Traveling with Kids

1. Mwana na ngai abungi

   My child is lost

   Usage

   Say it at once when you lose sight of your child.

   Grammar Note

   Composed from dictionary- and corpus-verified words by regular grammar. Abungi is the perfect of bunga (be lost); na ngai means my.

2. Mwana azali na nzala

   The child is hungry

   Usage

   When asking for food for a child.

   Grammar Note

   Composed from dictionary- and corpus-verified words by regular grammar. Nzala means hunger.

3. Mwana azali kolela

   The child is crying

   Usage

   Describes a crying child.

   Grammar Note

   Composed from dictionary- and corpus-verified words by regular grammar. Kolela means to cry; a corpus sentence has abandaki kolela (began to cry).

4. Mwana azali kobela

   The child is sick

   Usage

   When a child is unwell.

   Grammar Note

   Composed from dictionary- and corpus-verified words by regular grammar. Kobela means to be ill.

5. Mwana azali kolala

   The child is sleeping

   Usage

   When a child is asleep and quiet is needed.

   Grammar Note

   Composed from dictionary- and corpus-verified words by regular grammar. Kolala means to lie down or sleep.

6. Bana bazali kosakana

   The children are playing

   Usage

   Describes children; bana is the plural of mwana.

   Grammar Note

   Composed from dictionary- and corpus-verified words by regular grammar. Bazali is the copula for a human plural subject (ba-).

7. Mwana na yo azali na mbula boni?

   How old is your child?

   Usage

   When age affects fares or entry; mbula is year.

   Grammar Note

   Composed from dictionary- and corpus-verified words by regular grammar. The subject-swapped form of Ozali na mbula boni? (how old are you).

8. Ezali na monganga ya bana pene?

   Is there a pediatrician nearby?

   Usage

   Looking for a doctor for a child; monganga is doctor.

   Grammar Note

   Composed from dictionary- and corpus-verified words by regular grammar. Monganga ya bana is doctor of children; pene is near.

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