← Ulendo wa Ziyankhulo: Kuyenda-yenda mu Chingerezi
"For" is one of the most frequent words in English. It is a preposition: it stands before a noun or a pronoun (for my mother, for you) and shows who gets the good of an action, what a thing is meant for, the reason for something, or how long something lasts.
Chichewa does most of this work without a separate word. When an action is done for someone, Chichewa changes the verb: it adds -ir- or -er- before the final -a. This is the applicative ending:
- kugula (to buy) — kugulira (to buy for) - kuphika (to cook) — kuphikira (to cook for) - kugwira ntchito (to work) — kugwirira ntchito (to work for) - kupemphera (to pray) — kupempherera (to pray for)
So where Chichewa says one word, Ndikugwirira ntchito bambo anga, English needs a separate word before the person: "I am working for my father."
English "for" has other jobs, and Chichewa uses other tools for them:
- "for" + person (benefit) = the verb in -ira/-era: buy for mother = kugulira mayi - "for" + use or purpose = a, cha, ya, wa…: water for drinking = madzi akumwa - "for" + reason = chifukwa cha: thank you for the food = zikomo chifukwa cha chakudya - "for" + time = no word at all: for three days = masiku atatu
What does "for" mean in Chichewa? For a person, the applicative verb ending -ira/-era, or kwa (kwa iye, "for him"); for a use, the linking word a, cha, ya, wa; for a reason, chifukwa cha; for a length of time, nothing — Chichewa simply names the time.
Key Takeaways:
- "For" + person: "I am buying bread for my mother." English needs "for"; Chichewa changes the verb: Ndikugulira mayi anga buledi. - "For" + pronoun takes the object form: for me, for you, for him, for her, for us, for them — never "for I" or "for we". - "For" + time: "for three days", "for ten years". Chichewa says only masiku atatu, zaka khumi. - "Thank you for…": "Thank you for the food" = Zikomo chifukwa cha chakudya. - Some English verbs always take "for": look for, wait for, ask for, pay for.
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for — strong form /fɔː/ (alone or stressed: "What for?" /ˈwɒt fɔː/); weak form /fə/ before a consonant (for my mother /fə maɪ ˈmʌðə/); /fər/ before a vowel in British speech (for us /fər ˈʌs/)
The first sound, /f/, is the same as Chichewa f in fodya or kufa: the top teeth rest lightly on the lower lip. Chichewa speakers have no trouble here.
The vowel /ɔː/ of the strong form is long, with rounded lips, like a long Chichewa o said with the mouth more open: /fɔː/, not "fo" and not "fola". In British English the r is not pronounced at the end of the word; in American English it is: /fɔːr/.
Chichewa words end in a vowel, so learners often add one: "fora". Stop at /fɔː/.
In normal speech "for" is unstressed and weak: "I am waiting for you" /aɪm ˈweɪtɪŋ fə ˈjuː/. Chichewa has no /ə/: say a very short, relaxed sound, with the mouth hardly open, and run "for" into the next word.
"For" and "four" (4) sound the same when stressed: /fɔː/. "Four days" is a number; "for four days" is a length of time.
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14.1 Water madzi for a- drinking -kumwa
14.2 Food chakudya for cha the - children ana
14.3 This ichi is ndi for you chako
14.4 I (ndi-) am waiting for -ku-dikira you (-ku-) (Ndikukudikira)
14.5 Thank you zikomo for chifukwa cha the - food chakudya
14.6 I (ndi-) am working -ku-gwir- for -ira ntchito my father bambo anga
14.7 She (a-) is cooking -ku-phik- nsima nsima for -ira the - children ana
14.8 We (ti-) are looking for -ku-funafuna work ntchito
14.9 He (a-) bought -na-gul- shoes nsapato for -ira his ake children ana
14.10 I (ndi-) will write -dza-lemb- a - letter kalata for -era my mother mayi anga
14.11 Pray pemphererani for (-era-) them iwo which despitefully use akuchitira you inu chipongwe
14.12 We (ti-) will stay -dza-khala in ku Lilongwe Lilongwe for (no word) three days masiku atatu
14.13 I (nda-) have lived -khala in ku Zomba Zomba for (no word) ten years zaka khumi
14.14 Thank you zikomo for chifukwa helping (cho-) -thandiza me (-ndi-) (chondithandiza)
14.15 Today lero my mother mayi anga is cooking a-ku-phik- for us (-ti-) -ira and ndipo my father bambo anga is working a-ku-gwir- for us (-ti-) -ira ntchito
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14.1 Water for drinking. Madzi akumwa.
