Looking for practical Chichewa to Yoruba phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Chichewa phrase first, then the Yoruba translation (Yoruba) — 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 Yoruba.
Tip: when a Yoruba phrase looks unfamiliar, compare it with the Chichewa 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 Chichewa to Yoruba 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.
Moni
Bawo(bawoh)
Zikomo
O seun(oh shayoon)
M'mawa wabwino
E kaaro(eh kah-roh)
Masana abwino
E kaasan(eh kah-sahn)
Madziwabwino
E kuurole(eh koo-roh-leh)
Usiku wabwino
O daaro(oh dah-roh)
Tiwonana
A ri e laipe(ah ree eh lie-peh)
Tsalani bwino
O dabọ(oh dah-boh)
Dzina lako ndi ndani?
Kí ni orukọ rẹ?(kee nee oh-roo-koh reh)
Dzina langa ndi John
Orukọ mi ni John(oh-roo-koh mee nee John)
Muli bwanji?
Bawo ni?(bawoh nee)
Ndikufuna kukumana nanu
Inu mi dun lati pade e(ee-noo mee doon lah-tee pah-deh eh)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Mukulankhula Chingerezi?
Ṣe o n sọ Gẹ́gẹ́?(Sheh oh n saw Geh-geh)
Sindikulankhula Hindi bwino
Mi ò sọ Hindi dáadáa(Mee oh saw Hindi dah-dah)
Sindikumva
Mi ò ye mi(Mee oh yeh mee)
Chonde lukani pang'onopang'ono
Jọwọ sọ ní kíkankíkan(Joh-wah saw nee keen-kay-kahn)
Mungathe kutero kwachiwiri?
Ṣe o le sọ é lẹ́ẹ̀kan síi?(Sheh oh leh saw eh leh-eh-kahn see)
Kuti ndi kuti chimbudzi?
Nibo ni baluwe wa?(Nee-boh nee bah-loo-weh wah)
Ndingapite bwanji ku mseu wa mzinda?
Báwo ni mo ṣe lọ sí àárín ìlú?(Bah-woh nee moh sheh law see ah-ree-nee loo)
Pangani kumanzere
Yí si apa osi(Yee see ah-pah oh-shee)
Pangani kumanzere
Yí si apa otun(Yee see ah-pah oh-toon)
Pitani mwachindunji
Lọ taara(Law tah-rah)
Ndi ndalama zingati?
Elo ni owo ọkọ?(Eh-loh nee oh-woh oh-koh)
Tiket imodzi, chonde
Ticket kan, jọwọ(Tee-ket kahn, joh-wah)
Ndi kutali bwanji kuchokera pano?
Ṣe ó jìnà síbí?(Sheh oh jee-nah see-bee)
Ndakhalapo
Mo ti sọnù(Moh tee sohn-oo)
Ndingatengere kuti SIM card?
Nibo ni mo ti le ra kaadi SIM?(Nee-boh nee moh tee leh rah kah-dee SIM)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Inde
Bẹẹni
Ayi
Rara
Mwina
Bóyá
Ndikugwirizana
Mo gba
Sindikugwirizana
Mo kọ
Zimakoma
Iyẹn dára
Mumaganiza chiyani?
Kí ni ìrònú rẹ?
Mungandithandize?
Ṣé o lè ràn mí lọ́wọ́?
Ndikufuna thandizo
Mo nílò ìrànlọ́wọ́
Dikirani pang'ono
Dákẹ́ díẹ̀
Ndikupemphera
Mo bínú
Palibe vuto
Kò sí ìṣòro
Zikomo
Ẹ kú àṣeyọrí
Tsiku lobadwa labwino
Ẹ kú ọjọ́ ibi
Pita bwino
Ṣe ìrìn àjò tó ààbò
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Kuti ndi kuti sitima?
Nibo ni ibudo ọkọ oju-irin wa?(Nibo ni ibudo ọkọ oju-irin wa?)
Kuti ndi kuti malo otsetsereka?
Nibo ni ibudo bosi wa?(Nibo ni ibudo bosi wa?)
Ndi chigawo chiti?
