Shopping

10 phrases · Tonga (Zambia) with romanization, English and audio

  1. Mali nzi eeci?

    How much is this?

    Usage

    To ask a price; point at the item as you say it

    Grammar Note

    Literally "what money is this"; the demonstrative eeci (this) follows mali nzi. Found only in the Peace Corps Zambia teaching material (Harris 2013), not in the Bible translations; native review recommended

  2. Antoomwe mali nzi?

    How much for everything together?

    Usage

    When buying several items at once

    Grammar Note

    antoomwe (together) is placed before mali nzi. Found only in the Peace Corps Zambia teaching material (Harris 2013), not in the Bible translations; native review recommended

  3. Ndiyanda kuula ___.

    I want to buy ___.

    Usage

    Put the name of the item you want in the blank

    Grammar Note

    ndiyanda is followed by the infinitive kuula (buy), and then the item. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

  4. Tandiyandi eeci.

    I don't want this.

    Usage

    To decline an item that is offered

    Grammar Note

    The item follows tandiyandi (I do not want); the demonstrative changes if the item is not a ci- class noun. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

  5. Sena mujisi ___?

    Do you have ___?

    Usage

    To politely ask in a shop whether they have something

    Grammar Note

    sena opens a yes-no question; mujisi is mu- (you, polite) + jisi (have). Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

  6. Ndaula zintu zinji.

    I have bought many things.

    Usage

    After shopping, to say you bought a lot

    Grammar Note

    ndaula is ndi-a-ula (I have bought); zintu is the plural of cintu (thing), followed by zinji (many). Found only in the Peace Corps Zambia teaching material (Harris 2013), not in the Bible translations; native review recommended

  7. Muulo

    Price

    Usage

    For talking about a price

    Grammar Note

    A mu- class noun meaning a price or value

  8. Cintolo

    Shop

    Usage

    When looking for a shop

    Grammar Note

    A ci- class noun; it is also written cintoolo with a long vowel. Attested in dictionary only; native review recommended

  9. Kwatcha

    Kwacha (Zambian currency)

    Usage

    For prices and the money you have; it follows the amount

    Grammar Note

    It follows the number of the amount; a different word spelled kwacha means "dawn", so the currency is written kwatcha, with tch. Loanword. Found only in the Peace Corps Zambia teaching material (Harris 2013), not in the Bible translations; native review recommended

  10. Ndiyanda kubbadela.

    I want to pay.

    Usage

    After shopping or a meal, to say you want to pay

    Grammar Note

    bbadela means pay; bb is a real double consonant and is not written as a single b; cakubbadela (something to pay with) also exists. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

More Tonga (Zambia) phrases

Browse all TravelPhrases languages