Lilongwe
Lilongwe (capital of Malawi)
Usage
Capital of Malawi, in the central region of the country
Grammar Note
A place name takes the locative ku to mean 'in', 'at' or 'to' (for example ku Dedza).
Blantyre
Blantyre (commercial city in the south)
Usage
Commercial centre of southern Malawi; Carlsberg beers are brewed here
Grammar Note
A place name takes the locative ku to mean 'in', 'at' or 'to' (for example ku Dedza). So ku Blantyre means "in/to Blantyre".
Zomba
Zomba (former capital)
Usage
Former capital of Malawi, in the south; home to a campus of the University of Malawi
Grammar Note
A place name takes the locative ku to mean 'in', 'at' or 'to' (for example ku Dedza).
Mzuzu
Mzuzu (main city of the north)
Usage
Main city of northern Malawi; Mzuzu University is here
Grammar Note
A place name takes the locative ku to mean 'in', 'at' or 'to' (for example ku Dedza).
Mangochi
Mangochi (lakeshore town in southern Malawi)
Usage
Lakeshore town near the southern end of Lake Malawi, with many lake resorts
Grammar Note
A place name takes the locative ku to mean 'in', 'at' or 'to' (for example ku Dedza).
Salima
Salima (lakeshore town in central Malawi)
Usage
Lakeshore town in the central region, a common way to reach the lake from Lilongwe
Grammar Note
A place name takes the locative ku to mean 'in', 'at' or 'to' (for example ku Dedza).
Nkhotakota
Nkhotakota (lakeshore town in central Malawi)
Usage
Lakeshore town on the central shore of Lake Malawi
Grammar Note
A place name takes the locative ku to mean 'in', 'at' or 'to' (for example ku Dedza).
Nkhata Bay
Nkhata Bay (lakeshore town in northern Malawi)
Usage
Port town on the northern lake; signs write it as Nkhata Bay
Grammar Note
A place name takes the locative ku to mean 'in', 'at' or 'to' (for example ku Dedza).
Karonga
Karonga (lakeshore town in northern Malawi)
Usage
Lakeshore town in the far north, known for its rice fields
Grammar Note
A place name takes the locative ku to mean 'in', 'at' or 'to' (for example ku Dedza).
Kasungu
Kasungu (town in central Malawi)
Usage
Town in the central region, near a national park of the same name
Grammar Note
A place name takes the locative ku to mean 'in', 'at' or 'to' (for example ku Dedza).
Dedza
Dedza (town in central Malawi)
Usage
Town in the central region, close to the Mozambique border
Grammar Note
A place name takes the locative ku to mean 'in', 'at' or 'to' (for example ku Dedza).
Ntcheu
Ntcheu (town in central Malawi)
Usage
Town in the central region
Grammar Note
A place name takes the locative ku to mean 'in', 'at' or 'to' (for example ku Dedza).
Mchinji
Mchinji (border town in central Malawi)
Usage
Border town facing Zambia, at the western end of the road from Lilongwe
Grammar Note
A place name takes the locative ku to mean 'in', 'at' or 'to' (for example ku Dedza).
Mulanje
Mulanje (town in southern Malawi)
Usage
Town at the foot of Mulanje Mountain, in tea country
Grammar Note
A place name takes the locative ku to mean 'in', 'at' or 'to' (for example ku Dedza).
Thyolo
Thyolo (town in southern Malawi)
Usage
Town in the south, in the tea-growing highlands
Grammar Note
A place name takes the locative ku to mean 'in', 'at' or 'to' (for example ku Dedza).
Liwonde
Liwonde (town in southern Malawi)
Usage
Town on the Shire River, the gateway to Liwonde National Park
Grammar Note
A place name takes the locative ku to mean 'in', 'at' or 'to' (for example ku Dedza).
Mzimba
Mzimba (town in northern Malawi)
Usage
Town in the northern region
Grammar Note
A place name takes the locative ku to mean 'in', 'at' or 'to' (for example ku Dedza).
Rumphi
Rumphi (town in northern Malawi)
Usage
Town in the north, on the way to the Nyika highlands
Grammar Note
A place name takes the locative ku to mean 'in', 'at' or 'to' (for example ku Dedza).
