Contacts & SNS

1. Bushe nambala yenu ya lamya ni cinshi?

   What is your phone number?

   Usage

   Ask for someone's phone number when you want to stay in touch

   Grammar Note

   "Nambala ya lamya" is "phone number"; a phone is mainly called lamya and also foni. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

2. Nambala yandi ya lamya ni ___.

   My phone number is ___.

   Usage

   Give your own phone number; put the digits in the blank

   Grammar Note

   Yandi is the form of "my" that agrees with nambala (class 9). Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

3. Bushe kuti mwantumina, mukwai?

   Could you call me, please?

   Usage

   Politely ask someone to phone you later, once you have swapped numbers

   Grammar Note

   Ukutumina means "to call" (by phone). Mu- is the polite "you", and -n- is "me"; mukwai is the politeness marker. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

4. Tukakumana kwi?

   Where shall we meet?

   Usage

   Ask for a meeting place when arranging to meet again

   Grammar Note

   Tu-ka- marks "we will" (future). Ukukumana means "to meet" or "to gather". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

5. Mwikala kwi?

   Where do you live?

   Usage

   Ask which town or area someone lives in

   Grammar Note

   Ukwikala means "to live", "to sit" or "to stay"; context decides. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

6. Nambala ya lamya

   Phone number

   Usage

   The term for a phone number, used when swapping contacts

   Grammar Note

   A phone is mainly called lamya; the loanword foni is also used. Composed from known words; native review recommended

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