I grew up listening to my grandmother and elders speak Luvale. Every word filled me with warmth and a deep sense of belonging.
I remember the joyful stories and the laughter that echoed in our home when we spoke our language. It was as if Luvale held a secret key to my identity. If you have ever felt that special connection to your own language, I invite you to try learning Luvale. It might just open your heart in a way you never expected.
Are you game?
Great, let’s dive in!
GREETINGS IN LUVALE
| English | Luvale |
|---|---|
| Good evening | Chingoloshi mwane |
| Good morning | Chimene mwane |
| Good afternoon | Musana mwane |
| Good night | Ufuku mwane |
| How are you? | Munayoyo? |
| How are you today? | Munayoyo lelo? |
| I am fine | Nguli Kanawa |
| I am fine and you? | Nguli kanawa ngachili yenu? |
| Have a good day | Mutome kanawa |
| I am doing great | Nguli nakulinga kanawa |
| Hi/Hello | Muli ngachili mwane |
| Nice to meet you | Chinawahe kulimona ove |
| Good bye | Salenuho mwane |
| See you later | Natukalimonenu mwane |
| Everyday | Hakumbi hakumbi |
| Tomorrow | Hamene |
| Yesterday | Zau |
| Month/Months | Kakeji/Tukweji |
| Day/Days | Likumbi/Makumbi |
| This month | Uno kakweji |
| Week/Weeks | Chalumingo/Vyalumingo |
| Last week | Chalumingo chinahichiho |
| Year/Years | Mwaka/Myaka |
| Next year | Mwaka wauhya |
| How old are you? | Uli namyaka yingahi? |
| What do you work as? | Wechikuzata milimo muka? |
| I am a (insert job) | Ngumuka ____ |
| Where do you come from? | Mwafuma kulihi? |
| I come from | Ngwafuma ku.. |
| I am __ years old | Nguli namyaka.. |
| What is your name? | Lijina lyenu yenuveya? |
| My name is.. | Lijina lyami yami… |
LOVE WORDS IN LUVALE
| English | Luvale |
|---|---|
| I love you. | Ngwakuzanga ove |
| I miss you. | Ngwakuvuluka ove |
| Love you so much. | Ngwakuzanga chikuma ove |
| I love you with all my heart. | Ngwakuzanga ove na muchima yami |
| I love you too. | Ngwakuzanga chikuma ove mwane |
| I want to see you. | Ngwasaka nakumona ove |
| I like you. | Ngwasaka ove |
| You are beautiful. | Uli na litanana |
| My love. | Zangi yami |
| You look beautiful. | Uli nakumona litanana |
| My beautiful wife. | Lisano lyami na litanana |
| I miss you so much, darling. | Ngwakuvuluka chikuma wakuzanga |
| I need you. | Ngwakutonda ove |
| You will miss me. | Uli nakuya kukushinganyeka chikuma ami |
| Goodbye, my love. | Salenuho mwane, zangi yami |
| See you tomorrow. | Natukalimonenu hamene mwane |
| I will marry you. | Nangumumbate ove |
| Stay well | Mulanjise kanawa |
| I want some space. | Ngwasaka space |
| I need your love. | Ngwasaka zangi yove |
| You are mine. | Uli wami |
DIRECTIONS IN LUVALE
| English | Luvale |
|---|---|
| Where are you? | Muli kulihi? |
| Where did you go? | Mwayilehi? |
| Where do you live? | Uli nakutwama ika? |
| Where are you going? | Uli nakuya ika? |
| Where were you? | Wapwangahi? |
COMMON QUESTIONS IN A CONVERSATION IN LUVALE
| English | Luvale |
|---|---|
| How much? | Jingahi? |
| How are you feeling? | Munayoyo? |
| What is your name? | Lijina lyami |
| What are you doing? | Muli nakulinga ika? |
| What are you cooking/eating? | Muli nakuteleka ika? Muli nakulya ika? |
