Ndalama (money)

Happy New Year, Nyanja Word of the Week readers! It has been a whopping month and a half since I've posted anything. What I can say is that the holidays, although blessed and wonderful, were a bit hectic and slightly illness-ridden. Also, I had these wonderful ideas for thought-provoking holiday blog posts, but didn't get around to writing them out in beautiful prose. Anyway, now that I'm back into the daily grind, I hope I can keep bringing Nyanja words and phrases to you, (with out without inspirational stories)!

A lot of exciting news from Zambia this week. The national football (soccer) team has been doing pretty well in the Africa Cup! I'd like to write more about that soon.

Also, it has recently been announced that Zambia will be "rebasing" it's currency by dropping 3 zeros from the Kwacha. At first, to me, this seemed like an aweful idea. I like the current Zambian money. (50,000 Kwacha, the highest denomination note, is around $10 US) It also seems like a silly thing to be using money and resources for when there are a lot of other ongoing problems being faced in the country. Then I read this article in Zambia Weekly, which outlines some of the pros and cons. Now I'm slightly more on the fence. HOPEFULLY, if this happens, all the PROs will come true and the CONs will be as small as possible.

Nyanja words/phrases:

Ndalama (pron. "nn-dah-LAH-mah") = "money"

Kwacha (pron. "KWAH-chah") = "sunrise" and the name of Zambian currency

Nifuna ndalama. (pron. nee-FOO-nan-dah-LAH-mah) = "I want (or need) money."

Mufuna ndalama? = "You want money?"

Afuna ndalama. = "He/she wants money."

Here are some phrases for when you don't want to buy something or can't give someone money:

Nilibe ndalama (pron. nee-LEE-bain-dah-LAH-mah) = "I don't have any money."

Napya (pron. NAHP-yah) = "I'm broke." (Slang, literally meaning is "I'm burnt.")

Mailo* (pron. MAH-eelow) = "Tomorrow." (This usually works if you don't want to say "no.")

*(Mailo also means "yesterday," but we can talk about that later.)

At least my mini-kwacha key chain will increase in value (if only sentimental value) when the old kwacha notes are discontinued!