14.2 Food for the children. Chakudya cha ana.
14.3 This is for you. Ichi ndi chako.
14.4 I am waiting for you. Ndikukudikira.
14.5 Thank you for the food. Zikomo chifukwa cha chakudya.
14.6 I am working for my father. Ndikugwirira ntchito bambo anga.
14.7 She is cooking nsima for the children. Akuphikira ana nsima.
14.8 We are looking for work. Tikufunafuna ntchito.
14.9 He bought shoes for his children. Anagulira ana ake nsapato.
14.10 I will write a letter for my mother. Ndidzalembera mayi anga kalata.
14.11 Pray for them which despitefully use you. Pemphererani iwo akuchitira inu chipongwe. (Luke 6:28, KJV; Luka 6:28, Buku Lopatulika)
14.12 We will stay in Lilongwe for three days. Tidzakhala ku Lilongwe masiku atatu.
14.13 I have lived in Zomba for ten years. Ndakhala ku Zomba zaka khumi.
14.14 Thank you for helping me. Zikomo chifukwa chondithandiza.
14.15 Today my mother is cooking for us, and my father is working for us. Lero mayi anga akutiphikira, ndipo bambo anga akutigwirira ntchito.
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14.1 Water for drinking.
14.2 Food for the children.
14.3 This is for you.
14.4 I am waiting for you.
14.5 Thank you for the food.
14.6 I am working for my father.
14.7 She is cooking nsima for the children.
14.8 We are looking for work.
14.9 He bought shoes for his children.
14.10 I will write a letter for my mother.
14.11 Pray for them which despitefully use you.
14.12 We will stay in Lilongwe for three days.
14.13 I have lived in Zomba for ten years.
14.14 Thank you for helping me.
14.15 Today my mother is cooking for us, and my father is working for us.
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These are the grammar rules for "for" in English:
1. "For" + person (benefit). The person who gets the good of the action comes after "for": "I am working for my father" (14.6), "She is cooking nsima for the children" (14.7). Chichewa puts the benefit inside the verb, with -ir- or -er-, and the person comes straight after the verb:
- work for — kugwirira ntchito (kugwira + -ir-) (14.6, 14.15) - cook for — kuphikira (kuphika + -ir-) (14.7, 14.15) - buy for — kugulira (kugula + -ir-) (14.9) - write for — kulembera (kulemba + -er-) (14.10) - pray for — kupempherera (kupemphera + -er-) (14.11)
Chichewa chooses -ir- after a, i or u in the stem (gula, phika, gwira) and -er- after e or o (lemba, pemphera). English has nothing like this: the verb never changes, and "for" does all the work.
Word order. Chichewa usually says the person first, then the thing: Anagulira ana ake nsapato, "he bought-for his children shoes". English puts the thing first and "for" + person last: "He bought shoes for his children" (14.9). English can also say "He bought his children shoes", without "for", but never "He bought for his children shoes".
2. "For" + pronoun. After "for" English uses the object forms: for me, for you, for him, for her, for it, for us, for them. Chichewa puts these inside the verb:
- for me — -ndi-: anandigulira (he bought for me) - for you — -ku-: ndikukudikira (14.4) - for him or her — -mu-: ndidzamugulira (14.21) - for us — -ti-: akutiphikira, akutigwirira ntchito (14.15) - for them — -wa-: ndidzawaphikira
When "for" + pronoun stands without a verb, Chichewa uses kwa: "a good day for us" = tsiku labwino kwa ife (14.30); "good for her" = chabwino kwa iye (14.20).
