Food & Drinks

1. Ndeumfwa insala.

   I am hungry.

   Usage

   Tells people you are hungry, e.g. when asking for a meal

   Grammar Note

   Literally "I feel hunger"; "insala" is also written "nsala". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

2. Ndeumfwa icilaka.

   I am thirsty.

   Usage

   Tells people you are thirsty, e.g. when asking for water

   Grammar Note

   Literally "I feel thirst". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

3. Mpeelako amenshi ayatalala, mukwai.

   Cold water, please.

   Usage

   Asks for cold water at a shop or eatery

   Grammar Note

   "-peela" means "give" and the ending "-ko" adds "some". It follows the pattern "Mpeelako amenshi ya kunwa" ("give me some drinking water"). Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

4. Ndefwaya kofi.

   I would like coffee.

   Usage

   Orders coffee at a cafe or eatery

   Grammar Note

   A loanword; native review recommended. Add "mukwai" at the end to be more polite. Composed from known words and sentence patterns

5. Amani

   Eggs

   Usage

   The word to use when ordering eggs

   Grammar Note

   Normally used in the plural form; "umukate na amani" means "bread and eggs"

6. Umukate

   Bread

   Usage

   The word for buying or ordering bread

   Grammar Note

   The plural is "imikate"; as in "Mukwete imikate inga?" ("How many loaves do you have?")

7. Umusalu

   Vegetables

   Usage

   The word for vegetable dishes and sides

   Grammar Note

   Usually used as a collective word for vegetables

8. Ifisabo

   Fruit

   Usage

   The word for buying or ordering fruit

   Grammar Note

   A plural form; one fruit is "icisabo". The word also means the produce of a plant

9. Ubuci

   Honey

   Usage

   The word for buying or asking for honey

   Grammar Note

   Also written "buci" without the initial u

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