buku

búku (canonical class-5)
mabúku (class-6 plural)


Chichewa

/t͡ʃiˈt͡ʃe.w⁽ᵝ⁾á/


ola

óla (canonical class-5)
maóla (class-6 plural)


bere

bére (canonical class-5)
maŵére (class-6 plural)


kama

kamá (canonical class-9)
makamá (class-6 plural)


kwacha

ny-noun

kwacha class 9 (plural makwacha class 6)

Literally "it has dawned", from -cha (“to dawn”).


tambala

tambala class 9 (plural matambala class 6)

tambala (hundredth of a Malawian kwacha)


gogo

gógo (canonical class-1a)
gogo (canonical class-1a)
agógo (class-2 plural)
agogo (class-2 plural)

Likely from a Nguni language; compare Zulu ugogo.

grandparent (grandfather or grandmother)


mutu

mutú (canonical class-3)
mitú (class-4 plural)


boma

Borrowed from Swahili boma (“enclosure, military or police outpost”).


mayi

máyi (canonical class-1a)
amáyi (class-2 plural)


mchombo

ny-noun

mchómbo class 3 (plural michómbo class 4)

mchómbo (canonical class-3)
michómbo (class-4 plural)


basi

bási (canonical class-9)
mabási (class-6 plural)


chuma

A wanderwort ultimately from Swahili chuma (“iron”).


mkono

mkóno (canonical class-3)
mikóno (class-4 plural)


nyumba

nyumbá (canonical class-9)
nyumbá (class-10 plural)


tate

taté (canonical class-1a)
ataté (class-2 plural)

Cognate with Xhosa utata (“father”), Nambya tate (“father”), Rwanda-Rundi date (“father”), Kabwa taata.


sabata

sábata class 5 (plural masábata class 6)

sábata (canonical class-5)
masábata (class-6 plural)

A borrowing introduced by the missionaries, but from an unclear source; probably Latin sabbatum or its source, Ancient Greek σάββατον (sábbaton).


sabata

sábata (canonical class-9)
sábata (class-10 plural)


chala

chalá (canonical class-7)
zalá (class-8 plural)


banja

bánja (canonical class-5)
mabánja (class-6 plural)

family, specifically one's spouse and children


mwezi

mwezí (canonical class-3)
miyezí (class-4 plural)


zana

zána (canonical class-5)
mazána (class-6 plural)


mkondo

mkóndo (canonical class-3)
mikóndo (class-4 plural)


nyundo

A widely diffused word ultimately from Swahili nyundo; Klein-Arendt mentions a possible native root in Chichewa that is dismissed on historical grounds.


ndege

ndége (canonical class-9)
ndége (class-10 plural)

Borrowed from Swahili ndege (“bird, airplane”).


mwana

mwaná (canonical class-1)
aná (class-2 plural)


Chinyanja

/t͡ʃiˈɲa.ⁿd͡ʒá/

From nyanja (“lake”), referencing Lake Malawi rather than any specific ethnic group.

Chichewa, or a macrolanguage of which it is a dialect (a political distinction).


chifu

chifú (canonical class-7)
zifú (class-8 plural)


batiza

-batiza (canonical)
kubátiza (infinitive)


diso

díso (canonical class-5)
masó (class-6 plural)


shehe

shéhe (canonical class-1a)
ashéhe (class-2 plural)

From Swahili shehe (possibly via Yao shehe), from Arabic شَيْخ (šayḵ).


nyuzi

nyúzi (canonical class-9)
nyúzi (class-10 plural)


dzina

dzína (canonical class-5)
maína (class-6 plural)


nsima

nsíma (canonical class-9)
nsíma (class-10 plural)

nsima, a porridge made of sorghum or maize


mphepo

mphépo (canonical class-9)
mphépo (class-10 plural)

Any of certain diseases believed to be spread by the wind.


Mmalawi

Mmaláŵi class 1 (plural Amaláŵi class 2)

Mmaláŵi (canonical class-1)
Amaláŵi (class-2 plural)


baibulo

báibulo class 9 (plural báibulo class 10)

báibulo class 5 (plural mabáibulo class 6)

báibulo (canonical class-9)
báibulo (canonical class-5)
báibulo (class-10 plural)
mabáibulo (class-6 plural)


chaka

chaká (canonical class-7)
zaká (class-8 plural)


lawi

laŵí (canonical class-5)
malaŵí (class-6 plural)


Mavuto

From mavuto (“problems”), reflecting a problematic birth.

