Local Dishes

1. Sima

   Sima (stiff porridge of maize or sorghum, the staple)

   Usage

   The name of the staple stiff porridge, eaten by hand with a side dish

   Grammar Note

   "sima" is a class 9 noun; it is the same dish as "nsima" in neighbouring languages, but spelled "sima"

2. Sima na somba

   Sima with fish

   Usage

   A standard order of the staple porridge with fish; use it when ordering

   Grammar Note

   "na" means "with" or "and". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

3. Sima na nyama

   Sima with meat

   Usage

   A way to order the porridge with a meat side dish

   Grammar Note

   "nyama" means both animal and meat. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

4. Nkhukhumba kurya sima

   I want to eat sima

   Usage

   Used to ask for the local staple, whether trying it or ordering

   Grammar Note

   "nkhukhumba" (I want) is followed by an infinitive. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

5. Kasi muli na somba?

   Do you have fish?

   Usage

   Asks at a restaurant or stall whether there is any fish

   Grammar Note

   "kasi" opens a question and "muli na ..." asks "do you have ...". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

6. Nkhutemwa somba

   I like fish

   Usage

   Says what food you like, and works as a reply when invited to a meal

   Grammar Note

   The thing you like comes right after "nkhutemwa" (I like). Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

7. Nyama

   Meat

   Usage

   Used for meat; the same word also means an animal

   Grammar Note

   "nyama" is a class 9 noun; the plural "vinyama" refers to animals

8. Masumbi

   Eggs

   Usage

   Used for eggs

   Grammar Note

   "masumbi" is a ma- plural, and eggs are normally named in the plural

9. Chingwa

   Bread

   Usage

   Used for bread

   Grammar Note

   "chingwa" is a class 7 noun with the plural "vingwa", and is also written "cingwa"

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