Chicheŵa
Chewa
Bantu
Chichewa (Nyanja) is the national language of Malawi and a major lingua franca in Zambia (where it is called Nyanja) and Mozambique (Tete and Zambezia provinces), with around 12 million speakers. A Bantu N-zone language closely related to Tumbuka, Yao, and Sena. Has 7 vowels with phonemic length, an extensive noun-class system (10+ classes), and a tonal system distinguishing lexical and grammatical meanings. Promoted as the language of national unity by Hastings Banda's post-independence Malawi government. Latin script; rich tradition of mbira music, oral literature, and recent novelistic writing.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Chewa
makumi asanu ndi anayi mphambu zisanu ndi zinayi
makumi asanu ndi anaji mpʰambu zisanu ndi zinaji
Sources
- en.wiktionary Chichewa lemmas with {{ny-IPA}} (mbalame, magazi, fupa, buku, mphaka, galu, khutu, dothi, dzira, diso, moto, nsomba, phazi, dzanja, mutu, mtima, moni, uchi, hatchi, nyumba, zana, ine, mkaka, mwezi, phiri, kamwa, dzina, usiku, mphuno, munthu, mvula, mchere, nyanja, kugona, nyenyezi, mwala, dzuwa, tiyi, zikomo, lilime, dzino, mtengo, madzi, ife, mphepo, iwe); Buku Lopatulika (BLP-2018, bible.com 1068; 1922 Union Nyanja text, old spelling anai/zinai where the row writes the modern anayi/zinayi); Scott & Hetherwick 1929 Dictionary of the Nyanja Language (general reference, not consulted this round)
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Bantu
| Meaning | Chewa | Tumbuka | Sena | Shona | Yao | Ndau | Bemba |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | madzi /madzi/ | maji /madʒi/ | madzi /madzi/ | mvura /mvura/ | mesi /mesi/ | mvura /mvuɾa/ | amenshi /amenʃi/ |
| Fire | moto /moto/ | moto /moto/ | moto /moto/ | moto /moto/ | moto /moto/ | muriro /muɾiɾo/ | umulilo /umulilo/ |
| Sun | dzuwa /dzuwa/ | zuŵa /zuβa/ | dzuwa /dzuwa/ | zuva /zuva/ | lyuwa /ʎuwa/ | zuva /zuva/ | akasuba /akasuba/ |
| Moon | mwezi /mwezi/ | mwezi /mwezi/ | mwedzi /mwedzi/ | mwedzi /mwedzi/ | mwesi /mwesi/ | mwedzi /mwedzi/ | umweshi /umweʃi/ |
| Star | nyenyezi /ɲeɲezi/ | nyenyezi /ɲeɲezi/ | nyenyezi /ɲeɲezi/ | nyeredzi /ɲeredzi/ | ndondwa /ndondwa/ | nyeredzi /ɲeredzi/ | intanda /intanda/ |
| Night | usiku /usiku/ | usiku /usiku/ | usiku /usiku/ | usiku /usiku/ | chilo /tʃilo/ | usiku /usiku/ | ubushiku /ubuʃiku/ |
| Rain | mvula /ˈmvula/ | vula /ˈvula/ | mvura /mvura/ | mvura /mvura/ | ula /ula/ | mvura /mvura/ | imfula /imˈfula/ |
