Café & Drinks

1. Maanzi

   Water

   Usage

   Water; the standard form. "Meenda" is another word for it

   Grammar Note

   A class 6 plural noun (prefix ma-); words that describe it take class 6 forms, as in "aaya" and "aakunywa"

2. Ndiyanda maanzi aakunywa.

   I want drinking water.

   Usage

   Asks for drinking water at a shop or lodging

   Grammar Note

   "Ndiyanda" followed by a noun means "I want ...". "Aakunywa" is the class 6 "aa-" (of) plus "kunywa" (to drink), so "for drinking". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

3. Amundipe maanzi aakunywa.

   Please give me drinking water.

   Usage

   Politely asks someone for drinking water, for example a shop assistant or hotel staff

   Grammar Note

   "Amu-" is the plural, polite way of addressing someone, and "-ndipe" is "give me". "Maanzi aakunywa" is drinking water. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

4. Ndiyanda maanzi aatontola.

   I want cold water.

   Usage

   Asks for cold water

   Grammar Note

   "Tontola" means "cold". It takes the class 6 marker "aa-" to agree with "maanzi". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

5. Sena maanzi aaya ali kabotu?

   Is this water safe?

   Usage

   Checks whether tap water or water you are offered is safe

   Grammar Note

   A question opened by "Sena". "Aaya" is the class 6 form of "this". "Ali kabotu" means "is in good condition", and "maanzi aali kabotu" is a way to say safe water. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

6. Ndiyanda waini.

   I want wine.

   Usage

   Orders wine at a restaurant or bar

   Grammar Note

   "Waini" is a loanword. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

7. Ndiyanda mukupa.

   I want milk.

   Usage

   Asks for milk, for a drink or to drink on its own

   Grammar Note

   "Mukupa" is a class 3 noun (prefix mu-). Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

8. Mukupa

   Milk

   Usage

   Milk; a word "malili" also exists, but "mukupa" is the standard one

   Grammar Note

   A class 3 noun (prefix mu-)

9. Waini

   Wine

   Usage

   Wine

   Grammar Note

   A loanword; native review recommended

10. Bukoko

    Beer / alcohol

    Usage

    Beer or alcoholic drink in general

    Grammar Note

    A class 14 noun (prefix bu-). It means beer, and also alcoholic drink in general

11. Kunywa

    To drink

    Usage

    To drink; "Ndiyanda kunywa" means "I want to drink"

    Grammar Note

    A verb infinitive, beginning with ku-; the root is "-nywa"

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