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Common Bemba to Tumbuka phrases

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

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Looking for practical Bemba to Tumbuka phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Bemba 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 Bemba 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 Bemba 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. Shani

    Moni

  2. Natotela

    Zikomo

  3. Muli shani

    Muli bwanji

  4. Muli shani

    Muli bwanji

  5. Muli shani

    Muli bwanji

  6. Shalenipo bwino

    Usiku wabwino

  7. Tukakutana

    Tiwonana

  8. Twalumba

    Tsalani bwino

  9. Iwe ulishani?

    Dzina lanu ndi ndani?

  10. Ndefwaya John

    Dzina langa ndi John

  11. Uli bwanji?

    Muli bwanji?

  12. Nashitasha kukumona

    Ndine wokondwa kukumana nanu

Useful phrases for travellers

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

  1. Ulyashi ulukanda mu Chingereza?

    Muli ndi Chingerezi? (muli ndi chingerezi)

  2. Ndefwaya ukulanda Hindi bwino

    Sikuyankhula Hindi bwino (sikuyankhula hindi bwino)

  3. Ndefwaya kumfwa

    Sindikumva (sindikumva)

  4. Nimwandi ulukanda buteko

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

  5. Ningaloleleko?

    Mungandiyankhulepo? (mungandiyankhulepo)

  6. Ili kuti ikalamba?

    Kuti ndi kuti? (kuti ndi kuti)

  7. Ningalileka shani ku city center?

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

  8. Fumya kumwendo

    Pita kumanzere (pita kumanzere)

  9. Fumya kumwendo

    Pita kumanja (pita kumanja)

  10. Enda pamo

    Pita mwendo (pita mwendo)

  11. Kuli shani ifyabukata?

    Ndi ndalama zingati? (ndi ndalama zingati)

  12. Ticket imwe, nomba

    Tiketi imodzi, chonde (tiketi imodzi, chonde)

  13. Kuli lishilu ukulya?

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

  14. Ndi lost

    Ndakhalapo (ndakhalapo)

  15. Ili kuti nindeke SIM card?

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

Everyday conversation

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

  1. Eya

    Iye

  2. Awe

    Ayi

  3. Panga

    Pang'ono

  4. Ndi bwino

    Ndikugwirizana

  5. Ndi bwino na

    Sindikugwirizana

  6. Ilyo lishibukile

    Ichi chimaoneka bwino

  7. Uchite shani?

    Muli ndi chiyani choti mumaganize?

  8. Ushakufwa?

    Mungandithandize?

  9. Ndefwaya ifyakufwa

    Ndikufuna thandizo

  10. Leka ifi

    Dikirani pang’ono

  11. Nshakufwa

    Ndikupemphera

  12. Takwaba shani

    Palibe vutoli

  13. Nshakufwa bwino

    Zikomo

  14. Nashala bwino mu mwaka

    Tsiku lobadwa labwino

  15. Ube na mulimo wabwino

    Pita bwino pa ulendo

Directions and getting around

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

  1. Uli kuti ikalamba ya chitima?

    Kukakhala kuti chiteshi cha njinga?

  2. Uli kuti icikalo ca bisi?

    Kukakhala kuti malo otchinga basi?

  3. Ninshi ni platform iyi?

    Ndi chigawo chiti?

  4. Ninshi ikalamba?

    Nanga nthawi itangopita?

  5. Ninshi iyi ni njira shabwino?

    Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera?

  6. Ili pamo na pano.

    Iyi ndi pafupi apa

  7. Ili lishilu na pano.

    Iyi ndi kutali ndi apa

  8. Ushibukishe pa mape?

    Mungandionetse pa chithunzi?

  9. Leka pano, chonde.

    Chimitsa apa, chonde

  10. Kuli shani?

    Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji?

