Basic Words

1. Inzya

   Yes

   Usage

   Affirmative reply to a question or a request for confirmation; also used to show agreement

   Grammar Note

   An invariable word; the shorter form Ee is also used

2. Peepe

   No

   Usage

   Negative reply; also used to correct someone ("no, rather ...")

   Grammar Note

   An invariable word; not the same as the small negative particle pe that ends negative sentences

3. Ndakomba

   Please

   Usage

   Added to a request to make it polite; the same verb also means to ask or to pray

   Grammar Note

   nda- (I) + komba (ask, pray); it can mean both "please" and "I prayed"

4. Twalumba

   Thank you

   Usage

   Standard way to say thank you, for help or for something received

   Grammar Note

   tu-a-lumba (we thank); the root lumba means thank or praise, as in the related form ndakulumba (I thank you). Found only in the Peace Corps Zambia teaching material (Harris 2013), not in the Bible translations; native review recommended

5. Amundijatile

   Excuse me

   Usage

   To get someone's attention, to pass in front of someone, or to apologize lightly

   Grammar Note

   a-mu-ndi-jatile: a polite request form (mu = polite you) with ndi (me) and the root jatila (pardon). Found only in the Peace Corps Zambia teaching material (Harris 2013), not in the Bible translations; native review recommended

6. Amundijatile, tandimvwa

   Sorry, I don't understand

   Usage

   When you cannot follow what someone has said

   Grammar Note

   tandimvwa is ta-ndi-mvwa (I do not ...); the root mvwa means hear or understand. Found only in the Peace Corps Zambia teaching material (Harris 2013), not in the Bible translations; native review recommended

7. Amundijatile, amwambe alimwi.

   Sorry, please say it again.

   Usage

   To ask someone to repeat what they just said

   Grammar Note

   amwambe is the polite imperative of amba (say); alimwi means again. Found only in the Peace Corps Zambia teaching material (Harris 2013), not in the Bible translations; native review recommended

8. Tandizyi pe.

   I don't know.

   Usage

   To say you do not know, for example when asked about a place or a name

   Grammar Note

   ta-ndi-zyi is the negative of zyiba (know); the sentence-final pe reinforces the negation

9. Asyoonto-syoonto

   Little by little; slowly

   Usage

   When you want things to go slower or in smaller amounts

   Grammar Note

   A reduplication of asyoonto (a little), meaning little by little or slowly

10. Eeci

    This (thing)

    Usage

    To point at something in front of you and say "this"

    Grammar Note

    The demonstrative for ci- class nouns (cakulya food, cinkwa bread, ...); the form changes with the noun class (eeci / eezi / ooyu ...)

11. Eeco

    That (thing)

    Usage

    To point at something already mentioned or something farther away

    Grammar Note

    The ci- class demonstrative for something already mentioned or farther away; same noun class as eeci (this)

12. Aano

    Here

    Usage

    To point at the place where you are, as in "wait here" or "I will stay here"

    Grammar Note

    A place demonstrative, as in amukkale aano (stay here)

13. Ooko

    There

    Usage

    To point at a place that is farther away or that was just mentioned

    Grammar Note

    A demonstrative for a distant place; also common when describing a place, as in ooko nkwaakabede (where he was)

14. Antoomwe

    Together

    Usage

    When doing something with someone, or when asking to count everything together

    Grammar Note

    An adverb meaning together or altogether; with a person it takes a- (antoomwe anzizyo, together with them)

15. Muntu omwe

    One person

    Usage

    To give a head count, for example at a restaurant or a guesthouse

    Grammar Note

    The plural of muntu (person) is bantu; numerals agree with the noun class, so people take bobilo (two) and botatwe (three)

16. Bantu bobilo

    Two people

    Usage

    To give a head count, as in "there are two of us"

    Grammar Note

    bantu (people) followed by bobilo, the form of two used for people

17. Bantu botatwe

    Three people

    Usage

    To give a head count, as in "there are three of us"

    Grammar Note

    bantu (people) followed by botatwe, the form of three used for people

18. Tandiyandi.

    I don't want it.

    Usage

    To decline something that is offered

    Grammar Note

    ta-ndi-yand-i: the negative of yanda (want); a verb such as kubona (to see) can follow

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