Culture & Etiquette

1. Odi!

   Hello! (called out at someone's door)

   Usage

   On arriving at a home or office, announce yourself at the door with this, by clapping or by knocking

   Grammar Note

   A call announcing your arrival at the door; the word has no other special meaning.

2. Odini!

   Come in! (the host's reply to Odi)

   Usage

   The polite reply of the host to Odi, inviting you to enter

   Grammar Note

   Odi with the polite plural -ni.

3. Kodi mwabwera kudzacheza nafe?

   Have you come to chat with us?

   Usage

   Visits need no reason; a host often says this to a visitor

   Grammar Note

   ku-dza-cheza = "come and" (dza) + cheza (chat). nafe = na (with) + fe (us).

4. Kumudzi kuli bwanji?

   How are things at the village (back home)?

   Usage

   Greetings are long: you ask in turn about the village, work and family

   Grammar Note

   The locative ku- on kumudzi is matched by kuli in the verb. Composed from dictionary- and source-verified words by regular grammar.

5. Ntchito ikuyenda bwanji?

   How is the work going?

   Usage

   A standard enquiry about someone's work during a long greeting

   Grammar Note

   ntchito is class 9, so the verb takes i-. A sentence from lesson materials.

6. Moni, Bambo!

   Hello, sir! (lit. Father)

   Usage

   Respectful address for any man; bambo literally means "father"

   Grammar Note

   bambo and mayi mean "father" and "mother" but also address any older man or woman. In a handshake, politeness is shown by gripping the right wrist with the left hand.

7. Moni, Mayi!

   Hello, madam! (lit. Mother)

   Usage

   Respectful address for any woman; mayi literally means "mother"

   Grammar Note

   bambo and mayi mean "father" and "mother" but also address any older man or woman.

8. Mzungu!

   White visitor (a call often heard from children)

   Usage

   In rural areas children may shout this at visitors; it is a neutral label, not an insult, and is best met with a smile

   Grammar Note

   The plural is azungu. It is a neutral word and shares its root with chizungu, "English".

9. Nsima timadya ndi dzanja lamanja.

   We eat nsima with the right hand.

   Usage

   Table manners: food is taken with the right hand and the left is avoided

   Grammar Note

   dzanja is class 5, so "right" is lamanja. Lessons explain that food and objects are handled with the right hand. Composed from dictionary- and source-verified words by regular grammar.

10. Timapereka ndi kulandira ndi dzanja lamanja.

    We give and receive with the right hand.

    Usage

    Etiquette for handing things over; using only the left hand can give offence

    Grammar Note

    -pereka (give) and -landira (receive). Composed from dictionary- and source-verified words by regular grammar.

11. Kumbuyo!

    Behind you! (said when passing behind someone)

    Usage

    Said when passing behind someone to show you mean no harm; the person answers Zikomo

    Grammar Note

    ku-mbuyo is the locative word for "behind". Lessons present this call as a courtesy; the lesson print is hard to read, so the spelling follows kumbuyo as attested elsewhere.

12. Ndine mlendo.

    I am a guest (a visitor).

    Usage

    A short way to say you are a visitor

    Grammar Note

    ndine = ndi (be) + ine (I). mlendo is class 1; the plural is alendo.

13. Achewa

    The Chewa (a people of central Malawi and Zambia)

    Usage

    People who speak Chichewa; the singular is Mchewa

    Grammar Note

    a- is the class 2 prefix for people; the singular is Mchewa (class 1 m-).

14. Chichewa

    Chichewa (the Chewa language and customs)

    Usage

    The language used across Malawi; the dictionary also lists "customs of the Chewa people"

    Grammar Note

    chi- is the class 7 prefix for languages and ways of doing things, as in chizungu "English".

15. Nyau

    Nyau (the Chewa masked brotherhood)

    Usage

    Secret society of the Chewa that oversees initiation and performs the masked dance Gule Wamkulu

    Grammar Note

    Used as the society's name. Outsiders should not press for details of its inner workings.

16. Phiri ndi Banda

    The Phiri and Banda clans

    Usage

    The two large Chewa clans: Phiri is linked with kings and aristocracy, Banda with healers and mystics

    Grammar Note

    ndi joins the two nouns as "and". Both are also very common Malawian surnames. Composed from dictionary- and source-verified words by regular grammar.

17. Ng'oma

    Drum

    Usage

    The drum used in ceremonies and dances; ng' is a single nasal sound

    Grammar Note

    ng' spells the velar nasal /ŋ/ and the apostrophe is required (ng'oma).

18. Ng'oma iyi imatanthauza chiyani?

    What does this drum mean?

    Usage

    Asking about the meaning of a drum at a ceremony

    Grammar Note

    ng'oma is class 9, so iyi and the verb prefix i- agree with it. Composed from dictionary- and source-verified words by regular grammar.

19. Anthu akuvina ndi kuimba.

    People are dancing and singing.

    Usage

    Describing a lively gathering or festival

    Grammar Note

    anthu is class 2 plural, so the verb takes a-. Composed from dictionary- and source-verified words by regular grammar.

20. Mfumu

    Chief, king

    Usage

    The word for a traditional chief of a village or area; in the Bible it also means "lord" or "king"

    Grammar Note

    The dictionary glosses mfumu as chief or king; it also lists "dead body" and "funeral", so context decides.

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