Shopping and dining

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

  1. Ili shani?

    Iyi ikuguliradi chingwe? (iyi ikuguliradi chingwe)

  2. Ili lya kuli

    Iyi ndi mtengo wopusa (iyi ndi mtengo wopusa)

  3. Muli na chimo chibulu?

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

  4. Ningakupanga na kadi?

    Ningathe kulipira ndi khadi? (ningathe kulipira ndi khadi)

  5. Ningakonda itabo lyakupanga abali babili

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

  6. Icilanga, tapali

    Chikalata, chonde (chikalata, chonde)

  7. Ubufyashi bwakupanga?

    Ntchito ikuphatikizidwa? (ntchito ikuphatikizidwa)

  8. Ndi mvegetarian

    Ndine wopanda nyama (ndine wopanda nyama)

  9. Nshikala na fya spicy, tapali

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

  10. Ili lya bwino

    Iyi ndi yokoma (iyi ndi yokoma)

  11. Ningakonda ifyalo?

    Ningathe kupeza menyu? (ningathe kupeza menyu)

  12. Icupa ca mvula, tapali

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

Emergencies and health

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

  1. Tuma abashitisha

    Fufuzani polisi

  2. Tuma ambulance

    Fufuzani ambulansi

  3. Nshikala na doctor

    Ndikufuna dokotala

  4. Nshikala bwino

    Ndikuwona bwino

  5. Ndi na allergy ku nsalu

    Ndine wosowa ma groundnuts

  6. Ili kuti hospital ya pafupi?

    Kuti ndi chiyani chachikondi?

  7. Kuli ububi pano

    Kuli kuuma apa

  8. Nashitile passport yangu

    Ndasowa pasipoti yangu

  9. Nawe tuma hotel yangu?

    Mungafufuze hotelo yanga?

  10. Chikondi!

    Thandizani!

Work and business

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

  1. Nashamukeni

    Ndalumba kukumana nanu (na-sha-mu-ke-ni)

  2. Tulefwaya ukusanga

    Tiyeni tiwoneke pa nthawi (tu-le-fwa-ya u-ku-sanga)

  3. Ninshi ifikala bwino kwa iwe?

    Nthawi yiti ikukugwirirani ntchito? (nin-shi i-fi-ka-la bwi-no kwa i-we)

  4. Nizakutuma ifishina lelo

    Ndidzatumiza lipoti lero (ni-za-ku-tu-ma i-fi-shi-na le-lo)

  5. Twafwaya ukusambilila lero?

    Tingathe kulankhula mawa? (twa-fwa-ya u-ku-sam-bi-li-la le-ro)

  6. Nomba fwebo file iliko

    Chonde onani fayilo yolembedwa (nom-ba fwe-bo fi-le i-li-ko)

  7. Natotela pa nshita

    Zikomo chifukwa cha nthawi yanu (na-to-te-la pa nshi-ta)

  8. Nifwaya ukushanda na iwe

    Ndikuyembekezera kugwira ntchito nanu (ni-fwa-ya u-ku-shan-da na i-we)

  9. Wakosa ukufumya icikomo?

    Mungathe kuthetsa mfundo imeneyi? (wa-ko-sa u-ku-fum-ya i-ci-ko-mo)

  10. Nizakukumbusha

    Nditenge nthawi ndikubwerereni (ni-za-ku-kum-bu-sha)

  11. Ishina lyakupela ni Lwapula

    Nthawi yomaliza ndi Lachisanu (i-shi-na lya-ku-pe-la ni Lwa-pu-la)

Time, days and numbers

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

  1. Ninshi ilya shani?

    Ndi chiyani nthawi? (Ndi chiyani nthawi?)

  2. Kuli nomba itatu.

    Ndi saa tatu (Kuli nomba itatu.)

  3. Lelo.

    Lero (Lelo.)

  4. Mwaume.

    Maŵa (Mwaume.)

  5. Kale.

    Kale (Kale.)

  6. Lwandi.

    Lolemba (Lwandi.)

  7. Lwakabamba.

    Lachiwiri (Lwakabamba.)

  8. Lwapili.

    Lachitatu (Lwapili.)

  9. Imwe.

    Mmodzi (Imwe.)

  10. Ibili.

    Awiri (Ibili.)

  11. Itatu.

    Atatu (Itatu.)

  12. Icumi.

    Kumi (Icumi.)

  13. Cikumi.

    Zana (Cikumi.)

  14. Pafya.

    Pachikhalidwe (Pafya.)

  15. Ilyo.

    Zambiri (Ilyo.)

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