Learn Chichewa

RELIGION (CHIPEMBEDZO)

Malawians are religious people. Most them of belongs to atleast a certain religious grouping.

The majority belong to Christian faith (Chikhristu), and Islam (Chisilamu) also command a substantial high percentage. In some areas, traditional religion (Chipembezo cha makolo) is still practiced.
On the other hand, there is a tiny part of the population which has started in recent past to embrace Humanism ideas.

Due to this, Chichewa vocabulary contains a good percentage of words that are spiritual in nature.

VOCABULARY
ENGLISH - CHICHEWA
God - Mulungu
Jesus - Yesu
Christianity - Chikhristu
Christian - Mkhristu
Islam - Chisilamu
Muslim - Msilamu
Prayer - Pemphero
Church - Tchilichi/Mpingo
Mosque - Mzikiti
Pastor - Mbusa
Sheikh - Shehe
Priest - Wansembe
Altar - Guwa
Angel - Mjero (pl. Amjero)
Spirit - Mzimu (pl. Mizimu)
Satan (Devil) - Satana
Evil spirit - Chiwanda (Ziwanda)
Denomination - Mpingo
Song - Nyimbo
Heaven - Kumwamba
Hell - Jahena/Gehena
Sermon - Ulaliki
Sacrifice - Msembe
Offering - Chopereka
Sacred - Kuyera (adj)
Holy - Kuyera (adj)
Fasting - Kusala
Faith - Chikhulupiriro
Life - Moyo
Light - Kuwala
Mdima - Darkness
Repentance - Kulapa
Heart - Mtima (pl. Mitima)
Joy - Chimwemwe
Peace - Ntendere
Bressings - Madalitso

VERBS
to preach - kulalika
to pray - kupemphera
to kneel - kugwada
to bress - kudalitsa
to sing - kuyimba
to believe - kukhulupirira

EXAMPLE IN SENTENCES
God bless Malawi - Mulungu dalitsani Malawi.
Our hearts should not be troubled - Mitima yathu isavutike.
Peace be upon you - Ntendere ukhale ndi inu.
I am a Muslim - Ndine msilamu.
He is a Christian - Iye ndi nkhristu.
They are Catholics - Iwo ndi akatolika.
Which church do you belong to? - Kodi mumapemphera mpingo wanji?
(literally: you pray (kupemphera) at what church)
*Kodi = The question participle at the beginning of questions
*wanji = which
*mpingo = church

FOOD - CHAKUDYA

Locally Malawians have three distinctive meals per day, namely:
Breakfast - Kadzusa
Lunch - Nkhumaliro
Supper - Mgonero

OTHER FOODS - ZAKUDYA ZINA

Porridge - Phala
Eggs - Mazira
Maize - Chimanga
Potato - Mbatata
Fish - Nsomba
Meat - Nyama
Beans - Nyemba
Rice - Mpunga
Chicken - Nkhuku
Tomato - Tomato
Onion - Anyezi
Garlic - Adyo
Pumpkins - Mawungu
Cucumber - Nkhaka
Fruits - Zipatso
Water - Madzi
Tea - Tiyi
Milk - Mkaka
Salt - Mchere
Sugar - Shuga
Beer - Mowa
Drinks - Zakumwa

FOOD VERBS

To eat - Kudya
To drink - Kumwa
To cook - Kuphika
To be enough - Kukhuta
To chew - Kutafuna
To taste - Kulawa
To swallow - Kumeza

SENTENCES

I haven't eaten anything today - Sindinadye kalikonse lero
Do you drink beer? - Kodi iwe umamwa Moya?
I like rice with chicken - Ndimakonda mpunga wa nkhuku.
Iye akumwa madzi - She is drinking water.
Ndimadya phala mmawa uliwonse - I eat porridge every morning.

Vocabulary from examples:
Kalikonse - Anything
Lero - Today
Kodi - An interrogative word at the beginning of every question
Sindinadye - I haven't eaten (The negative for: ndadya - I have eaten)
Ndimakonda - I like (-konda - to like/love)
Iye - He/She
Mmawa - Morning
uliwonse - every

CHICHEWA VERBS

Verbs are words that show an action, occurrence, or state of being.
They create a relationship between the subject and the object, expressing what is happening in a sentence and indicating time through tense.

In Language, every sentence contains a Verb.
it can be an action:

• John plays a drum.
• John amayimba ng'oma.

or it can be a linking verb:

• Mary is intelligent.
• Mary ndi wanzeru.

DID YOU KNOW?
In Language, the ratio of Nouns:Verbs:Adjectives
is estimated to be 14:3:1.
In simple terms it tells that;
if we puts all words found in Chichewa language in equal groups.
14 words in each group will be Nouns
only 3 will be Verbs.
This indicates that, despite their high frequency of use,
verbs are few in number. Making it much easy to master them.
This is an advantage for New Language Learners.

Below is the List of 78 Common Used Verbs in Chichewa.

