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In Chewa (also known as Chichewa or Nyanja), the English word “other” or “another” translates as -ina, which takes different prefixes depending on the noun class of the word it modifies. This reflects Chewa’s Bantu language structure, where adjectives and demonstratives must agree with their nouns.
The most common forms you’ll encounter are: -
wina (wi-na) - for Class 1 nouns (people, singular animate beings) -
ina (i-na) - for Class 5 nouns (various objects) -
zina (zi-na) - for Class 8/10 nouns (plural objects) -
lina (li-na) - for Class 5 nouns (alternative form)
Unlike English, where “other” remains unchanged regardless of what it modifies, Chewa requires the speaker to match the form of “other” to the grammatical class of the noun being discussed. This agreement system is fundamental to Bantu languages and helps maintain grammatical clarity even when nouns are dropped from context.
Link: https://latinum.substack.com/p/index
FAQ: What does “other” mean in Chewa?
In Chewa, “other” or “another” is expressed through the root -ina combined with noun class prefixes. The most common form for referring to another person is wina, while zina is used for other things (plural), and ina or lina for other singular objects. The form changes based on what you’re talking about.
✓ The root “-ina” means “other/another” in Chewa ✓ It requires noun class agreement prefixes (w-, z-, l-, etc.) ✓ wina is the most common form for people (”another person”) ✓ zina is used for plural things (”other things”) ✓ Can function both as an adjective (”another book”) and pronoun (”another one”)
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1.1a Munthu wina akubwera lero. 1.1b Munthu (mu-nthu) person wina (wi-na) other akubwera (a-ku-bwera) is-coming lero (le-ro) today.
1.2a Ndikufuna bukhu lina. 1.2b Ndikufuna (ndi-ku-funa) I-want bukhu (bu-khu) book lina (li-na) other.
1.3a Zina zili pano. 1.3b Zina (zi-na) other-things zili (zi-li) are pano (pa-no) here.
1.4a Mwana wina akusewera kunja. 1.4b Mwana (mwa-na) child wina (wi-na) other akusewera (a-ku-sewera) is-playing kunja (ku-nja) outside.
1.5a Ndingatenge zina? 1.5b Ndingatenge (ndi-nga-tenge) may-I-take zina (zi-na) other-things?
1.6a Galimoto ina ili ku msika. 1.6b Galimoto (ga-li-moto) car ina (i-na) other ili (i-li) is ku (ku) at msika (msi-ka) market.
1.7a Ana amafuna zakudya zina. 1.7b Ana (a-na) children amafuna (a-ma-funa) want zakudya (za-ku-dya) food zina (zi-na) other.
1.8a Ndikuyang’ana tsamba lina. 1.8b Ndikuyang’ana (ndi-ku-yang’ana) I-am-looking-at tsamba (tsa-mba) leaf lina (li-na) other.
1.9a Nyumba ina ili pamenepo. 1.9b Nyumba (nyu-mba) house ina (i-na) other ili (i-li) is pamenepo (pa-mene-po) over-there.
1.10a Mulungu wanga anaona anthu ena. 1.10b Mulungu (mu-lungu) God wanga (wa-nga) my anaona (a-na-ona) saw anthu (a-nthu) people ena (e-na) other.
1.11a Mtengo wina ukugwa. 1.11b Mtengo (mte-ngo) tree wina (wi-na) other ukugwa (u-ku-gwa) is-falling.
1.12a Ndingathe kupita kwina? 1.12b Ndingathe (ndi-nga-the) may-I kupita (ku-pita) to-go kwina (kwi-na) other-place?
1.13a Amayi akupanga chakudya china. 1.13b Amayi (a-mayi) mother akupanga (a-ku-panga) is-making chakudya (cha-ku-dya) food china (chi-na) other.
1.14a Mabuku ena ali pansi. 1.14b Mabuku (ma-buku) books ena (e-na) other ali (a-li) are pansi (pa-nsi) down/on-ground.
1.15a Ndikuona zinthu zina zapya. 1.15b Ndikuona (ndi-ku-ona) I-see zinthu (zi-nthu) things zina (zi-na) other zapya (za-pya) new.
