Weather & Climate

1. Vula yikuwa

   It is raining

   Usage

   The basic sentence for rain

   Grammar Note

   kuwa means "to fall"; vula is a yi- class noun, giving yi-ku-wa. The pattern "Kukuwa vula" is also heard. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

2. Vula yikawa mayiro

   It rained yesterday

   Usage

   Talking about yesterday's weather

   Grammar Note

   -ka- marks the past (yi-ka-wa); mayiro means "yesterday". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

3. Kasi vula yizamuwa machero?

   Will it rain tomorrow?

   Usage

   Ask before planning an outing

   Grammar Note

   -zamu- marks the future (yi-zamu-wa); machero means "tomorrow". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

4. Vula yikuwa chomene

   It is raining heavily

   Usage

   For heavy rain

   Grammar Note

   chomene follows the verb and intensifies it. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

5. Mphepo ni yankhongono chomene

   The wind is very strong

   Usage

   For a windy day

   Grammar Note

   "nkhongono" is "power"; ya-nkhongono means "powerful", with ya agreeing with mphepo (yi- class). Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

6. Kuli mabingu

   It is cloudy

   Usage

   When the sky is overcast

   Grammar Note

   mabingu is the plural of bingu (cloud). In Chewa bingu means "thunder", so do not mix them up. Also spelled "mabingo". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

7. Mwahuno kwakotcha chomene

   It is very hot today

   Usage

   On a hot day

   Grammar Note

   Weather uses the locative subject ku- (kwakotcha hot, kuzizira cold). Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

8. Mwahuno kuzizira

   It is cold today

   Usage

   On a cold day; highland evenings and mornings can be chilly

   Grammar Note

   kuzizira is "cold"; nyengo ya kuzizira is the cold season. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

9. Vula

   Rain

   Usage

   The word for rain

   Grammar Note

   A yi- class noun; nyengo ya vula means "rainy season"

10. Mphepo

    Wind

    Usage

    The word for wind

    Grammar Note

    A yi- class noun; the plural is vimphepo, and a big storm is chimphepo

11. Zuŵa

    Sun / day

    Usage

    One word for both the sun and the day

    Grammar Note

    A li- class noun; the plural mazuŵa means "days"

12. Bingu

    Cloud

    Usage

    The word for cloud; it differs from Chichewa bingu, which means thunder

    Grammar Note

    A li- class noun; the plural is mabingu

13. Chimphepo

    Storm

    Usage

    A storm with strong wind; heard in forecasts and warnings

    Grammar Note

    A chi- class noun built on mphepo (wind); the plural is vimphepo

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