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Common Bambara to Tumbuka phrases

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

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Looking for practical Bambara to Tumbuka phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Bambara 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: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Tumbuka-speaking trip in a few weeks.

Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Bambara 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. I ni ce

    Moni

  2. I ni sogoma

    Zikomo

  3. I ni bɔ

    Muli bwanji

  4. I ni kɛ

    Muli bwanji

  5. I ni sɔgɔ

    Muli bwanji

  6. I ni tulu

    Usiku wabwino

  7. N bɛ se ka

    Tiwonana

  8. A bɛ se ka

    Tsalani bwino

  9. Nɛnɛ kɛ i tɛ?

    Dzina lanu ndi ndani?

  10. N bɛ tɔgɔ John

    Dzina langa ndi John

  11. I ni fɛ?

    Muli bwanji?

  12. N bɛ se ka i fɛ

    Ndine wokondwa kukumana nanu

Useful phrases for travellers

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

  1. I ni ce English?

    Muli ndi Chingerezi? (muli ndi chingerezi)

  2. N mɔgɔ bɛ Hindi kɛ

    Sikuyankhula Hindi bwino (sikuyankhula hindi bwino)

  3. N mɔgɔ bɛ

    Sindikumva (sindikumva)

  4. Sɛbɛn, kɛlɛ kɛ

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

  5. I ka fɔ a la?

    Mungandiyankhulepo? (mungandiyankhulepo)

  6. Bamanakan kɛn na?

    Kuti ndi kuti? (kuti ndi kuti)

  7. N bɛ fɔ kɔrɔbɔ?

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

  8. Kɛlɛn bɔ

    Pita kumanzere (pita kumanzere)

  9. Kɛlɛn bɔ kɔrɔ

    Pita kumanja (pita kumanja)

  10. Fɔ kɛlɛn

    Pita mwendo (pita mwendo)

  11. Fɛ kɛ?

    Ndi ndalama zingati? (ndi ndalama zingati)

  12. Kɛnɛ ticket, please

    Tiketi imodzi, chonde (tiketi imodzi, chonde)

  13. I kɛ fɔ kɛnɛ?

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

  14. N tɛ bɔ

    Ndakhalapo (ndakhalapo)

  15. N bɛ fɔ SIM card kɛn?

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

Everyday conversation

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

  1. Aye

    Iye

  2. Ala

    Ayi

  3. Bara

    Pang'ono

  4. N bɛ bɔ

    Ndikugwirizana

  5. N bɛ fɔ

    Sindikugwirizana

  6. I bɛ sɛbɛn

    Ichi chimaoneka bwino

  7. I ka fɛ kɛ?

    Muli ndi chiyani choti mumaganize?

  8. I bɛ ma n bɔ?

    Mungandithandize?

  9. N bɛ fɔ n bɔ

    Ndikufuna thandizo

  10. Sira kɛ

    Dikirani pang’ono

  11. N tɛgɛ

    Ndikupemphera

  12. Ala ka fɔ

    Palibe vutoli

  13. I ni kɛ

    Zikomo

  14. I ni tɔgɔ kɛ

    Tsiku lobadwa labwino

  15. I bɛ tɔgɔ kɛ

    Pita bwino pa ulendo

Directions and getting around

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

  1. Fôlô kôkô tîgê?

    Kukakhala kuti chiteshi cha njinga?

  2. Fôlô bôgô tîgê?

    Kukakhala kuti malo otchinga basi?

  3. I ni tîgê kô?

    Ndi chigawo chiti?

  4. Kô tîgê bô?

    Nanga nthawi itangopita?

  5. I ni tîgê bô?

    Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera?

  6. I tîgê kâ.

    Iyi ndi pafupi apa

  7. I tîgê kâ fô.

    Iyi ndi kutali ndi apa

  8. I bô kô tîgê fô?

    Mungandionetse pa chithunzi?

  9. Tîgê kâ, s'il vous plaît.

    Chimitsa apa, chonde

  10. Kô tîgê kô?

    Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji?

