Index – Chichewa for English Speakers (2011 edition)
Special thanks to Nevis Hulme for kindly compiling this helpful index.
Index Item	Chap	Page	
 -a bwanji? (how much?)		141	
 -a yani? (whose?)		143	
 -be (still (emphasis), yet (emphasis))		111	
 -be (still (repetition or continuance of action))		168	
 -da (for sure, really, surely)		167	
 -da- (past)		39, 77	
 -dakali (still, when . . . still)		111	
 dwa (passive possibility)		153	
 -dwa (passive)		153	
 -dza- (come and do, come to do) 		115	
 -dza- (future tense)		41, 80	
 -ka- (go and do, go to do)		115	
 -ka- (if, when)		86	
 -kada- (if (past))		88	
 -kadali (still, when . . . still)		111	
 -kali (still, when . . . still)		111	
 -kama- (if (past), whenever)		88	
 -kati (between, inside)		101	
 -kha (alone, by one's self, only)		159	
 -ko (a little, a little more, at all, ever)		168	
 -ko (makes verb comparative)		177	
 -ko (requesting permission)		139	
 -ko (there)		169	
 -ku- (while)		85-86	
 -ku- (you (singular)) (object pronoun)		28	
 -ku- -ni  (you (plural)) (object pronoun)		29	
 -li (be, to (temporary state))		107	
 -li (while)		85-86	
 -li ndi (have, to)		105	
 -libe (have not, to)		105	
 -liko (is there)		102	
 -limo (is there)		102	
 -lipo (is there)		102	
 -ma- (habitual)		78	
 -ma- (past continuous)		77	
 -mbuyo (after, behind, in the back)		100	
 -mene (relative pronoun: which, who, where, when, that, how, even, as well, also)		118	
 -mo (there)		169	
 -mu- (her, him) (object pronoun)		29	
 -mwamba (above, over)		99	
 -mwe (relative pronoun: which, who, where, when, that, how, even, as well, also)		118	
 -na (another, any, different, more, other, some)		162	
 -na (each other, one another)		154	
 -na- (past)		39, 77	
 -ndi- (me) (object pronoun)		26	
 -nga- (can, might do)		156	
 -ngapo (several, an unspecified number)		205	
 -ngathe (can)		157	
 -ngati? (how many?, how much?)		144	
 -ngo (only, just)		168	
 -ngoti (ideophones)		187	
 -ni -ni (actual, authentic, real)		163	
 -nja (outside, outside of)		101	
 -nji? (what? what kind?)		145	
 -nka- (past continuous)		77	
 -nse (all, completely, whole)		161	
 -nsi (under)		99	
 -nso (again, also, as well)		168	
 -po (a little, a little more, at all, ever)		168	
 -po (makes verb comparative)		177	
 -po (requesting permission)		139	
 -po (there)		169	
 -ra (applied (e.g. run for), relational purpose or direction)		151	
 -ra + -ko (a little or little more)		152	
 -ra + -po (a little or little more)		152	
 -ratu (beforehand, completely, totally)		152, 167	
 -ratu (in anticipation)		152	
 -sa- (negative)		95	
 -sana- -e (before)		89	
 -seri (behind, on the other side of (objects))		100	
 -ta- (after)		87	
 -tani? (do what?, say what?, what kind?)		143	
 -ti- (us) (object pronoun)		27	
 -ti? (which?)		144	
 -tsa (causative, intensive)		149	
 -tsidya (on the other bank, on the other side of)		101	
 -tsogolo (before, in front of)		100	
 -tu (add urgency, already, surely)		167	
 -ŵa- (them) (object pronoun)		31	
 -yenera (must)		157	
 -yenera (must, should, to be worthy)		135, 157	
 -za (causative, intensive)		154	
a- (he, she) (personal pronoun)		23	
a- (they) (personal pronoun)		23	
about (za)		116	
above (-mwamba)		99	
adjectives	10	68	
1 Mu- A-		69	
2 Mu- Mi-		69	
3 Chi- Zi-		69	
4 I- Zi-		70	
5 Li- Ma-		71	
6 U- Ma-		72	
7 Ka- Ti-		72	
8 Ku verbal		72	
9 Ku		72	
10 Pa		72	
11 Mu		72	
adjectives (tones)		68	
adjectives: double prefix	19	113	
adjectives: irregular	28	159	
actual (-ni -ni)		163	
all (-nse)		161	
alone (-kha)		159	
