Airport & Customs

1. Chiŵanja cha ndege chili nkhu?

   Where is the airport?

   Usage

   Asks where the airport is

   Grammar Note

   "chiŵanja cha ndege" (field of planes) means airport; chiŵanja is a chi- class noun, so cha and chili agree with it. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

2. Pasipoti yinu, chonde

   Your passport, please

   Usage

   What an officer says at immigration; useful to recognise

   Grammar Note

   "pasipoti" is a loan from English "passport" in the yi- class; the plural is mapasipoti. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

3. Iyi ni pasipoti yane

   This is my passport

   Usage

   Said when handing over your passport

   Grammar Note

   iyi and yane are the forms agreeing with pasipoti (yi- class). Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

4. Nilije katundu wane

   I do not have my luggage

   Usage

   Tell baggage staff your bag has not turned up

   Grammar Note

   nili na means "I have" and nilije "I do not have"; katundu means luggage and also belongings. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

5. Katundu wane uli nkhu?

   Where is my luggage?

   Usage

   Asks where your checked bag is

   Grammar Note

   "katundu" takes the mu- class agreement (uli). Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

6. Kasi ndege yikunyamuka pawuli?

   When does the plane leave?

   Usage

   Asks the departure time

   Grammar Note

   kunyamuka means "to set off, depart"; pawuli is the question word "when". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

7. Ndege yachedwa

   The plane is late

   Usage

   States or recognises a delay

   Grammar Note

   ya-chedwa is the yi- class perfect: "has been delayed"; -chedwa means "be late". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

8. Nkhuluta ku ___ pa ndege

   I am going to ___ by plane

   Usage

   States destination and mode; put a place in the blank

   Grammar Note

   "pa + vehicle" gives the means (pa ndege by plane, pa boti by boat). Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

9. Iyi ni tikiti yane

   This is my ticket

   Usage

   Said when showing your ticket to staff

   Grammar Note

   "tikiti" is a loan from English "ticket" in the yi- class (plural matikiti). Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

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