Nsanje
Nsanje (town in southern Malawi)
Usage
Town at the far southern tip of Malawi
Grammar Note
A place name takes the locative ku to mean 'in', 'at' or 'to' (for example ku Dedza).
Chikwawa
Chikwawa (town in southern Malawi)
Usage
Town in the lower Shire valley, in the south
Grammar Note
A place name takes the locative ku to mean 'in', 'at' or 'to' (for example ku Dedza).
Balaka
Balaka (town in southern Malawi)
Usage
Town in the southern region
Grammar Note
A place name takes the locative ku to mean 'in', 'at' or 'to' (for example ku Dedza).
Machinga
Machinga (town in southern Malawi)
Usage
Town in the southern region
Grammar Note
A place name takes the locative ku to mean 'in', 'at' or 'to' (for example ku Dedza).
Dowa
Dowa (town in central Malawi)
Usage
Town in the central region
Grammar Note
A place name takes the locative ku to mean 'in', 'at' or 'to' (for example ku Dedza).
Ntchisi
Ntchisi (town in central Malawi)
Usage
Town in the central region
Grammar Note
A place name takes the locative ku to mean 'in', 'at' or 'to' (for example ku Dedza).
Chitipa
Chitipa (town in northern Malawi)
Usage
Town in the far north of Malawi
Grammar Note
A place name takes the locative ku to mean 'in', 'at' or 'to' (for example ku Dedza).
Mwanza
Mwanza (border town in southern Malawi)
Usage
Border town facing Mozambique
Grammar Note
A place name takes the locative ku to mean 'in', 'at' or 'to' (for example ku Dedza).
Phalombe
Phalombe (town in southern Malawi)
Usage
Town in the southern region
Grammar Note
A place name takes the locative ku to mean 'in', 'at' or 'to' (for example ku Dedza).
Likoma
Likoma (island in Lake Malawi)
Usage
Island in Lake Malawi, reached by boat
Grammar Note
A place name takes the locative ku to mean 'in', 'at' or 'to' (for example ku Dedza).
Chizumulu
Chizumulu (island in Lake Malawi)
Usage
Small island in Lake Malawi, near Likoma
Grammar Note
A place name takes the locative ku to mean 'in', 'at' or 'to' (for example ku Dedza).
Nyanja ya Malawi
Lake Malawi
Usage
Huge freshwater lake covering about a fifth of the country; the centre of Malawi tourism
Grammar Note
nyanja means a large body of water, especially a lake. "ya" is the class 9 "of", so Nyanja ya Malawi is "the lake of Malawi".
Phiri la Mulanje
Mulanje Mountain
Usage
Mountain massif rising in southern Malawi; a hiking destination
Grammar Note
phiri is a class 5 noun, so "of" is la. Each word is dictionary-verified; the combination is composed by regular grammar.
Mtsinje wa Shire
Shire River
Usage
Largest river of Malawi, flowing south out of Lake Malawi
Grammar Note
mtsinje is a class 3 noun, so "of" is wa.
Cape Maclear
Cape Maclear (lakeshore on Lake Malawi)
Usage
Lakeside resort inside Lake Malawi National Park
Grammar Note
The name is written as on signs and maps. Putting ku before it gives "in/at/to".
Senga Bay
Senga Bay (lakeshore on Lake Malawi)
Usage
Bay and resort area on Lake Malawi, within reach of Lilongwe
Grammar Note
The name is written as on signs and maps. Putting ku before it gives "in/at/to".
Kande Beach
Kande Beach (lakeshore on Lake Malawi)
Usage
Popular beach on the northern lake; signs write it as Kande Beach
Grammar Note
The name is written as on signs and maps. Putting ku before it gives "in/at/to".
Lake Malombe
Usage
Lake on the Shire River south of Lake Malawi
Grammar Note
The name is written as on signs and maps. Putting ku before it gives "in/at/to".
Nyika National Park
Usage
National park on the northern highland plateau
Grammar Note
The name is written as on signs and maps. Putting ku before it gives "in/at/to".
Liwonde National Park
Usage
National park on the Shire River where boat safaris are possible
Grammar Note
The name is written as on signs and maps. Putting ku before it gives "in/at/to".
Kasungu National Park
Usage
National park near Kasungu in the central region
Grammar Note
The name is written as on signs and maps. Putting ku before it gives "in/at/to".
