Learn Chichewa Online

travel photo of Lake Malawi to inspire language study — Lake Malawi by Paul Venter, Public Domain

ALPHABET MATCHING GAME VOCABULARY FLASHCARDS

Why learn Chichewa?

Knowing Chichewa opens the door to art, music, dance, fashion, cuisine, film, philosophy, and science Your marketable skills in the global economy are improved when you master Chichewa. Analytical skills improve when you study Chichewa. The study of Chichewa teaches and encourages respect for other people.

How Long Does it Take to Learn Chichewa?

*** NOTES *** Chichewa, also known as Chewa, is an official language of Malawi and is spoken in Zambia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. The language used to be called Chinyanja - as it still is in Zambia - but in Malawi it officially became Chichewa in 1974, at which time the President of Malawi was from the Chewa tribe. Chichewa is part of the Bantu language family which spreads across most of sub-Saharan Africa, so it is related to languages as far-reaching as Zulu, Kirundi and Tswana.

Chichewa Alphabet & Pronunciation

A a
(a)

B b
(bi)

C c
(ci)

D d
(di)

E e
(e)

F f
(efi)

G g
(gi)

H h
(hechi)

I i
(i)

J j
(ji)

K k
(ke)

L l
(li)

M m
(emi)

N n
(eni)

O o
(o)

P p
(pi)

R r
(eri)

S s
(esi)

T t
(ti)

U u
(u)

V v
(vi)

W w
(we)

Ŵ ŵ
(ŵi)

Z z
(zi)

Basic Phrases in Chichewa

Hello	Moni
Goodbye	Bayi
Yes	Inde
No	Ayi
Excuse me	Pepani
Please	Chonde
Thank you	Zikomo
You are welcome	Mwalandilidwa
Do you speak english	Mumalankhula Chingerezi?
Do you understand	Kodi mukumvetsetsa?
I understand	Ndikumvetsa
I do not understand	Sindikumve
How are you	Muli bwanji?
Fine thanks
What is your name	Dzina lanu ndi ndani?
My name is	Dzina langa ndi
Pleased to meet you	Ndakondwa kukumana nanu

Chichewa Grammar

Chichewa Nouns

Man
Woman
Boy
Girl	Mtsikana
Cat
Dog
Fish
Water
Milk
Egg
House
Flower
Tree
Shirt
Pants

Chichewa Adjectives

Colors in Chichewa

Black	Zakuda
White	Zoyera
Red	Ofiira
Orange	Lalanje
Yellow	Chikasu
Green	Wobiriwira
Blue	Buluu
Purple	Wofiirira
Pink	Pinki
Gray	Imvi
Brown	Zofiirira

Numbers in Chichewa

Zero	Zero
One	M'modzi
Two	Awiri
Three	Zitatu
Four	Zinayi
Five	Asanu
Six	Asanu ndi limodzi
Seven	Zisanu ndi ziwiri
Eight	Zisanu ndi zitatu
Nine	Naini
Ten	Kukhala
Eleven	Eleveni
Twelve	Khumi ndi awiri
Twenty	Makumi awiri
Thirty	Makumi atatu
Forty	Makumi anayi
Fifty	Makumi asanu
Sixty	Epulo
Seventy	Makumi asanu ndi awiri
Eighty	Makumi asanu ndi atatu
Ninety	Makumi asanu ndi anayi
Hundred	Zana
Thousand	Zikwi

Chichewa Verbs

To be	Kukhala
To have	Kukhala
To want	Kufuna
To need	Kusowa
To help	Kuthandiza
To go	Kupita
To come	Kubwera
To eat	Kudya
To drink	Kumwa
To speak	Kuyankhula

Building Simple Sentences

More Complex Chichewa Sentences

And	Ndi
Or	Kapena
But	Koma
Because	Chifukwa
With	Ndi
Also	Komanso
However	Komabe
Neither	Ngakhalenso
Nor	Ngakhale
If	Ngati
Then	Ndiye

Useful Chichewa Vocabulary

Chichewa Questions

Who	Amene
What	Chani
When	Liti
Where	Pati
Why	Bwanji
How	Bwanji
How many	Angati
How much	Zingati

Days of the Week in Chichewa

Monday	Lolemba
Tuesday	Tsiku lamasana
Wednesday	Lachitatu
Thursday	Lachinayi
Friday	Lachisanu
Saturday	Satana
Sunday	Lamlungu
Yesterday	Dzulo
Today	Lero
Tomorrow	Mawa

Months in Chichewa

January	Januware
February	Zoperewera
March	Marichi
April	Epulo
May	Meyi
June	Juni
July	Julayi
August	Ogasiti
September	Seputembala
October	Okutobala
November	Novembala
December	Disembala

Seasons in Chichewa

Winter	Nthawi yachisanu
Spring	Kasupe
Summer	Chilimwe
Autumn	M'dzinja

Telling Time in Chichewa

What time is it	Nthawi ili bwanji?
Hours	Maola
Minutes	Mphindi
Seconds	Masekondi
O clock	Koloko
Half	Theka
Quarter past	Mphindi zapitazo
Before	Kale
After	Pambuyo