| Snow | chipale chofewa /tʃipale tʃofewa/ | chiwuvi /tʃiwuvi/ | neve /neve/ | sinoo /sinoː/ | — | chando /tʃando/ | ubunga bwa mfula /ubuŋɡa bwa mfula/ |
| Wind | mphepo /ˈmpʰepo/ | mphepo /ˈmpʰepo/ | mphepo /mpʰepo/ | mhepo /ˈmʱepo/ | mbungo /mbuŋɡo/ | mhepo /mʰepo/ | umwela /umwela/ |
| Earth | dothi /ˈdotʰi/ | dongo /doŋɡo/ | mataka /mataka/ | ivhu /iβu/ | litaka /litaka/ | ivhu /iβu/ | umushili /umuʃili/ |
| Stone | mwala /ˈmwala/ | libwe /liˈɓwe/ | mwala /mwala/ | ibwe /iˈɓwe/ | liganga /liɡaŋɡa/ | buwe /buwe/ | ibwe /iˈbwe/ |
| Mountain | phiri /ˈpʰiɾi/ | phiri /pʰiɾi/ | phiri /pʰiri/ | gomo /ˈɡomo/ | litumbi /litumbi/ | mutunhu /mutunʰu/ | ulupili /ulupili/ |
| Sea | nyanja /ɲandʒa/ | nyanja /ɲandʒa/ | bara /bara/ | gungwa /ɡuŋɡwa/ | bahali /bahali/ | ruandhle /ruandɮe/ | bemba /bemba/ |
| Mother | amayi /amaji/ | amama /amama/ | mai /mai/ | amai /amai/ | amao /amao/ | amai /amai/ | bamayo /bamajo/ |
| Father | abambo /abambo/ | adada /adada/ | baba /baba/ | baba /baba/ | atati /atati/ | baba /baba/ | bataata /bataːta/ |
| Daughter | mwana wamkazi /mwana wamkazi/ | mwana msungwana /mwana msuŋɡwana/ | mwana wankazi /mwana wankazi/ | mwanasikana /mwanasikana/ | mwanache jwamkongwe /mwanatʃe dʒwamkoŋɡwe/ | mwanasikana /mwanasikana/ | umwana mwanakashi /umwana mwanakaʃi/ |
| I | ine /ine/ | ine /ine/ | ine /ine/ | ini /ini/ | une /une/ | ini /ini/ | ine /ine/ |
| You | iwe /iwe/ | iwe /iwe/ | iwe /iwe/ | iwe /iwe/ | mmwe /mːwe/ | iwe /iwe/ | iwe /iwe/ |
| We | ife /ife/ | ise /ise/ | ife /ife/ | isu /isu/ | uwe /uwe/ | isusu /isusu/ | ifwe /ifwe/ |
| Name | dzina /dzina/ | zina /zina/ | dzina /dzina/ | zita /zita/ | lina /lina/ | zina /zina/ | ishina /iʃina/ |
| Person | munthu /muntʰu/ | munthu /muntʰu/ | munthu /muntʰu/ | munhu /muˈnʱu/ | mundu /mundu/ | munhu /munʰu/ | umuntu /umuntu/ |
| Head | mutu /mutu/ | mutu /mutu/ | nsolo /nsolo/ | musoro /musoro/ | mtwe /mtwe/ | soro /soro/ | umutwe /umutwe/ |
| Eye | diso /diso/ | jiso /dʒiso/ | diso /diso/ | ziso /ziso/ | liso /liso/ | dziso /dziso/ | ilinso /ilinso/ |
| Ear | khutu /kʰutu/ | khutu /kʰutu/ | khutu /kʰutu/ | nzeve /nzeβe/ | liwiwi /liwiwi/ | nzee /nzee/ | ukutwi /ukutwi/ |
| Nose | mphuno /mˈpʰuno/ | mphuno /mpʰuno/ | mphuno /mpʰuno/ | mhino /mʱino/ | lupula /lupula/ | miro /miro/ | umona /umona/ |
