vocab Flashcards
And then…
Kenaka
When
Pamene
Even though
Ngakhale
to be green
kubiriwira
color
mtundo (mitundo)
yellow
chikasu
to be white
kuyera
sky blue
ngati mtambo
gray
ngati phulusa
spotted
madonthomadontho
lined (fabric)
maziremazire
to be shiny
kunyezimira
to be sweet
kutsekemera
if you want to x, then x
ukuti ufune + inf.,
to be red
kufiira
big, old (true adj)
–kulu (yayikulu)
small, young, meager (true adj)
–ng’ono (zazing’ono)
far, long, tall (true adj)
–tali (chachitali)
near, short (true adj)
–fupi (aafupi)
unripe, uncooked, fresh
–wisi (zaziwisi)
The day before yesterday
Dzana
Day after tomorrow
Mkucha
2 days after tomorrow
Mtondo
Last week
Mulungu watha
Next week
Mulungu wa mawa
fierce, short-tempered (true adj)
–kali (wamkali)
to be rewarded/paid
kulipidwa
to take wages
kutenga malipiro (angati?)
to pay
kulipira
to cry
kulira
anytime
nthawi ilionse
digging tool
mchokotho (michokotho)
future habitual
-dzidza (tense marker)
sister
achemwali
brother
achimwene
Bee
Njuchi
Blindness
Khungu
Crow
Khungubwi
beside
Pambali pa
beside
Pafupi pa
Blood
Mwazi
Blue
Biriwira
Bone
Pfupa
Borrow/lend I’ve borrowed John’s book
Bwereka Ndabwereka bukhu la John
To refuse, deny
kukana
to sing
kuimba
ball
mpira
hymn, song
nyimbo
To lie (tell falsity)
Kunama
to look at, attend
kuonera
to dance
kuvina
suspend, hang
kupachika
to show
kuonetsa
beast
chirombo
lion
mkango
leopard
kambuku
elephant
njobvu
hyena
Fisi
crocodile
Ng’ona
size
Msinkhu
ferocity
Ukali
seed
Mbewa
peanut
Mtedza
bean
Nyemba
flower
Duwa
leaf
Tsamba (Masamba)
to sow
Kufesa
to plant
Kubzala
To germinate
Kumera
To produce, fruit (horticulture)
Kubereka
To Break off
Kuthyola
To change
Kusintha
To be a failure
Kukanika
To be full
Kudzaza
forest, wooded area
Mkhalango
branch
Nthambi
fruit
Chipatso
banana
Ntochi
orange
Malalange
lemon
Mandimu
root
Muzu
to be good, nice (food, weather)
kukoma
to cut
Kutema
to saw, cut slices
Kucheka
wall
Chipupa
roof
Denga
room
Chipinda
nail
Msomali
when (subordinating)
-mene
To cut off/down
kudula (low tone)
to get accustomed
kuzolowera
To make a mistake, be mistaken
kulakwa
To explain
Kufotokoza
to succeed, be right
Kukhoza
to be light
kupepuka
to be poor, to suffer
Kusauka (2)
to be rich; to be heavy
Kulemera (2)
brain
Bongo
thought (noun)
ganizo
To think
kuganiza
to be sure
Kuganiza pakutero
to dream
Kulota
to accept, agree
Kuvomera
to go mad
Kupenga
to be astonished
Kudabwa
to doubt, hesitate
Kupeneka
face
Nkhope
nose
mfuno
1) skin 2) blindness
Khungu (2)
dirt
Litsiro
ear
Khutu
hair
Tsitsi
beard
ndebvu
cut hair, shave
kumeta
to be deaf
Kugontha
to stink
kununkha
to smell good
kununkhira
neck
(pa) khosi
mouth
(pa) kamwa
lip
Mlomo
tongue
Lilime
tooth
Dzino (pl. Mano)
Blood
Magazi
belly
Mimba
To yawn, open mouth
Kuyasama (2)
To swallow
kumeza
To suckle, nurse
Kuyamwa
to lick
Kuseteka
to chew
Kutafuna
To be drunk
kuledzera
to vomit
