Weather & Climate

1. Mvula ikugwa.

   It is raining.

   Usage

   The basic sentence for rain

   Grammar Note

   The root -gwa means "fall"; the sentence appears in the Peace Corps text.

2. Mvula inagwa dzulo.

   It rained yesterday.

   Usage

   Talking about yesterday's weather

   Grammar Note

   "-na-" marks the past; the Peace Corps text has "Mvula inagwa dzulo madzulo".

3. Kodi mvula idzagwa mawa?

   Will it rain tomorrow?

   Usage

   Ask before planning an outing

   Grammar Note

   "-dza-" marks the future; the Bible has "mvula idzagwa". Composed from dictionary-verified words with regular grammar.

4. Mvula yamphamvu ikugwa.

   It is raining heavily.

   Usage

   For heavy rain

   Grammar Note

   "mphamvu" is power; "yamphamvu" means "powerful". Composed from dictionary-verified words with regular grammar.

5. Mphepo ndi yamphamvu.

   The wind is strong.

   Usage

   For a windy day

   Grammar Note

   "mphepo" is class 9; the Bible has "mphepo yamphamvu". Composed from dictionary-verified words with regular grammar.

6. Kuli mitambo.

   It is cloudy.

   Usage

   When the sky is overcast

   Grammar Note

   "mitambo" is the plural of "mtambo" (cloud). Composed from dictionary-verified words with regular grammar.

7. Dzuwa likutentha kwambiri.

   The sun is very hot.

   Usage

   On a hot day

   Grammar Note

   The root -tentha means "be hot"; li- is class 5. Composed from dictionary-verified words with regular grammar.

8. Mvula

   Rain

   Usage

   The word for rain

   Grammar Note

   A class 9 noun, same in the plural.

9. Dzuwa

   Sun

   Usage

   The word for sun

   Grammar Note

   A class 5 noun.

10. Mphepo

    Wind

    Usage

    The word for wind

    Grammar Note

    A class 9 noun.

11. Bingu

    Thunder

    Usage

    The sound of thunder

    Grammar Note

    A class 5 noun.

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