Mabvuto

obsolete spelling, still commonly used for the name


Mchewa

Mcheŵá (canonical class-1)
Acheŵá (class-2 plural)

/mˈt͡ʃe.w⁽ᵝ⁾á/


dokotala

dókotala class 1a (plural adókotala class 2)

dókotala (canonical class-1a)
adókotala (class-2 plural)


dotolo

dótolo class 1a (plural adótolo class 2)

dótolo (canonical class-1a)
adótolo (class-2 plural)


sing'anga

síng'anga class 1a (plural asíng'anga class 2)

síng'anga (canonical class-1a)
asíng'anga (class-2 plural)


nsapato

nsápato class 9 (plural nsápato class 10)

nsápato (canonical class-9)
nsápato (class-10 plural)


bedi

bédi (canonical class-9)
bédi (class-10 plural)


dzino

dzíno (canonical class-5)
manó (class-6 plural)


njinga

njingá (canonical class-9)
njingá (class-10 plural)

/ˈⁿd͡ʒi.ᵑɡá/


mbumba

A man's sisters and their female descendants, over which he has the traditional responsibility of protection.


mchira

mchíra (canonical class-3)
michíra (class-4 plural)


nyanja

nyanjá (canonical class-9)
nyanjá (class-10 plural)


mbewu

mbéwu (canonical class-9)
mbéwu (class-10 plural)


Mbathwa

Mbathwá class 1 (plural Abathwá class 2)

Mbathwá (canonical class-1)
Abathwá (class-2 plural)

From Proto-Bantu *mʊ̀tʊ́à. The presence of -ba- suggests a borrowing, likely from Nguni.

Bushman (one of the indigenous people of southern Africa before Bantu arrival)


mkute

mkúte (canonical class-3)
mikúte (class-4 plural)


buledi

bulédi class 1a (plural mabulédi class 6)

bulédi (canonical class-1a)
mabulédi (class-6 plural)


impso

impsó (canonical class-9)
impsó (class-10 plural)


golide

Borrowed from English gold, probably via another Bantu language from the gold-mining region to the south; compare Shona goridhe and Zulu igolide.


ndalama

ndaláma class 9 (plural ndaláma class 10)

ndaláma (canonical class-9)
ndaláma (class-10 plural)

A regional wanderwort, ultimately from Arabic دَرَاهِم (darāhim, “dirhams”); cognates include Tswana talama (“button”), Shona ndarama (“precious metal”), and Tsonga ndzalama (“gem”).


miniti

míniti class 9 (plural mamíniti class 6)

míniti (canonical class-9)
mamíniti (class-6 plural)


lilime

lilíme class 5 (plural malilíme class 6)

lilíme (canonical class-5)
malilíme (class-6 plural)


khasu

khásu (canonical class-5)
makásu (class-6 plural)


mayi wamng'ono

máyí wáḿng'óno class 1a (plural amáyí ááng'óno class 2)

máyí wáḿng'óno (canonical class-1a)
amáyí ááng'óno (class-2 plural)


mayi wamkulu

máyí wáḿkúlu class 1a (plural amáyí áákúlu class 2)

máyí wáḿkúlu (canonical class-1a)
amáyí áákúlu (class-2 plural)


bambo wamkazi

bambo wáḿkázi class 1a (plural abambo áḿkázi class 2)

bambo wáḿkázi (canonical class-1a)
abambo áḿkázi (class-2 plural)


tsiku

tsíku (canonical class-5)
masíku (class-6 plural)


Atate

From the polite plural of tate (“father”).


mfiti

mfíti (canonical class-1)
afíti (class-2 plural)


masese

sediment left at the bottom of a cup of beer


ufiti

ufíti (canonical class-14)
maufíti (class-6 plural)


chipatso

chipátso class 7 (plural zipátso class 8)

chipátso (canonical class-7)
zipátso (class-8 plural)


mbusa

mbúsa (canonical class-1)
abúsa (class-2 plural)


khutu

khutú (canonical class-5)
makutú (class-6 plural)


mzati

the central post or column holding up the roof of a house


mzikiti

mzikití class 3 (plural mizikití class 4)

mzikití (canonical class-3)
mizikití (class-4 plural)

Borrowed from Yao msikití, from Swahili msikiti, from Arabic مَسْجِد (masjid).


mtsempha

mtsémpha class 3 (plural mitsémpha class 4)

mtsémpha (canonical class-3)
mitsémpha (class-4 plural)


galimoto

gálímoto class 9 (plural magálímoto class 6)

gálímoto class 5 (plural magálímoto class 6)

gálímoto (canonical class-9)
gálímoto (canonical class-5)
magálímoto (class-6 plural)

The first element is from Swahili gari (“car”), from Hindi गाड़ी (gāṛī), and the second element is either English motor or moto (“fire”).

der

Hindi गाड़ी (gāṛī)