another (-na)		162	
any (-na)		162	
authentic (-ni -ni)		163	
by one's self (-kha)		159	
completely (-nse)		161	
different (-na)		162	
more (-na)		162	
only (-kha)		159	
other (-na)		162	
real (-ni -ni)		163	
some (-na)		162	
whole (-nse)		161	
adjectives: possessive	11	73	
1 Mu- A-		73	
2 Mu- Mi-		73	
3 Chi- Zi-		74	
4 I- Zi-		74	
5 Li- Ma-		74	
6 U- Ma-		74	
7 Ka- Ti-		 -	
8 Ku verbal		74	
9 Ku		75	
10 Pa		75	
11 Mu		76	
adjectives: verbal	15	91	
multi-syllable		92	
negative (-sa-)		95	
single syllable		91	
adverbs	30	167	
still (repetition or continuance of action) (-be)		168	
a little (apo ndi apo)		174	
a little (-ko, -po)		168	
a little more (-ko, -po)		168	
adds urgency to commands (-tu)		167	
adverbs from adjectives or nouns (kwa-, mwa-, pa-)		172-3	
again (-nso)		168	
already (-tu)		167	
also (-nso)		168	
anyhow (wamba)		170	
as well (-nso)		168	
at all (-ko)		168	
at all (-po)		168	
beforehand (-ratu)		167	
careful! (bwino)		169	
carefully (bwino)		169	
commonly (wamba)		170	
completely (-ratu)		167	
especially (makamaka)		171	
ever (-ko)		168	
ever (-po)		168	
fast (msanga)		169	
for sure (-da)		167	
for sure (ndithu)		169	
good (bwino)		169	
irregularly (apo ndi apo) 		174	
just (-ngo)		168	
like that (choncho)		174	
like this (chonchi)		174	
normal (wamba)		170	
only (chabe)		170	
only (-ngo)		168	
ordinary (wamba)		170	
probably (makamaka)		171	
quickly (msanga)		169	
really (-da)		167	
seldom (apo ndi apo)		174	
so (choncho)		174	
soon (bwino)		169	
such (choncho)		174	
surely (-tu)		167	
there (-ko, -mo, -po)		169	
truly (ndithu)		169	
verbs used as adverbs		171	
well (bwino)		169	
without special thought or care (wamba)		170	
after (-mbuyo)		100	
after (-ta-)	14	87	
aliyense (any, every)	29	165	
also (-mene, -mwe)	21	121	
although (ngakhale)		157	
always (chi . . . re(ni))	37	200	
angakhale (even)		157	
any (aliyense)	29	165	
apo ndi apo (a little, irregularly, seldom)		174	
article: definite, indefinite		46	
as well (-mene, -mwe)		121	
at (pa-)	16	96	
at this point (pa…li pano)		126	
at this time (pa…li pano)		126	
be able, to (physical) (kutha)		156	
be able, to (situational) (kukhoza)		156	
be like that (kutero)		212	
be like this (kutere)		212	
be possible, to (kutheka, zi- -theka)		158	
be that (kutero)		212	
be this (kutere)		212	
be, to (kukhala)	18	107	
be, to (temporary state) (-li)	18	107	
be worthy, to (-yenera)		157	
before (-sana- -e)	14	89	
before (-tsogolo)		100	
behind (-mbuyo, -seri)		100	
between (-kati)		101	
body, parts of		98	
bwanji?( how?)		141	
bwenzi (then)		90	
bwino (careful!, carefully, good, soon, well)		169	
can (-,nga, -ngathe)	27	156, 157	
cha (direction)		213	
chabe (only)		170	
chi-  (noun prefix)	35	193, 194	
chi . . . re(ni) (since, still, always)	37	200	
chifukwa chake (therefore)		184	
chiyani? (what?)		142	
chonchi (like this)		174, 184	
choncho (like that, so, such)		174, 184	
come and do (-dza-)		115	
come to do (-dza-)		115	
command with ta-		133	
commands	23	132	
commands in mixed form	23	135	
commands, negative		136	
comparatives	31	176	
a little better (-ko, -po)		177	
a little more (-ko, -po)		177	
be different, to (kusiyana)		176	
be more (kuposa)		176	
do best (kupambana)		176	
do more (kuposa)		176	
go beyond (kupambana)		176	
other constructions		176	
universal statements		178	
win (kupambana)		176	
conjunctions	32	180	
and (ndi)		180	
and (ndipo)		181	
and also (komanso)		181	
but (koma)		181	
but (komatu)		182	
but still (komabe)		181	
by (ndi)		180	
even (komabe)		181	
