Basic Nyanja
Greetings
Muli bwanji?
Uli bwanji?
Nili bwino, muli bwanji?
Nili bwino, uli bwanji? Sinili bwino, ndine wodwala
Sinili bwino, nadwala
How are you? (respect / plural)
How are you? (peer / singular)
I am fine, how are you? (respect / plural)
I am fine, how are you? (peer / singular)
I am not fine. I'm sick
I am not fine, I have become sick
Introductions
Ndiwe ndani?
Ndine David
Zina yako ndani?
Zina yanga ndine David/Ndine David
Nanga imwe/ Nanga Iwe?
Nili Bwino, zikomo
Ni ndani uyu?
Ni Jane
Ni ndani uja?
Ni David/Jane
Zina yake ndani?
Zina yake ndani uja?
Ni Gerald/Shakira.
Ucoka kuti?
Nicoka ku Kalundu
Ucokera kuti?
Nicokera ku Longacres
Uyenda kuti?
Niyenda ku Longaacres/Tauni/UNZA.
Ukhala kuti?
Nikhala ku Kalundu
Who are you?
I am David
What's your name?
My name is David
What about you?
I am fine, thanks
Who is this one?
She is Jane
Who is that one?
He is David
What is his name?
What is the name of that one?
He is Gerald/Shakira
Where do you come from?
I come from Kalundu
Where are you coming from?
I am coming from Longacres
Where are you going?
I am going to Longacres/Town/UNZA
Where do you stay/live?
I stay/life in Lusaka/Kalundu
In the morning/ kuseni (00- 12 hours)
Mwauka bwanji?
Wauka bwanji?
Nauka bwino, wauka bwanji?
Tauka bwino, mwauka bwanji?
Uli bwanji?
Muli bwanji?
Nili bwino, uli bwanji?
Nili bwino, mwauka bwanji?
Tili bwino, muli bwanji?
Good morning/how have you woken up? (respect / plural)
Good morning/how have you woken up? (peer / singular)
My morning is fine, how is your morning? (peer / singular)
My morning is fine, how is your morning? (respect / plural)
How are you? (peer / singular)
How are you? (respect / plural)
Am fine, how are you? (peer / singular)
Am fine, how are you? (you alone answering an adult or group)
We are fine, how are you? (a group answering an adult or group)
In the afternoon / M’mazulo or evening /Usiku (13 -23 hours)
Mwacoma bwanji?
Wacoma bwanji?
Nacoma bwino, wacoma bwanji?
Nacoma bwino, mwacoma bwanji?
Chawama
Awe chawama
How is the afternoon? (respect / plural)
How is the afternoon? (peer / child / singular)
My afternoon is fine, how is your afternoon? (peer / singular)
My afternoon is fine, how is your afternoon? (respect / plural)
That's good
Well, that's really good
Greeting someone who spent the day working/ who works
Mwasewenza bwanji?
Wasewenza bwanji?
Nasewenza bwino, mwasewenza bwanji?
Nasewenza bwino, wasewenza bwanji?
Muyende Bwino
Zikomo, muyende bwino
How have you worked? (respect / plural)
How have you worked? (peer / singular)
I have worked well, how you have worked? (respect / plural)
I have worked well, how you have worked? (peer / singular)
Bye
Thank you. Goodbye
Greeting someone who went or who was on a journey/trip
Mwayenda bwanji?
Munayenda bwanji?
Nayenda bwino
Ninayenda bwino
Sininayende bwino
Sininayende bwino
how have you moved/ what is the outcome of the journey/trip?
How did you move/ what was the outcome of the journey?
I have moved well/ I have moved safely/ the journey was successful
I moved well/ I moved safely/ the journey/trip was successful
I have not moved well/ I have not moved safely/ my journey has not been successful
I did not move well/ I did not move safely/ the journey was not successful