Ibo ni pẹpẹ naa?(Ibo ni pẹpẹ naa?)
Ndi nthawi iti imatenga?
Iwo wo ni o fi n lọ?(Iwo wo ni o fi n lọ?)
Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera?
Ṣe eyi ni ọna to tọ?(Ṣe eyi ni ọna to tọ?)
Ili pafupi pano
O sunmọ ibi yi
Ili kutali pano
O jinna si ibi yi
Kodi mungandionetse pa mapu?
Ṣe o le fihan mi lori maapu?(Ṣe o le fihan mi lori maapu?)
Khalani pano, chonde
Duro nibi, jọwọ
Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji?
Bawo ni igba wo ni o gba?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Zimatenga ndalama zingati?
Elo ni eyi?(elo ni eyi)
Izi ndizokwera mtengo kwambiri.
Eyi jẹ́ gbowó púpọ̀(eyi je gbowo pupo)
Kodi muli ndi chinthu chotsika mtengo?
Ṣe o ni nkan tó rọrùn?(se o ni nkan to rorun)
Ndingathe kulipira ndi khadi?
Ṣe mo le sanwo pẹ̀lú kaadi?(se mo le sanwo pelu kaadi)
Ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri.
Mo fẹ́ tábìlì fún méjì(mo fe tabili fun meji)
Chikonthe, chonde.
Iwe isanwo, jọwọ(iwe isanwo jowo)
Kodi ntchito yakhala mu mtengo?
Ṣe iṣẹ́ wa nínú?(se ise wa ninu)
Ndine mvegetarian.
Mo jẹ́ onjẹ ẹfọ(mo je onje efo)
Osati chakudya chotentha, chonde.
Kò sí onjẹ tó ní ìkà, jọwọ(ko si onje to ni ika jowo)
Izi ndizochuluka.
Eyi dára(eyi dara)
Ndingathe kupeza menyu?
Ṣe mo le ní àtòjọ onjẹ?(se mo le ni atojo onje)
Galasi ya madzi, chonde.
Gilaasi omi, jọwọ(gilaasi omi jowo)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Fufuzani apolisi
Pe iroyin ọlọpa(pe iroyin olopa)
Fufuzani ambulansi
Pe ambulance(pe ambulance)
Ndikufuna dokotala
Mo nilo dokita(mo nilo dokita)
Ndikumva kutopa
Mo n ni irora(mo n ni irora)
Ndine wosokoneza ndi ma nuts a phala
Mo ni àkúnya sí ẹ̀fọ́(mo ni akunya si efo)
Kuti ndi kuti chibadwe chachikondi?
Nibo ni ile-iwosan to sunmo?(nibo ni ile-iwosan to sunmo)
Kukonda apa
O n dun nibi(o n dun nibi)
Ndapeza pasipoti yanga
Mo padanu iwe irinna mi(mo padanu iwe irinna mi)
Mungafufuze hotelo yanga?
Se o le pe hotẹẹli mi?(se o le pe hoteeli mi)
Thandizani!
I ranlọwọ!(i ranlọwọ)
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Ndikuyamikira kukumana nanu
Inu mi dun lati pade e(Inu mi dun lati pade e)
Tiyeni tikhazikitse meeting
Jẹ ki a ṣe ipade
Ndi nthawi yanji yomwe ikugwira ntchito kwa inu?
Iwo, wo ni akoko ti o ba mu?
Ndzatumiza lipoti lero
Mo maa fi iroyin ranṣẹ loni
Tingathe kulankhula mawa?
Se a le ba ara wa sọrọ ni ọla?
Chonde pezani fayilo yowonjezedwa
Jọwọ ri faili ti a so mọ́
Zikomo chifukwa cha nthawi yanu
O seun fun akoko rẹ
Ndikuyembekezera kugwira ntchito nanu
Mo n reti lati ṣiṣẹ pẹlu rẹ
Mungathe kuthetsa mfundo imeneyo?
Se o le ṣalaye aaye yẹn?
Nditheke kubwerera kwa inu
Jẹ ki n pada sọrọ si ọ
Nthawi yotsiriza ndi Lachisanu
Akoko ipari ni Friday
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.