Nature & Outdoors

1. Phiri

   Mountain / hill

   Usage

   A mountain or hill; the plural is "mapiri"

   Grammar Note

   A class 5 noun with the plural "mapiri". It is used for both mountains and hills

2. Mlonga

   River

   Usage

   A river or stream; the plural is "milonga"

   Grammar Note

   A class 3 noun with the plural "milonga". The l and r vary in writing, so "mronga" also occurs; it is placed before a river's name

3. Nkhorongo

   Forest

   Usage

   A forest or jungle; the plural has the same form

   Grammar Note

   A class 9 noun whose plural is also "nkhorongo"

4. Nyenyezi

   Star

   Usage

   A star in the night sky; the plural has the same form

   Grammar Note

   A class 9 noun; "nyenyezi" is both singular and plural

5. Nyanja

   Lake / sea

   Usage

   A lake or large body of water; Lake Malawi is "Nyanja ya Malaŵi"

   Grammar Note

   A class 9 noun. The ocean is "nyanja ya mchere" (salt lake). Capitalised "Nyanja" is also the name of a different language, so do not confuse the two

6. Mwezi

   Moon / month

   Usage

   Means both the moon in the sky and a calendar month

   Grammar Note

   A class 3 noun. It names both the moon and the calendar month

7. Zuŵa

   Sun / day

   Usage

   Means both the sun and a day; the plural is "mazuŵa"

   Grammar Note

   A class 5 noun with the plural "mazuŵa"; "zuŵa na zuŵa" means "every day". The ŵ is written as a single letter ŵ

8. Vula

   Rain

   Usage

   Rain; "to rain" uses the verb kuwa (to fall)

   Grammar Note

   A class 9 noun. It is also written "vura" (l and r vary in writing)

9. Nkhukhumba kuwona zovu

   I want to see an elephant

   Usage

   Tells a guide or companion that you want to see an elephant

   Grammar Note

   "nkhu-" is the present-tense "I" prefix, followed by an infinitive (ku-). "zovu" is a class 9 noun with the same plural. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

10. Kasi tingakwera phiri?

    Can we climb the mountain?

    Usage

    Asks whether climbing the mountain is allowed or possible

    Grammar Note

    "Kasi" at the start marks a question. "ti-nga-kwera" is "we-can-climb". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

11. Kasi pali njoka pano?

    Are there snakes here?

    Usage

    Asks whether there are snakes, for example in the bush or by a river

    Grammar Note

    "pali" expresses existence at a place. "njoka" is a class 9 noun with the same plural. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

Browse all TravelPhrases languages