3. "For" + use (what a thing is meant for, or whose it is). "Water for drinking" (14.1), "food for the children" (14.2), "a gift for my mother" (14.17). Chichewa joins the two with the linking word that agrees with the first noun: madzi akumwa, chakudya cha ana, mphatso ya mayi anga. "This is for you" (14.3) is said in Chichewa as "this is yours": Ichi ndi chako. English uses "for" with every noun; after "for" a verb takes -ing: "water for drinking", not "water for drink" or "water for to drink".
4. "For" + reason. "Thank you for the food" (14.5), "Thank you for helping me" (14.14). Chichewa uses chifukwa cha, "because of". Before a verb, cha + ku- becomes cho-: chifukwa chondithandiza, chifukwa chondidikira (14.23). In English, after "for" the verb takes -ing: "for helping", "for waiting".
5. "For" + length of time. "For three days" (14.12), "for ten years" (14.13). Chichewa has no word here: Tidzakhala ku Lilongwe masiku atatu. English must say "for": "We will stay in Lilongwe for three days". "For" tells how long; it does not tell when: "for three days", but "on Monday", "in March".
6. Verbs that always take "for". Some English verbs need "for" before their object; in Chichewa the meaning is already in the verb:
- look for — kufunafuna: "We are looking for work" = Tikufunafuna ntchito (14.8) - wait for — kudikira: "I am waiting for you" = Ndikukudikira (14.4) - ask for — kupempha: "Ask for work" = Pempha ntchito - pay for — kulipira: "I paid for the bread"
7. How to tell the jobs apart. Look at what comes after "for": a person (for my mother) — benefit, -ira/-era; a use (for drinking) — a, cha, ya, wa; a reason (for the food, for helping) — chifukwa cha; a time (for three days) — no Chichewa word.
Common Mistakes:
- "I am buying for my mother bread." Correct: I am buying bread for my mother. The thing comes before "for". - "This is for I." Correct: This is for me. After "for" use me, him, her, us, them. - "I am waiting you." Correct: I am waiting for you. Chichewa ndikukudikira has no separate word, but English needs "for". - "Thank you for help me." Correct: Thank you for helping me. After "for" the verb takes -ing. - "I went to the market for buy bread." Correct: I went to the market to buy bread. Use "to" + verb for purpose; "for" + noun is possible: "I went to the market for bread." - "I have lived here since ten years." Correct: I have lived here for ten years. "For" + a length of time; "since" + a starting point (since 2016).
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"For" is among the fifteen most frequent words of English. It is used in everyday speech for thanks, gifts, work, waiting and time.
Doing things for others. In a Malawian home much of the day's work is done for someone: cooking for the family, buying for a parent, working for an elder. Chichewa says this inside the verb (kuphikira, kugulira, kugwirira ntchito); English says it with "for". When you translate, look for the -ira/-era ending in the Chichewa verb, and you will know where English needs "for". The same ending is in a word you know well: kuchita (to do) — kuchitira (to do for, to treat): chitirani zabwino iwo akuda inu, "do good to them which hate you" (Luka 6:27).
Thanks. Zikomo is "thank you"; the reason for the thanks follows "for": "Thank you for the food", "Thank you for coming", "Thank you for everything" (14.29).
"For" meaning "because". In old and formal English, "for" can join two sentences with the meaning "because": "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son" (John 3:16, KJV). Here the Chichewa Bible uses pakuti: Pakuti Mulungu anakonda dziko lapansi… In everyday English today, say "because".
Common expressions with "for":
- for sale — a thing that can be bought: "This bicycle is for sale." - for example — here is one case: "Some verbs take 'for', for example 'look for'." - for ever (forever) — always, with no end - What for? — Why? For what use? - for free — without paying
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John 10:11, from Jesus's words on the good shepherd. English: King James Version (1611). Chichewa: Buku Lopatulika, Yohane 10:11.