| Mouth | kamwa /ˈkamʷa/ | mlomo /m̩lomo/ | nkanwa /nkanwa/ | muromo /muˈromo/ | kang'wa /kaŋwa/ | muromo /muromo/ | akanwa /akanwa/ |
| Tooth | dzino /dzino/ | jino /dʒino/ | dzino /dzino/ | zino /zino/ | liino /liːno/ | zino /zino/ | ilino /ilino/ |
| Tongue | lilime /lilime/ | lulimi /lulimi/ | lirimi /lirimi/ | rurimi /rurimi/ | lulimi /lulimi/ | rurumi /ɾuɾumi/ | ululimi /ululimi/ |
| Hand | dzanja /dzandʒa/ | woko /woko/ | nkono /nkono/ | ruoko /rwoko/ | nkono /nkono/ | nyara /ɲara/ | ukuboko /ukuboko/ |
| Foot | phazi /ˈpʰazí/ | lundi /lundi/ | mwendo /mwendo/ | tsoka /tsoka/ | lukongolo /lukoŋɡolo/ | tsoka /tsoka/ | ulukasa /ulukasa/ |
| Heart | mtima /mtima/ | mtima /m̩tima/ | ntima /ntima/ | mwoyo /mwojo/ | mtima /mtima/ | mwoyo /mwojo/ | umutima /umutima/ |
| Bone | fupa /fupa/ | chiwangwa /tʃiwaŋɡwa/ | gogodo /ɡoɡodo/ | pfupa /pfupa/ | liupa /liupa/ | godo /ɡodo/ | ifupa /ifupa/ |
| Blood | magazi /maɡazi/ | ndopa /ndopa/ | malopa /malopa/ | ropa /ropa/ | miasi /miasi/ | ngazi /ŋɡazi/ | umulopa /umulopa/ |
| Poop | matuvi /matuvi/ | mavi /mavi/ | matubzwi /matubzwi/ | tsvina /tsvina/ | manyi /maɲi/ | matuzvi /matuzvi/ | amafi /amafi/ |
| Love | chikondi /tʃikondi/ | kutemwa /kutemwa/ | kufuna /kufuna/ | rudo /rudo/ | unonyelo /unoɲelo/ | rudo /ɾudo/ | ukutemwa /ukutemwa/ |
| Tree | mtengo /mteŋɡo/ | khuni /kʰuni/ | muti /muti/ | muti /muti/ | mtela /mtela/ | muti /muti/ | icimuti /itʃimuti/ |
| Dog | galu /ɡalu/ | ncheŵe /ntʃeβe/ | mbwa /mbwa/ | imbwa /imbwa/ | mbwa /mbwa/ | imbwa /imbwa/ | imbwa /imbwa/ |
| Cat | mphaka /mpʰaka/ | chona /tʃona/ | paka /paka/ | katsi /katsi/ | paka /paka/ | kiti /kiti/ | pushi /puʃi/ |
| Fish | nsomba /nsomba/ | somba /somba/ | omba /omba/ | hove /hove/ | somba /soːmba/ | hove /hove/ | isabi /isabi/ |
| Bird | mbalame /mɓaˈlame/ | chiyuni /tʃijuni/ | mbalame /mbalame/ | shiri /ʃiri/ | cijuni /tʃidʒuni/ | shiri /ʃiri/ | icuni /itʃuni/ |
| Butterfly | gulugufe /ɡuluˈɡufe/ | bulawura /bulawuɾa/ | bemberuwa /bemberuwa/ | shaveshave /ʃaveʃave/ | chipuluputwa /tʃipuluputwa/ | berepeswa /beɾepeswa/ | icipelebesha /itʃipelebeːʃa/ |
| Egg | dzira /dzira/ | sumbi /sumbi/ | dzai /dzai/ | zai /zai/ | lindanda /lindanda/ | zanda /zanda/ | ilini /ilini/ |
| Horse | hatchi /hatʃʰi/ | hachi /hatʃi/ | kavalo /kavalo/ | bhiza /biza/ | falasi /falasi/ | hachi /hatʃi/ | kabalwe /kabalwe/ |
| House | nyumba /ɲumba/ | nyumba /ɲumba/ | nyumba /ɲumba/ | imba /imba/ | nyumba /ɲumba/ | mhatso /mʰatso/ | ingʼanda /iŋːanda/ |
