Contacts & SNS

1. Kasi nambala yinu ya foni ni vichi?

   What is your phone number?

   Usage

   A polite way to ask for someone's phone number

   Grammar Note

   "nambala" is a yi- class noun, so yinu and ya agree with it; "what" is vichi. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

2. Nambala yane ya foni ni ___

   My phone number is ___

   Usage

   To give your own number; put the digits in the blank

   Grammar Note

   "yane" is the yi- class form of "my"; ni links the noun phrase to the digits. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

3. Nizamukuyimbira foni

   I will call you

   Usage

   Tells someone you will phone them

   Grammar Note

   ni-zamu-kuyimbira: I (ni) + future (-zamu-) + the infinitive kuyimbira (to call); kuyimbira foni means "to phone". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

4. Tizamukumana nkhu?

   Where shall we meet?

   Usage

   Used to settle a meeting place

   Grammar Note

   ti-zamu-kumana: we (ti) + future (-zamu-) + meet (-kumana); nkhu "where" goes at the end. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

5. Mukukhala nkhu?

   Where do you live?

   Usage

   A polite question about where someone lives

   Grammar Note

   mu-ku-khala: you (mu-) + present (-ku-) + live, stay (-khala). Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

6. Nkhukhala ku ___

   I live in ___

   Usage

   The answer to "Mukukhala nkhu?"; put a town or country in the blank

   Grammar Note

   nkhu-khala: I (n-) + present (-ku-) + live; the place name follows the locative ku. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

7. Nitumilani uthenga, chonde

   Please send me a message

   Usage

   Asks the other person to message you

   Grammar Note

   In the imperative, ni- (me) goes before the verb and the plural or respectful -ni after it (ni-tumila-ni). Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

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