CHICHEWA FOR VISITORS
Th
e most important words and the most useful phrases
A little knowledge of the language and how society works goes a very long way in Malawi. This is because Malawians don't expect visitors, tourists or even foreigners living in Malawi to know almost any Chichewa. Therefore people are surprised and delighted when visitors make an attempt. This is true in most countries but it is MUCH MORE TRUE IN MALAWI than in other places. Expectations in Malawi - of what a foreigner can say - are quite low. Using even a little Chichewa brings out those great Malawian characteristics of openness and cheerful friendliness.
Five Basic Words
| English | Chichewa | Malawian speaker | Foreigner using Chichewa | Foreign Child |
| Hello | Moni |
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| Thank you | Zikomo |
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| Sorry | Pepani |
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| Yes | Inde |
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| No | Iyayi |
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Simplest Greetings
| English | Chichewa | Malawian speaker | Foreigner using Chichewa | Foreign Child |
| How are you? | Muli bwanji? |
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| I am fine, and you? | Ndili bwino, kaya inu? |
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Useful Words and Phrases for Visitors
| English | Chichewa | Malawian speaker | Foreigner using Chichewa | Foreign Child |
| I do not understand | Sindikumvetsa |
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| I do not know | Sindikudziwa |
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| I would like | Ndikufuna |
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| I need food | Ndikufuna chak.. |
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| I need food | ...chakudya |
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| water | madzi |
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| to buy | kugula | |
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| When? | Liti? | |
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| Money | Ndalama |
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| How much money? | Ndalama zingati? |
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| Help! | Thandizeni!! |
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Going & Directions
| English | Chichewa | Malawian speaker | Foreigner using Chichewa | Foreign Child |
| Where? | Kuti? |
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| Where is the ‘bathroom’ / toilet? | Chimbudzi chili kuti |
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| Go | Pita |
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| To Go | kupita |
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| I (Prefix) | Ndi- |
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| I am going | Ndikupita |
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| I would like to go | Ndikufuna kupita |
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| Go well (instead of 'goodbye') | Pitani bwino |
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| Stay well (instead of 'goodbye') | Mutsale bwino |
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| To stay | Kukhala |
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| I am staying here | Ndikhala pano |
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| I am staying at the hotel | Ndikukhala kuhotelo |
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| To find | Kupeza |
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| I would like to find | Ndikufuna kupeza |
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| Hospital / clinic | Chipatala |
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| I would like to find the hospital / clinic | Ndikufuna kupeza chipatala |
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A Beginners Course and More
To learn more Chichewa please click on this link to a page to find information on courses, tuition, translation and culture. Or, you could just write to us directly at info[at]esafrican.com and tell us your requirements.
We have a blog post with some observations on the language: 'Some Random Thoughts on Chichewa'. Reading it again after a long time I notice that it has some eccentric and esoteric points.