Kusanza
to close
Kutseka
to open
Kutsegula
speedily (adv)
Mothamanga
quickly
Mwamsanga
by accident
Mwangozi
for example…
Mwachitsanzo
doubtfully (adv)
Mopeneka
Without a doubt
Posapeneka
to be wet, soaked
Kunyowa
to be wet [from the rain]
Kubvumbwa
rain
Mvula (i-zi), sing and plural
to sprinkle, drizzle
Kuwaza
Sun
dzuwa (li-ma), singular only
sunrise
dzuwa likutuluka (kutuluka)
sunset
dzuma likulowa (kulowa, “enters”)
to hurt
kupweteka
jail
Ndende
To forbid, hinder
Kuletsa
to allow, permit
kulola
to punish
kulanga
to put down a load, relieve
kutula
to sin
kuchimwa
to be reconciled
kuyanjana
to cheat, deceive
kunyenga
thief
Mbala
love
chikondi
hatred
chidani
to apologize
kupepasa
to forgive
Ku-khululukira
to lose
Kutaya
folder
foda (N)
farmer
Limi (Mu-A)
to farm
Kulima
garden
Dimba
to be happy
Kusangalala
God-willing
Ambuye akalola
Morning
M’mawa (mamawa)
Early afternoon
Masana
Late afternoon (until dark)
Madzulo
night
Usiku
to wake up
Kudzuka
to pass the afternoon
Kuswera
Friday
Lachisana
Sunday
Lamulungu
Today is Friday
Lelo ndi Lachisanu
friend
Mnzanga
to drink
Kumwa
to die
Kufa
to be near, close by
Ndi pafupi
To be far from
Ndi patali
What is your name?
Dzina lanu ndani?
year
Chaka
month
Mwezi (mu-mi)
to teach
Kuphunzitsa
to try
Kumayesa
to be patient
Kudekha
to welcome
Kulandira
We welcome you
Takulandirani
living (living children)
– moyo (ana amoyo)
together
(Pa)modzi
to swim
Kusambira
to marry (man)
Kukwatira
to marry (woman)
Kukwatiwa
healthy
– thanzi
Egg
Dzira (Li-Ma)
pot
Poto (Li-Ma)
eye
Diso (Li-Ma)
eyes
Maso (Li-Ma)
eggs
Mazira (Li-Ma)
pots
Mapoto (Li-Ma)
to close
Kutseka
to visit
Kuyendera
to ask
Kufunsa
to be frightened (of)
Kuopa (obj infix)
to say (2 verbs)
Kutero, kufunsa
or
Kapena
to speak
Kulankhula
to grow
Kuphuka
Sun
dzuwa (Li-Ma) (singular only)
years
zaka (chi-zi)
how many?
– ngati
to worship/pray
kupemphera
Are you married? (I am married)
Kodi ndinu okwatiwa? Ndine okwatiwa.
What kind of work do you do?
Mumagwira ntchito yanji?
I work as…
Ndimagwira ntchito ya Udokotala
girl/boyfriend
Chibwenzi
to fall
kugwa
money
Ndalama (i-zi), sing and plural
often
kawirikawiri
rarely
kamodzikamodzi
House-guard
alonda a nyumba
to guard
Kulonda
toilet
Chimbudzi
bag
Chikwama
woman’s wrap
chitenje
finger
chala
bags
zikwama
fingers
zala
toilets
zimbudzi
to be full (bottle, mini-bus, bag)
kudzadza
The bag is full.
Chikwama chidzadza.
after the rain falls…
Mvula ikagwa
mat
mphasa (i-zi)
bridge
ulalo (u-mau)
honey
uchi
bow
uta
smoke
utsi
bridges
maulalo
to be broken
kuduka
to be expensive
kudula (high tone)
to be sweet
Kuzuna
to prune (eg potatoes)
kubudula
to be late
Kuchedwa
suddenly
Mwadzi-dzi-dzi
quickly
Mwachangu
to go (be) fast
kufulumira
speedily (adv)
mofulumira
to run
kuthamanga
soon
posachedwa
quickly
msangamsanga
bicycle
Njinga
motorbike
Njinga ya moto
to drive
Kuyendetsa
to take care of s.o.