"I ine am ndine the good wabwino shepherd mbusa: the good wabwino shepherd mbusa giveth ataya his wake life moyo for chifukwa cha the sheep nkhosa" - John 10:11 (KJV)
"I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep." "Ine ndine Mbusa Wabwino; mbusa wabwino ataya moyo wake chifukwa cha nkhosa." (Yohane 10:11, Buku Lopatulika)
A shepherd in Palestine, as a herder in Malawi, lives with his flock and protects it from thieves and wild animals. In this verse the good shepherd does more: he gives up his own life for the sheep. "For" here means "for the good of" and "in place of": the shepherd dies so that the sheep may live. The Chichewa translation uses chifukwa cha, the same words as in zikomo chifukwa cha chakudya (14.5): chifukwa cha nkhosa, "for the sheep". The verse is built on repetition: "the good shepherd" is said twice, mbusa wabwino twice, so that the reader sees who gives and for whom.
- "Giveth" is old English for "gives". Today we say: "The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep." Chichewa ataya is "he throws away, gives up". - "For the sheep" — "for" + noun, meaning "for the good of". Chichewa says chifukwa cha nkhosa, not an applicative verb. - "Sheep" is the same in the singular and the plural: one sheep, many sheep. Chichewa nkhosa is also the same word for one and many; only the agreement shows the plural. - English puts the adjective before the noun: "the good shepherd". Chichewa puts it after: mbusa wabwino. - In the KJV the colon joins two parts of one thought; the Chichewa uses a semicolon in the same place.
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14.16 Chikondi Chikondi what chiyani are you (u-) looking for ukufunafuna
14.17 I (ndi-) am looking for ndikufunafuna a - gift mphatso for ya my mother mayi anga
14.18 Is kodi it (ndi) for ya her lake birthday tsiku lobadwa
14.19 Yes inde She (wa-) has worked for us watigwirira ntchito for (no word) many years zaka zambiri
14.20 Look at yang'ana this ichi chitenje chitenje Is kodi it (ndi) good chabwino for kwa her iye
14.21 Yes inde I (ndi-) will buy -dza-gul- it for -ira her (-mu-) (Ndidzamugulira)
14.22 I (ndi-) will wait for -dza-dikira you (-ku-) here pano
14.23 Thank you zikomo for chifukwa waiting for (cho-) -dikira me (-ndi-) (chondidikira)
14.24 Now tsopano I (ndi-) want ndikufuna to buy kugul- sugar shuga for -ira my father bambo anga
14.25 And ndi bread buledi for wa the - children ana
14.26 Tonight usiku uno we (ti-) will cook -dza-phik- for -ira our families mabanja athu
14.27 My mother mayi anga will stay adzakhala in ku Blantyre Blantyre for (no word) two days masiku awiri
14.28 Then ndiye I (ndi-) will cook -dza-phik- for -ira you (-ku-) too iwenso
14.29 Thank you zikomo for chifukwa cha everything zonse Temwani Temwani
14.30 Today lero is ndi a - good labwino day tsiku for kwa us ife
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14.16 Temwani: "Chikondi, what are you looking for?" Temwani: "Chikondi, ukufunafuna chiyani?"
14.17 Chikondi: "I am looking for a gift for my mother." Chikondi: "Ndikufunafuna mphatso ya mayi anga."
14.18 Temwani: "Is it for her birthday?" Temwani: "Kodi ndi ya tsiku lake lobadwa?"
14.19 Chikondi: "Yes. She has worked for us for many years." Chikondi: "Inde. Watigwirira ntchito zaka zambiri."
14.20 Temwani: "Look at this chitenje. Is it good for her?" Temwani: "Yang'ana chitenje ichi. Kodi ndi chabwino kwa iye?"
14.21 Chikondi: "Yes! I will buy it for her." Chikondi: "Inde! Ndidzamugulira."
14.22 Temwani: "I will wait for you here." Temwani: "Ndidzakudikira pano."
14.23 Chikondi: "Thank you for waiting for me." Chikondi: "Zikomo chifukwa chondidikira."
14.24 Temwani: "Now I want to buy sugar for my father." Temwani: "Tsopano ndikufuna kugulira bambo anga shuga."
14.25 Chikondi: "And bread for the children." Chikondi: "Ndi buledi wa ana."
14.26 Temwani: "Tonight we will cook for our families." Temwani: "Usiku uno tidzaphikira mabanja athu."
14.27 Chikondi: "My mother will stay in Blantyre for two days." Chikondi: "Mayi anga adzakhala ku Blantyre masiku awiri."
