Chichewa and Chitumbuka

Posted in Overall by Dom on November 22nd, 2006

So the region I live in now speaks Chichewa and I am moving to one that speaks Chitumbuka. That’s why I have a little bit of both. I want to go ahead and give you guys an idea of what it would sound like and what the definition is for words I may just drop in because they are more appropriate.

Vowels:
“a” sounds like lobster
“e” sounds like ehh
“i” sounds like feed
“o” sounds like oh
“u” sounds like moo

Chichewa:
Abambo - Dad, Mister, Old man
Amayi - Femine of above
Achimwene - brother
Achimwali - sister
Tionana - See you later
Zikomo - Thanks, Excuse Me, Your Welcome
Madzi - Water
Kwambiri - Very much

Chitumbuka:
Badada - Dad, Mister, Old man
Bamama - Femine of above
Bakulu - Same sex sibling
Balongosi - Opposite sex sibling
Tionanenge - See you later
Yewo - Thanks, Excuse Me, Your Welcome
Maji - Water
Chomene - Very Much

Same in Both:
Chonde - Please
Boma - City center of a district. Basically the biggest city in the area
Pepani - Sorry
Chifukwa - because
Chimbudzi - Toillet or hole in the ground, also called Chim
Bafa - Shower, or bucket bath

I may try to amend this in the future so if I write something you don’t understand or just have a question let me know.