This page consitsts of a list of some Chichewa words/phrases and their meanings in English. It should be noted that the interpretation is based on their basic meanings. In some contexts the meanings may be different.Chichewa pronunciation guide.
\a\ as a in father
\e\ as e in bed
\i\ as i in hit
\o\ as o in go
\u\ as u in put
--- Compiled by Harry Gombachika
* hello --- moni
* how are you ? --- muli bwanji ?
* I am fine --- ndiri bwino
* Thank you --- zikomo
* I am happy --- ndakondwa/ndili wokondwa/ndasangalala/ndili wosangalala
* I am sick/ill --- ndikudwala
* I have arrived --- ndafika
* I have departed - ndanyamuka
* I am tired - ndatopa
* I love you --- ndimakukonda/ndimakukondani
* I love you too --- ndimakukondanso/ndimakukondaninso
* God --- Mulungu/Chauta/Namalenga
* person --- munthu
* father --- bambo
* mother --- mayi
* child --- mwana
* boy --- mnyamata
* girl --- mtsikana
* garment --- chobvala (shirt, dress etc)
* shorts --- kabudula
* chilundu --- a piece of cloth wrapped round the waist covering from waist down.
* shoe(s) --- nsapato
* house --- nyumba
* aeroplane - ndege
* village --- mudzi
* country --- dziko
* way/ path --- njira
* road --- nseu
* bicycle --- njinga
* car --- galimoto
* plane --- ndenge
* eating - kudya
* food --- chakudya
* water --- madzi
* beer --- mowa
* meat --- nyama
* rice --- mpunga
* corn/maize --- chimanga
* fish --- nsomba
* salt --- mchere
* pepper --- tsabola
* tobacco --- fodya
* smoking - kusuta
* money --- ndalama
* ndalama zingati ? --- how much ? ( asking for a price of a commodity )
* lion --- mkango
* elephant --- njobvu
* zebra --- mbidzi
* buffalo --- njati
* crocodile --- ng'ona
* hippo --- mvuwu/bokho
* hare kalulu
* dog --- galu
* cat --- mphaka/chona/chome
* bird --- mbalame
* chicken --- nkhuku
* snake --- njoka
* frog --- chule
* toad --- finye
* tree --- mtengo
* chair --- mpando
* fence --- mpanda
* hoe handle --- mpini
* sarvior --- mpulumutsi
* knife --- mpeni
* cave --- phanga
* wing --- phiko
* germinate --- phuka
* parcel --- phukusi
* cook (verb) --- phika
* shoulder --- phewa
* run away --- thawa
* buttock --- thako
* a tale --- nthano
* solid rock --- thanthwe
* bed --- kama
* to milk --- kukama
* hoe --- khasu
* ear --- khutu
* pig --- nkhumba
* fire wood --- nkhuni
* to eat --- kudya
* to buy --- kugula
* to want --- kufuna
* to walk --- kuyenda
* to go --- kupita
* to sleep --- kugona
* to write --- kulemba
* to think --- kuganiza
* to steal --- kuba
* to drink --- kumwa
* to sing --- kuyimba
* to dance --- kuvina
* to jump --- kulumpha/kudumpha
* to walk --- kuyenda
* to laugh --- kuseka
* to read--- kuwerenga
* to runkuthamanga
* to lie --- kunama
* to put --- kuika
* to doubt --- kukayika
* to go --- kupita
* to come --- kubwera
* to send --- kutumiza
* to receive --- kulandira
* to hide --- kubisa
* to complain --- kudandaula
Miyambi --- Proverbs
* Chikomekome cha mkuyu, mkati muli nyerere==Appearances often deceives
* Akulu ndi mdambo mozimira moto
* Mutu ukakula sulewa nkhonya
* Lero lomwe lidadetsa nthengu
* Muluzu wa galu ndi umodzi
* Guluwe inalira msampha utaning'a
* Mbuto ya kalulu inakula mtadzaonani
* Ulenji umasimba wako
* Kulasa mtengo mchamuna chomwe
* Phukusi la moyo sasungilana
* Fodya wako ndi uyo ali pamphuno, wam'manja ngwa mphepo
* Ukayendera mzengo usamati asakhwi a fumbula
* Khwangwala wa mantha, anafa ndi ukalamba
* Kwaweni kukudyetsa nthanga, dzungu ukuliwona
* Guwo yobwera samagwira banja
* Chimanga chimalola opanda manu
* Mutu umodzi susenza denga
* Chala chimodzi sichiswa msabwe
* Ulidele nkulinga utayenda naye
* Watchera kumwezi, nkhanga zawona
* Wokaona nyanja anakaona mvuwu
* Awonenji anapha mvuvu ndi phuma
* Wopenga anaona nkhondo
* Chinasala chinalaka fisi
* Phongo ya chiwala siyichepa
* Pagona tode padzinukha
* Timba sachepa ndi mazira ake
* Timba anathyoka mwendo mphando litatha kale
* Papsa tong'ola sudziwa mtima wa moto
* Moto umapita kuli ntchire
* thumba la tambe amasula ndi tambe yemwe
* Mumandiyitana pakalowa njoka, pakalowa mbewa mumakumba nokha
* Mulendo ndi amene akhala ndi kampeni ka kutwa
* Chikondi cha nkhwangwa, chokoma pokwera
* Chiri kwa nzako, nkumati chigwire nyanga
* Ichi chakoma, ichi chakoma, pusi anagwa chagada
* Akule bvumbe wotatha pa tsekera
* Kumpha mbalame ziwiri ndi mwala umodzi
* Khoswe akakhala pa mkhate sapheka
* mbalame ikatera pauta silasika
* Chibale nchipsera sichitha
* Anasi ndi nkhondo
* Kalulu anatuma njobvu
* nyimbo imodzi sachezera gule
* Umanena chatsitsa dzaye, kuti njobvu ithyoke mnyanga
* Pang'ono pang'ono, tsokonombwe anatha mtunda mkudumpha
* Fisi anakana msatsi
* Chidakwa chinakana kulipira ngongole ya thobwa
* Dazi lilibe mankhwala
* Madzi akatayika sawoleka
* Kwanu ndi kwanu, mthengo munalaka njoka
* Tsamba likagwa, manyazi agwira mtengo
* Tsabola wakale sawawa
* Kuno ndi kunja, kuyanja lichero
* Nkhuyu zodya ana, zipota akulu
* Mako ndi mako, usamuone kuchepa mwendo
* Tsoka sasimba
* Tsoka likalimba, umakuwotcha ndi mkute
* Mwana wa nzako ndiwako yemwe, ukachenjera manja, udya naye
* Mamuna nzako mpachulu, nkulinga utakwerapo
* Tsiku limodzi siliwoza mbewa
* Nkhoswe wa pa denga anaulula wa padzala
* Ukakwera pansana wa njobvu, usamati kulibe mame
* Buluzi wa mnyenyo anapanidwa ndi chitseko
* Lunga lunga pobwadwa, chilema chichita kudza
* Chuma ndi mchira wa khoswe, suchedwa kupululuka
* Pati bi, pali minga
Mikuliwiko---Figurative Expressions
* Kanga ndiwamba
* Mbiya ngambe--chidakwa==drunkard
* Chiphadzuwa--ngenge-- beautiful girl/lady
* Konsekonse mpeni wansengwa--mthira kuwiri== showing double standards
* Bowa bwanga-- kukayika== to hastate
* mtentha ndebvu === tea
* Kukhomera ku Dowa-- kusabereka--
This is all at the moment. I hope these words/phrases will be helpful.
Zikomo kwambiri ---- thank you very much