| Are you okay, dear? | Ngachili, waha muchima? |
| When are you coming? | Omu uli nakwiza? |
| How was your night/day? | Mwasawala ngachili?/Likumbi ngachili? |
| How are you doing? | Muli nakulinga ngachili? |
| How is your family? | Thanga yove ngachili? |
| How was your day? | Likumbi ngachili? |
| What is wrong? | Ika unalingi? |
| What do you mean? | Unatalikisa mulihi? |
| Have you gone to church? | Wayanga ku church ika? |
| What is this? | Ika eyi? |
| What's going on? | Ika? |
| Have you heard? | Munevu? |
| Can I go home? | Ngunahase nakuya ku zuwo? |
| Please give me. | Nguhaneco mwane |
| How is everything? | Muli nakulinga ngachili? |
| What’s your phone number? | Phone number yove ika? |
| Where were you? | Wapwangahi? |
EVERYDAY CONVERSATIONS IN LUVALE
| English | Luvale |
|---|---|
| I am hungry | Ngwakwivwa zala |
| Thank you | Ngwasakwililako mwane |
| I want | Ngwakutonda |
| I have eaten | Ngunali |
| Have you bathed today? | Lelo wasane? |
| When are you working? | Omu uli nakuzata? |
| What is the time? | Lwola muka? |
| Congratulations | Mwazachila mwane |
| I am sorry | Sesamwane |
| You are welcome | Ukalu wauchi |
| Me too! | Na yami! |
| God bless you | Kalunga akisule ove |
| She is happy | Ali nakuwahilila |
| Please help me | Ngunakutonda kukafwo |
| I have heard | Ngunevu |
| I agree | Nayami nawa mwomwo |
| Excellent | Camwenemwane |
| What thing? | Cuma muka? / Cuma cika? |
| We know that | Tunatacikiza ngwetu |
| They found them | Vavawanyine |
| Do you think he is stupid? | Unaxinganyeka, tahi? Ngwove, nahulama |
| I don't know | Kangwatacikijileko |
| I will come tomorrow | Nangukeza hamene |
| Come here! | Twaya kuno! |
| Feel at home | Tambokenu ku zuwo yami |
| Be blessed | Kalunga akisule |
| I am coming soon | Nguli nakwiza hono lili |
| Excuse me | Sesamwane |
| What are you doing today? | Lelo uli nakulinga ika? |
| What are you doing on the weekend? | Lelo uli nakulinga ha weekend? |
| It is okay | Chamwaza mwane |
| I am going home | Ngunakuya ku zuwo |
| I don't want | Kangute |
| Sweetheart | Waha muchima |
| Let me try | Eseka |
| Welcome home | Tambokenu ku zuwo |
| I reached home safely | Ngwalyhetanga ku zuwo |
| God is good | Kalunga na kanawa |
| I don't understand | Ndi mu |
| We are happy to see you | Tuli nakuwahilila kumona ove |
| I have it | Nguliko |
| What are we eating today? | Lelo tuli nakulya ika? |
| My condolences | Mwayajila mwane |
| I don't have money | Kangwetchi jimbongo |
| I am done | Ngunalingi |
| I am going to the shop | Ngunakuya ku shop |
| Happy new year | Mwaka wauhya na Kanawa |
| Stop using your phone | Echa ha phone yami |
| I need a favour, please | Ngwakutonda ukafwo hono lili |
| I really appreciate it | Mwane vwulye mwane |
| You made my day | Unakutenanga likumbi yami |
| No problem | Ukalu wauchi |
| We're hiring | Tuli nakuhane milimo |
| Friend/Friends | Sepa, Masepa |
| Woman/Women | Pwewo, Mapwewo |
| Man/Men | Lunga, Malunga |
| Leave me alone | Seza yami hano lili |
Mastering a language is all about consistency. Learn five new Luvale words daily from the Luvale dictionary and watch your skills grow, one word at a time!
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