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1.1 Munthu wina akubwera lero. “Another person is coming today.”
1.2 Ndikufuna bukhu lina. “I want another book.”
1.3 Zina zili pano. “The other ones are here.”
1.4 Mwana wina akusewera kunja. “Another child is playing outside.”
1.5 Ndingatenge zina? “May I take the other ones?”
1.6 Galimoto ina ili ku msika. “Another car is at the market.”
1.7 Ana amafuna zakudya zina. “The children want other food.”
1.8 Ndikuyang’ana tsamba lina. “I am looking at another leaf.”
1.9 Nyumba ina ili pamenepo. “Another house is over there.”
1.10 Mulungu wanga anaona anthu ena. “My friend saw other people.”
1.11 Mtengo wina ukugwa. “Another tree is falling.”
1.12 Ndingathe kupita kwina? “May I go elsewhere?”
1.13 Amayi akupanga chakudya china. “Mother is making other food.”
1.14 Mabuku ena ali pansi. “The other books are on the ground.”
1.15 Ndikuona zinthu zina zapya. “I see other new things.”
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1.1 Munthu wina akubwera lero.
1.2 Ndikufuna bukhu lina.
1.3 Zina zili pano.
1.4 Mwana wina akusewera kunja.
1.5 Ndingatenge zina?
1.6 Galimoto ina ili ku msika.
1.7 Ana amafuna zakudya zina.
1.8 Ndikuyang’ana tsamba lina.
1.9 Nyumba ina ili pamenepo.
1.10 Mulungu wanga anaona anthu ena.
1.11 Mtengo wina ukugwa.
1.12 Ndingathe kupita kwina?
1.13 Amayi akupanga chakudya china.
1.14 Mabuku ena ali pansi.
1.15 Ndikuona zinthu zina zapya.
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These are the grammar rules for -ina (other/another) in Chewa:
Chewa, as a Bantu language, organizes all nouns into grammatical classes (similar to grammatical gender in Romance languages, but with many more categories). The word for “other” must agree with the noun class through prefixes:
Common Forms of -ina: -
wina - Class 1/3 (people, singular animate beings) -
Example: munthu wina (another person), mwana wina (another child) -
ena - Class 2 (plural people) -
Example: anthu ena (other people), ana ena (other children) -
ina - Class 5/9 (various singular objects) -
Example: galimoto ina (another car), nyumba ina (another house) -
lina - Class 5 (alternative form for certain nouns) -
Example: bukhu lina (another book), tsamba lina (another leaf) -
china - Class 7 (various objects) -
Example: chakudya china (other food), chinthu china (another thing) -
zina - Class 8/10 (plural things) -
Example: zinthu zina (other things), zakudya zina (other foods) -
kwina - Class 15/17 (locative - “elsewhere”) -
Example: kupita kwina (to go elsewhere)
The word -ina typically follows the noun it modifies: -
bukhu lina (another book) - NOT lina bukhu -
munthu wina (another person) - NOT wina munthu
-ina can stand alone as a pronoun meaning “another one” or “others”: -
Zina zili pano. (The other ones are here.) -
Ndingatenge zina? (May I take another/others?)
In these cases, the form still reflects what category of thing is being referenced through context.
Notice how the prefix vowel often harmonizes with the noun class prefix: -
mu-nthu → w-ina (the ‘u’ class becomes ‘w’) -
zi-nthu → z-ina (the ‘i’ stays in the plural) -
chi-nthu → ch-ina (the ‘i’ remains)
English Interference: -
❌ “Other munthu” - Don’t use English word order -
✓ “Munthu wina“ - Chewa word order (noun first)
Missing Agreement: -
❌ “Zinthu wina“ - Wrong class prefix -
✓ “Zinthu zina“ - Correct plural agreement
Confusion with “another” vs. “the other”: -
Chewa uses the same form for both “other” and “another” -
Context determines whether it means “a different one” or “the remaining one”
Forgetting Locative Form: -
❌ “Kupita ina“ for “go elsewhere” -
✓ “Kupita kwina“ - Locative form required
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wina: [wiːna] - “wee-nah” -
ina: [iːna] - “ee-nah” -
zina: [ziːna] - “zee-nah” -
lina: [liːna] - “lee-nah” -
china: [tʃiːna] - “chee-nah” -
ena: [eːna] - “ay-nah”
The vowel in the prefix is typically lengthened in isolation but may be shorter in rapid speech.
