Basic Nouns

1. Madzi

   Water

   Usage

   The basic word for water; "madzi akumwa" is drinking water

   Grammar Note

   "madzi" is a class 6 plural noun with no singular form.

2. Chakudya

   Food

   Usage

   Covers meals and food in general

   Grammar Note

   A class 7 noun; the plural is "zakudya".

3. Ndalama

   Money

   Usage

   Money in general; "ndalama zingati?" asks the amount

   Grammar Note

   A class 10 noun, so possessives and numerals agree with class 10 (zanga, zingati).

4. Mankhwala

   Medicine

   Usage

   Used to ask for medicine at a pharmacy or clinic

   Grammar Note

   A class 6 plural noun.

5. Katundu

   Luggage

   Usage

   Refers to luggage and belongings collectively

   Grammar Note

   "katundu" is a collective noun used for one or many items.

6. Kiyi

   Key

   Usage

   Used for a room key and similar

   Grammar Note

   A loanword from English "key".

7. Tikiti

   Ticket

   Usage

   Used for bus and similar tickets

   Grammar Note

   A loanword from English "ticket".

8. Pasipoti

   Passport

   Usage

   Often asked for at hotels and borders

   Grammar Note

   A loanword from English "passport".

9. Foni

   Phone

   Usage

   Used for mobile and landline phones

   Grammar Note

   A loanword from English "phone"; the plural is "mafoni".

10. Chipatala

    Hospital

    Usage

    Refers to a hospital or clinic

    Grammar Note

    A class 7 noun; the plural is "zipatala".

11. Apolisi

    Police

    Usage

    Used for the police or an officer, in the respectful plural form

    Grammar Note

    A loan from English "police" with the respectful plural prefix a-.

12. Sitolo

    Shop

    Usage

    Refers to a retail shop

    Grammar Note

    A loanword from English "store".

13. Chipinda

    Room

    Usage

    Used for a room in a lodging

    Grammar Note

    A class 7 noun; the plural is "zipinda".

14. Msewu

    Road

    Usage

    Refers to a road or street

    Grammar Note

    A class 3 noun; the plural is "misewu".

15. Banja

    Family

    Usage

    Means family as a whole; "Banja lanu lili bwanji?" asks after someone's family

    Grammar Note

    A class 5 noun; agreeing words take class 5 forms such as "lanu" and "lili".

16. Dzina

    Name

    Usage

    The word for name, as in "Dzina langa ndi ___"

    Grammar Note

    A class 5 noun; the plural is "mayina".

17. Maso

    Eyes

    Usage

    Means eyes; the singular is "diso"

    Grammar Note

    "maso" is the class 6 plural of "diso".

18. Mano

    Teeth

    Usage

    Means teeth; the singular is "dzino"

    Grammar Note

    "mano" is the plural of "dzino".

19. M'mimba

    Stomach / belly

    Usage

    Stomach pain is "Kupweteka m'mimba"

    Grammar Note

    The "m'" is the shortened locative mu- ("in"); "mimba" is belly or womb.

20. Hotelo

    Hotel

    Usage

    Refers to a place to stay

    Grammar Note

    A loanword from English "hotel".

21. Bwalo la ndege

    Airport

    Usage

    Literally "the yard of the aeroplane"

    Grammar Note

    "bwalo" is class 5, so the connector "of" is "la".

22. Msika

    Market

    Usage

    Refers to a market or cluster of stalls

    Grammar Note

    A class 3 noun; "kumsika" means "at or to the market".

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