GREETINGS

Grandma's house = Ing’anda yakwa mama

Grand dad’s house = Ing’anda yakwa shikulu

Hello Grandma = Mwapoleni mama

Hello Grandad = Mwapoleni shikulu

How are you? = Muli shani?

I am fine = Ndifye bwino

We are fine = Tulifye bwino

They are fine = Balifye bwino

How's the family? = Ulupwa luli shani?

My name is (John) = Nine (John)

 

COOKING

What are you doing? = Finshi mulecita?

I’m pounding maize = Ndetwa mataba

What are you cooking? = Finshi muleipika?

What can I cook for you? = Finshi ningamwipikila?

What would you like to eat? = Finshi mulefwayo kulya?

What would you like to drink? = Finshi mwalanwa?

Where is the salt? = Umucele ulikwi?

Where is the sugar? = Shuga ilikwi?

I am looking for … = Ndefwaya …

I am looking for another …(mango) = Ndefwaya …(mango) na imbi

 

Please wash your hands grandma = Sambeni kuminwe, mama

Your bath water is ready (I have prepared your bath) = Amenshi yakowa nimpekanya

a saucepan = Mupika

plate = Mbale

cup = Nkomaki ("Kapu")

glass = ("Gilasi")

Wooden pallet = Mwiko

Cooking oil = Saladi

Safety matches = Macisa

Charcoal = Malasha

Lamp = Lampi

Candle = Nyali

Maize meal = Bunga

Vegetables = Musalu

Meat = Nama

Salt = Mucele

Sugar = "Shuga"

Dish = Mbale yafongomana

Firewood = Nkuni

 

Water gourd = Inongo yamenshi

Gourd containing "Munkoyo" = Inongo ya munkoyo

The fire is burning well = Umulilo wayaka

The fire is ready = Umulilo wapya

I'm thirsty = Ndi necilaka

Cover the pot = Kupikeni pa mupika

 

Put away = Bikeni

Put on the shelf = Bikeni pa lwino

Put on top = Bikeni pamuulu

I am full, thanks = Naikuta, natotela

 

Put in … = Bikeni mu …

Put on … = Bikeni pa …

GENERAL

(Answering when you are called by name) = Mukwai

They want … = Balefwaya …

Is this … = Bushe ici… (singular)/ Bushe ifi … (plural)

Drinking water = Amenshi yakunwa

Bathing water = Amenshi yakusamba

They have gone to … = Bele ku …

the fields = mabala

the bush = mpanga

the market = Cisankano

the river = mumana

the roadside = musebo

the post office = "Poshiti ofishi"

the shops = matuka

Would you like … = Bushe mulefwaya …

I love you very much = Nalimutemwa sana

I missed you a lot = Nalemufuluka

Would you like help with that? = Mulefwaya mwafwilisheko?

Are you ok? = Muli bwino?

What will you cook? = Finshi mwala ipika?

We have come to visit you = Twishile mukumumona

Have a safe trip = Mwende umutende

Be safe = Mwikale umutende

Travel well = Mwende  bwino

You are all grown up  = Namukula

Are you hungry? = Muli nensala?

How is school? = Amasambililo yali shani?

How are your young brothers? = Abaice benu bali shani?

How are your young sisters? = Abaice benu bali shani?

How are your sisters? = Bankashi shenu balishani?

Come and visit us again = Mukese tutandalila nakabili

Come and visit me again = Mukese monako nakabili

We want you to come and visit us soon = tulefwaya mukese tandala nakabili bwangu bwangu

When are you coming to visit me again? = Nililali mukesa monako nakabili?

Welcome back = Mwabweleni

I've missed you = Namufuluka

PRESENTS (GIFTS)

I brought you this (little present) = Namuletelako aka

I brought you some photos = Namuletelako ifikope

You are looking well = Mulemoneka bwino

How was your day?  = Mwatandala shani?

That's nice = Cawama

Let's pray = Tulombe/Natupepe/Tusalike

Can you lead us in prayer? = Lombeni

Where is … = … li kwi?

the toilet? = cimbusu

under the big tree = mwisamba lya cimuti

tree branch = umusambo wakamuti

Over there = Palya

Behind = Kunuma ya …

Underneath = Mwisamba lya …

Between = Pakati ka …

I want to … = Ndefwaya uku …

Learn = Sambilila

Take a photo of you = Ukumukope cikope

Work = Ncito

Do some work = Ukubomba

Clean (verb) = Wamya

Wash (verb) = Samfya

Sweep = Pyanga

Dry (verb) = Anika

Pound/Grind = Twa

Boil (verb) = Ipika

Cook  (verb) = Ipika

I want to sleep now = Ndefwayo kusendama nomba

I'm going to my bedroom = Naya kucipinda catulo

TAKING PHOTOS

Please stand here = Iminineni apa

Please come here = Nabese kuno (Iseni kuno)

Can you all squeeze in together? = Mwiseko capamo bonse

There are some visitors for you = Kwaisa beni

I've had a lot of fun = Nayangala bwino sana

I ate well = Naliila

FAREWELL

We are leaving = Twaya

We are going home = Twaya kung’anda

We are coming back (in the near future) = Twalabwela

We are coming back (in the distant future) = Tukabwela 

 

We will be back to see you = Tukesa mumona

I am ready, let's start off = Ninjipekanya, kuti twaima

Let's go = Natuleya

Bye bye = Shalenipo mukwai

I'm going away = Naya