Traveling with Kids

1. Nili na ŵana ŵaŵiri

   I have two children

   Usage

   Tells how many children you have

   Grammar Note

   "Nili na ..." is the pattern for "I have ...". Numerals for people begin with "ŵa-" (ŵaŵiri, ŵatatu). Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

2. Mwana wane wazgeŵa!

   My child is lost!

   Usage

   Asks for help when you lose sight of your child in a crowd or market

   Grammar Note

   "Zgeŵa" means "to be lost or gone astray"; it is also used of a lost sheep or coin. "Mwana" is class 1, so it takes "wane" and "wa-". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

3. Mwana wane wakulwara

   My child is ill

   Usage

   Tells a host or health worker that your child is unwell

   Grammar Note

   "Kulwara" means "to be ill". A sick person is "mulwari", plural "ŵalwari". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

4. Mwana wane wali na njara

   My child is hungry

   Usage

   Says your child needs food

   Grammar Note

   Literally "the child has hunger". "Njara" is also written "njala" (l and r vary in writing). Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

5. Mwana wane wakukhumba maji

   My child wants water

   Usage

   Says your child wants something to drink

   Grammar Note

   "Wa-ku-khumba" is "he/she-present-want", the same verb as "nkhu-khumba" (I want). Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

6. Mwana wane wali na vyaka vitatu

   My child is three years old

   Usage

   Tells your child's age

   Grammar Note

   Age is expressed as "having years" (the "Nowa wakaŵa na vyaka 600" pattern). "Vyaka" is a class 8 plural, so the numeral begins with "vi-". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

7. Kasi mwana winu wali na vyaka vilinga?

   How old is your child?

   Usage

   Politely asks the age of someone's child

   Grammar Note

   "-linga" asks "how many" and changes its first part to match the noun (vilinga, zilinga). "Winu" is the respectful "your". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

8. Mwana wane wakugona

   My child is asleep

   Usage

   Says your child is asleep, for example to ask for quiet

   Grammar Note

   "Kugona" means "to sleep, to lie down". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

9. Mwana

   Child

   Usage

   A child; the plural is "ŵana"

   Grammar Note

   A class 1 noun with the plural "ŵana". It is used for one's own child and for children in general

10. Ŵana

    Children

    Usage

    Children; the singular is "mwana"

    Grammar Note

    A class 2 (people, plural) noun; the initial ŵ is written as a single letter ŵ. Words that follow agree with "ŵa-" (ŵana ŵaŵiri)

11. Munyamata

    Boy / young man

    Usage

    A boy or young man

    Grammar Note

    A class 1 noun. The word for a girl is "msungwana"

12. Msungwana

    Girl

    Usage

    A girl or young woman

    Grammar Note

    A class 1 noun. The word for a boy is "munyamata"

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