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The word -ina is extremely common in everyday Chewa speech. It’s used constantly when: -
Shopping at markets (”I want another one”) -
Making choices (”Give me the other one”) -
Giving directions (”Go the other way”) -
Discussing options (”Let’s try another place”)
In Malawian and Zambian cultures, where Chewa is widely spoken, the ability to use noun class agreement correctly signals: -
Native or advanced proficiency in the language -
Respect for the language’s grammatical structure -
Integration into the community
Learners who confuse noun class agreement are immediately identifiable as non-native speakers, though they will generally be understood.
Malawi vs. Zambia: -
The word -ina is consistent across dialects -
Pronunciation may vary slightly in different regions -
In Zambia, the language is more commonly called “Nyanja” than “Chichewa” -
Urban varieties (especially in Lusaka) may show more simplification
Urban vs. Rural: -
Rural speakers tend to maintain stricter noun class agreement -
Urban youth may sometimes simplify, especially when code-switching with English -
The locative form kwina is more commonly used in rural areas
Kuwina ndi kuwina - “One thing and another” (Used to mean “various things” or when listing items)
Munthu wina aliyense - “Each and every other person” (Emphasizing inclusivity)
Tsiku lina - “Another day” (Common way to postpone or say “some other time”)
Zina ndi zina - “Other things and other things” (Meaning “etcetera” or “various other items”)
“Mwana wina si wako” - “Another person’s child is not yours” (Teaching that you should focus on your own responsibilities)
“Zina zapita, zina zikubwera” - “Some things have passed, other things are coming” (Everything changes; life moves on)
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The following excerpt is from the Chewa translation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 1), which demonstrates formal written Chewa:
Anthu onse amabadwa aufulu ndiponso ofanana mu ulemu ndi ufulu wao. Iwowa ndi wodalitsidwa ndi mphamvu zoganiza ndi chikumbumtima ndipo achitirane wina ndi mnzake mwaubale.
Anthu (a-nthu) people onse (o-nse) all amabadwa (a-ma-badwa) are-born aufulu (au-fulu) free ndiponso (ndi-ponso) and-also ofanana (o-fanana) equal mu (mu) in ulemu (u-lemu) dignity ndi (ndi) and ufulu (u-fulu) freedom wao (wa-o) their. Iwowa (i-wowa) they ndi (ndi) are wodalitsidwa (wo-dalitsidwa) blessed ndi (ndi) with mphamvu (mpha-mvu) power zoganiza (zo-ganiza) to-reason ndi (ndi) and chikumbumtima (chi-kumbumtima) conscience ndipo (ndi-po) and-so achitirane (a-chitira-ne) should-act-toward wina (wi-na) other ndi (ndi) with mnzake (mnza-ke) fellow mwaubale (mwa-u-bale) in-brotherhood.
Chewa: Anthu onse amabadwa aufulu ndiponso ofanana mu ulemu ndi ufulu wao. Iwowa ndi wodalitsidwa ndi mphamvu zoganiza ndi chikumbumtima ndipo achitirane wina ndi mnzake mwaubale.
English: All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
Anthu onse amabadwa aufulu ndiponso ofanana mu ulemu ndi ufulu wao. Iwowa ndi wodalitsidwa ndi mphamvu zoganiza ndi chikumbumtima ndipo achitirane wina ndi mnzake mwaubale.
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wina - Class 1 form agreeing with “munthu” (person) implied in reciprocal context -
achitirane - reciprocal verb form: a- (they) + -chitira- (do for) + -ne (each other) -
wina ndi mnzake - “one and fellow” = “one another” -
The phrase demonstrates how wina is used in formal, literary Chewa to express reciprocity
This excerpt from the UN Declaration shows formal written Chewa as used in official documents. The phrase “achitirane wina ndi mnzake” (act toward one another) illustrates how wina combines with other words to create the concept of reciprocity. This construction is common in formal writing and speeches, showing how a simple word like wina can be embedded in sophisticated grammatical structures.
