Café & Drinks

1. Nkhukhumba maji ghakumwa

   I want drinking water

   Usage

   Asks for drinking water at a restaurant or lodging

   Grammar Note

   "Maji" is a class 6 noun, so its modifier begins with "gha-". "-kumwa" is the "drinking" form, giving "for drinking". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

2. Kasi maji agha ngawemi kughamwa?

   Is this water safe to drink?

   Usage

   Asks whether tap or well water can be drunk as it is

   Grammar Note

   This turns the statement "Maji gha pa tapu ngawemi waka kughamwa" (tap water is perfectly safe to drink) into a question. The "gha" in "kughamwa" refers back to "maji". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

3. Munipe maji ghanyake, chonde

   More water, please

   Usage

   Politely asks for more water

   Grammar Note

   "Mu-ni-pe" is "you (plural, polite)-to me-give". "Ghanyake" means "other", here "some more". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

4. Nkhukhumba khofi wambula mkaka

   I want coffee without milk

   Usage

   Orders coffee without milk at a cafe or lodging

   Grammar Note

   "Wambula" means "without" and takes the agreement form "wa-" to match "khofi". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

5. Nkhukhumba tiyi wambula mkaka

   I want tea without milk

   Usage

   Orders tea without milk

   Grammar Note

   "Tiyi" is borrowed from English "tea". "Wambula" means "without". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

6. Nkhukhumba moŵa umoza

   I want one beer

   Usage

   Orders one beer at a bar or restaurant

   Grammar Note

   "Moŵa" agrees with "u-", so the numeral "one" is "umoza". It is also spelled "mowa". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

7. Tiyi

   Tea

   Usage

   Tea; a kind is added after it, as in "tiyi wa chamomile"

   Grammar Note

   A loanword from English "tea"; native review recommended

8. Khofi

   Coffee

   Usage

   Coffee; "kapu ya khofi" is a cup of coffee

   Grammar Note

   A loanword from English "coffee". It begins with kh, not k; native review recommended

9. Moŵa

   Beer / alcohol

   Usage

   Beer and alcoholic drinks in general; "moŵa wa chilokolo" is local beer

   Grammar Note

   Also spelled "mowa". Whether it means beer or alcohol in general depends on the situation

10. Mkaka

    Milk

    Usage

    Milk, such as cow's milk

    Grammar Note

    A class 3 noun. To say no milk in coffee or tea, use "wambula mkaka" (without milk)

11. Maji gha mubotolo

    Bottled water

    Usage

    Bottled water, for when you are unsure about tap water

    Grammar Note

    Literally "water in a bottle". Tap water is "maji gha pa tapu"

Browse all TravelPhrases languages