14.28 Temwani: "Then I will cook for you too." Temwani: "Ndiye ndidzakuphikira iwenso."
14.29 Chikondi: "Thank you for everything, Temwani!" Chikondi: "Zikomo chifukwa cha zonse, Temwani!"
14.30 Temwani: "Today is a good day for us!" Temwani: "Lero ndi tsiku labwino kwa ife!"
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14.16 Temwani: "Chikondi, what are you looking for?"
14.17 Chikondi: "I am looking for a gift for my mother."
14.18 Temwani: "Is it for her birthday?"
14.19 Chikondi: "Yes. She has worked for us for many years."
14.20 Temwani: "Look at this chitenje. Is it good for her?"
14.21 Chikondi: "Yes! I will buy it for her."
14.22 Temwani: "I will wait for you here."
14.23 Chikondi: "Thank you for waiting for me."
14.24 Temwani: "Now I want to buy sugar for my father."
14.25 Chikondi: "And bread for the children."
14.26 Temwani: "Tonight we will cook for our families."
14.27 Chikondi: "My mother will stay in Blantyre for two days."
14.28 Temwani: "Then I will cook for you too."
14.29 Chikondi: "Thank you for everything, Temwani!"
14.30 Temwani: "Today is a good day for us!"
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The dialogue uses the main jobs of "for":
- Benefit, "for" + person: "She has worked for us" (14.19), "I will buy it for her" (14.21), "sugar for my father" (14.24), "cook for our families" (14.26), "cook for you" (14.28). Chichewa: watigwirira ntchito, ndidzamugulira, kugulira bambo anga, tidzaphikira, ndidzakuphikira. - Use, "for" + the person or thing it is meant for: "a gift for my mother" (14.17), "for her birthday" (14.18), "bread for the children" (14.25), "good for her" (14.20), "a good day for us" (14.30). Chichewa: mphatso ya mayi anga, ya tsiku lake lobadwa, buledi wa ana, kwa iye, kwa ife. - Reason: "Thank you for waiting" (14.23), "Thank you for everything" (14.29) = Zikomo chifukwa chondidikira, Zikomo chifukwa cha zonse. - Time: "for many years" (14.19), "for two days" (14.27) = zaka zambiri, masiku awiri. - Verbs with "for": "look for" (14.16, 14.17), "wait for" (14.22, 14.23).
Two kinds of "for" in one line. In 14.19, "She has worked for us for many years", the first "for" shows the people who get the good (-ti-…-ira), the second shows how long (no Chichewa word). In 14.23, "Thank you for waiting for me", the first gives the reason (chifukwa), the second belongs to "wait for" (-dikira).
"For" at the end of a question. "What are you looking for?" (14.16). In English questions "for" often stays at the end, after its verb. Do not drop it: not "What are you looking?" Chichewa ends the question with the question word (chiyani); English ends it with "for".
Chitenje. A chitenje is the printed cloth that Malawian women wear wrapped as a skirt; it is a common gift. English has no word for it, so the English sentence keeps the Chichewa word.
Writing a dialogue. Each speaker's words go inside quotation marks, after the speaker's name and a colon.
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- Weak and strong: "I am looking for work" /aɪm ˈlʊkɪŋ fə ˈwɜːk/; "What are you looking for?" /ˈwɒt ə juː ˈlʊkɪŋ fɔː/ — at the end of a question "for" takes its strong form. - Before a vowel British speakers sound the r: "for us" /fər ˈʌs/, "for everything" /fər ˈevriθɪŋ/. - "For" /fɔː/ and "four" /fɔː/ sound the same; "for four days" is /fə ˈfɔː ˈdeɪz/. - Spelling: for (the preposition), four (the number 4), fore (front, as in "forehead"). Never write "4" for "for" in formal writing. - "For" is always a separate word in English, although Chichewa puts its meaning inside the verb: "cook for", never "cookfor"; compare kuphikira. - Names of towns and people take a capital letter in both languages: Lilongwe, Zomba, Blantyre, Chikondi, Temwani.
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