from . . .until (kchokera . . . mpaka)		184	
from . . .until (kuyambira . . . mpaka)		183	
like that (choncho)		184	
like this (chonchi)		184	
maybe (mwina make)		182	
maybe (mwina)		182	
now (tsopano)		183	
or (kapena)		182	
so (choncho)		184	
somehow (mwina make)		182	
somehow (mwina)		182	
somewhere (mwina make)		182	
somewhere (mwina)		182	
such (choncho)		184	
that (kuti)		184	
then (tsopano)		183	
therefore (chifukwa chake)		184	
until (mpaka, mpakana)		183	
with (ndi)		180	
could	27	156	
days of the week		204	
demonstrative pronouns	22	123	
demonstratives with ndi		129	
demonstratives: position		164	
direction (cha)		213	
do like that (kutero)		212	
do like this (kutere)		212	
do that (kutero)		212	
do this (kutere)		212	
euphemisms		215	
even	27	156	
even (angakhale)		157	
even (-mene, -mwe)		121	
even (ngakhale)		157	
every (aliyense)	29	165	
expressions		215	
first time, second time, . . . 		205	
first, second, third		203	
friend, my (mnzanga)	34	190	
from (ku-, mu, m')	16	96	
future tense (-dza-)		41, 80	
future tense (tones) 		41	
go and do (-ka-)		115	
go to do (-ka-)		115	
greetings	3	16	
habitual (-ma-)		78	
have not, to (kuponda, -libe)		105	
have, to (-li ndi)	17	105	
here	22	123	
how (relative pronoun: -mene, -mwe)		118	
ideophones	33	187	
if (negative) (kupanda)		89	
if (ngati, -ka-)		86	
if (past) (-kada-, -kama-)		88	
ife (us) (object pronoun)		27	
ife (we) (personal pronoun)		20	
imagine (kuti)		208	
imperative		132	
in front of (-tsogolo)		100	
in the back (-mbuyo)		100	
in (ku-)	16	96	
in (mu-, m')	16	96	
ine (me) (object pronoun)		26	
ine (I) (personal pronoun)		19	
inside (-kati)		101	
intend (kuti)		208	
inu (you (plural)) 		29	
inu (you (plural)) (personal pronoun)		21	
is (permanent) (ndi)	18	108	
is not (si)		109	
is there (-liko, -limo, -lipo)		102	
iwe (you (singular)) (object pronoun)		28	
iwe (you (singular)) (personal pronoun)		21	
iwo (them) (object pronoun)		31	
iwo (they) (personal pronoun)		23	
iye (he, she) (personal pronoun)		23	
iye (her) (object pronoun)		29	
iye (him) (object pronoun)		29	
kapena (perhaps)		182	
kaya? (what about?)		146	
ko- (turn verb to adverb)		171	
kodi? (general question word)		140	
koma (but)		181	
komabe (but still, even)		181	
komanso (and also)		181	
komatu (but)		182	
koti (such that, since)		210	
ku- (to, in, from)	16	96	
kuchokera . . . mpaka (from . . . until)		184	
kufikira (until)		183	
kukhala (be, to)		107	
kukhoza (to be able (situational), to pass a test, to succeed)		156	
kuli (there is)		97	
kulibe (there is not)		97	
kupambana (do best, go beyond, win)		176	
kupanda (if (negative), when (negative))		89	
kupeza		90	
kuponda (have not, to)		105	
kuposa (be more, do more)		176	
kusiyana (to be different)		176	
kutere (be this, do this, say this, . . .)	40	212	
kutero (be that, do that, say that, . . .)	40	212	
kutha (to be able (physical))		156	
kutheka (to be possible, to work)		158	
kuti (that)		184	
kuti (to say, think, intend, purpose, imagine, that)	39	208	
kuyambira . . . mpaka (from . . . until)		183	
kwa- (adverbs from adjectives or nouns)		172	
kwakuti (such that)		210	
liti? (when?)		145	
m'  (in, from)		96	
m- (noun prefix)	35	193	
makamaka (especially, probably)		171	
manga (my mother)	34	192	
manners, good (iwo)		32	
may	27	156	
might	27	156	
might do (-nga-)		156	
m'mene + -ra (how)		152	
mnzanga (my friend)	34	190	
mo- (turn verb to adverb)		171	
modern influences		219	
modern numbers		202	
modern slang		221	
mother,my (manga)	34	192	
moti (such that, since)		210	
