Greetings in Luchazi

 Greetings in Luchazi and conversational phrases

Greeting is the ceremonial words or acts of one who meets, welcomes, or formally addresses another. Greetings in Luchazi language are expressions or sometimes gestures used when meeting someone. They are a way to show respect, friendliness and goodwill. Depending on who you are with, greetings can range from formal to informal. When learning Luchazi, knowing how to greet someone and use of common phrases can help you build rapport and sound more natural in conversations.

1. Ku licesa = to greet each other or visit one another or to address with expression of kind wishes upon meeting or arrival.
2. Meneka = greet or to address with expression of kind wishes upon meeting or arrival.
3. Hinduisa = greet or to address with expression of kind wishes upon meeting or arrival.
4. Cihindu = well-being or good health.
5. Ua hinduka? = have you woken up well? Or are you well? It simply means “how are you?” or “good morning?”
6. Nja hinduka mua cili = I have woken up well or I am fine.
7. Uli vati? = How are you? (It is a direct translation from English to Luchazi and is widely used by Luchazi people in English speaking countries especially Zambia. Luchazi elders say that this is not acceptable as a Luchazi greeting).
8. Nji li mua cili = I am fine.
9. Mua hinduka? (polite or plural) = have you woken up well? Or are you well? It also means “how are you?” or “good morning?”
10. Tua hinduka mua cili (polite or plural) = I have woken up well or we have woken up well, I am fine, or we are fine.
11. Muli vati? (polite or plural) = How are you? (Not acceptable as a Luchazi greeting as earlier stated).
12. Tuli mua cili (polite or plural) = I am fine, or we are fine.
13. Yange uno = I am fine, or here am I.
14. Yetu vano (polite or plural) = I am fine, or we are fine or here am I.
15. Mitende yenu = My regards.
16. Yoyenu = live well or friendly greeting.
17. Moyo uenu = best wishes.

1. Ua hinduka is used as a casual or less formal greeting to someone for the first time in the morning. It expresses good wishes on meeting during morning.
2. Mua hinduka is a polite greeting that you say to someone in the early hours of the day. Saying mua hinduka to someone is a polite and courteous greeting.
3. When you say ua hinduka or mua hinduka, you are not only greeting the person but also wishing them well for the day.
4. Mua cili = good or fine or satisfactory or healthy and feeling well or all right or very well or agreeable or acceptable.
5. Nji li mua cili = I am doing well, or I am okay or fine or I am healthy and feeling well.
6. Nja hinduka or nja hinduka mua cili = I have woken up well or I am fine.
7. Tua hinduka or tua hinduka mua cili = I am fine, or we are fine, or we are healthy and well.
8. U kose mua cili = sleep well; good night.
9. Mu kose mua cili (polite or plural) = sleep well; good night.
10. Uendaho = go well or goodbye.
11. Muendaho (polite or plural) = go well or goodbye.
12. Salaho = goodbye; farewell; so long.
13. Salenuho (polite or plural) = goodbye; farewell; so long.
14. U na ile = salutation or acknowledgement of someone's arrival from work, school etc.
15. Mu na ile (polite or plural) = salutation or acknowledgement of someone's arrival from work, school etc.
16. U ile = salutation to someone who went out of the country or community for some time.
17. Mua ile (polite or plural) = salutation to someone who went out of the country or community for some time.

Kuta muzimbu is a traditional verbal narrative or chronicle or an account of events given eloquently by the visitor or by the head of the visiting party to the welcoming party and the village members. Often the muzimbu is spiced with Luchazi proverbial sayings.

Note: Some Luchazi and Ngangela speaking people have directly translated and modified the greetings as follows:

1. Cimene ca cili = good morning.
2. Mutana ua cili = good afternoon.
3. Cinguezi ca cili = good evening.
4. Vutsiki vua cili = good night.

Other words and phrases related to Lucazi greetings

1. Meneka = early.
2. Ku limeneka = to start off early.
3. Sambelela = greet or welcome a guest, visitor or a newcomer upon arrival with courtesy or cordially.
4. Menekela = pay an early visit.
5. Andama = sojourn; social interaction.
6. Ngendzi = guest or visitor or newcomer.
7. Ku lisika = farewell or goodbye or to say goodbye.
8. Sindikiya = escort someone.
9. Sovueya = wave at someone.
10. Kolovua = beckon at someone.
11. Kolovuele = beckoned. Kaha va kolovuele vakuavo va kele mu vuato vukuavo (and they beckoned unto their partners who were in another boat).