Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • A Bantu language: Chichewa is a Bantu language spoken primarily in Malawi, where it is the national language, and also in parts of Zambia, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe.
   • An ethnolinguistic group: Chichewa can also refer to the Chewa people, a Bantu-speaking ethnic group of east-central Africa, particularly associated with Malawi and eastern Zambia.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun (Language):
  • The official language of Malawi is Chichewa.
  • She is learning Chichewa to communicate better with the local community.
• Proper noun (People):
  • The Chichewa have a rich cultural heritage of dance and storytelling.
  • This artwork is traditionally created by the Chichewa.

Advanced Usage

• In linguistic contexts: The term is used to classify a specific language within the Niger-Congo language family.
  • Chichewa is often studied by linguists for its tonal system.
• In anthropological contexts: Used to describe the cultural and social practices of the Chewa people.
  • The research focuses on the kinship structures of the Chichewa.

Variants and Related Words

• Chewa: A common synonym and alternate name for both the people and the language.
  • Chewa is another name for Chichewa.
• Chinyanja: Another name for the language, particularly used in Zambia.
  • In Zambia, the language is often called Chinyanja.

Synonyms

• Chewa (n): For the people or the language.
• Chinyanja (n): Primarily for the language variant in Zambia.

Notes on Meaning

• The term "Chichewa" specifically denotes the language form standardized in Malawi. When referring to the people, "Chewa" is equally common and may be preferred in some academic contexts to distinguish the ethnic group from the language. The language is a member of the Bantu family, characterized by its noun class system and agglutinative structure.

Noun

1. the Bantu language of the Chewa of east central Africa
2. a member of the Bantu-speaking people of Malawi and eastern Zambia and northern Zimbabwe