Money & Exchange

1. Mali

   Money

   Usage

   The word for money and cash

   Grammar Note

   A plural form starting with ma-. "My money" is mali aangu

2. Muulo

   Price

   Usage

   The word for the price of something

   Grammar Note

   A noun starting with mu-. It is used as in muulo wamuunda ("the price of a field")

3. Kwatcha

   Kwacha (the currency of Zambia)

   Usage

   The name of Zambia's currency; it follows the number when you state a price

   Grammar Note

   It is also spelled kwacha; the currency of Zambia is written kwacha (ZMW). Loanword. Found only in the Peace Corps Zambia teaching material (Harris 2013), not in the Bible translations; native review recommended

4. Mali nzi eeci?

   How much is this?

   Usage

   Ask the price of an item, pointing at it

   Grammar Note

   Mali nzi literally means "what money" and is the set way to ask a price. Eeci is "this", pointing to a noun starting with ci-. Found only in the Peace Corps Zambia teaching material (Harris 2013), not in the Bible translations; native review recommended

5. Muulo wayuma!

   That is expensive!

   Usage

   Say a price feels too high; it can also open a bargaining conversation

   Grammar Note

   Literally "the price is hard". The root yuma means "dry" or "hard", and wa- agrees with muulo. Found only in the Peace Corps Zambia teaching material (Harris 2013), not in the Bible translations; native review recommended

6. Amujosye asyoonto.

   Please lower the price a little.

   Usage

   Politely ask a seller to come down a little in price

   Grammar Note

   A polite request starting with amu-. The root josya means "to lower the price" (it can also mean "to return an item"). Found only in the Peace Corps Zambia teaching material (Harris 2013), not in the Bible translations; native review recommended

7. Ndiyanda kuula eeci.

   I want to buy this.

   Usage

   Point at an item and say you want to buy it

   Grammar Note

   The pattern "Ndiyanda + ku + verb" means "I want to ...". Eeci is "this" for a noun starting with ci-; for several items use eezi. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

8. Ndiyanda kubbadela.

   I want to pay.

   Usage

   Say you are ready to pay, after shopping or a meal

   Grammar Note

   The root bbadela means "to pay". The bb is a double consonant, not to be written as a single b. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

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