Nyanja phrasebook

Pronunciation

Basic Nyanja pronunciation is relatively straightforward, although getting it exactly right will require more study as the language is tonal and has some unusual sounds (for the native English speaker). Stress is usually placed on the second-last syllable. The writing system is logical if a little inconsistently applied in no small part due to dialectal variations.

Vowels All vowels are pronounced "pure" and as in Italian.

a as in father e as in bed or weigh i as in machine o as in vote u as in hoop

Consonants Note that the consonants 'n' and 'm' can form initial clusters as in ndapita ("I'm going") or mpingo ("church").

b like 'b' in "bed" (this English sounding explosive "b" is usually preceded by "m" to make a consonant blend) b like 'b' in the American southern dialect "down by the Bayou" (implosive 'b') c, ch like 'ch' in "chip" (without aspiration) d like 'd' in "dog" (this English sounding explosive 'd' never begins a word) d like 'd' in the American southern dialect "Down by the bayou" or the modern slang, "Dude!" (implosive 'd') di like 'dzi' f like 'ph' in "phone" g like 'g' in "go", like 'j' in "jello" h like 'h' in "help", emphasized in diphthongs j like 'dg' in "edge" k like "sKat" (unaspirated 'k') kh like 'c' in "cat" l like 'l' in "love" m like 'm' in "mother" n like 'n' in "nice" ng like 'ng' in "song" plus a hard 'g' afterward (two sounds) ng' like 'ng' in "song" (one sound) ny like 'ñ' in Spanish mañana p like "sPat" (unaspirated 'p') ph like 'p' in "pig" r pronounced softly like 'l', often interchangeable s like 'ss' in "hiss" si like 'she' in "sheet" t like "sTop" (unaspirated 't') th like 't' in "top" tch like 'ch' in "chip" (normally aspirated) w like 'w' in "wheel" ŵ bilabial fricative (IPA [ɸ], not found in English), best said like a weak 'w' edging towards 'f' z like 'z' in "adze"

Phrase list

For this phrasebook, we use the polite form for all phrases, on the presumption that you'll mostly be talking to people you don't already know. There are significant dialectal variations in the language. Unless otherwise noted, all phrases here use the Malawi (Chichewa) dialect.

Basics Hello. Moni. Sir (or) Mister Abambo Madam Amayi How are you? Muli bwanji? Fine, thank you. (And you?) Ndili bwino.(Kaya inu? [or] Kaya anzathu?) What is your name? Dzina lanu ndani?/Dzina lanu ndi yani? My name is ______ . Dzina langa ndi ______. Please. Chonde. Thank you. Zikomo. (very common - ends most conversations) Yes Ee / Eya / Inde (can also mean "indeed"). Truly (or) Really Ndithu No Iyayi (used strongly) or ayi (more polite) Bad Woipa (person), or choipa (thing) Thanks Zikomo I'm sorry. Pepani "See you later"/We shall meet. Tionana. Goodbye (meaning: I'm going.) Ndapita. Have a safe journey. Yendani bwino / Muyende bwino. Stay well. Tsalani bwino. / Mutsale bwino. I don't speak Nyanja. Sindimalankhula chinyanja. Do you speak English? Mumalankhula chizungu/chingelesi? Is there someone here who speaks English? Alipo munthu pano olankhula chizungu? Help me! Mundithandize! Ndithadizeni Don't be rude (or) cheeky. Osapanga chipongwe. Swear words Mau Otukwana Good morning. Mwauka bwanji? / Mwadzuka bwanji? (greeting) Ndadzuka bwino. (response) Good afternoon. Mwasewela bwanji? (greeting) Ndasewela bwino. (response) Good evening. Mwachoma bwanji. (greeting) Ndachoma bwino. (response) Good night. Usiku wabwino. Sleep well. Gonani bwino. or Mugone bwino. I don't understand Sindimvetsa. or Sindikumvetsa. I know Ndimadziwa. I don't know Sindidziwa. I want Ndikufuna I don't want Sindikufuna I heard Ndamva I didn't hear Sindinamve Where is the toilet? Chimbudzi chili kuti? (Chimbuzi is a big goat :D) Ladies (toilet) Chimbudzi cha Akazi (Gentlemen - never ask for the Kazi..!!) Gents (toilet) Chimbudzi cha Amuna White person Mzungu / Azungu (plural) Indian Mmwenye / Amwenye What? Ati?

Problems Leave me alone. Ndilekeni or Ndisiyeni Don't touch me! Osandigwira Don't swear (or) bad-mouth Osatukwana I'll call the police. Ndiitana apolisi Police! Wapolisi! Stop! Thief! Gwirani! Wakuba