Time & Dates

1. Lero ndi tsiku lanji?

   What day is it today?

   Usage

   Used to check what day of the week it is

   Grammar Note

   "tsiku" is a class 5 noun, so "which" is "lanji"; the phrase "tsiku lanji" appears in the Bible and in teaching materials. Composed from dictionary-verified words with regular grammar.

2. Tsiku limodzi

   One day

   Usage

   Used to state a length of stay or duration

   Grammar Note

   "tsiku" is a class 5 noun, so the numeral is "limodzi".

3. Mwezi umodzi

   One month

   Usage

   Used to state a length of stay or period

   Grammar Note

   "mwezi" is a class 3 noun, so the numeral is "umodzi"; "mwezi" also means the moon.

4. Chaka chimodzi

   One year

   Usage

   Used to state a length of stay or period

   Grammar Note

   "chaka" is a class 7 noun, so the numeral is "chimodzi".

5. Ola limodzi

   One hour

   Usage

   Used to state how long something takes

   Grammar Note

   "ola" is a loan from English "hour", class 5 (plural "maola"), so the numeral is "limodzi". Composed from dictionary-verified words with regular grammar.

6. Maola awiri

   Two hours

   Usage

   Used to state how long something takes

   Grammar Note

   "maola" is the plural of "ola" (class 6), so the numeral is "awiri". Composed from dictionary-verified words with regular grammar.

7. Mphindi makumi atatu

   Thirty minutes

   Usage

   Used to state a duration of half an hour

   Grammar Note

   "makumi atatu" is "thirty" and follows "mphindi" (moment / minute).

8. Lolemba

   Monday

   Usage

   Monday; with the prefix "pa-" it means "on Monday" (palolemba)

   Grammar Note

   "Lolemba" is the noun for Monday.

9. Lachiwiri

   Tuesday

   Usage

   Tuesday; the name is built on "second" (-chiwiri)

   Grammar Note

   "Lachiwiri" is la- (of) + chiwiri (second), the second day.

10. Lachitatu

    Wednesday

    Usage

    Wednesday; the name is built on "third" (-chitatu)

    Grammar Note

    "Lachitatu" is la- (of) + chitatu (third).

11. Lachinayi

    Thursday

    Usage

    Thursday; the name is built on "fourth" (-chinayi)

    Grammar Note

    "Lachinayi" is la- (of) + chinayi (fourth).

12. Lachisanu

    Friday

    Usage

    Friday; the name is built on "fifth" (-chisanu)

    Grammar Note

    "Lachisanu" is la- (of) + chisanu (fifth).

13. Loweluka

    Saturday

    Usage

    Saturday; Malawi teaching material writes it with l (dictionaries also list "loweruka")

    Grammar Note

    "Loweluka" is Saturday; the spelling varies between sources. Composed from dictionary-verified words with regular grammar.

14. Lamulungu

    Sunday

    Usage

    Sunday; "Sabata" is also used for the Sabbath or a week

    Grammar Note

    "Lamulungu" is the noun for Sunday.

15. M'mawa

    Morning

    Usage

    Used to point to the morning; do not confuse with "mawa" (tomorrow)

    Grammar Note

    "m'mawa" is written with an apostrophe.

16. Masana

    Noon / Afternoon

    Usage

    Used to point to midday or the daytime hours

    Grammar Note

    "masana" is the noun for the daytime hours.

17. Madzulo

    Evening

    Usage

    Used to point to the evening and dusk

    Grammar Note

    "madzulo" is a noun naming this part of the day.

18. Usiku

    Night

    Usage

    Used to point to the night; it also appears in the greeting "Usiku unali bwanji?" (How was the night?)

    Grammar Note

    "usiku" is the noun for night.

19. Tsiku lililonse

    Every day

    Usage

    Used to say something happens every day

    Grammar Note

    "-lonse" means "all/every" and agrees with the class 5 noun "tsiku" as "lililonse".

20. Kuyambira Lolemba mpaka Lachisanu.

    From Monday to Friday.

    Usage

    Used to state a range of days such as opening or service days

    Grammar Note

    "kuyambira" (from the root "begin") means "starting from" and "mpaka" means "until". Composed from dictionary-verified words with regular grammar.

Browse all TravelPhrases languages