Kusamalira
take care – be careful
Salamani
Saturday
Loweluka
priest
Abusa
chair
mpando (mu-mi)
chairs
mipando (mu-mi
tree
mtengo (mu-mi)
trees
mitengo (mu-mi)
knife
mpeni (mu-mi)
knives
mipeni (mu-mi)
boy
mnyamata (mu-a)
boys
anyamata
husband
mwamuna (mu-a)
husbands
amuna (mu-a)
monkey
pusi (mu-a)
monkeys
apusi (mu-a)
to cook
kuphika
if (I don’t know if I can come)
Ngati (sindidziwa ngati ndingabwere)
God can’t lie, can he?!
Mulungu anganame ngati?
chickens
nkhuku (i-zi)
life
Moyo (mu-mi)
to be available, to be around
Kupezeka
fast (adj)
–msanga
papers
pepala
maize flour
ufa
How much does it cost?
Kuli a ndalama zingati?
It cost 50Kw.
Anali a 50 kwacha.
to be born
Kubadwa
birthday
tsiku lakubadwa
In former days, in the past
Masiku akale
vendor, seller
(Munthu) Wamalonda
brick
Njerwa (i-zi)
iron sheet
lata (li-ma)
iron sheets
malata (li-ma)
bananas grown for profit
Ntochi zandalama
money from selling bananas (etc)
Ndalama zanthochi (za…)
animals kept for butchering
Nyama zandiwo
rainy season
Nthawi yamvula
thing
chinthu
things
zinthu (chi-zi)
many things
zinthu zambiri
fat
mafuta
beef tallow
mafuta a ng’ombe
bird
mbalame
head
mutu (mu-a)
fear
mantha
previous, earlier (adj)
– kale
fearful
(munthu) wamantha
church
tchalithci (li-ma)
window
windo (li-ma)
petrol
petulo (Mu-a), singular only
to burn; to run (appliances)
kuyaka
cup
kapu (i-ma)
cups
makapu (i-ma)
game
gemu (i-ma)
games
magemu (i-ma)
radio
wayilesi (i-zi)
school
sukulu (i-zi)
car
galimoto (i-zi)
become/are too many
kuchuluka
stomach
mimba
to read, count
kuwerenga
small hill (diminutive)
kaphiri (ka-ti)
small hills (diminutive)
timapiri
hill
phiri (li-ma)
hills
mapiri (li-ma)
day (as opposed to night)
usana
calendar day (neutral)
tsiku (li-ma)
to trouble, be troublesome
kuvuta
country
dziko (li-ma)
countries
maiko (li-ma)
masiku
days (li-ma)
sales/business (noun, activity)
malonda (li-ma), plural only
oil
mafuta (li-ma), plural only
water
madzi (li-ma) plural only
voice
liwu (li-ma)
words
mawu (li-ma)
place
malo (li-ma), plural only
medicine
mankhwala (li-ma), plural only
family
banja (li-ma)
families
mabanja (li-ma)
hand
dzanja (li-ma)
hands
manja (li-ma)
names
maina (li-ma)
time, season (of)
nthawi ya/za (i-zi), sing and plural
house
nyumba (i-zi), sing and plural
banana
ntochi (i-zi), sing and plural
wind, weather
mphepo (i-zi), sing and plural
work
ntchito (i-zi), sing and plural
meat
nyama (i-zi), sing and plural
nsima (noun class?)
nsima (i-zi)
ndiwo (noun class?)
