Looking for practical Chichewa to Krio phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Chichewa phrase first, then the Krio translation (Krio) — so you can scan quickly before a trip, class, or video call.
The phrases are grouped into eight topics: greetings and pleasantries, useful phrases for travellers, everyday conversation, directions and getting around, shopping and dining, emergencies and health, work and business, and time, days and numbers. Use the table of contents to jump straight to greetings, directions, dining, emergencies, or numbers. You do not need perfect grammar to start — short, clear sentences often work better than silence when you are learning Krio.
Tip: pick five Krio phrases from the greetings section and use them in a real message today. Small daily practice beats cramming before a trip.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Chichewa to Krio translator to paste your own messages and get an instant translation.
Greetings and pleasantries
Hello, goodbye, please, thank you, and polite introductions for meeting new people.
Moni
Hello
Zikomo
Tenki
M'mawa wabwino
Gud mɔnin
Masana abwino
Gud aftanun
Madziwabwino
Gud ivnin
Usiku wabwino
Gud nait
Tiwonana
Si yu leta
Tsalani bwino
Bai
Dzina lako ndi ndani?
Wetɛn na yu neym?
Dzina langa ndi John
Ma neym na John
Muli bwanji?
Ow yu de?
Ndikufuna kukumana nanu
Naes fo mit yu
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Mukulankhula Chingerezi?
Yu sabi English?(Mukulankhula Chingerezi?)
Sindikulankhula Hindi bwino
A no sabi Hindi well.(Sindikulankhula Hindi bwino)
Sindikumva
A no sabi.(Sindikumva)
Chonde lukani pang'onopang'ono
Plis, tok slow.(Chonde lukani pang'onopang'ono)
Mungathe kutero kwachiwiri?
Yu fit tok dat again?(Mungathe kutero kwachiwiri?)
Kuti ndi kuti chimbudzi?
Weh na di toilet?(Kuti ndi kuti chimbudzi?)
Ndingapite bwanji ku mseu wa mzinda?
Ow A go fit reach di city center?(Ndingapite bwanji ku mseu wa mzinda?)
Pangani kumanzere
Turn left.(Pangani kumanzere)
Pangani kumanzere
Turn right.(Pangani kumanzere)
Pitani mwachindunji
Go straight.(Pitani mwachindunji)
Ndi ndalama zingati?
Ow much na di fare?(Ndi ndalama zingati?)
Tiket imodzi, chonde
One ticket, plis.(Tiket imodzi, chonde)
Ndi kutali bwanji kuchokera pano?
E far from ya?(Ndi kutali bwanji kuchokera pano?)
Ndakhalapo
A don lost.(Ndakhalapo)
Ndingatengere kuti SIM card?
Weh A go fit buy SIM card?(Ndingatengere kuti SIM card?)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Inde
Yes
Ayi
No
Mwina
Maybe
Ndikugwirizana
A mi agree
Sindikugwirizana
A no agree
Zimakoma
Dat na fine
Mumaganiza chiyani?
Wet in you tink?
Mungandithandize?
You fit help me?
Ndikufuna thandizo
A need help
Dikirani pang'ono
Wait small
Ndikupemphera
A sorry
Palibe vuto
No problem
Zikomo
Congratulations
Tsiku lobadwa labwino
Happy birthday
Pita bwino
Get safe trip
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Kuti ndi kuti sitima?
Weh na di train station?
Kuti ndi kuti malo otsetsereka?
Weh na di bus stop?
Ndi chigawo chiti?
Which platform na im?
Ndi nthawi iti imatenga?
Wetin time e go lef?
Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera?
Dis na di right way?
Ili pafupi pano
E dey near here
Ili kutali pano
E far from here
Kodi mungandionetse pa mapu?
Yu fit show me pan di map?
Khalani pano, chonde
Stop here, pliz
Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji?
How long e go tek?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Zimatenga ndalama zingati?
How much dis cost?
Izi ndizokwera mtengo kwambiri.
Dat too expensive.
Kodi muli ndi chinthu chotsika mtengo?
You get anytin wey cheaper?
Ndingathe kulipira ndi khadi?
I fit pay by card?
Ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri.
I wan table for two.
Chikonthe, chonde.
Di bill, please.
Kodi ntchito yakhala mu mtengo?
Service dey include?
Ndine mvegetarian.
I na vegetarian.
Osati chakudya chotentha, chonde.
No spicy food, please.
Izi ndizochuluka.
Dis dey sweet.
Ndingathe kupeza menyu?
I fit get di menu?
Galasi ya madzi, chonde.
A glass of water, please.
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Fufuzani apolisi
Call di police
Fufuzani ambulansi
Call ambulance
Ndikufuna dokotala
A need doctor
Ndikumva kutopa
A dey feel sick
Ndine wosokoneza ndi ma nuts a phala
A get allergy for peanuts
Kuti ndi kuti chibadwe chachikondi?
Weh di nearest hospital de?
Kukonda apa
E dey pain here
Ndapeza pasipoti yanga
A don lose mi passport
Mungafufuze hotelo yanga?
You fit call mi hotel?
Thandizani!
Help!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Ndikuyamikira kukumana nanu
Na nice for meet you
Tiyeni tikhazikitse meeting
Make we plan wan meeting
Ndi nthawi yanji yomwe ikugwira ntchito kwa inu?
Wetin time go work for you?
Ndzatumiza lipoti lero
A go send di report tiday
Tingathe kulankhula mawa?
We go fit talk tomorrow?
Chonde pezani fayilo yowonjezedwa
Abeg find di file wey attach
Zikomo chifukwa cha nthawi yanu
Tenki for your time
Ndikuyembekezera kugwira ntchito nanu
A dey look forward for work with you
Mungathe kuthetsa mfundo imeneyo?
You fit clarify dat point?
Nditheke kubwerera kwa inu
Make I get back to you
Nthawi yotsiriza ndi Lachisanu
Di deadline na Friday
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.