There is no single name for the language as a whole; its dialects are Nyakyusa, Ngonde (Konde), Kukwe, Mwamba (Lungulu), and Selya (Salya, Seria) of Tanzania.

In Malawi, Nyakusa and Kyangonde are spoken in the northern part of Karonga District, on the shore of Lake Malawi, close to the border with Tanzania, while Nkhonde is spoken the centre of the district, including in the town of Karonga.

"[4] The same Survey contains a folktale (the Tortoise and the Hare) in Chinkhonde and other languages of Northern Malawi, as well as some comparative vocabulary.

Apo akagha mu njira, ukalulu akisagha mnyuma papo atiri “ehe, thumba lyangu” Ufulu atiri, we thumba lyangu ili keta luropo mphinyilire nkhuguza linga nkwenda”.

Ukalulu akanire ayobire kuti “Tubuke kumphala kuburongo”.

Mphala yolongire batumire chingwe icho Ufulu apinyilire thumba.