1. to read - kuwelenga
2. to write - kulemba
3. to go - kupita
4. to come - kubwera
5. to drink - kumwa
6. to eat - kudya
7. to speak - kuyankhula
8. to say - kunena
9. to listen - kumvela
10. to love - kukonda
11. to hate - kuzonda
12. to sell - kugulisa
13. to buy - kugula
14. to cry - kulira
15. to laugh - kuseka
16. to sit - kukhala pansi
17. to watch - kuwonela
18. to want - kufuna
19. to need - kufuna
20. to enter - kulowa
21. to give - kupeleka
22. to call - kuitana
23. to walk - kuyenda
24. to beat - kumenya
25. to open - kusengula
26. to teach - kuphunzisa
27. to receive - kulandira
28. to send - kutumiza
29. to deliver - kupeleka
30. to ask - kufunsa
31. to search - kusaka
32. to look for - kufunafuna
33. to thank - kuthokoza
34. to stop - kuyima/kusiya
35. to play - kusewera.
36. to use - kugwiritsa ntchito
37. to divide - kugawa
38. to feel - kumva
39. to take - kutenga
40. to do/make - kupanga
41. to live - kukhala
42. to finish - kumaliza/kusiriza
43. to wait - kudikira
44. to let - kusiya
45. to meet - kukumana
46. to add - kuphatikiza
47. to die - kufa
48. to kill - kupha
49. to slaughter - kupha
50. to pass - kudusa
51. to wish - kufuna
52. to wear/to put on - kuvala
53. to close - kuseka
54. to push - kukankha
55. to ride - kukwela
56. to bring - kubwelesa
57. to lose - kutaya
58. to kick - kumenya theche
59. to taste - kulawa
60. to draw - kujambula
61. to catch - kugwira
62. to knock - kugogoda
63. to hug - kukhumbatira
64. to kiss - kumpyompyona
65. to miss - kusowa
66. to talk - kuyankhula
67. to regret - kunong'oneza bondo
68. to repair/mend/fix - kukonza
69. to hurt - kupweteka
70. to pay - kulipira
71. to think - kuganiza
72. to gain - kupindura
73. to put/to place - kuyika
74. to save - kusunga
75. to shout - kukuwa
76. to cut - kudula
77. to pray - kupemphera
78. to change - kusintha

DAYS OF THE WEEK - MASIKU A PA SABATA

ENGLISH - CHICHEWA

Monday - Lolemba
Tuesday - Lachiwiri
Wednesday - Lachitatu
Thursday - Lachinayi
Friday - Lachisanu
Saturday - Loweluka
Sunday - Lamulungu

EXAMPLES

Today is Saturday - Lero ndi Loweluka.
Tomorrow will be Sunday - Mmawa lizakhala Lamulungu
Yesterday was Friday - Dzuro linali Lachisanu
Ndimapita ku tchalitchi Lamulungu lirilonse - I go to church every Sunday.
What day is today? - Kodi lero ndi lachingati?/ Kodi lero ndi tsiku lanji?

In Chichewa, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday derived their names from the Chichewa tradition numbers (Previous Post on this Page) of
-wiri (two), -tatu (three), -nayi (four), -sanu (five).

In Literally translation
Lachiwiri means Day two
Lachitatu means Day three
Lachinayi means Day four
Lachisanu means Day five
While the others literally means
Lolemba - Day of writing (kulemba - to write)
Loweruka - Day of retiring/resting (kuweruka - to retire)
Lamulungu - Day of God ( Mulungu - God).

FAMILY

Let's learn the common nouns related to Family.

NOUNS (Mayina)
ENGLISH - CHICHEWA

Family - Banja
Father - Bambo
Mother - Mayi
Parents - Makolo; Parent - Kholo
Grandparents - Agogo
Grandfather - Agogo Aamuna
Grandmother - Agogo Aakazi
Children - Ana ; Child - Mwana
Grandchildren - Zidzukulu; Grandchild - Chidzukulu
Son - Mwana wa mamuna
Daughter - Mwana wa mkazi
Brother - Mchimwene
Sister - Chemwali
Relatives - Achibale/Abale
Uncle - Malume
Aunt - Zakhali
Stepfather - Bambo opeza
Stepmother - Mayi opeza
Stepchild - Mwana opeza
Father-in-law/Mother-in-law - Apongozi
Son-in-law/Daughter-in-law - Mpongozi
Brother-in-law/Sister-in-law - Mlamu
Boyfriend/Girlfriend - Chibwenzi
Person - Munthu
People - Anthu
Twins - Mapasa
Friend - Mzake

INTERROGATIVE WORDS

Who? - Ndani?
Where? - Kuti?
What? - Chiyani?
How many? - Angati?
What time? - Nthawi yanji?
When? - Liti?
How much? - Ndalama zingati?
Why? - Chifukwa chiyani?
How? - Bwanji?
Because - Chifukwa