The text also demonstrates the high register of written Chewa, using words like wodalitsidwa (blessed), chikumbumtima (conscience), and mwaubale (in brotherhood) that are less common in everyday speech but important for learners to recognize.
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This dialogue demonstrates natural use of -ina and its variants in a typical market interaction in Lilongwe or Blantyre:
1.16a Muli bwanji bambo? 1.16b Muli (mu-li) you-are bwanji (bwa-nji) how bambo (ba-mbo) sir?
1.17a Ndili bwino, kaya inu amayi? 1.17b Ndili (ndi-li) I-am bwino (bwi-no) well, kaya (ka-ya) what-about inu (i-nu) you amayi (a-mayi) madam?
1.18a Nkhwani zina zili zambiri? 1.18b Nkhwani (nkhwa-ni) vegetables zina (zi-na) other zili (zi-li) are zambiri (za-mbiri) many?
1.19a Inde, ndili ndi zakudya zina zapya. 1.19b Inde (i-nde) yes, ndili (ndi-li) I-have ndi (ndi) with zakudya (za-ku-dya) food zina (zi-na) other zapya (za-pya) new.
1.20a Ndingathe kuona zina za tomato? 1.20b Ndingathe (ndi-nga-the) may-I kuona (ku-ona) to-see zina (zi-na) other za (za) of tomato (to-mato) tomato?
1.21a Zikomo, koma ndikufuna zina zazitali. 1.21b Zikomo (zi-komo) thank-you, koma (ko-ma) but ndikufuna (ndi-ku-funa) I-want zina (zi-na) other zazitali (za-zi-tali) long-ones.
1.22a Awa ena ali bwanji? 1.22b Awa (a-wa) these ena (e-na) other ali (a-li) are bwanji (bwa-nji) how?
1.23a Chabwino, nditenga ena awiri. 1.23b Chabwino (cha-bwi-no) good, nditenga (ndi-tenga) I-will-take ena (e-na) other awiri (a-wiri) two.
1.24a Pali china chonse chimene mukufuna? 1.24b Pali (pa-li) is-there china (chi-na) other chonse (cho-nse) anything chimene (chi-mene) which mukufuna (mu-ku-funa) you-want?
1.25a Inde, muli ndi chimanga china? 1.25b Inde (i-nde) yes, muli (mu-li) you-have ndi (ndi) with chimanga (chi-manga) maize china (chi-na) other?
1.26a Pepani, china chinatha kale. 1.26b Pepani (pe-pani) sorry, china (chi-na) other chinatha (chi-natha) it-finished kale (ka-le) already.
1.27a Kulibe kwina komwe ndingapite? 1.27b Kulibe (ku-libe) is-there-not kwina (kwi-na) other-place komwe (ko-mwe) where ndingapite (ndi-nga-pite) I-can-go?
1.28a Pitani kwina kumalo a Chigumula. 1.28b Pitani (pita-ni) go-you kwina (kwi-na) other-place kumalo (ku-malo) to-place a (a) of Chigumula (Chi-gumula) Chigumula.
1.29a Zikomo kwambiri, ndidzabweranso tsiku lina. 1.29b Zikomo (zi-komo) thank-you kwambiri (kwa-mbiri) very-much, ndidzabweranso (ndi-dza-bwera-nso) I-will-come-again tsiku (tsi-ku) day lina (li-na) other.
1.30a Chabwino amayi, mukatenge zina mawa. 1.30b Chabwino (cha-bwi-no) good amayi (a-mayi) madam, mukatenge (mu-ka-tenge) come-take zina (zi-na) other-things mawa (ma-wa) tomorrow.
