Useful Phrases

1. Nafuma ku ___.

   I come from ___.

   Usage

   Say where you are from; put a country or place name in the blank

   Grammar Note

   The root -fuma means "to come out of" or "to come from"; the perfect form nafuma is "I have come from". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

2. Ni inshita ya kubalilapo ukwisa pano.

   It is my first time here.

   Usage

   Say it is your first visit, a good opener for asking for recommendations

   Grammar Note

   "Inshita ya kubalilapo" is "the first time"; ukubalilapo means "to do for the first time". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

3. Ndeenda neka.

   I am travelling alone.

   Usage

   Say that you are travelling on your own

   Grammar Note

   Neka means "by myself"; for someone else it is weka and so on. Ukwenda means "to walk" or "to travel". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

4. Ndefwaya ukukopa icikope cenu, mukwai.

   I would like to take your photo, please.

   Usage

   Always ask permission before taking someone's photo

   Grammar Note

   Literally "I want to take your photo"; adding mukwai makes it a polite request. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

5. Tukope icikope pamo.

   Let us take a photo together.

   Usage

   For a souvenir photo with someone you have become friendly with

   Grammar Note

   Tu- + stem + -e makes the invitation "let us ...". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

6. Natemwa icalo ca Zambia.

   I like Zambia.

   Usage

   Tell people you meet that you like the country

   Grammar Note

   "Icalo ca + country name" means "the country of ...". The root -temwa means "to like" or "to be glad of". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

7. Nshilefwaya ukushita, ndemutootela.

   I do not want to buy, thank you.

   Usage

   Politely turn down a seller or tout

   Grammar Note

   Nshile- is the negative "I am not ...-ing", and adding ndemutootela ("I thank you") softens the refusal. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

8. Icikope

   Photo

   Usage

   The word for a photo or picture

   Grammar Note

   A noun starting with ici- (class 7); the plural is ifikope. "To take a photo" is ukukopa

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