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Mambwe is a language spoken in Tanzania and Zambia.
If you're just starting to learn Mambwe, I've compiled a list of commonly used words with their English translations to make mastering the language easy. I hope this resource will be helpful in your language-learning journey!
GREETINGS IN MAMBWE
| ENGLISH |
MAMBWE |
| Good morning |
Mwazyukeni |
| How are you |
Muli uli |
| How are you today? |
Muli uli ilelo? |
| I am fine. |
Indi ningo |
| I am doing great. |
Nemo ndisile ningo |
| Nice to meet you. |
Cazipa twalolana |
| See you soon. |
Tumalolana |
| See you later |
Tumalolana lyuze |
LOVE WORDS IN MAMBWE
| ENGLISH |
MAMBWE |
| I love you. |
Naku kunda |
| I miss you. |
Naku luka |
| Love you so much |
Naku kunda wakwe chimwi |
| I want to see you. |
Inkulonda ukukulola |
| I love you with all my heart. |
Naku kunda nu mwenzo wane onsi |
| I love you too. |
Naku kunda nanikwene |
| I want to see you. |
Inkulonda tulolane |
| I like you. |
Nakutemwa |
| You are beautiful. |
Wewe musuma |
| My love. |
Lukundo lwane |
| You look beautiful. |
Ukuloleka ningo sana |
| My beautiful wife. |
Mamane umusuma |
| I miss you so much, darling. |
Inkukuluka wakwe cimwi |
| I need you. |
Inkukulonda |
| You will miss me. |
Ulanduka |
| Goodbye, my love. |
Napita, lukundo lwane |
| See you tomorrow. |
Tulalolana mutondo |
| I will marry you. |
Indakutwala |
| I need your love. |
Inkulonda ulukundo lwako |
| You are mine. |
Wewe wane |
| I love you. |
Naku kunda |
DIRECTIONS IN MAMBWE
| ENGLISH |
MAMBWE |
| Where are you? |
Uli kwi? |
| Where did you go? |
Wali upisile kwi? |
| Where do you live? |
Ukaikala kwi? |
| Where are you going? |
Ukuya kwi? |
| Where were you? |
Wali uli kwi? |
| Where are you coming from? |
Wafuma kwi? |
| Where is the bus stop? |
Icitesheni cilikwi? |
COMMON QUESTIONS IN A CONVERSATION IN MAMBWE
| ENGLISH |
MAMBWE |
| How much? |
Zinga? |
| How are you feeling? |
Ukuvwako uli? |
| How have you been? |
Uli manda yonsi? |
| What is your name? |
Wewe weni izina? |
| What are you doing? |
Ukucita cani? |
| What are you cooking |
Ukweleka vyani? |
| What are you eating? |
Ukulya vyani? |
| Are you okay, dear? |
Uliningo? |
| What time are you coming? |
Uliza insitaci?? |
| How was your night? |
Walala uli? |
| How is your family? |
Ulupwalwako luli uli? |
| What is wrong? |
Cani caipa? |
| What do you mean? |
Ukuti uli? |
| Have you gone to church? |
Iwapita ku calici? |
| What is this? |
Icani ci? |
| What's going on? |
Icani cikucitika? |
| Are you listening? |
Uzye ukuvwa? |
| Have you heard what has happened? |
Wati uvwa vino ivicitika? |
| Can I go home? |
Uzye ninga pita uku ng'anda? |
| Can I ask something? |
Ninga uzya cimwi? |
| How is everything? |
Vili uli ivintu vyonsi? |
| What’s your phone number? |
Mpela inambala yakwe lamya wako |
| What day are you coming? |
Uliza uwandaci? |
| What is the time? |
Insita iliuli? |
| How much are you going to pay me? |
Umandipa zinga? |
| How much is this item? |
Azinga icintu ci? |
| Have you heard what I have said? |
Uzye wati uvwa vino navwanga? |
| Have you heard? |
Watu uvwa? |
| Can I come? |
Uzye ningiza? |
| What are you doing? |
Ukucita cani? |
| What is wrong? |
Icani caipa? |
| What have I done to you? |
Uzye nakucita cani? |
| What have I done wrong? |
Naluvyanya cani? |
| What is happening? |
Uzye icani cini cikucitika? |
| What is happening there? |
Uzye icani cino cikucitika kuko? |
EVERYDAY CONVERSATIONS IN MAMBWE
| ENGLISH |
MAMBWE |
| Happy birthday |
Mwavyalwini |
| Thank you |
Nataizya |
| I am sorry |
Munjelele |
| Me too! |
Nani kwene! |
| God bless you. |
Leza akupale |
| May god protect you. |
Leza akusunge umutende |
| She is happy. |
Ali ni nsansa umukazyana |
| Please help me. |
Njavwini napapata |
| I don't know. |
Intamanyile |
| I will come tomorrow. |
Indiza mutondo |
| Come here! |
Iza kuno |
| Feel at home. |
Kalibuni |
| Be blessed. |
Mupalwe |
| I am coming soon. |
Inkwiza likwene |
| Excuse me. |
Njelelininiko |
| Leave me alone. |
Ndekini nenga |
| It is okay. |
cilisile ningo |
| I am going home. |
Napita uku ng'anda |
| I don't want. |
Insikulonda |
| Love is a beautiful thing. |
Ulukundo icintu cimwi icisuma sana |
| Let me try. |
Leka nezye |
| Welcome home. |
Kalibu |
| I reached home safely. |
Nafisile kung'anda ningo |
| God is good. |
Leza umusuma |
| I don't understand. |
Napotwa |
| We are happy to see you. |
Tuvwaningo ukukulola |
| I have it. |
Inkweti |
| Rest in peace. |
Mupuze mumutende |
| I don't have money today. |
Intakweti impiya ilelo |
| I am done. |
Namala |
| I am going to church. |
Napita ku calici |
| Happy new year. |
Kalibu mwaka upya |
| We should be giving thanks to God |
Twataizya kuli Leza |
| Iwill give you your money tomorrow |
Indakupela impiya zyako mutondo |
| Good manners |
Imiyele isuma |
| What can I do for you? |
Uzye icani cino ningakucitila? |
| We are coimg tomorrow |
Tuliza mutondo |
| I am not coming |
Insikwiza |
| I will not come |
Intaliza |
| We are not coming |
Tusikwiza |
| We wont come |
Tutaliza |
| Bad manners. |
Imiyele iipe |
| Stop using your phone. |
Leka ukuomvya lamya |
| I need a favour, please. |
Inkulonda uwazwilizio, napapata |
| Haven’t seen you for ages. |
Tutalolana palengela |
| Great to see you again. |
Cazipa twalolana nupya |
| You made my day. |
Wampapusha ilelo |
| There is no problem. |
Pasi intazi |
| What are you looking at? |
Ukulewenga cani? |
| I am waiting for you |
Inkukulindilila |
| You will find me at home |
Umanzana pa ng'anda |
| I am coming shortly. |
Inkwiza likwene |
| I am on my way coming |
Indi umunzila inkwiza |
| I am having a beer |
Inkumwa uwengwa |
What next?
Keep going! Learning a language takes consistent practice, but it doesn't have to be difficult. A useful tip is to learn five Mambwe words every day from the Mambwe dictionary to improve your skills.
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