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Common Chichewa Phrases

Essential Chichewa (Chichewa) phrases with pronunciation guides.

👋 Greetings & Basics✈️ Travel🍽️ Food & Dining🚨 Emergency💼 Business🔢 Numbers & Time

👋Greetings & Basics

EnglishChichewaPronunciation
HelloMoniMO-ni
Good morningMwauka bwanjimwau-KA bwa-NJI
Good afternoonMwachoma bwanjimwa-CHO-ma bwa-NJI
Good eveningMwadzuka bwanjimwa-DZU-ka bwa-NJI
GoodbyePitani bwinopi-TA-ni BWI-no
PleaseChondeCHON-de
Thank youZikomozi-KO-mo
You're welcomeZikomo kwambirizi-KO-mo kwam-BI-ri
YesIndeIN-de
NoAyiA-yi
SorryPepanipe-PA-ni
Excuse mePepanipe-PA-ni
My name isDzina langa ndiDZI-na LAN-ga ndi
What is your name?Dzina lako ndani?DZI-na LA-ko nda-NI
How are you?Muli bwanji?MU-li bwa-NJI
I'm fineNdili bwinoNDI-li BWI-no
Nice to meet youNdikukondwa kukumana nanundi-ku-KON-dwa
See you laterTionanetio-NA-ne
Do you speak English?Mumakamba Chingerezi?mu-ma-KAM-ba chin-ge-RE-zi
I don't understandSindimvetsasin-dim-VET-sa

✈️Travel

EnglishChichewaPronunciation
Where is the hotel?Hotelo ili kuti?ho-TE-lo I-li KU-ti
How much does this cost?Nchingaki?nchi-NGA-ki
Where is the airport?Lotniska ili kuti?lot-NIS-ka I-li KU-ti
I need a taxiNdikufuna takisindi-ku-FU-na ta-KI-si
Where is the bus stop?Malo oimira basi ali kuti?MA-lo oi-MI-ra BA-si
I am lostNdasokeranda-SO-ke-ra
Help me pleaseNdithandizeni chondendi-than-di-ZE-ni CHON-de
I need a doctorNdikufuna dokotalandi-ku-FU-na do-ko-TA-la
Where is the hospital?Chipatala chili kuti?chi-pa-TA-la CHI-li KU-ti
Call the policeYitanani apolisiyi-ta-NA-ni a-po-LI-si
PassportPasipotipa-si-PO-ti
Train stationSiteshoni ya sitimasi-te-SHO-ni ya SI-ti-ma
LeftKumanzereku-man-ZE-re
RightKumanjaku-MAN-ja
Straight aheadPatsogolopa-tso-GO-lo
EntranceKhomo lolonjezaKHO-mo lo-lon-JE-za
ExitKutulukaku-tu-LU-ka
OpenTsegulatse-GU-la
ClosedTsekaTSE-ka
TicketTikititi-KI-ti

🍽️Food & Dining

EnglishChichewaPronunciation
I am hungryNdili ndi njalaNDI-li ndi NJA-la
I am thirstyNdili ndi ludzuNDI-li ndi LU-dzu
WaterMadziMA-dzi
FoodChakudyacha-KU-dya
RiceMpungamPUN-ga
BreadMkatemKA-te
MeatNyamaNYA-ma
FishNsombanSOM-ba
VegetablesMasambama-SAM-ba
FruitZipatsozi-PAT-so
MenuMenyuME-nyu
The bill pleaseBili chondeBI-li CHON-de
DeliciousChakudya chokomacha-KU-dya cho-KO-ma
RestaurantMalo odyaMA-lo O-dya
BreakfastChakudya cha m'mawacha-KU-dya cha mMA-wa
LunchChakudya cha masanacha-KU-dya cha ma-SA-na
DinnerChakudya cha usikucha-KU-dya cha U-si-ku
CoffeeKhowfiKHOW-fi
TeaTiyiTI-yi
BeerMowaMO-wa

🚨Emergency

EnglishChichewaPronunciation
Help!Thandizani!than-di-ZA-ni
Fire!Moto!MO-to
Stop!Imani!i-MA-ni
Call an ambulanceYitanani ambulansiyi-ta-NA-ni am-bu-LAN-si
I am sickNdikudwalandi-ku-DWA-la
I am injuredNdapwetekanda-pwe-TE-ka
I need medicineNdikufuna mankhwalandi-ku-FU-na man-KHWA-la
EmergencyZachitukukoza-chi-tu-KU-ko
DangerChandamalechan-da-MA-le
PoliceApolisia-po-LI-si
Thief!Mbala!mBA-la
I need helpNdikufuna thandizondi-ku-FU-na than-DI-zo
Lost childMwana wosokeraMWA-na wo-SO-ke-ra
AccidentNgozinGO-zi
Allergic reactionKuchita manthaku-CHI-ta MAN-tha

💼Business

EnglishChichewaPronunciation
MeetingMsonkhanomson-KHA-no
ContractMgwirizanomgwi-ri-ZA-no
PriceMtengomTEN-go
InvoiceInivoyisii-ni-vo-YI-si
PartnershipMgwirizano wa ntchitomgwi-ri-ZA-no wa nTCHI-to
ProfitPhinduPHIN-du
ManagerWoyang'anirawo-yan-GA-ni-ra
OfficeOfesio-FE-si
EmailImeloi-ME-lo
PresentationKuonetsaku-o-NET-sa
BudgetBajethiba-JET-hi
ScheduleNthawi zochitanTHA-wi zo-CHI-ta
ClientKasitomalaka-si-to-MA-la
AgreementChivomerezochi-vo-me-RE-zo

🔢Numbers & Time

EnglishChichewaPronunciation
OneChimodzichi-MO-dzi
TwoIwirii-WI-ri
ThreeItatui-TA-tu
FourInayii-NA-yi
FiveIsanui-SA-nu
SixIsanu ndi chimodzii-SA-nu ndi chi-MO-dzi
SevenIsanu ndi iwirii-SA-nu ndi i-WI-ri
EightIsanu ndi itatui-SA-nu ndi i-TA-tu
NineIsanu ndi inayii-SA-nu ndi i-NA-yi
TenKhumiKHU-mi
TwentyMakumi awirima-KU-mi a-WI-ri
HundredZanaZA-na
ThousandChikwiCHI-kwi
TodayLeroLE-ro
TomorrowMawaMA-wa
YesterdayDzuloDZU-lo
MorningM'mawamMA-wa
EveningMadzuloma-DZU-lo
MondayLolembalo-LEM-ba
FridayLachisanula-chi-SA-nu
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