MBABA

Father, father’s brother or father’s mother

MDZADZE (MAMA)

Mother, mother’s sister

KOKO

Grandmother

MBAE

Grandfather

MZEE

An elder

MDJOMBA

Uncle (maternal)

MWANA

Child, son, daughter, paternal nephew or niece

MWANAMWANMSHE

Maternal nephew or niece

MDJUHU

Grandchild

YILEMBWE

Son or daughter of greatgrandchild

YITSANA

Greatgrandchild

KAFE

Coffee

CAYI

Tea

UBU

Drink made out of boiled rice

MAELE

Cooked rice

NYAMA

Meat

NDROVI

Green banana

FURIAPA

Breadfruit

NAZI

Ripe coconuts

SHINGO

Salt

SUKARI

Sugar

NYUNGU

Cooking pot

SHANU

Plate

SUTRU

Spoon

NDEHELIO, DJAWU, EWA

Yes

TSIDJAU

No

NDO ?

Who ?

NDAHU ?

Where ?

NDI ?

When ?

HINDRI ?

What ?

YA NDO ?

Whose ?

DJE ?

How ?

YE MANA HINDRI ?

Why  ?

TRASI

Morning

MTSANA

Midday

DJIO

Afternoon

SAHUSAA

Evening

MASIHU

Night

ASUBWIHI

Dawn

NDJEMA

Good

TSI NDJEMA

Not good

MBI

Bad

HAPVASA

Now

HALAFU

After

DAIMA

Usually

GREETING

RESPONSE

KWEZI

Greetings (to elders)

MPVONA

Be well

BARIZA ?

How are you ?

NDJEMA

I am fine

NAMBARIZA ?

How are you (plural) ?

NDJEMA

We are fine

BARIZA ASUBUHI (BARIZA TRASI) ?

How are you this morning ?

NDJEMA

I am (we are) fine

YEMSHELEWA DJE ?

How did you wake up ?

RISHELEWA NDRO

We woke up fine

BARIZA MTSANA ?

How is your midday ?

NDJEMA/SALAMA

Fine/peace

BARIZA LEO ?

How are you today ?

NDJEMA/SALAMA

Fine/peace

YE HUFANYIHA DJE ?

How are you (how do you feel) ?

YE MFANYIHA DJE ?

TSIFANYIHA NDRO

I am fine (am getting better)

HODI

Permission to come

KARIBU

Welcome

TSIHUFERESHEYA

Congratulations

TSIMFERESHEANI (plural)

MARAHABA/SALAMA

Thank you/peace

RIDJA HOUZADENI (RIDJOUZADENI)

We come to share your well being (mariage, birth, arrival of relative, etc..)

WAHATRU SONTSI MARAHABA

The well being is for all of us, thank you

(meaning, we hope the same thing happen to you )

RIHWEREA YE MARUVU

We brought you nothing (we did not bring you anything) [visiting one who lost a relative)

RIMWEREANI YE MARUVU (plural)

ALHAMDULILAHI

Praise to God

RIDJA NOMHONO WATRANGA

We send you our condeleance (we share your lost)

NDIZO MGU YANDZAO

God does what He wishes

LALA UNONO

Good bye

NAMLALE HAUNONO (plural)

MARAHABA/AHSANTA

Thank you

TSIUHISA MGU AMANA

I leave you to God (May god protect you)/ good bye

TSIMHISANI MGU AMANA (plural)

AHSANTA/MARAHABA

Thank you

MGU NAHONDOE

Come back ; May God brings you back (to the traveller)

MGU NAMONDOENI (plural)

AHSANTA/MARAHABA

Thank you

MSAFARA MWEMA

Good travel

AHSANTA/MARAHABA

Thank you

SINGULAR

PLURAL

MEANING

HITSWA

ZITSWA

HEAD

HANYOA

HANYOA

MOUTH

ULIME

NDIME

TONGUE

DINYO

MALINYO-MADINYO

TOOTH

DOMO

MALOMO

LIP

DZITSO

MATSO

EYE

SHISHIO

MASHISHIO

EAR

NYILE

NYILE

HAIR

NDEVU

NDEVU

BEARD

MBUA

MBUA

NOSE

UKOPE

NKOPVE

EYELASH

UDAZI

NDAZI

EYEBROW

MHONO

MIHONO

ARM/HAND

DJANDZA

MADJANDZA

PALM

SHAYA

ZAYA

FINGER

FUU

MAFUU

NAIL

FUZI

MAFUZI

SHOULDER

NGOZI

NGOZI

SKIN

TRUMBO

MARUMBO

INTESTINE

BELE

MABELE

BREAST

IFUBA

ZIFUBA

CHEST

MBAFU

MBAFU

RIBS

PADJA

MAPVADJA

THIGH

MDU

MINDU

LEG

GUNGUNO

MAGOUNGOUNO

KNEE

TRAKO

MATRAKO

BUTTOCK

KAPWA

MAHAPWA

ARMPIT

NTSINGO

NTSINGO

HEEL

NDJEWU

White

NDZIDU

Black

NYIKUNDU

Red

BILE

Blue

DZINDZANU

Yellow

MANIMAYITSI

Green