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Common Chichewa to Tumbuka phrases

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

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

    Moni

  2. Zikomo

    Zikomo

  3. M'mawa wabwino

    Muli bwanji

  4. Masana abwino

    Muli bwanji

  5. Madziwabwino

    Muli bwanji

  6. Usiku wabwino

    Usiku wabwino

  7. Tiwonana

    Tiwonana

  8. Tsalani bwino

    Tsalani bwino

  9. Dzina lako ndi ndani?

    Dzina lanu ndi ndani?

  10. Dzina langa ndi John

    Dzina langa ndi John

  11. Muli bwanji?

    Muli bwanji?

  12. Ndikufuna kukumana nanu

    Ndine wokondwa kukumana nanu

Useful phrases for travellers

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

  1. Mukulankhula Chingerezi?

    Muli ndi Chingerezi? (muli ndi chingerezi)

  2. Sindikulankhula Hindi bwino

    Sikuyankhula Hindi bwino (sikuyankhula hindi bwino)

  3. Sindikumva

    Sindikumva (sindikumva)

  4. Chonde lukani pang'onopang'ono

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

  5. Mungathe kutero kwachiwiri?

    Mungandiyankhulepo? (mungandiyankhulepo)

  6. Kuti ndi kuti chimbudzi?

    Kuti ndi kuti? (kuti ndi kuti)

  7. Ndingapite bwanji ku mseu wa mzinda?

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

  8. Pangani kumanzere

    Pita kumanzere (pita kumanzere)

  9. Pangani kumanzere

    Pita kumanja (pita kumanja)

  10. Pitani mwachindunji

    Pita mwendo (pita mwendo)

  11. Ndi ndalama zingati?

    Ndi ndalama zingati? (ndi ndalama zingati)

  12. Tiket imodzi, chonde

    Tiketi imodzi, chonde (tiketi imodzi, chonde)

  13. Ndi kutali bwanji kuchokera pano?

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

  14. Ndakhalapo

    Ndakhalapo (ndakhalapo)

  15. Ndingatengere kuti 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. Inde

    Iye

  2. Ayi

    Ayi

  3. Mwina

    Pang'ono

  4. Ndikugwirizana

    Ndikugwirizana

  5. Sindikugwirizana

    Sindikugwirizana

  6. Zimakoma

    Ichi chimaoneka bwino

  7. Mumaganiza chiyani?

    Muli ndi chiyani choti mumaganize?

  8. Mungandithandize?

    Mungandithandize?

  9. Ndikufuna thandizo

    Ndikufuna thandizo

  10. Dikirani pang'ono

    Dikirani pang’ono

  11. Ndikupemphera

    Ndikupemphera

  12. Palibe vuto

    Palibe vutoli

  13. Zikomo

    Zikomo

  14. Tsiku lobadwa labwino

    Tsiku lobadwa labwino

  15. Pita bwino

    Pita bwino pa ulendo

Directions and getting around

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

  1. Kuti ndi kuti sitima?

    Kukakhala kuti chiteshi cha njinga?

  2. Kuti ndi kuti malo otsetsereka?

    Kukakhala kuti malo otchinga basi?

  3. Ndi chigawo chiti?

    Ndi chigawo chiti?

  4. Ndi nthawi iti imatenga?

    Nanga nthawi itangopita?

  5. Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera?

    Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera?

  6. Ili pafupi pano

    Iyi ndi pafupi apa

  7. Ili kutali pano

    Iyi ndi kutali ndi apa

  8. Kodi mungandionetse pa mapu?

    Mungandionetse pa chithunzi?

  9. Khalani pano, chonde

    Chimitsa apa, chonde

  10. Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji?

    Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji?

Shopping and dining

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

  1. Zimatenga ndalama zingati?

    Iyi ikuguliradi chingwe? (iyi ikuguliradi chingwe)

  2. Izi ndizokwera mtengo kwambiri.

    Iyi ndi mtengo wopusa (iyi ndi mtengo wopusa)

  3. Kodi muli ndi chinthu chotsika mtengo?

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

  4. Ndingathe kulipira ndi khadi?

    Ningathe kulipira ndi khadi? (ningathe kulipira ndi khadi)

  5. Ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri.

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

  6. Chikonthe, chonde.

    Chikalata, chonde (chikalata, chonde)

  7. Kodi ntchito yakhala mu mtengo?

    Ntchito ikuphatikizidwa? (ntchito ikuphatikizidwa)

  8. Ndine mvegetarian.

    Ndine wopanda nyama (ndine wopanda nyama)

  9. Osati chakudya chotentha, chonde.

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

  10. Izi ndizochuluka.

    Iyi ndi yokoma (iyi ndi yokoma)

  11. Ndingathe kupeza menyu?

    Ningathe kupeza menyu? (ningathe kupeza menyu)

  12. Galasi ya madzi, chonde.

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

Emergencies and health

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

  1. Fufuzani apolisi

    Fufuzani polisi

  2. Fufuzani ambulansi

    Fufuzani ambulansi

  3. Ndikufuna dokotala

    Ndikufuna dokotala

  4. Ndikumva kutopa

    Ndikuwona bwino

  5. Ndine wosokoneza ndi ma nuts a phala

    Ndine wosowa ma groundnuts

  6. Kuti ndi kuti chibadwe chachikondi?

    Kuti ndi chiyani chachikondi?

  7. Kukonda apa

    Kuli kuuma apa

  8. Ndapeza pasipoti yanga

    Ndasowa pasipoti yangu

  9. Mungafufuze hotelo yanga?

    Mungafufuze hotelo yanga?

  10. Thandizani!

    Thandizani!

Work and business

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

  1. Ndikuyamikira kukumana nanu

    Ndalumba kukumana nanu

  2. Tiyeni tikhazikitse meeting

    Tiyeni tiwoneke pa nthawi

  3. Ndi nthawi yanji yomwe ikugwira ntchito kwa inu?

    Nthawi yiti ikukugwirirani ntchito?

  4. Ndzatumiza lipoti lero

    Ndidzatumiza lipoti lero

  5. Tingathe kulankhula mawa?

    Tingathe kulankhula mawa?

  6. Chonde pezani fayilo yowonjezedwa

    Chonde onani fayilo yolembedwa

  7. Zikomo chifukwa cha nthawi yanu

    Zikomo chifukwa cha nthawi yanu

  8. Ndikuyembekezera kugwira ntchito nanu

    Ndikuyembekezera kugwira ntchito nanu

  9. Mungathe kuthetsa mfundo imeneyo?

    Mungathe kuthetsa mfundo imeneyi?

  10. Nditheke kubwerera kwa inu

    Nditenge nthawi ndikubwerereni

  11. Nthawi yotsiriza ndi Lachisanu

    Nthawi yomaliza ndi Lachisanu

Time, days and numbers

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

  1. Ndi nthawi yanji?

    Ndi chiyani nthawi? (Ndi chiyani nthawi?)

  2. Ndi nthawi itatu.

    Ndi saa tatu

  3. Lero

    Lero

  4. Mawa

    Maŵa

  5. Ch yesterday

    Kale

  6. Lolemba

    Lolemba

  7. Lachiwiri

    Lachiwiri

  8. Lachitatu

    Lachitatu

  9. Chimodzi

    Mmodzi

  10. Chiwiri

    Awiri

  11. Chitatu

    Atatu

  12. Kumi

    Kumi

  13. Zana

    Zana

  14. Pafupifupi

    Pachikhalidwe

  15. Zambiri

    Zambiri

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