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Common Afar to Tumbuka phrases

100 practical Afar to Tumbuka phrases for travel, study, work, and daily conversation.

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Looking for practical Afar to Tumbuka phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Afar phrase first, then the Tumbuka translation (Tumbuka) — so you can scan quickly before a trip, class, or video call.

The phrases are grouped into eight topics: greetings and pleasantries, useful phrases for travellers, everyday conversation, directions and getting around, shopping and dining, emergencies and health, work and business, and time, days and numbers. Use the table of contents to jump straight to greetings, directions, dining, emergencies, or numbers. You do not need perfect grammar to start — short, clear sentences often work better than silence when you are learning Tumbuka.

Tip: when a Tumbuka phrase looks unfamiliar, compare it with the Afar wording — noticing word order differences helps you understand grammar naturally.

Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Afar to Tumbuka translator to paste your own messages and get an instant translation.

Greetings and pleasantries

Hello, goodbye, please, thank you, and polite introductions for meeting new people.

  1. Nagaad

    Moni (nagaad)

  2. Galatooma

    Zikomo (galatooma)

  3. Bariis

    Muli bwanji (bariis)

  4. Galab

    Muli bwanji (galab)

  5. Haal

    Muli bwanji (haal)

  6. Haalka habeen

    Usiku wabwino (haalka habeen)

  7. Ilaa mar kale

    Tiwonana (ilaa mar kale)

  8. Nagaad

    Tsalani bwino (nagaad)

  9. Maa magacaa?

    Dzina lanu ndi ndani? (maa magacaa)

  10. Magacaygu waa John

    Dzina langa ndi John (magacaygu waa John)

  11. Iska waran?

    Muli bwanji? (iska waran)

  12. Aad baan ku faraxsanahay

    Ndine wokondwa kukumana nanu (aad baan ku faraxsanahay)

Useful phrases for travellers

Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.

  1. Inni ingiriisi maahaa?

    Muli ndi Chingerezi? (muli ndi chingerezi)

  2. Hindi maahaa hinjiru

    Sikuyankhula Hindi bwino (sikuyankhula hindi bwino)

  3. Ani hinfahmi

    Sindikumva (sindikumva)

  4. Fadlan si maahaa siib

    Chonde yankhulani pang'ono (chonde yankhulani pang'ono)

  5. Maahaa inna marra?

    Mungandiyankhulepo? (mungandiyankhulepo)

  6. Maalin baadhu?

    Kuti ndi kuti? (kuti ndi kuti)

  7. Akkam an magaalatti gahu?

    Ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu? (ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu)

  8. Boodha kaaf

    Pita kumanzere (pita kumanzere)

  9. Boodha mirga

    Pita kumanja (pita kumanja)

  10. Si qodhi

    Pita mwendo (pita mwendo)

  11. Maalin abaal?

    Ndi ndalama zingati? (ndi ndalama zingati)

  12. Tiket tokkon, fadlan

    Tiketi imodzi, chonde (tiketi imodzi, chonde)

  13. Maalin faga?

    Ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano? (ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano)

  14. Ani dhumtu

    Ndakhalapo (ndakhalapo)

  15. Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?

    Ndingatengere kuti kuti SIM card? (ndingatengere kuti kuti sim card)

Everyday conversation

Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.

  1. Eeyy

    Iye (ee-yee)

  2. Maya

    Ayi (mah-yah)

  3. Gara

    Pang'ono (gah-rah)

  4. Anigu waaq

    Ndikugwirizana (ah-nee-goo wahk)

  5. Anigu ma waaq

    Sindikugwirizana (ah-nee-goo mah wahk)

  6. Tani waa'ee

    Ichi chimaoneka bwino (tah-nee wah-ee)

  7. Ilaa ma waaq?

    Muli ndi chiyani choti mumaganize? (ee-lah mah wahk)

  8. Ilaa naxar?

    Mungandithandize? (ee-lah nah-khar)

  9. Naxar aniga

    Ndikufuna thandizo (nah-khar ah-nee-gah)

  10. Soo'aa

    Dikirani pang’ono (soo-ah)

  11. Waa'ee aniga

    Ndikupemphera (wah-ee ah-nee-gah)

  12. Maya dhib

    Palibe vutoli (mah-yah dheeb)

  13. Hambalyo

    Zikomo (ham-bahl-yo)

  14. Bariis gadhay

    Tsiku lobadwa labwino (bah-rees gah-thai)

  15. Safar amni

    Pita bwino pa ulendo (sah-far am-nee)

Directions and getting around

Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.

  1. Eeyyoo taayka daab?

    Kukakhala kuti chiteshi cha njinga? (eyyoo taayka daab)

  2. Eeyyoo gaari daab?

    Kukakhala kuti malo otchinga basi? (eyyoo gaari daab)

  3. Keenya kaafaa?

    Ndi chigawo chiti? (keenya kaafaa)

  4. Waqti maayti?

    Nanga nthawi itangopita? (waqti maayti)

  5. Maayta kaan?

    Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera? (maayta kaan)

  6. Ittaa hara

    Iyi ndi pafupi apa (ittaa hara)

  7. Ittaa faar

    Iyi ndi kutali ndi apa (ittaa faar)

  8. Maafaa naafaa?

    Mungandionetse pa chithunzi? (maafaa naafaa)

  9. Hara dhaaf, fadlan

    Chimitsa apa, chonde (hara dhaaf, fadlan)

  10. Waqti mee?

    Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji? (waqti mee)

Shopping and dining

Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.

