Chewa–English Dictionary

Look up Chewa words and get English translations, with parts of speech and example sentences. Browse the common-word table below or type a Chewa word into the lookup tool.

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Browse common Chewa vocabulary

Word	Part of speech	Translation	Example
ine	pronoun	I	Ine ndili pano tsopano. I am here now.
iwe	pronoun	you	Iwe ndiwe mnzanga. You are my friend.
iye	pronoun	he	Iye ali kusukulu. He is at school.
iye	pronoun	she	Iye ali wokondwa kwambiri. She is very happy.
ife	pronoun	we	Ife tikupita kunyumba. We are going home.
iwo	pronoun	they	Iwo amagwira ntchito tsiku lililonse. They work every day.
chiyani	pronoun	what	Dzina lako ndi chiyani? What is your name?
kuti	adverb	where	Umakhala kuti? Where do you live?
liti	adverb	when	Ubwera liti? When will you come?
ndani	pronoun	who	Munthu ameneyo ndi ndani? Who is that person?
chifukwa chiyani	adverb	why	Chifukwa chiyani uli wachisoni? Why are you sad?
bwanji	adverb	how	Muli bwanji lero? How are you today?
kukhala	verb	to be	Ndikufuna kukhala wamphamvu. I want to be strong.
kukhala ndi	verb	to have	Tili ndi galimoto yatsopano. We have a new car.
kuchita	verb	to do	Iwo amachita ntchitoyo bwino. They do the work well.
kupita	verb	to go	Ndimapita kusukulu. I go to school.
kubwera	verb	to come	Chonde bwera pano tsopano. Please come here now.
kuona	verb	to see	Ndikuona phirilo. I see the mountain.
kudziwa	verb	to know	Ndikudziwa nkhaniyo. I know that story.
kuganiza	verb	to think	Ife timaganiza za moyo. We think about life.
kufuna	verb	to want	Ndikufuna madzi. I want some water.
kusowa	verb	to need	Tikusowa nthawi yambiri. We need more time.
kupanga	verb	to make	Iye amapanga buledi wabwino. She makes good bread.
kutenga	verb	to take	Tenga bukulo kupita kunyumba. Take the book home.
kupereka	verb	to give	Iwo amandipatsa chakudya. They give me food.
kunena	verb	to say	Chonde nenani dzina lanu. Please say your name.
kuuza	verb	to tell	Undiuze choonadi. Tell me the truth.
kufunsa	verb	to ask	Ndikufunsa funso limodzi. I ask one question.
kupeza	verb	to find	Tapeza ndalama. We found the money.
kuyang'ana	verb	to look	Yang'ana kumwamba. Look at the sky.
kugwiritsa ntchito	verb	to use	Ndimagwiritsa ntchito bukuli. I use this book.
kugwira ntchito	verb	to work	Iwo amagwira ntchito mumzinda. They work in the city.
kudya	verb	to eat	Tidzadya mpunga usikuuno. We eat rice tonight.
kumwa	verb	to drink	Imwa tiyi wotentha. Drink the hot tea.
kugona	verb	to sleep	Mwanayo amagona bwino. The child sleeps well.
kuyenda	verb	to walk	Timayenda m'mawa uliwonse. We walk every morning.
kuthamanga	verb	to run	Mnyamatayo amatha kuthamanga mofulumira. The boy can run fast.
kuwerenga	verb	to read	Ndikuwerenga bukuli. I read this book.
kulemba	verb	to write	Iye amalemba tsiku lililonse. She writes every day.
kuyankhula	verb	to speak	Iwo amayankhula Chichewa bwino. They speak Chewa well.
kumvetsera	verb	to listen	Mvetserani mphunzitsi. Listen to the teacher.
kumva	verb	to hear	Ndikumva nyimbo. I hear the music.
kugula	verb	to buy	Timagula zipatso zatsopano. We buy fresh fruit.
kugulitsa	verb	to sell	Iwo amagulitsa nsomba pano. They sell fish here.
kulipira	verb	to pay	Ndikulipira ndalama. I pay the money.
kuthandiza	verb	to help	Chonde thandizani mwanayo. Please help the child.
kukonda	verb	to love	Ndimakonda banja langa. I love my family.
kukhala	verb	to live	Timakhala mumzinda. We live in the city.
kufa	verb	to die	Mitengo yakale imatha kufa. Old trees can die.
kuphunzira	verb	to learn	Ana amaphunzira kusukulu. Children learn at school.
kuphunzitsa	verb	to teach	Iwo amaphunzitsa chilankhulo. They teach the language.
kutsegula	verb	to open	Tsegula chitseko tsopano. Open the door now.
kutseka	verb	to close	Tseka bukulo pang'onopang'ono. Close the book gently.
munthu	noun	person	Munthu ameneyo ndi waubwino. That person is kind.
mwamuna	noun	man	Mwamunayo ndi wamtali. The man is tall.
mkazi	noun	woman	Mkazi akuyimba. The woman is singing.
mwana	noun	child	Mwanayo akugona. The child is sleeping.
