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Common Dinka to Tumbuka phrases

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

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Looking for practical Dinka to Tumbuka phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Dinka 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: pick five Tumbuka phrases from the greetings section and use them in a real message today. Small daily practice beats cramming before a trip.

Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Dinka 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. Yaaŋ

    Moni (yaaŋ)

  2. Ajak

    Zikomo (ajak)

  3. Bäny äyö

    Muli bwanji (bäny äyö)

  4. Bäny kɛ̈l

    Muli bwanji (bäny kɛ̈l)

  5. Bäny nyin

    Muli bwanji (bäny nyin)

  6. Bäny kɛ̈l

    Usiku wabwino (bäny kɛ̈l)

  7. Yin kɛ̈l

    Tiwonana (yin kɛ̈l)

  8. Yin kɛ̈l

    Tsalani bwino (yin kɛ̈l)

  9. Nin kɛ̈l yïn?

    Dzina lanu ndi ndani? (nin kɛ̈l yïn?)

  10. Nin yïn John

    Dzina langa ndi John (nin yïn John)

  11. Kɛ̈l yïn?

    Muli bwanji? (kɛ̈l yïn?)

  12. Bäny kɛ̈l yïn

    Ndine wokondwa kukumana nanu (bäny kɛ̈l yïn)

Useful phrases for travellers

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

  1. Nyaac ke wic ku English?

    Muli ndi Chingerezi? (muli ndi chingerezi)

  2. Aye nyin wic Hindi kɔc.

    Sikuyankhula Hindi bwino (sikuyankhula hindi bwino)

  3. Aye nyin kɔc.

    Sindikumva (sindikumva)

  4. Yin kɔc ke nyin.

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

  5. Yin wic ke nyin?

    Mungandiyankhulepo? (mungandiyankhulepo)

  6. Cɔl kɛ thon?

    Kuti ndi kuti? (kuti ndi kuti)

  7. Nyaac kɛ jɛt ke cɛl?

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

  8. Yin tɛŋ ke thok.

    Pita kumanzere (pita kumanzere)

  9. Yin tɛŋ ke kɛl.

    Pita kumanja (pita kumanja)

  10. Yin tɛŋ ke cɛl.

    Pita mwendo (pita mwendo)

  11. Cɔl kɛ thon?

    Ndi ndalama zingati? (ndi ndalama zingati)

  12. Kɛl thok, yin.

    Tiketi imodzi, chonde (tiketi imodzi, chonde)

  13. Cɔl kɛ jɔk ke cɛl?

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

  14. Aye nyin thok.

    Ndakhalapo (ndakhalapo)

  15. Cɔl kɛ jɛt ke SIM?

    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. Naa

    Ayi

  3. Cok

    Pang'ono

  4. Aye nyin

    Ndikugwirizana

  5. Naa nyin

    Sindikugwirizana

  6. Käth aŋöör

    Ichi chimaoneka bwino

  7. Käŋ aŋöör?

    Muli ndi chiyani choti mumaganize?

  8. Nyaŋ aŋöör?

    Mungandithandize?

  9. Aye bɛ̈t aŋöör

    Ndikufuna thandizo

  10. Käŋ aŋöör

    Dikirani pang’ono

  11. Aye kɛ̈l

    Ndikupemphera

  12. Naa kɛ̈l

    Palibe vutoli

  13. Bɛ̈t aŋöör

    Zikomo

  14. Bɛ̈t aŋöör kuɔr

    Tsiku lobadwa labwino

  15. Käth aŋöör kuɔr

    Pita bwino pa ulendo

Directions and getting around

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

  1. Cïïr yïnë kël?

    Kukakhala kuti chiteshi cha njinga? (Cii r yin e kel)

  2. Cïïr yïnë kël jëŋ?

    Kukakhala kuti malo otchinga basi? (Cii r yin e kel jeng)

  3. Këc yïnë kël?

    Ndi chigawo chiti? (Kec yin e kel)

  4. Këc kël yïnë?

    Nanga nthawi itangopita? (Kec kel yin e)

  5. Këc yïnë kël wël?

    Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera? (Kec yin e kel wel)

  6. Këc yïnë kël jëŋ?

    Iyi ndi pafupi apa (Kec yin e kel jeng)

  7. Këc yïnë kël wël?

    Iyi ndi kutali ndi apa (Kec yin e kel wel)

  8. Aŋë yïnë kël kɔc?

    Mungandionetse pa chithunzi? (Ang e yin e kel koc)

  9. Nye kël jëŋ, jëŋ?

    Chimitsa apa, chonde (Nye kel jeng jeng)

  10. Këc yïnë kël jëŋ?

    Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji? (Kec yin e kel jeng)

Shopping and dining

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

  1. Kuoth ke nyin?

    Iyi ikuguliradi chingwe? (iyi ikuguliradi chingwe)

  2. Nyaak ke thok kɛ̈r

    Iyi ndi mtengo wopusa (iyi ndi mtengo wopusa)

  3. Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r?