Mloma

Mlóma (canonical class-1)
Alóma (class-2 plural)


msilikali

ny-noun

msilikáli class 1 (plural asilikáli class 2)

msilikáli (canonical class-1)
asilikáli (class-2 plural)

From a reanalysis of Swahili askari as a plural form, probably via Yao (with possible interference from Swahili serikali (“government”)). The Swahili word derives from Arabic عَسْكَرِيّ (ʕaskariyy).


tchalitchi

tchálitchi class 5 (plural matchálitchi class 6)

tchálitchi (canonical class-5)
matchálitchi (class-6 plural)

/t͡ʃʰáˈɽi.t͡ʃʰi/


bwanamkubwa

bwanamkúbwa class 1a (plural abwanamkúbwa class 2)

bwanamkúbwa (canonical class-1a)
abwanamkúbwa (class-2 plural)

Borrowed from Swahili bwana mkubwa (“great master”).


Mmwenye

Mmwenye class 1 (plural Amwenye class 2)

From Swahili mwenye (“owner”), probably short for "store owner" or similar.

Indian (person from India or descending from people from India)


nthano

A fictional or personal story, traditionally a type of folk tale, which usually includes songs.


nsidze

nsídze (canonical class-9)
nsídze (class-10 plural)


njerwa

njérwa (canonical class-9)
njérwa (class-10 plural)

/ˈⁿd͡ʒé.ɽʷa/


nkhope

nkhópe (canonical class-9)
nkhópe (class-10 plural)

Probably a formation based on chikope; see there for more.


nyale

nyále (canonical class-9)
nyále (class-10 plural)


chigama

chigáma (canonical class-7)
zigáma (class-8 plural)


khothi

khóthi class 5 (plural makhóthi class 6)

khóthi (canonical class-5)
makhóthi (class-6 plural)


chinji

/ˈt͡ʃí.ⁿd͡ʒi/


ndowa

ndówa (canonical class-9)
ndówa (class-10 plural)

Borrowed from Yao ndowa, from Swahili ndoo.


ndulu

ndúlu (canonical class-9)
ndúlu (class-10 plural)


mbiya

mbiyá (canonical class-9)
mbiyá (class-10 plural)


kampani

káḿpani class 9 (plural makáḿpani class 6)

káḿpani (canonical class-9)
makáḿpani (class-6 plural)


katekisima

katekísima class 1a (plural akatekísima class 2)

katekísima class 1a (plural makatekísima class 6)

katekísima (canonical class-1a)
akatekísima (class-2 plural)
makatekísima (class-6 plural)


chikope

chikópe (canonical class-7)
zikópe (class-8 plural)

From Proto-Bantu *dʊ̀kópè. Cognate with Zulu ukhophe (“eyelash”), Swahili ukope (“eyelid, eyelash”), Rwanda-Rundi urugohe (“eyelid, eyelash”).


chifuwa

chifúwa (canonical class-7)
zifúwa (class-8 plural)

cold, or any other disease that can be felt in the chest


kalaliki

ny-noun

kaláliki class 1a (plural akaláliki class 2)

kaláliki (canonical class-1a)
akaláliki (class-2 plural)


mulungu

mulungu class 3 (plural milungu class 4)


chiuno

chiúno (canonical class-7)
ziúno (class-8 plural)


nkhwangwa

nkhwángwa class 9 (plural nkhwángwa class 10)

nkhwángwa (canonical class-9)
nkhwángwa (class-10 plural)

/ˈᵑkʷʰá.ᵑɡʷa/


mngelo

mngélo (canonical class-1)
angélo (class-2 plural)

Seemingly derived directly from Latin angelus or its etymon, Ancient Greek ἄγγελος (ángelos), with the initial a- reinterpreted as a plural form.


mphumi

mphumí (canonical class-9)
mphumí (class-10 plural)


mbolo

mbólo (canonical class-9)
mbólo (class-10 plural)


ngalawa

ngalawá class 9 (plural ngalawá class 10)

ngalawá (canonical class-9)
ngalawá (class-10 plural)


Kamuzu

From ka- + muzu, meaning "little root"; the name was originally given in honour of the roots given by a medicine man to cure infertility.

a unisex given name, most famously borne by Kamuzu Banda.


mnyamata

mnyamatá class 1 (plural anyamatá class 2)

mnyámata class 1 (plural anyámata class 2)

mnyamatá (canonical class-1)
mnyámata (canonical class-1)
anyamatá (class-2 plural)
anyámata (class-2 plural)


mphunzitsi

mphunzitsi class 1 (plural aphunzitsi class 2)


mvula

mvúla (canonical class-9)
mvúla (class-10 plural)


chikato

chikáto (canonical class-7)
zikáto (class-8 plural)


chipatala

chipatala class 7 (plural zipatala class 8)

From Shona chipatara, from English hospital.