Shopping and dining

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

  1. I ni ce?

    Iyi ikuguliradi chingwe? (iyi ikuguliradi chingwe)

  2. O ye fɛɛrɛ.

    Iyi ndi mtengo wopusa (iyi ndi mtengo wopusa)

  3. I ni ka fɛɛrɛ?

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

  4. N bɛ tɔgɔ ka kɛ?

    Ningathe kulipira ndi khadi? (ningathe kulipira ndi khadi)

  5. N bɛ fɔlɔ kɛlɛ kɔrɔ.

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

  6. Kɔrɔbaw, s'il vous plaît.

    Chikalata, chonde (chikalata, chonde)

  7. Sɛbɛ ka fo?

    Ntchito ikuphatikizidwa? (ntchito ikuphatikizidwa)

  8. N bɛ sɔgɔma.

    Ndine wopanda nyama (ndine wopanda nyama)

  9. Kɔrɔ fɛɛrɛ, s'il vous plaît.

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

  10. I ye sɔgɔ.

    Iyi ndi yokoma (iyi ndi yokoma)

  11. N bɛ fɔlɔ kɔrɔbaw?

    Ningathe kupeza menyu? (ningathe kupeza menyu)

  12. N bɛ fɔlɔ jɔrɔ.

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

Emergencies and health

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

  1. Nɔgɔ fɔlɔ

    Fufuzani polisi (nogo folo)

  2. Nɔgɔ kɔrɔ

    Fufuzani ambulansi (nogo koro)

  3. N bɛ sɔrɔ

    Ndikufuna dokotala (n be soro)

  4. N bɛ tɛgɛn

    Ndikuwona bwino (n be tegen)

  5. N bɛ fɔlɔ kɛlɛ

    Ndine wosowa ma groundnuts (n be folokele)

  6. N bɛ kɔrɔ fɔlɔ?

    Kuti ndi chiyani chachikondi? (n be koro folo)

  7. I tɛgɛ fɛ

    Kuli kuuma apa (i tege fe)

  8. N bɛ kɛlɛ fɔlɔ

    Ndasowa pasipoti yangu (n be kele folo)

  9. I bɛ nɔgɔ kɔrɔ fɔlɔ?

    Mungafufuze hotelo yanga? (i be nogo koro folo)

  10. Tɛgɛ!

    Thandizani! (tege)

Work and business

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

  1. N bɛ se ka kɛnɛ

    Ndalumba kukumana nanu (N bɛ se ka kɛnɛ)

  2. Ala ka yɛlɛ kɛnɛ

    Tiyeni tiwoneke pa nthawi (Ala ka yɛlɛ kɛnɛ)

  3. I ni bɔ a la?

    Nthawi yiti ikukugwirirani ntchito? (I ni bɔ a la?)

  4. N bɛ fɔ report la tɛgɛ

    Ndidzatumiza lipoti lero (N bɛ fɔ report la tɛgɛ)

  5. N bɛ fɔ tɛgɛ?

    Tingathe kulankhula mawa? (N bɛ fɔ tɛgɛ?)

  6. Sɔgɔma, fɔ file la a bɛ

    Chonde onani fayilo yolembedwa (Sɔgɔma, fɔ file la a bɛ)

  7. I ni ce, a bɛ sɔrɔ

    Zikomo chifukwa cha nthawi yanu (I ni ce, a bɛ sɔrɔ)

  8. N bɛ fɔ a la ka yɛlɛ

    Ndikuyembekezera kugwira ntchito nanu (N bɛ fɔ a la ka yɛlɛ)

  9. I bɛ fɔ a la fɛ?

    Mungathe kuthetsa mfundo imeneyi? (I bɛ fɔ a la fɛ?)

  10. N bɛ fɔ a la kɛ

    Nditenge nthawi ndikubwerereni (N bɛ fɔ a la kɛ)

  11. Dɔgɔni tɛgɛ Friday

    Nthawi yomaliza ndi Lachisanu (Dɔgɔni tɛgɛ Friday)

Time, days and numbers

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

  1. Ala ka kɛnɛ?

    Ndi chiyani nthawi? (Ndi chiyani nthawi?)

  2. I ye kelen kelen.

    Ndi saa tatu (I ye kelen kelen)

  3. N bɔ

    Lero (N bo)

  4. N bɔ kɛ

    Maŵa (N bo ke)

  5. N bɔ fɛ

    Kale (N bo fe)

  6. Tɔgɔ

    Lolemba (Togo)

  7. Tɛgɛ

    Lachiwiri (Tege)

  8. Alakɔ

    Lachitatu (Alako)

  9. Kelen

    Mmodzi (Kelen)

  10. Duo

    Awiri (Duo)

  11. Tati

    Atatu (Tati)

  12. Folo

    Kumi (Folo)

  13. Dugukelen

    Zana (Dugukelen)

  14. Kelen fɛ

    Pachikhalidwe (Kelen fe)

  15. Kɛ

    Zambiri (Ke)

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