This lesson brings together some phrases you can use in the course of an evening with friends and family in your living room. The topics covered include welcoming a guest into the house, offering a drink, talking about the TV, the weather, furniture and talking about dinner.
Where you can use the English word and can expect to be understood, we have used such words in the translation.
WELCOME
Can I take/hang your jacket? Nkobeke ijaketi?
Can I take/hang your coat? Nkobeke ikoti?
Can I take/put away your umbrella? Mbike umbrella?
Can I take/put away your hat? Nkobeke icisote?
Close the door Isaleni icibi
Open the door Isuleni icibi
Leave it open Sheni ukwaisuka
Leave it closed Sheni ukwaisalwa
It is open Nakwisuka
It is closed Nakwisalwa
Leave it like that Sheni ifyofine
Is it locked? Nakukomwa?
Is it open? Nakwisuka?
Is it closed? Nakwisalwa?
Is this your bag? Chola cenu ici?
How many bags are there? Ifyola fili finga?
I’ll carry your suitcase Nalasenda suitcase
I’ll lift your suitcase Nalapinga suitcase
I’ll take your suitcase upstairs Nalatwala suitcase pamulu
I’ll take your suitcase downstairs Nalatwala suitcase panshi
I’ll take your bag upstairs Nalatwala icola pamulu
I’ll take your bag downstairs Nalatwala icola panshi
Come in Ingileni
Take a seat Ikaleni
Seat with me Twikale pamo
Sit over there Ikaleni palya
DRINKS
What are you drinking/ What are you going to drink? Finshi walanwa? / Finshi mwalanwa?
Have some biscuits Lyeniko utuma bisketi
Would you like a drink?/What would you like to drink? Finshi mwalanwa?
Would you like a cup of tea? /Can I make you a cup of tea? Mupangileko tea?
Sugar? Shuga?
How many sugars? Shuga inga?
Milk? Umukaka?
White?/With milk? Nomukaka?
Yes please Emukwai
No, thanks Awe mukwai
GREETINGS
Say hello to your friend Poshako umunobe (sing.) / Posheniko umunenu (pl.)
Say hello to your uncle Poshako nalume obe (sing.) / Posheniko banalumenwe (pl.)
Say hello to your (paternal) auntie Poshako nokosenge / posheniko banokosengenwe
Say hello to your grandad Poshako shikulu / Posheniko bashikulu
Say hello to your grandma Poshako nokokulu / Posheniko banokokulu
Say hello to your niece Poshako umwipwa / Posheniko umwipwa
Say hello to your cousin Poshako umufyala obe / Posheniko umufyala wenu
BATHROOM
The bathroom is upstairs Bathroom ili pamulu
The bathroom is on the right hand side Bathroom ili ku kulyo(ku right)
The bathroom is on the left hand side Bathroom ili kukuso (ku Left)
You can go in now / You can come in now Kuti mwaingila nomba
Let me just tidy up Lekeni ngwamyemo
TELEVISION
Where is the remote control? Remote control ili kwisa?
I’m looking for the remote control Ndefwaya Remote Control
Here is the remote control Remote Control iyi
I left it in the chair Naciyisha mucipuna
It is in the chair Ili mucipuna
It is on the table Ili pa Table
It is under the cushion Ili junshi ye kushoni
It is on the floor Ili panshi
How is the volume? Volume ili shani?
Can you please turn down the volume? Kuti mwacefyako Volume?
Can you please increase the volume? Kuti mwakushako Volume?
Do you want to increase the volume? Mulefwaya ukukushako Volume?
Do you want to reduce the volume? Mulefwaya ukecefyako Volume?
Do you want to change the channel? Mulefwaya ukucinja Channel?
Change it Cinjeni
Don’t change it Mwicinja
Yes please Emukwai
Can we watch the News? Kuti twatambako News?
Can I watch the News? Kuti natambako News?
I want to watch the News Ndefwaya ukutambako News
I am tired of listening to the same News Nanaka ukutamba News imoine
Have you heard the News? Namumfwako News?
The News has started News yatampa
The News is finished News yapwa
The movie / film is finished Filimu yapwa
The movie is starting Filimu yalatampa
I like this movie(present tense) Naitemwa iyi filimu
I like this program Naitemwa iyi Program
Have you seen this? Namumona ifi ?
Come and see this! Iseni mumone!
You should see this! Mufwile mwamona ifi
Come and marvel at this! Iseni mutambe!
CHAT
This morning Muno lucelo
This afternoon Muno cungulo
This evening Muno bushiku
This day Ilelo
This week Uno mulungu
Now Nomba line
In the past Kale
I’m late Nacelwa
I’m not late Nshicelelwe
We are late Twacelwa
We are not late Tatucelelwe
How was your day (working)? Mwabomba shani?
How was your day (resting)? Mwatusha shani?
My day was ok Ubushiku bwaendafye bwino
I had a tough day Ubushiku bwaciba ubwayafya
I am tired Ninaka
We had a lot of fun Twa angala bwino / Twa angele bwino
Did you go to town? Mwaciya ku tauni?
Did you meet James? Mwacimonana na James?
How was your trip/journey? Mwaenda shani?
Did you drive? Mwacensha motoka?
Did you come by bus? Mwishile na basi?
Did you come by train? Mwishile neshitima?
I drove here Nacensha motoka
I came by bus Njishile na basi
I came by train Njishile neshitima
I flew in / came by plane Njishile nendeke
How long (days) are you staying? Muleikala inshiku shinga?
How many days are you staying? Muleikala inshiku shinga?
How many weeks are you staying? Muleikala imilungu inga?
How many years are you staying? Muleikala imyaka inga?
THE WEATHER
It is hot today Nakukaba lelo
It was hot yesterday Kwalikaba mailo
It will be hot tomorrow Kukakaba mailo
It will be hot next week Kukakaba uyu mulungu uleisa
It was hot last week Kwalikaba uyu mulungu wapwile
It is cold today Nakutalala lelo
It was cold yesterday Kwalitalele mailo
It will be cold tomorrow Kukatalala mailo
It will be cold next week Kukatalala uyu mulungu uleisa
It is raining Ileloka
It was raining Yaleloka
FURNITURE
Sofa Sofa
Chair Icipuna
Stool Akapuna
Table Itebulo
Drawer Drawer
Carpet Kapeti
Mat Mati
Reed mat Ubutanda
Curtain Iketani
Picture frame Picture frame
Magazine Magazine
Book Icitabo
Books Ifitabo
News paper Inyunshi
Clock Inkoloko
Computer Computer
Printer Printer
Cable Intambo
USB port USB port
Speakers Ama Speaker
Stereo Stereo
DINNER
Dinner is ready / has been prepared Icakulya bapekanya
Dinner is ready / I have prepared dinner Icakulya napekanya
Come in / through, please Ingileni mukwai
Bring the drinks Leteni ama Drinks
Bring the tea Leteni Tea
Take the tea in Twaleni Tea
Take the drinks in Twaleni ama Drinks
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what books can I buy so that I should learn fast,was born in Zambia but raised in Malawi so have forgotten my language please help me.
Good job. Natasha sana