1.16 Muli bwanji bambo? “How are you, sir?”
1.17 Ndili bwino, kaya inu amayi? “I’m fine, and you, madam?”
1.18 Nkhwani zina zili zambiri? “Are there many other vegetables?”
1.19 Inde, ndili ndi zakudya zina zapya. “Yes, I have other fresh produce.”
1.20 Ndingathe kuona zina za tomato? “May I see the other tomatoes?”
1.21 Zikomo, koma ndikufuna zina zazitali. “Thank you, but I want other longer ones.”
1.22 Awa ena ali bwanji? “How about these other ones?”
1.23 Chabwino, nditenga ena awiri. “Fine, I’ll take two of the others.”
1.24 Pali china chonse chimene mukufuna? “Is there anything else you want?”
1.25 Inde, muli ndi chimanga china? “Yes, do you have other maize?”
1.26 Pepani, china chinatha kale. “Sorry, the other kind is already finished.”
1.27 Kulibe kwina komwe ndingapite? “Isn’t there another place where I can go?”
1.28 Pitani kwina kumalo a Chigumula. “Go to another place, to Chigumula market.”
1.29 Zikomo kwambiri, ndidzabweranso tsiku lina. “Thank you very much, I’ll come back another day.”
1.30 Chabwino amayi, mukatenge zina mawa. “Alright madam, come get other things tomorrow.”
1.16 Muli bwanji bambo?
1.17 Ndili bwino, kaya inu amayi?
1.18 Nkhwani zina zili zambiri?
1.19 Inde, ndili ndi zakudya zina zapya.
1.20 Ndingathe kuona zina za tomato?
1.21 Zikomo, koma ndikufuna zina zazitali.
1.22 Awa ena ali bwanji?
1.23 Chabwino, nditenga ena awiri.
1.24 Pali china chonse chimene mukufuna?
1.25 Inde, muli ndi chimanga china?
1.26 Pepani, china chinatha kale.
1.27 Kulibe kwina komwe ndingapite?
1.28 Pitani kwina kumalo a Chigumula.
1.29 Zikomo kwambiri, ndidzabweranso tsiku lina.
1.30 Chabwino amayi, mukatenge zina mawa.
This market dialogue showcases multiple forms of -ina in natural context:
Forms demonstrated: -
zina (plural things) - vegetables, tomatoes, produce -
ena (plural people/countable items) - specific vegetables being selected -
china (Class 7 singular) - maize, anything else -
kwina (locative) - another place/elsewhere -
lina (Class 5) - another day
Key patterns: -
Pronominal use: “Zina za tomato” (some of the tomatoes) - zina standing alone -
Attributive use: “Zakudya zina“ (other food) - modifying a noun -
Locative form: “Kwina kumalo” (another place) - showing direction/location -
Idiomatic: “Tsiku lina“ (another day) - common time expression
Social context: -
Respectful forms (inu, muli) used between vendor and customer -
Code-switching between formal and familiar based on relationship -
The use of -ina to negotiate options shows typical market bargaining language
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This lesson is part of the Latinum Institute’s systematic approach to language learning, based on frequency analysis of the most common words in English. Each lesson focuses on one high-frequency word and teaches you how to use it in Chewa (Nyanja), the national language of Malawi and a major language of Zambia, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe.
The Latinum Institute methodology emphasizes: -
Frequency-based vocabulary acquisition: Learning the most useful words first -
Interlinear glossing: Understanding how the language works word-by-word -
Authentic usage: Examples from real communication contexts -
Cultural context: Understanding not just what words mean, but how they’re used
For more lessons in this series, visit: https://latinum.substack.com/p/index
The Latinum Institute has been creating language learning materials since 2006. Read reviews at: https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/latinum.org.uk
Chewa (Chichewa/Nyanja) is spoken by approximately 10-12 million people across southern Africa. It’s the national language of Malawi (alongside English) and an official regional language in Zambia and Mozambique. Learning Chewa opens doors to understanding Malawian culture, conducting business in the region, and communicating with communities throughout southeastern Africa.
The noun class system may seem complex at first, but with practice, the patterns become intuitive. Each lesson in this course builds your understanding of how Chewa works, preparing you for practical communication in real-world situations.
Note on Orthography: Standard Chewa orthography does not mark tones, though the language is tonal. Pronunciation guides in this course represent segmental sounds (consonants and vowels) following standard written practice. For complete pronunciation mastery, interaction with native speakers is recommended.
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