Useful phrases in Chichewa

A collection of useful phrases in Chichewa, a Bantu language spoken in Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. The language is known as Chewa (chicheŵa) in Malawi, and Nyanja (chinyanja) in Zambia and Mozambique.

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See these phrases in any combination of two languages in the Phrase Finder. If you can provide recordings, corrections or additional translations, please contact me.

Phrase chicheŵa (Chichewa)
Welcome Zikomo
Hello (General greeting) Moni
Moni onse (hello all of you)
Hello (on phone)
How are you? Muli bwanji?
Reply to 'How are you?' Zimkomo, kaya inu?
Ndiri bwino, kaya inu?
Ndiri bwino, kaya anzathu?
Long time no see Papita thawi tisanaonane
What's your name? Dzina lanu ndani?
Dzina lanu ndi yani?
My name is ... Dzina langa ndi ...
Where are you from? Mumachokera kuti?
I'm from ... Ndimachokera ku ...
Pleased to meet you Ndakondwera kukudziwani
Good morning
(Morning greeting)
Mwauka bwanji?
Mwadzuka bwanji?
Ndadzuka bwino (reply)
Good afternoon
(Afternoon greeting)
Mwaswela bwanji?
Ndaswela bwin (reply)
Good evening
(Evening greeting)
Mwachoma bwanji
Ndachoma bwino (reply)
Good night Usiku wabwino
Gonani bwino (sleep well)
Mugone bwino (sleep well)
Goodbye
(Parting phrases)
Ndapita (I'm going)
Yendani Bwino (Go well)
Tsalani bwino (Stay well)
Pitani bwino (Go well)
Tionana (See you later)
Tionana mawa (See you tomorrow)
Good luck! Mafuna abwino
Cheers! Good Health!
(Toasts used when drinking)
Have a nice day Mukhale ndi tsiku labwino
Bon appetit /
Have a nice meal
Bon voyage /
Have a good journey
Yendani bwino
Muyende bwino
Yes Ee
Eya
Inde
No Iyayi
Ayi
Maybe Kapena
I don't know Sindidziwa
I understand Ndamvetsetsa
I don't understand Sindimvetsa
Sindikumvetsa
Sindikunvetsani
Please speak more slowly Chonde lankhulani pangono pangono
Please say that again Chonde mwati bwanji
Please write it down Chonde lembani
Do you speak English? Mumalankhula chizungu?
Mumalankhula chingelesi?
Do you speak Chichewa? Mumalankhula chicheŵa?
Mumalankhula chicheŵa?
Yes, a little
(reply to 'Do you speak ...?')
Eya, pangono
I'm learning Chichewa Ndikuphunzira Chichewa
Speak to me in Chichewa Ndilankhuleni mu Chichewa
How do you say ... in Chichewa? Mumati chiyani ... mu Chichewa?
Excuse me Pepani
How much is this? Ndalama zingati?
Sorry Pepani
Please Chonde
Thank you Zikomo
Zikomo kwambiri
Reply to thank you
Where's the toilet / bathroom? Chimbudzi chili kuti?
This gentleman will pay for everything Mbambo uyu alipila zonse
This lady will pay for everything Mzimayi uyu alipila zonse
Would you like to dance with me? Ungafune kuvina ndi ine?
I miss you Ndakusowa
I love you Ndimakukonda
Ndimakukondani
Ndimakukondanso (I love you too)
Ndimakukondaninso (I love you too)
Get well soon Pezanibwino mwa msanga
Go away! Choka!
Leave me alone! Ndilekeni!
Ndisiyeni!
Help! Mundithandize!
Ndithadizeni
Fire! Moto!
Stop! Ima!
Call the police! Itanani a police!
Christmas greetings Sangalalani pa Khirisimasi
New Year greetings Chaka chatsopano
Easter greetings
Birthday greetings Sangalalani pa tsiku la chibadwi chanu (frm/pl)
Sangalalani pa tsiku la chibadwi chako (inf)
Congratulations! Zikomo!
One language is never enough Chilankhulo chimodzi sichokwanila
My hovercraft is full of eels

Some phrases provided by Yamikani Ken Jnr Chalira

Hear how to pronounce Chichewa:

If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, or if you can provide recordings, please contact me.

Information about Chichewa | Phrases | Numbers | Tower of Babel

Learn Chichewa with uTalk

Links

Other collections of Chichewa phrases
http://malawi.tripod.com/chichewa.html
http://wikitravel.org/en/Nyanja_phrasebook
http://pghpip.org/malawi/chichewa.shtml
http://www.orbusafrica.org/index.php?page=chichewa-pronunciation-guide
https://www.scribd.com/document/112283712/Chichewa-Phrases

Phrases in Bantu languages

Bemba, Chichewa, Chokwe, Duala, Herero, Kikuyu, Kinyarwanda, Lingala, Lozi, Luganda, Ndebele (Northern - South Africa), Ndebele (Northern - Zimbabwe), Ndebele (Southern) Nkore, Northern Sotho, Oshiwambo, Shona, Southern Sotho (seSotho), Swahili, Swati, Tsonga, Tswana, Tumbuka, Umbundu, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu

Phrases in other languages

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