mpaka (until)		183	
mpakana (until)		183	
mphwanga (my younger relative)	34	191	
msanga (quickly, fast)		169	
mu- (in, from)		96	
mu- (you (plural)) (personal pronoun)		21	
muli (there is)		97	
mulibe (there is not)		97	
multi-syllable		92	
must (habit or general requirement)		134	
must (-yenera)		157	
mwa- (adverbs from adjectives or nouns)		173	
mwakuti (such that)		210	
mwina (maybe, somehow, somewhere)		182	
mwina make (maybe, somehow, somewhere)		182	
nanga? (rhetorical question)		147	
nanga? (what about?)		146	
nawo (requesting permission)		138	
ndani? (who?)		142	
ndi (and, by, with)		180	
ndi (is (permanent))		108	
ndi (verb) with with, and (ndine)		130	
ndi as with, and (nane)		130	
ndi- (I) (personal pronoun)		19	
ndipo (and)		181	
ndithu (for sure, truly)		169	
negative (-sa-)		95	
negatives (si-, -sa-)		82	
ngakhale (although, even)		157	
ngati (when)		86	
ngati? (negative affirmation)		146	
noun classes	9	47	
1 Mu- A-		47	
2 Mu- Mi-		50	
3 Chi- Zi-		52	
4 I- Zi-		55	
5 Li- Ma-		57	
6 U- Ma-		60	
7 Ka- Ti-		61	
8 Ku verbal		62	
9 Ku		63	
10 Pa		64	
11 Mu		64	
noun prefixes (chi-, m-, u-)	35	193	
nouns (tones) 		49, 52, 54, 57, 59, 60, 62-64	
nouns from verbs	36	196	
nouns: foreign		65-67	
nouns: introduction	8	43	
nthaŵi yanji? (what time?, when)		146	
numbers	38	201	
days of the week		204	
first time, second time, . . . 		205	
first, second, third		203	
modern numbers		202	
old number system		201	
once, twice,thrice, . . .		205	
several (-ngapo)		205	
together (limodzi, pamodzi)		205	
unspecified number, an (-ngapo)		205	
using numbers		203	
object pronouns	5	26	
her (iye / -mu-)		29	
him (iye / -mu-)		29	
me (ine / -ndi-)		26	
them (iwo / -ŵa-)		31	
us (ife / -ti-)		27	
you (plural) (inu / -ku- -ni)		29	
you (singular) (iwe / -ku-)		28	
object pronouns (tones) 		26-29, 31	
of	10	68	
old number system		201	
on the other bank (-tsidya)		101	
on the other side of (objects) (-seri)		100	
on the other side of (-tsidya)		101	
on (pa-)	16	96	
once, twice,thrice, . . .		205	
osati (not)		210	
outside, outside of (-nja)		101	
over (-mwamba)		99	
pa- (adverbs from adjectives or nouns)		173	
pa- (on, at)	16	96	
pa . . . li pano (at this time, at this point)		126	
pakuti (since, for, because)		210	
pali (there is)		97	
palibe (there is not)		97	
pass a test, to (kukhoza)		156	
past (-da-, -na-)		39, 77	
past continuous (-ma-, -nka-)		77	
past tense (tones) 		39, 40	
perfect		34	
perfect tense (tones) 		34, 35	
personal pronouns	4	19	
he (iye / a-)		23	
I (ine / ndi-)		19	
she (iye / a-)		23	
they (iwo / a-)		23	
we (ife / ti-)		20	
you (plural) (inu / mu)		21	
you (singular) (iwe / u-)		21	
please	24	138	
po- (turn verb to adverb)		171	
poti (such that, since)		210	
prepositions (ku, pa, mu)		96	
in, from (mu-, m')	16	96	
on, at (pa-)	16	96	
to, in, from (ku-)	16	96	
 with other prepositions			
above (-mwamba)		99	
after (-mbuyo)		100	
before (-tsogolo)		100	
behind (-mbuyo)		100	
behind (-seri)		100	
between (-kati)		101	
in front of (-tsogolo)		100	
in the back (-mbuyo)		100	
inside (-kati)		101	
is there (-liko, -limo, -lipo)		102	
on the other bank (-tsidya)		101	
on the other side of (objects) (-seri)		100	
on the other side of (-tsidya)		101	
outside, outside of (-nja)		101	
over (-mwamba)		99	
under (-nsi)		99	
present (simple)		79	
pronoun summary		24, 32	
pronunciation	1	4	
proverbs		217	
purpose (kuti)		208	
questions	25	140	
do what? (-tani?)		143	
general question word (kodi?)		140	
how many? (-ngati?)		144	