mnyamata	noun	boy	Mnyamatayo amathamanga mofulumira. The boy runs fast.
mtsikana	noun	girl	Mtsikanayo amawerenga bwino. The girl reads well.
banja	noun	family	Banja langa ndi lalikulu. My family is big.
amayi	noun	mother	Amayi anga ali pano. My mother is here.
bambo	noun	father	Bambo anga amagwira ntchito molimbika. My father works hard.
mnzake	noun	friend	Iye ndi mnzanga. She is my friend.
nyumba	noun	house	Nyumba yawo ndi yatsopano. Their house is new.
kunyumba	noun	home	Tikupita kunyumba. We are going home.
sukulu	noun	school	Sukulu ili pafupi. The school is nearby.
mzinda	noun	city	Mzinda uwu uli wotanganidwa. This city is busy.
dziko	noun	country	Dziko lathu ndi lokongola. Our country is beautiful.
dziko lapansi	noun	world	Dziko lapansi likusintha. The world is changing.
chipinda	noun	room	Chipindacho ndi chaukhondo. The room is clean.
nthawi	noun	time	Nthawi imapita mofulumira kwambiri. Time goes very fast.
tsiku	noun	day	Lero ndi tsiku labwino. Today is a good day.
usiku	noun	night	Usiku ndi wozizira. The night is cold.
m'mawa	noun	morning	M'mawa ndi wozizira. The morning is cool.
madzulo	noun	evening	Tikumana madzulo ano. We meet this evening.
sabata	noun	week	Ndibwera sabata yamawa. I will come next week.
mwezi	noun	month	Mwezi uno ndi wotanganidwa. This month is busy.
chaka	noun	year	Chaka chino ndi chofunika. This year is important.
lero	adverb	today	Ndikugwira ntchito lero. I am working today.
mawa	adverb	tomorrow	Tidzayenda mawa. We will travel tomorrow.
dzulo	adverb	yesterday	Iye anabwera dzulo m'mawa. She came yesterday morning.
tsopano	adverb	now	Bwera pano tsopano. Come here now.
dzuwa	noun	sun	Dzuwa ndi lotentha. The sun is hot.
mwezi	noun	moon	Mwezi ukuwala. The moon is bright.
nyenyezi	noun	star	Nyenyezi imeneyo ikuwala. That star is bright.
kumwamba	noun	sky	Kumwamba ndi kwabuluu. The sky is blue.
dziko lapansi	noun	earth	Dziko lapansi ndi lozungulira. The earth is round.
moto	noun	fire	Moto ndi wotentha. The fire is hot.
madzi	noun	water	Madzi ndi ofunika kwambiri. Water is very important.
mvula	noun	rain	Mvula ndi yambiri. The rain is heavy.
mphepo	noun	wind	Mphepo ndi yamphamvu. The wind is strong.
mtengo	noun	tree	Mtengowo ndi wamtali. The tree is tall.
duwa	noun	flower	Duwalo ndi lokongola. The flower is beautiful.
phiri	noun	mountain	Phiri limenelo ndi lalitali. That mountain is high.
mtsinje	noun	river	Mtsinjewo ndi waukulu. The river is wide.
nyanja	noun	sea	Nyanja ili kutali. The sea is far.
chakudya	noun	food	Chakudyacho chakonzeka. The food is ready.
buledi	noun	bread	Buledi uwu ndi watsopano. This bread is fresh.
mpunga	noun	rice	Timadya mpunga nthawi zambiri. We eat rice often.
nyama	noun	meat	Nyama ikuphika. The meat is cooking.
nsomba	noun	fish	Nsombayo ndi yokoma. The fish tastes good.
dzira	noun	egg	Ndinadya dzira limodzi. I ate one egg.
mkaka	noun	milk	Mkakawo ndi wofunda. The milk is warm.
chipatso	noun	fruit	Chipatsochi ndi chokoma. This fruit is sweet.
tiyi	noun	tea	Tiyi ndi wotentha. The tea is hot.
khofi	noun	coffee	Ndimamwa khofi tsiku lililonse. I drink coffee daily.
mutu	noun	head	Mutu wanga ukupweteka lero. My head hurts today.
diso	noun	eye	Diso lake ndi lofiira. Her eye is red.
khutu	noun	ear	Khutu langa limamva. My ear can hear.
pakamwa	noun	mouth	Tsegula pakamwa pako kwambiri. Open your mouth wide.
mphuno	noun	nose	Mphuno yanga ndi yozizira. My nose is cold.
dzanja	noun	hand	Samba dzanja lako bwino. Wash your hand well.
phazi	noun	foot	Phazi lake ndi lamphamvu. His foot is strong.
mtima	noun	heart	Mtima wake ndi wamphamvu. Her heart is strong.
dzina	noun	name	Dzina lako ndi lokongola. Your name is beautiful.
buku	noun	book	Bukuli ndi latsopano. This book is new.
mawu	noun	word	Mawu awa ndi ovuta. This word is difficult.
chilankhulo	noun	language	Chilankhulochi ndi chokongola. This language is beautiful.
