Food & Drinks

1. Ndafwa nzala.

   I'm hungry.

   Usage

   When you want a meal or are looking for food

   Grammar Note

   Literally "I have died of hunger"; fwa nzala is the fixed way to say one is hungry, as in wakafwa nzala (he became hungry). Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

2. Ndafwa nyota.

   I'm thirsty.

   Usage

   When you want something to drink

   Grammar Note

   Literally "I have died of thirst"; fwa nyota is the fixed way to say one is thirsty

3. Amundipe maanzi aakunywa.

   Please give me drinking water.

   Usage

   To politely ask for drinking water, at a restaurant or a guesthouse

   Grammar Note

   aakunywa is a-ku-nywa (for drinking), the form that attaches to maanzi (water); amundipe is a polite request followed by the wanted thing. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

4. Amundipe maanzi aatontola.

   Please give me cold water.

   Usage

   To politely ask for cold water

   Grammar Note

   maanzi aatontola (cold water) follows amundipe (please give me). Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

5. Ndiyanda cinkwa.

   I want bread.

   Usage

   When buying or asking for bread

   Grammar Note

   The wanted thing follows ndiyanda; the plural of cinkwa is zinkwa. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

6. Ndiyanda kuula cakulya.

   I want to buy food.

   Usage

   When looking for food at a market or shop

   Grammar Note

   Ndiyanda kuula ... is the pattern for "I want to buy ..."; put the item in place of the dots. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

7. Cinkwa

   Bread

   Usage

   When buying or asking for bread

   Grammar Note

   A ci- class noun with the plural zinkwa; ask about quantity with the plural, as in zinkwa zyongaye (how many loaves)

8. Nyama

   Meat

   Usage

   When ordering a meat dish or checking whether a dish contains meat

   Grammar Note

   An n- class noun; what kind of meat follows with ya, as in nyama ya ... (meat of ...)

9. Inswi

   Fish

   Usage

   When ordering fish or buying it

   Grammar Note

   A class 5 noun; in a sentence the initial i- drops, giving nswi. The plural is the same; small fish are tuswi, and a piece of broiled fish is cibeela canswi

10. Buci

    Honey

    Usage

    When buying honey or asking for it with food

    Grammar Note

    A bu- class noun; it is used as in kolya buci (eat honey)

11. Iji

    Egg

    Usage

    When ordering an egg dish

    Grammar Note

    In a sentence the initial i- may drop, giving ji; show the number with your fingers, as the plural is unconfirmed. Native review recommended

12. Mukupa

    Milk

    Usage

    When asking for milk

    Grammar Note

    A mu- class noun; it is used as in mukupa wampongo (goat's milk)

13. Munyo

    Salt

    Usage

    When asking for salt or adjusting seasoning

    Grammar Note

    A mu- class noun; adjectives follow it, as in munyo mubotu (salt is good)

14. Micelo

    Fruit

    Usage

    When buying fruit, at a market

    Grammar Note

    The mi- class plural; one fruit is mucelo, and adjectives follow it, as in micelo mibotu (good fruit)

15. Cisyumani

    Vegetables

    Usage

    When ordering a vegetable dish

    Grammar Note

    A ci- class noun; it means vegetables, and also a dish of vegetables

16. Insima

    Nshima (maize staple)

    Usage

    The staple of Zambia; useful when asked what you would like to eat

    Grammar Note

    An n- class noun; a staple made from maize meal, eaten with a relish called cisyu. Source: dictionary only; native review recommended

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