  1. Iyayka mi'aa?

    Iyi ikuguliradi chingwe? (iyi ikuguliradi chingwe)

  2. Iyayka xayl

    Iyi ndi mtengo wopusa (iyi ndi mtengo wopusa)

  3. Ma'ayka hara gabbir?

    Muli ndi chinthu chochepa mtengo? (muli ndi chinthu chochepa mtengo)

  4. Karta ka'ayka?

    Ningathe kulipira ndi khadi? (ningathe kulipira ndi khadi)

  5. Mi'ayka mi'ida laba

    Ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri (ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri)

  6. Xisaab, fadlan

    Chikalata, chonde (chikalata, chonde)

  7. Adeegku ma ku jira?

    Ntchito ikuphatikizidwa? (ntchito ikuphatikizidwa)

  8. Anigu waxaan ahay khudradeed

    Ndine wopanda nyama (ndine wopanda nyama)

  9. Cunto kulul ma jirto, fadlan

    Chonde, osati chakudya chothira (chonde, osati chakudya chothira)

  10. Tani waa macaan

    Iyi ndi yokoma (iyi ndi yokoma)

  11. Mi'ayka liiska?

    Ningathe kupeza menyu? (ningathe kupeza menyu)

  12. Dharbaaxda biyo, fadlan

    Galasi ya madzi, chonde (galasi ya madzi, chonde)

Emergencies and health

Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.

  1. Waaqa booliisi

    Fufuzani polisi (Call the police)

  2. Waaqa ambulaansii

    Fufuzani ambulansi (Call an ambulance)

  3. Dooktar naaf barbaachisa

    Ndikufuna dokotala

  4. Naanu dhukkuba qaba

    Ndikuwona bwino

  5. Qoricha fooniif dhukkuba qaba

    Ndine wosowa ma groundnuts

  6. Hospitaala dhihoo eessa?

    Kuti ndi chiyani chachikondi?

  7. Asitti dhukkuba qaba

    Kuli kuuma apa

  8. Paaspoortii koo dhabe

    Ndasowa pasipoti yangu

  9. Hoteela koo waaqa?

    Mungafufuze hotelo yanga?

  10. Gargaarsa!

    Thandizani!

Work and business

Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.

  1. Nagaad waayi

    Ndalumba kukumana nanu (na-gaad waa-yi)

  2. Nagaad kaabirna waayi

    Tiyeni tiwoneke pa nthawi (na-gaad kaa-bir-na waa-yi)

  3. Waqti mee waayi?

    Nthawi yiti ikukugwirirani ntchito? (waq-ti mee waa-yi)

  4. Warqad kaan diraya harra

    Ndidzatumiza lipoti lero (war-qad kaan di-ra-ya har-ra)

  5. Maanta waayi hadalnaa?

    Tingathe kulankhula mawa? (maan-ta waa-yi ha-dal-naa)

  6. Faylka ku lifaaqan fadlan

    Chonde onani fayilo yolembedwa (fayl-ka ku li-faa-qan fad-lan)

  7. Mahadsanid waqtigaaga

    Zikomo chifukwa cha nthawi yanu (ma-had-sa-nid waq-ti-ga-a-ga)

  8. Waxaan rajeynayaa inaan la shaqeeyo

    Ndikuyembekezera kugwira ntchito nanu (wax-aan ra-jeen-yaa-in aan la sha-qee-yo)

  9. Ma cadayn kartaa dhibicdaas?

    Mungathe kuthetsa mfundo imeneyi? (ma ca-dayn kar-taa dhi-bi-cda-as)

  10. Iga raadi dib

    Nditenge nthawi ndikubwerereni (i-ga raa-di dib)

  11. Waqtiga kama dambaysta waa Jimco

    Nthawi yomaliza ndi Lachisanu (waq-ti-ga ka-ma dam-bay-sta waa jim-co)

Time, days and numbers

Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.

  1. Sa'a mee?

    Ndi chiyani nthawi? (Ndi chiyani nthawi?)

  2. Saa seddah

    Ndi saa tatu (saa seddah)

  3. Maanta

    Lero

  4. Berra

    Maŵa

  5. Dhiif

    Kale

  6. Isniin

    Lolemba

  7. Salasa

    Lachiwiri

  8. Arba'a

    Lachitatu

  9. Keen

    Mmodzi

  10. Laba

    Awiri

  11. Seddah

    Atatu

  12. Toban

    Kumi

  13. Keen boqol

    Zana

  14. Baar

    Pachikhalidwe

  15. Ka badan

    Zambiri

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