fupa

fúpa (canonical class-5)
mafúpa (class-6 plural)


mwavi

a poison used to test a person's innocence


nthawi

ntháŵi (canonical class-9)
ntháŵi (class-10 plural)

/ˈⁿtʰá.w⁽ᵝ⁾i/


nyenyezi

nyényezí class 9 (plural nyényezí class 10)

nyényezí (canonical class-9)
nyényezí (class-10 plural)


magazi

A borrowing from a Nguni language (compare Zulu igazi), which has largely displaced the native form mwazí.


mgodi

Ultimately a borrowing from a Southern Bantu language; compare Zulu umgodi (“hole, mine”).

mine (place from which ore is extracted)


mtima

mtíma (canonical class-3)
mitíma (class-4 plural)


chishango

chishango class 7 (plural zishango class 8)

/t͡ʃíˈʃa.ᵑɡo/

A borrowing from a Nguni language; compare Zulu isihlangu (“large shield”).


ubatizo

ubatizo class 14 (plural maubatizo class 6)


Kamwendo

From ka- (“diminutive”) + mwendo (“leg”); "walking from place to place,traveller".


Masiye

From masiye (“orphan”, literally “that which is left behind by a deceased person”).


nduna

nduná (canonical class-9)
nduná (class-10 plural)


nduna yaikulu

nduná yáíkúlu class 9 (plural nduná zázíkúlu class 10)

nduná yáíkúlu (canonical class-9)
nduná zázíkúlu (class-10 plural)


bondo

bóndo (canonical class-5)
maóndo (class-6 plural)


malume

malúme class 1a (plural amalúme class 2)

malúme (canonical class-1a)
amalúme (class-2 plural)


jombo

jómbo (canonical class-5)
majómbo (class-6 plural)


magetsi

From Shona magetsi, from a Nguni language (compare Zulu ugesi), from English gas.


Mtumbuka

Mtúmbuka class 1 (plural Atúmbuka class 2)

Mtúmbuka (canonical class-1)
Atúmbuka (class-2 plural)


Chizungu

any European language (usually in reference to English)


Chiwemba

/t͡ʃiˈw⁽ᵝ⁾e.ᵐbá/


Chinkhonde

the Nkhonde language, often regarded as a dialect of Nyakyusa


fosholo

fósholo class 5 (plural mafósholo class 6)

fósholo (canonical class-5)
mafósholo (class-6 plural)

From Shona foshoro (“spade”), ultimately from English shovel (compare Zulu ifosholo).


imfa

imfá (canonical class-9)
imfá (class-10 plural)


gongono

góngono class 5 (plural magóngono class 6)

góngono (canonical class-5)
magóngono (class-6 plural)


imvi

imví (canonical class-9)
imví (class-10 plural)

From Proto-Bantu *mbúì. Cognate with Swahili mvi.


kandulo

kándulo class 9 (plural makándulo class 6)

kándulo (canonical class-9)
makándulo (class-6 plural)


chiwengo

chiŵéngo class 7 (plural ziŵéngo class 8)

chiŵéngo (canonical class-7)
ziŵéngo (class-8 plural)

/t͡ʃiˈw⁽ᵝ⁾é.ᵑɡo/


thako

tháko (canonical class-5)
matáko (class-6 plural)


khadabo

khádabo class 5 (plural makádabo class 6)

khádabo (canonical class-5)
makádabo (class-6 plural)


mphuno

Cognate with Shona mhuno and Swahili pua.


msana

msána (canonical class-3)
misána (class-4 plural)


kapamba

kápamba class 1a (plural akápamba class 2)

kápamba (canonical class-1a)
akápamba (class-2 plural)


chiwindi

chíŵindi class 7 (plural zíŵindi class 8)

chíŵindi (canonical class-7)
zíŵindi (class-8 plural)

/t͡ʃíˈw⁽ᵝ⁾i.ⁿdi/

Perhaps a borrowing from Nguni; compare Zulu isibindi.


phazi

phazí (canonical class-5)
mapazí (class-6 plural)


chiganizo

chiganizo class 7 (plural ziganizo class 8)


mphika

a type of cooking pot, used to make ndiwo (“relish”)


mimba

mímba (canonical class-9)
mímba (class-10 plural)

From Proto-Bantu *mbímbà, derived from Proto-Bantu *-bímba (“to swell”).

Anali ndi mimba.


malasha

From Shona marasha, from a Nguni language (compare Zulu amalahle).


chingwa

chingwá (canonical class-7)
zingwá (class-8 plural)

/ˈt͡ʃi.ᵑɡʷá/

From a Nguni language, likely via Shona chingwa with tonal change.


bwato

bwató (canonical class-5)
mabwató (class-6 plural)