Looking for practical Santali (Ol Chiki) to Chichewa phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Santali (Ol Chiki) phrase first, then the Chichewa translation (Chichewa) — 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 Chichewa.
Tip: read the Chichewa line out loud three times, then cover the Santali (Ol Chiki) side and try to recall the meaning — repetition builds memory faster than silent reading.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Santali (Ol Chiki) to Chichewa 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.
ᱨᱤᱡᱤᱭ
Moni(rikiya)
ᱟᱹᱦᱚᱜᱟ
Zikomo(ahojaga)
ᱟᱦᱟᱹᱭ ᱵᱟᱨᱚ
M'mawa wabwino(ahor boro)
ᱟᱦᱟᱹᱭ ᱟᱯᱟᱭ
Masana abwino(ahor apay)
ᱟᱦᱟᱹᱭ ᱟᱢᱟᱭ
Madziwabwino(ahor amay)
ᱟᱦᱟᱹᱭ ᱟᱢᱟᱭ ᱟᱹᱱᱟ
Usiku wabwino(ahor amay anaa)
ᱟᱹᱦᱟᱹᱭ ᱟᱹᱱᱟ
Tiwonana(ahor anaa)
ᱟᱹᱦᱟᱹᱭ ᱟᱹᱱᱟ
Tsalani bwino(ahor anaa)
ᱟᱹᱦᱟᱹᱭ ᱟᱹᱱᱟ ᱟᱹᱲᱟ?
Dzina lako ndi ndani?(ahor anaa ada?)
ᱟᱹᱱᱟ ᱟᱹᱲᱟ ᱟᱹᱱᱟ ᱟᱹᱲᱟ
Dzina langa ndi John(anaa ada anaa John)
ᱟᱹᱦᱟᱹᱭ ᱟᱹᱱᱟ?
Muli bwanji?(ahor anaa?)
ᱟᱹᱦᱟᱹᱭ ᱡᱚᱱᱟ
Ndikufuna kukumana nanu(ahor jona)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.