take me there, please.: Take me there, please. (...)

Lodging

Do you have any rooms available?: Do you have any rooms available? (...)
How much is a room for one person/two people?: How much is a room for one person/two people? (...)
Does the room come with...: Does the room come with... (...)
...bedsheets?: ...bedsheets? (...)
...a bathroom?: ...a bathroom? (...)
...a telephone?: ...a telephone? (...)
...a TV?: ...a TV? (...)
May I see the room first?: May I see the room first? (...)
Do you have anything quieter?: Do you have anything quieter? (...)
...bigger?: ...bigger? (...)
...cleaner?: ...cleaner? (...)
...cheaper?: ...cheaper? (...)
OK, I'll take it.: OK, I'll take it. (...)
I will stay for _____ night(s).: I will stay for _____ night(s). (...)
Can you suggest another hotel?: Can you suggest another hotel? (...)
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.: Please clean my room. (...)
Can you wake me at _____? | Can you wake me at _____? (...)
I want to check out.: I want to check out. (...)

Money

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?: Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars? (...)
Do you accept British pounds?: Do you accept British pounds? (...)
Do you accept cr cards?: Do you accept cr 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?
Can I look in the kitchen?
Is there a house specialty?
Is there a local specialty?
I'm a vegetarian.
I don't eat pork.
I don't eat beef.
Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard)
fixed-price meal
� la carte
breakfast
lunch
tea (meal)
supper
I would like _____.: Ndifuna kukhala ndi _____.
I would like a dish containing _____.
chicken: nkhuku
beef: nyama ya ng'ombe
pork: nyama ya nkumba
fish: nsomba
maize porridge: nsima
eggs: ma egesi
salad
(fresh) vegetables: mbeu zaziwisi
(fresh) fruit: cipatso (one), zipatso (many)
bread: buledi
rice
beans: kaela
May I have a glass of _____?
May I have a cup of _____?
May I have a bottle of _____?
coffee: khofi
tea (drink): teyi
maize drink: maheu
water: mandzi
beer (Western): mowa
beer (maize): masese, ucwala
May I have some _____?
salt
black pepper
butter
Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)
I'm finished.
It was delicious.
Please clear the plates.
The check, please.

Bars

Do you serve alcohol?: Do you serve alcohol? (...)
Is there table service?: Is there table service? (...)
A beer/two beers, please.: A beer/two beers, please. (...)
A glass of red/white wine, please.: A glass of red/white wine, please. (...)
A pint, please.: A pint, please. (...)
A bottle, please.: A bottle, please. (...)
_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please.: _____ and _____, please. (...)
whiskey: whiskey (...)
vodka: vodka (...)
rum: rum (...)
water: water (...)
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?: When is closing time? (...)

Shopping

Do you have this in my size?: Do you have this in my size? (...)
How much is this?: How much is this? (...)
That's too expensive.: That's too expensive. (...)
Would you take _____?: Would you take _____? (...)
expensive: expensive (...)
cheap: cheap (...)
I can't afford it.: I can't afford it. (...)
I don't want it.: I don't want it. (...)
You're cheating me.: You're cheating me. (...)
I'm not interested.: I'm not interested. (..)
OK, I'll take it.: OK, I'll take it. (...)
Can I have a bag?: Can I have a bag? (...)
Do you ship (overseas)?: Do you ship (overseas)? (...)
I need...: I need... (...) ndi kufuna
...toothpaste.: ...toothpaste. (...)
...a toothbrush.: ...a toothbrush. (...)
...tampons.: ...tampons. (...)
...soap.: ...soap. (...) sopo
...shampoo.: ...shampoo. (...) zochapila tsisi
...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen): ...pain reliever. (...)
...cold medicine.: ...cold medicine. (...) makhwala achifuwa
...stomach medicine.: ...stomach medicine. (...)
...a razor.: ...a razor. (...)
...an umbrella.: ...an umbrella. (...)
...sunblock lotion.: ...sunblock lotion. (...)
...a postcard.: ...a postcard. (...)
...postage stamps.: ...postage stamps. (...)
...batteries.: ...batteries. (...)
...writing paper.: ...writing paper. (...)
...a pen.: ...a pen. (...)
...English-language books.: ...English-language books. (...)
...English-language magazines.: ...English-language magazines. (...)
...an English-language newspaper.: ...an English-language newspaper. (...)
...an English-English dictionary.: ...an English-English dictionary. (...)

Driving

I want to rent a car.: I want to rent a car. (...)
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.: I haven't done anything wrong. (...)
It was a misunderstanding.: It was a misunderstanding. (...)
Where are you taking me?: Where are you taking me? (...)
Am I under arrest?: Am I under arrest? (...)
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? (...)

Learning more

Chichewa at UCLA (http://www.humnet.ucla.edu/humnet/aflang/chichewa/chichewa.html)

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