ndalama	noun	money	Ndikusowa ndalama zambiri. I need more money.
ntchito	noun	work	Ntchito iyi ndi yovuta. This work is hard.
chikondi	noun	love	Chikondi ndi chofunika kwambiri. Love is very important.
nyimbo	noun	music	Nyimbo iyi ndi yokongola. This music is beautiful.
nthano	noun	story	Nthano imeneyo ndi yoona. That story is true.
njira	noun	way	Njira iyi ndi yosavuta. This way is easy.
chinthu	noun	thing	Chinthu chimenecho ndi changa. That thing is mine.
moyo	noun	life	Moyo ndi wokongola. Life is beautiful.
chitseko	noun	door	Chitseko chatseguka. The door is open.
tebulo	noun	table	Tebulolo ndi laukhondo. The table is clean.
mpando	noun	chair	Mpandowo wasweka. The chair is broken.
galimoto	noun	car	Galimotoyo ndi yothamanga. The car is fast.
bwino	adjective	good	Bukuli ndi labwino. This book is good.
oyipa	adjective	bad	Chakudyacho ndi choyipa. The food is bad.
chachikulu	adjective	big	Nyumba yawo ndi yaikulu. Their house is big.
chaching'ono	adjective	small	Chipindacho ndi chaching'ono. The room is small.
chatsopano	adjective	new	Ndili ndi buku latsopano. I have a new book.
chakale	adjective	old	Nyumba imeneyo ndi yakale. That house is old.
lalitali	adjective	long	Msewu ndi wautali. The road is long.
lafupi	adjective	short	Ndodoyo ndi yaifupi. The stick is short.
lalitali	adjective	high	Phirilo ndi lalitali. The mountain is high.
lotsika	adjective	low	Tebulolo ndi lotsika. The table is low.
lotentha	adjective	hot	Tiyi ndi wotentha. The tea is hot.
lozizira	adjective	cold	Madzi ndi ozizira. The water is cold.
wokondwa	adjective	happy	Mwanayo ndi wokondwa. The child is happy.
wachisoni	adjective	sad	Iye ali wachisoni lero. She feels sad today.
wokongola	adjective	beautiful	Duwalo ndi lokongola. The flower is beautiful.
yosavuta	adjective	easy	Ntchito iyi ndi yosavuta. This work is easy.
yovuta	adjective	hard	Funso limenelo ndi lovuta. That question is hard.
yofulumira	adjective	fast	Galimoto imeneyo ndi yofulumira. That car is fast.
yochedwa	adjective	slow	Galimoto yakaleyo imayenda pang'onopang'ono. The old car is slow.
olondola	adjective	right	Yankho lako ndi lolondola. Your answer is right.
olakwika	adjective	wrong	Yankho limenelo ndi lolakwika. That answer is wrong.
chofunika	adjective	important	Bukuli ndi lofunika. This book is important.
zoona	adjective	true	Nkhaniyi ndi yoona. This story is true.
chodzaza	adjective	full	Kapu ndi yodzaza. The cup is full.
chopanda kanthu	adjective	empty	Chipindacho mulibe kanthu. The room is empty.
wamng'ono	adjective	young	Mnyamatayo ndi wamng'ono. The boy is young.
wamphamvu	adjective	strong	Mwamuna ameneyo ndi wamphamvu. That man is strong.
wofooka	adjective	weak	Mwanayo ndi wofooka. The child is weak.
wofiira	adjective	red	Duwalo ndi lofiira. The flower is red.
wabuluu	adjective	blue	Kumwamba ndi kwabuluu. The sky is blue.
wobiriwira	adjective	green	Mtengowo ndi wobiriwira. The tree is green.
wachikasu	adjective	yellow	Duwalo ndi lachikasu. The flower is yellow.
wakuda	adjective	black	Galimotoyo ndi yakuda. The car is black.
woyera	adjective	white	Mkaka ndi woyera. The milk is white.
inde	interjection	yes	Inde, ndamva tsopano. Yes, I understand now.
ayi	interjection	no	Ayi, sindikudziwa. No, I do not know.
osati	adverb	not	Izi sizabwino. This is not good.
ndi	conjunction	and	Tiyi ndi buledi zakonzeka. Tea and bread are ready.
kapena	conjunction	or	Tiyi kapena khofi zili bwino. Tea or coffee is fine.
koma	conjunction	but	Ndatopa, koma ndine wokondwa. I am tired, but happy.
ngati	conjunction	if	Ngati ubwera, tidya. If you come, we eat.
chifukwa	conjunction	because	Ndinakhala chifukwa kunagwa mvula. I stayed because it rained.
ndi	preposition	with	Ndinabwera ndi mnzanga. I came with my friend.
popanda	preposition	without	Iye anachoka popanda ndalama. He left without money.
kwa	preposition	for	Mphatso iyi ndi ya kwa iwe. This gift is for you.
kuchokera ku	preposition	from	Ndalandira kalata kuchokera kunyumba. I got a letter from home.
ku	preposition	to	Tinapita ku sukulu. We went to school.