ndiwo (i-zi)
hunger, famine
njala (i-zi)
way, method, path
njira (i-zi), sing and plural
to kill
kupha
to remove
kuchotsa
the reason why…
Ndi chifukwa
love
chikondi (chi-zi), sing only
door
chitseko (chi-zi)
doors
zitseko (chi-zi)
to run out
kutha
to climb, rise
kukwera
lives
miyoyo (mu-mi)
months
miyezi (mu-mi)
moon
mwezi (mu-mi)
church (alternate)
mpingo (mu-mi)
churches (alternate)
mipingo (mu-mi)
rice
mpunga (mu-mi), sing only
market
msika (mu-mi)
markets
misika (mu-mi)
village
mudzi (mu-mi)
villages
midzi (mu-mi)
field
munda (mu-mi)
fields
mindi (mu-mi)
Mu-mi rhymes with…
U - I (3rdpp sing and pl)
young woman
mtsikana (mu-a)
young women
atsikana
relative
m’bale (mu-a)
relatives
abale (mu-a)
woman
mzimayi (mu-a)
women
azimayi
wife
mkazi (mu-a)
wives
akazi
to hear
kumva
to understand
kumvetsa
to get off, come down
kutsika
to be able (ability)
kutha
to turn (new year), to fulfill
kukwanitsa
everyone
munthu aliyense
in every place
mulimonse
everywhere
paliponse
everything
chilichonse
be strong (character), solid
kulimba
to endure (problems)
kulimba (mavuto)
necessary (for)
–ofunikira (pa)
a kind of/sort of
mtundu wa
dare to, be brave to
kulimba mtima + infinitive
to call, invite
kuitana
to stand
kuima
it’s not easy (to…)
Sizophweka (+ inf)
it is possible
ndi kutheka + inf
along (adv)
mbali mwa
inside of (adv)
mkati mwa
behind (adv)
kumbuyo kwa
in front of (adv)
kutsogolo kwa
to be separated/departed from
kusiyana
to expect
kuyembekeza
expectation
chiyembekezo
death
imfa
mwano
rude
to be ripe, cooked
kupya
to kill
kupha
is it possible?
kodi zitheka?
to end in (misery, death)
kuthera mu (chisoni, imfa)
possibility
zotheka
grandchildren
azukulu
parents
makolo (li-ma)
two weeks ago, …
milungu ya wiri yapita…
to pass away (humans)
kumwalira
ten
khumi
first born
mwana wobadwa woyamba
twenty (thirty)
makhumi a wiri (a tatu)
fourth
wachinayi
to cut
kuduka (soft tone)
to build
kumanga
to be built
kumangidwa ndi…
animals
nyama (i-zi)
urine
mkodzo
to admit/acknowledge
kuvomera
he was told that/to
anauzidwa kuti / inf.
exceedingly (big, etc)
(wamkulu) molapitsa
accurately
molondola
to feed
kudyetsa
grass
udzu
to warn about
kuchenjeza za
to beware of
kuchenjera ndi
clever, judicious, discerning
wochenjera
to return, give back
kubwezera
to distract
kuchenjeneka
to cheat s.o.
kuchenjeretsa
(fall into) temptation
(kugwa m’) yesero
to endeavor, great effort
kuyesetsa
customs, habits
chizoloweri
to be tempted
kuyesedwa
to tempt
kuyesa
to show/demonstrate
kusonyeza
to introduce
kusonyeza
to assemble, congregate
kusonkhana
according to
mongwa mwa…
openly
poyera
to reveal, expose
kutulutsa poyera
to fit, clothes fit him
Kukwana, zi(mu)mwana
to cure
kuchiritsa
medicine/pill to treat (malaria)
muti ochiritsa (malungu)
to compose, draft
kupeka
foolish(ly)
wopusa, mopusa (adv)
depending on (how things go)
malinga ndi m’mene zikuyenda
aim
cholinga
to aim
kulinga
various
-osiyanasiyana
to concern
kukhudza
especially
kwenikweni
behavior
makhalidwe
naked
mwachaje
to seems that/like
kuoneka ngati
as if
ngati kuti
mistake (take) for
kutenga ngati
slave
kapolo (akapolo)
speak directly
kunena mwachindunji
to be lucky
kupeza mwayi
to diagnose
kuyesa nthenda
to be careless
kusaganiza
excellent
mwachikulu
calmly, peacefully
mwabata
in a manly way
mwachimuma
feminine
mwachikazi