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

  4. Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɔc?

    Ningathe kulipira ndi khadi? (ningathe kulipira ndi khadi)

  5. Aye ke nyin a tɛ́bɛl kɛ̈r duɔŋ

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

  6. Kɛ́l, please

    Chikalata, chonde (chikalata, chonde)

  7. Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɛ́l?

    Ntchito ikuphatikizidwa? (ntchito ikuphatikizidwa)

  8. Aye ke nyin a kɔc

    Ndine wopanda nyama (ndine wopanda nyama)

  9. Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r aŋɔr, please

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

  10. Nyaak ke aŋɔr

    Iyi ndi yokoma (iyi ndi yokoma)

  11. Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r a menu?

    Ningathe kupeza menyu? (ningathe kupeza menyu)

  12. Aye ke nyin a kɔl aŋɔr, please

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

Emergencies and health

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

  1. Bɛɛr kɔl pɔlɪs

    Fufuzani polisi

  2. Bɛɛr kɔl ambʊlɛns

    Fufuzani ambulansi

  3. A pɛɛr dɔkta

    Ndikufuna dokotala

  4. A jɛt kɔc

    Ndikuwona bwino

  5. A kɛl kɔc bɛɛr pɛɛnʊt

    Ndine wosowa ma groundnuts

  6. Cɛɛr kɛ bɛɛr hɔspɪtɔl?

    Kuti ndi chiyani chachikondi?

  7. Kɔc kɛ tɛŋ

    Kuli kuuma apa

  8. A lɔst pɑspɔt

    Ndasowa pasipoti yangu

  9. Kɛl bɛɛr kɔl hɔtɛl a?

    Mungafufuze hotelo yanga?

  10. Yɛɛr!

    Thandizani!

Work and business

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

  1. Yin ke nyin

    Ndalumba kukumana nanu (Yin ke nyin)

  2. Nyaak ke nyin ke jieng

    Tiyeni tiwoneke pa nthawi (Nyaak ke nyin ke jieng)

  3. Cieng nyin ke jieng?

    Nthawi yiti ikukugwirirani ntchito? (Cieng nyin ke jieng?)

  4. Aye ke cïe report kɛ̈t

    Ndidzatumiza lipoti lero (Aye ke cïe report kɛ̈t)

  5. Nyaak ke jieng kɛ̈t?

    Tingathe kulankhula mawa? (Nyaak ke jieng kɛ̈t?)

  6. Nyaak ke cïe file kɛ̈t

    Chonde onani fayilo yolembedwa (Nyaak ke cïe file kɛ̈t)

  7. Ayiir ke nyin kɛ̈t

    Zikomo chifukwa cha nthawi yanu (Ayiir ke nyin kɛ̈t)

  8. Aye ke nyin kɛ̈t jieng

    Ndikuyembekezera kugwira ntchito nanu (Aye ke nyin kɛ̈t jieng)

  9. Nyaak ke cïe kɛ̈t?

    Mungathe kuthetsa mfundo imeneyi? (Nyaak ke cïe kɛ̈t?)

  10. Nyaak ke cïe nyin kɛ̈t

    Nditenge nthawi ndikubwerereni (Nyaak ke cïe nyin kɛ̈t)

  11. Cieng kɛ̈t ke Friday

    Nthawi yomaliza ndi Lachisanu (Cieng kɛ̈t ke Friday)

Time, days and numbers

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

  1. Cïŋ ke cïŋ?

    Ndi chiyani nthawi? (Ndi chiyani nthawi?)

  2. Cïŋ kɛɛŋ thok

    Ndi saa tatu (Cing keeng thok)

  3. Kɛ̈th

    Lero (Keth)

  4. Kɛ̈th kɛ̈l

    Maŵa (Keth kel)

  5. Kɛ̈th kɛ̈n

    Kale (Keth ken)

  6. Nyi̱ŋ

    Lolemba (Nying)

  7. Nyi̱ŋ kɛ̈l

    Lachiwiri (Nying kel)

  8. Nyi̱ŋ kɛ̈n

    Lachitatu (Nying ken)

  9. Cïŋ

    Mmodzi (Cing)

  10. Dɛ̈l

    Awiri (Del)

  11. Thok

    Atatu (Thok)

  12. Cɛ̈l

    Kumi (Cel)

  13. Cïŋ kɛ̈l

    Zana (Cing kel)

  14. Cɛ̈l kɛ̈l

    Pachikhalidwe (Cel kel)

  15. Kɛ̈l

    Zambiri (Kel)

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