| Milk | mkaka /m̩kaka/ | mkaka /m̩kaka/ | nkaka /nkaka/ | mukaka /mukaka/ | maŵele /maβele/ | mukaka /mukaka/ | umukaka /umukaka/ |
| Honey | uchi /utʃi/ | uchi /utʃi/ | uci /utʃi/ | uchi /utʃi/ | uchi /utʃi/ | uchi /utʃi/ | ubuci /ubutʃi/ |
| Salt | mchere /mtʃere/ | mchere /m̩tʃere/ | munyu /muɲu/ | munyu /muɲu/ | njete /ndʒete/ | munyu /muɲu/ | umucele /umutʃele/ |
| Wine | vinyo /viɲo/ | vinyo /viɲo/ | vinyu /viɲu/ | waini /waini/ | divai /divai/ | vhini /vini/ | umwangashi /umwaŋɡaʃi/ |
| Rice | mpunga /mpuŋɡa/ | mpunga /mpuŋɡa/ | mpunga /mpuŋɡa/ | mupunga /mupuŋɡa/ | mpunga /mpuŋɡa/ | mupunga /mupuŋɡa/ | umupunga /umupuŋɡa/ |
| Chocolate | chokoleti /tʃokoleti/ | chokoleti /tʃokoleti/ | xokolati /ʃokolati/ | chokoreti /tʃokoreti/ | — | — | — |
| Iron | chitsulo /tʃiˈtsulo/ | chisulo /tʃiˈsulo/ | utale /utale/ | simbi /ˈsimbi/ | chisyano /tʃisjano/ | simbi /simbi/ | icela /iˈtʃela/ |
| Wheel | gudumu /ɡudumu/ | khwiro /kʰwiro/ | roda /roda/ | vhiri /viri/ | wilo /wilo/ | vhiri /viɾi/ | umupeto /umupeto/ |
| Silk | silika /silika/ | siliki /siliki/ | seda /seda/ | sirika /sirika/ | halili /halili/ | sirika /siɾika/ | shiliki /ʃiliki/ |
| Book | buku /ˈbuku/ | buku /buku/ | bukhu /bukʰu/ | bhuku /ˈɓuku/ | chitabu /tʃitabu/ | tsamba /tsamba/ | icitabo /itʃitabo/ |
| Eat | kudya /kudja/ | kurya /kuɾja/ | kudya /kudja/ | kudya /kudja/ | kulya /kuʎa/ | kudya /kudʒa/ | ukulya /ukulja/ |
| Drink | kumwa /kumwa/ | kumwa /kumwa/ | kumwa /kumwa/ | kunwa /kunwa/ | kumwa /kumwa/ | kumwa /kumwa/ | ukunwa /ukunwa/ |
| Sleep | kugona /kuˈɡona/ | kugona /kuˈɡona/ | kugona /kuɡona/ | kurara /kuˈrara/ | kugona /kuɡona/ | kuata /kuata/ | ukulaala /ukulaːla/ |
| One | chimodzi /tʃimodzi/ | chimoza /tʃimoza/ | posi /posi/ | potsi /potsi/ | mo /mo/ | chimwe /tʃimwe/ | cimo /tʃimo/ |
| Two | awiri /awiri/ | viŵiri /viβiɾi/ | piŵiri /piwiri/ | piri /piri/ | iŵili /iβili/ | piri /piɾi/ | fibili /fibili/ |
| Three | zitatu /zitatu/ | vitatu /vitatu/ | pitatu /pitatu/ | tatu /tatu/ | sitatu /sitatu/ | tatu /tatu/ | fitatu /fitatu/ |
| Four | zinayi /zinaji/ | vinayi /vinaji/ | pinai /pinai/ | ina /ina/ | ncece /ntʃetʃe/ | ina /ina/ | fine /fine/ |
| Five | sanu /sanu/ | vinkhonde /viŋkʰonde/ | xanu /ʃanu/ | shanu /ʃanu/ | nsano /nsano/ | shanu /ʃanu/ | fisano /fisano/ |
| Hundred | zana /zana/ | zana /zana/ | dzana /dzana/ | zana /zana/ | mia /mia/ | zana /zana/ | umwanda /umwanda/ |
