Dating & Romance

1. Chitemwa

   Love

   Usage

   The word for love or affection, which you may hear when local people talk about relationships

   Grammar Note

   "chitemwa" is a chi- class noun formed from the verb -temwa "like, love"

2. Nkhukutemwa

   I like you

   Usage

   A short way to show affection; it can be heard as "I like you" or "I love you", so use it only when the feeling and the relationship are clear

   Grammar Note

   One written word: nkhu- (I) + -ku- (you) + -temwa "like, love"; a familiar form for someone close to you

3. Nkhukhumba kumumanyani makora

   I would like to get to know you better

   Usage

   A polite way to show interest in someone, in the gentle sense of becoming better friends first

   Grammar Note

   ku-mu-manya-ni is the infinitive ku- + polite object mu- (you) + -manya "know" + polite -ni. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

4. Kasi mungatemwa kurya nane?

   Would you like to eat with me?

   Usage

   A restrained way to invite someone to a meal; accept a refusal politely

   Grammar Note

   mu-nga-temwa means "would you like to"; "nane" is na "with" + ine "me". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

5. Nkhukhumba yayi

   I do not want that

   Usage

   A clear, short way to decline an invitation or advance

   Grammar Note

   The negative "yayi" is placed after the verb. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

6. Lekani kuchita ivi

   Please stop doing that

   Usage

   A firm way to ask someone to stop unwanted attention or behaviour

   Grammar Note

   "lekani" is -leka "stop" with the polite plural imperative -ni, followed by a ku- infinitive. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

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