Lengwe National Park
Usage
National park in the southern lowlands
Grammar Note
The name is written as on signs and maps. Putting ku before it gives "in/at/to".
Vwaza Marsh
Usage
Marsh in the north, protected as a wildlife reserve
Grammar Note
The name is written as on signs and maps. Putting ku before it gives "in/at/to".
Dzalanyama Forest
Usage
Forest reserve near Lilongwe
Grammar Note
The name is written as on signs and maps. Putting ku before it gives "in/at/to".
Lake Malawi National Park
Usage
National park covering the lake waters and islands around Cape Maclear
Grammar Note
The name is written as on signs and maps. Putting ku before it gives "in/at/to".
Chongoni Rock Art Area
Usage
Group of rock-art sites in the central hills; a World Heritage Site
Grammar Note
The name is written as on signs and maps. Putting ku before it gives "in/at/to".
Kamuzu International Airport
Kamuzu International Airport (Lilongwe)
Usage
Lilongwe's international airport (LLW); some maps still use the older name
Grammar Note
The name is written as on signs and maps. Putting ku before it gives "in/at/to".
Chileka International Airport
Chileka International Airport (Blantyre)
Usage
Blantyre's international airport (BLZ)
Grammar Note
The name is written as on signs and maps. Putting ku before it gives "in/at/to".
Limbe
Limbe (commercial district of Blantyre)
Usage
Commercial district of Blantyre
Grammar Note
The name is written as on signs and maps. Putting ku before it gives "in/at/to".
Chichiri
Chichiri (district of Blantyre)
Usage
Name of a district of Blantyre
Grammar Note
The name is written as on signs and maps. Putting ku before it gives "in/at/to".
Ndirande
Ndirande (district of Blantyre)
Usage
Large residential district of Blantyre
Grammar Note
The name is written as on signs and maps. Putting ku before it gives "in/at/to".
Malawi
Usage
Country in south-eastern Africa, nicknamed "the Warm Heart of Africa"
Grammar Note
Put ku before a country or place name to mean "in/to" (for example ku Malawi).
Zambia
Usage
Neighbouring country to the west of Malawi
Grammar Note
Put ku before a country or place name to mean "in/to" (for example ku Malawi).
Mozambiki
Mozambique
Usage
Neighbour that wraps around Malawi to the south and east; Mozambiki is the Chichewa spelling
Grammar Note
Put ku before a country or place name to mean "in/to" (for example ku Malawi).
Tanzania
Usage
Neighbouring country to the north of Malawi
Grammar Note
Put ku before a country or place name to mean "in/to" (for example ku Malawi).
Zimbabwe
Usage
Country to the south-west of Malawi, beyond Mozambique
Grammar Note
Put ku before a country or place name to mean "in/to" (for example ku Malawi).
Lusaka
Lusaka (capital of Zambia)
Usage
Capital of Zambia, where Nyanja is widely spoken
Grammar Note
Put ku before a country or place name to mean "in/to" (for example ku Malawi).
Chipata
Chipata (town in eastern Zambia)
Usage
Town in eastern Zambia near the Malawi border
Grammar Note
Put ku before a country or place name to mean "in/to" (for example ku Malawi).
Ndikupita ku Zomba.
I am going to Zomba.
Usage
Basic sentence for saying where you are heading
Grammar Note
ndikupita = ndi (I) + ku (progressive) + -pita (go). ku comes before the destination, so any town name can replace Zomba.
Ndimachokera ku Blantyre.
I come from Blantyre.
Usage
Answer to "Mumachokera kuti?" (where are you from?)
Grammar Note
-chokera means "to come from"; the pattern Ndimachokera ku ... is the one used in Peace Corps lessons.
Ndidzakhala ku Zomba.
I will stay in Zomba.
Usage
Telling where you will stay
Grammar Note
-dzakhala = future -dza- + -khala (stay, live); the sample sentence Ndidzakhala ku Dedza has the same shape.
More Chichewa phrases
- Basic Words
- Basic Nouns
- Basic Verbs
- Adjectives
- Question Words
- Greetings
- Food & Drinks
- Transportation
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- Numbers
- Hotel
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- Time & Dates
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- Body Parts
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- Feelings
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- Indulgences