how much? (-a bwanji?)		141	
how much? (-ngati?)		144	
how? (bwanji?)		141	
negative affirmation (ngati?)		146	
rhetorical question (nanga?)		147	
say what? (-tani?)		143	
what about? (kaya?)		146	
what about? (nanga?)		146	
what kind? (-nji?)		145	
what kind? (-tani)		143	
what time? (nthaŵi yanji?)		146	
what? (chiyani?)		142	
what? (-nji?)		145	
when? (liti?)		145	
when? (nthaŵi yanji?)		146	
which? (-ti?)		144	
who? (ndani?)		142	
whose? (-a yani?)		143	
relative clause without -mene, -mwe		120	
relative pronouns (-mene, -mwe)	21	118	
relative tenses		85	
relative tenses (tones)		85, 86, 120-1	
requesting permission (-ko, -po)		139	
requesting permission (nawo)		138	
requesting permission (politely)		139	
say like that (kutero)		212	
say like this (kutere)		212	
say that (kutero)		212	
say this (kutere)		212	
say, to (kuti)		208	
several (-ngapo)		205	
should (-yenera)		135, 157	
si (is not)		109	
since (chi . . . re(ni))	37	200	
single syllable		91	
so (kotero kuti)		213	
still (chi . . . re(ni))	37	200	
still (-dakali, -kali, -kadali) 		111	
still (emphasis) (-be)		111	
subjunctive		133	
succeed, to (kukhoza)		156	
such that (kotero kuti)		213	
superlatives	31	176	
tenses (tones)		77-80	
that (relative pronoun: -mene, -mwe)		118	
that (uyo, uja)	22	127	
that(kuti)		208	
then (bwenzi)		90	
there	22	129	
there is (kuli, muli, pali)		97	
there is not (kulibe, mulibe, palibe)		97	
think (kuti)		208	
this (uyu, uno)		123	
this, that as who, which		130	
ti- (we) (personal pronoun)		20	
to (ku-)	16	96	
together (limodzi, pamodzi)		205	
tones	2	12	
adjectives 		68	
future tense 		41	
nouns 		49, 52, 54, 57, 59, 60, 62-64	
object pronouns 		26-29, 31	
past tense 		39, 40	
perfect tense 		34, 35	
relative tenses 		85, 86, 120-1	
tenses 		77-80	
tsopano (now, then)		183	
u- (noun prefix)	35	194	
u- (you (singular)) (personal pronoun)		21	
uja (that)		127	
under (-nsi)		99	
uno (this)		123	
unspecified number, an (-ngapo)		205	
using Chicheŵa	41	215	
using numbers		203	
uyo (that)		127	
uyu (this)		123	
verb changers	26	149	
a little or little more (-ra + -po /- ko)	12	77	
applied (e.g. run for) (-ra)		152	
beforehand (-ratu)		151	
causative (-tsa)		152	
causative (-za)		149	
completely (-ratu)		154	
each other (-na)		152	
how (m'mene) + -ra		154	
in anticipation (-ratu)		152	
intensive (-tsa)		152	
intensive (-za)		149	
one another (-na)		154	
passive (-dwa)		154	
passive possibility (-ka)		153	
relational purpose or direction (-ra)		153	
totally (-ratu)		151	
vowel change to add verb changer		152	
verbs		149	
come and do (-dza-)		115	
come to do (-dza-)		115	
future tense (-dza-)		41, 80	
go and do (-ka-)		115	
go to do (-ka-)		115	
habitual (-ma-)		78	
past (-da-, -na-)		39, 77	
past continuous (-ma-, -nka-)		77	
perfect		34	
present (simple)		79	
verbs used as adverbs		171	
vowel change to add verb changer		149	
wamba (adj: normal, ordinary)		170	
wamba (adv.: anyhow, commonly, without special thought or care)		170	
when (negative) (kupanda)		89	
when (ngati, -ka-)		86	
when (relative pronoun: -mene, -mwe)		118	
when . . . still (-dakali, -kali, -kadali) 		111	
whenever (-kama-)		88	
where (relative pronoun: -mene, -mwe)		118	
which (relative pronoun: -mene, -mwe)		118	
while (-ku-, -li)	14	85-86	
who (relative pronoun: -mene, -mwe)		118	
wishes	23	133	
with kupeza		90	
work, to (kutheka, zi- -theka)		158	
yet (emphasis) (-be)		111	
younger relative, my (mphwanga)	34	191	
za (about)		191	
zi- -theka (to be possible)		158	
zi- -theka (to work)		158