| Hello | moni /moni/ | monire /moniɾe/ | mwadzukabwanji /mwadzukabwandʒi/ | mhoro /mʱoro/ | salama /salama/ | mhoroi /mhoɾoji/ | muli shani /muli ʃani/ |
| Thank you | zikomo /zikomo/ | yewo /jewo/ | ndatenda /ndatenda/ | maita /maita/ | — /—/ | ndatenda /ndatenda/ | natotela /natotela/ |
| Good | chabwino /tʃabwino/ | chiweme /tʃiweme/ | nadidi /nadidi/ | chakanaka /tʃakanaka/ | chambone /tʃambone/ | kanaka /kanaka/ | cisuma /tʃisuma/ |
| New | chatsopano /tʃatsopano/ | chiphya /tʃipʰja/ | ipsa /ipsa/ | itsva /itsva/ | jasambano /dʒasambano/ | tsva /tsva/ | cipya /tʃipja/ |
| Red | chofiira /tʃofiːra/ | swesi /swesi/ | funga /funɡa/ | tsvuku /tsvuku/ | cheejewu /tʃeːdʒewu/ | tsvuku /tsvuku/ | kashika /kaʃika/ |
| White | yoyera /joˈjeɾa/ | tuŵa /tuβa/ | cena /tʃena/ | chena /tʃena/ | cheswela /tʃeswela/ | chena /tʃena/ | buuta /buːta/ |
| Black | chakuda /tʃakuda/ | fipa /fipa/ | psipa /psipa/ | tema /tema/ | chepiliu /tʃepiliu/ | svipa /svipa/ | fiita /fiːta/ |
| Green | wobiriwira /wobiriwira/ | biriŵiri /biɾiβiɾi/ | — | girini /ɡirini/ | — | — | katapa /katapa/ |
| Blue | wobiriwira /wobiriwira/ | bululu /bululu/ | — | bhuluu /buluː/ | buluwu /buluwu/ | — | — |
| Computer | kompyuta /kompjuta/ | kompyuta /kompjuta/ | — | kombiyuta /kombijuta/ | kompyuta /kompjuta/ | — | kompyuta /kompjuta/ |
| Tea | tiyi /ˈtiji/ | tiyi /tiji/ | xaya /ʃaja/ | tii /tiː/ | tiyi /tiji/ | — | tii /tiː/ |
| Coffee | kofi /kofi/ | khofi /kʰofi/ | kafe /kafe/ | kofi /kofi/ | kofi /kofi/ | khofi /kʰofi/ | kofi /kofi/ |
| Sugar | shuga /ʃuɡa/ | shuga /ʃuɡa/ | xuka /ʃuka/ | shuga /ʃuɡa/ | sukali /sukali/ | sikiri /sikiɾi/ | shuga /ʃuɡa/ |
| Orange | lalanje /lalandʒe/ | olenji /olendʒi/ | laranja /larandʒa/ | ranjisi /randʒisi/ | mlalanje /mlalandʒe/ | — | — |
| Ninety-nine | makumi asanu ndi anayi mphambu zisanu ndi zinayi /makumi asanu ndi anaji mpʰambu zisanu ndi zinaji/ | makhumi ghankhonde na ghanayi na vinkhonde na vinayi /makʰumi ɣaŋkʰonde na ɣanaji na viŋkʰonde na vinaji/ | makumapfemba na mapfemba /makumapfemba na mapfemba/ | makumi mapfumbamwe nepfumbamwe /makumi mapfumbamwe nepfumbamwe/ | makumi nsano ni ncece kwisa nsano ni ncece /makumi nsano ni ntʃetʃe kwisa nsano ni ntʃetʃe/ | makumi mapfumbamwe nepfumbamwe /makumi mapfumbamwe nepfumbamwe/ | amakumi pabula na pabula /amakumi pabula na pabula/ |
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