Local Drinks

1. Thobwa

   Thobwa (fermented maize drink, non-alcoholic when fresh)

   Usage

   Milky, grainy drink served to welcome guests and in large quantities at weddings

   Grammar Note

   The name of a drink made from maize and millet or sorghum.

2. Maheu

   Maheu (drink made from maize meal)

   Usage

   Slightly gritty, yoghurt-like drink; sweet bottled versions are sold in shops

   Grammar Note

   A drink name that travel guides list for Malawi; it is also known as a Zambian drink.

3. Tiyi ndi shuga.

   Tea with sugar.

   Usage

   How to ask for sweet tea

   Grammar Note

   ndi means "with". shuga is verified in a lesson book (Zambian Nyanja).

4. Tiyi wopanda shuga.

   Tea without sugar.

   Usage

   When you want no sugar

   Grammar Note

   wopanda means "without", the same pattern as tiyi wopanda mkaka.

5. Ndikufuna tiyi wotentha.

   I would like hot tea.

   Usage

   Tea is an easy order in a tea-growing country

   Grammar Note

   wotentha means "hot". Composed from dictionary-verified words.

6. Ndikufuna chikho cha tiyi.

   I would like a cup of tea.

   Usage

   Asking for one cup of tea

   Grammar Note

   chikho is class 7, so "of" is cha. Composed from dictionary-verified words.

7. Ndikufuna madzi a m'botolo.

   I would like bottled water.

   Usage

   For buying drinking water

   Grammar Note

   madzi takes the class 6 "of", a. m'botolo = m' (in) + botolo (bottle). Composed from verified words.

8. Thobwa ndi chakumwa cha chimanga.

   Thobwa is a drink made of maize.

   Usage

   Explaining what thobwa is

   Grammar Note

   chakumwa is class 7, so "of" is cha. Composed from dictionary-verified words.

9. Ndikufuna kuyesa thobwa.

   I would like to try thobwa.

   Usage

   When you want to try the local drink

   Grammar Note

   -fun- (want) is followed by the infinitive ku-yesa (to try).

10. Kodi muli ndi maheu?

    Do you have maheu?

    Usage

    Asking a shop whether they have the drink

    Grammar Note

    muli ndi = "you (polite plural) have".

11. Maheu ndi chakumwa cha ufa wa chimanga.

    Maheu is a drink made of maize flour.

    Usage

    Explaining what maheu is

    Grammar Note

    ufa is class 14, so "of" is wa. Composed from dictionary-verified words.

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