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Common Dyula to Tumbuka phrases

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

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Looking for practical Dyula to Tumbuka phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Dyula 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 Dyula 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 (ee nee che)

  2. I ni sogoma

    Zikomo (ee nee so-goh-mah)

  3. I ni bɛɛ

    Muli bwanji (ee nee beh)

  4. I ni kɛlɛ

    Muli bwanji (ee nee keh-leh)

  5. I ni tɔɔrɔ

    Muli bwanji (ee nee toh-roh)

  6. I ni fɔlɔ

    Usiku wabwino (ee nee fo-loh)

  7. N bɛ sɔrɔ

    Tiwonana (n beh so-roh)

  8. Ka kɛ

    Tsalani bwino (kah keh)

  9. I bɛ na?

    Dzina lanu ndi ndani? (ee beh nah)

  10. N na John

    Dzina langa ndi John (n nah John)

  11. I ni fɛ?

    Muli bwanji? (ee nee feh)

  12. N bɛ sɔrɔ i

    Ndine wokondwa kukumana nanu (n beh so-roh ee)

Useful phrases for travellers

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

  1. I ni kɔrɔ English?

    Muli ndi Chingerezi? (muli ndi chingerezi)

  2. N tɛgɛ Hindi bɛɛ kɔrɔ

    Sikuyankhula Hindi bwino (sikuyankhula hindi bwino)

  3. N tɛgɛ

    Sindikumva (sindikumva)

  4. Sɔrɔ, i kɔrɔ sɔgɔ

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

  5. I bɛ kɔrɔ a fɔ?

    Mungandiyankhulepo? (mungandiyankhulepo)

  6. Bɔlɔ fɔlɔ kɔ?

    Kuti ndi kuti? (kuti ndi kuti)

  7. N bɛ kɔ bɔlɔ kɛlɛ?

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

  8. Fɔlɔ kɛ

    Pita kumanzere (pita kumanzere)

  9. Fɔlɔ bɛ

    Pita kumanja (pita kumanja)

  10. Kɔ sɔgɔ

    Pita mwendo (pita mwendo)

  11. N bɛ kɔrɔ kɛlɛ?

    Ndi ndalama zingati? (ndi ndalama zingati)

  12. Kɔtɔ, sɔrɔ

    Tiketi imodzi, chonde (tiketi imodzi, chonde)

  13. I bɛ fɔlɔ kɛ?

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

  14. N bɛ tɛgɛ

    Ndakhalapo (ndakhalapo)

  15. N bɛ fɔlɔ SIM card kɛ?

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

Everyday conversation

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

  1. Awa

    Iye

  2. Ayi

    Ayi

  3. Sama

    Pang'ono

  4. N bɛ sɔrɔ

    Ndikugwirizana

  5. N bɛ sɔrɔ kɛ

    Sindikugwirizana

  6. I bɛ sɔrɔ kɛ

    Ichi chimaoneka bwino

  7. I bɛ sɔrɔ kɛn?

    Muli ndi chiyani choti mumaganize?

  8. I bɛ tɔgɔ mɛn?

    Mungandithandize?

  9. N bɛ tɔgɔ

    Ndikufuna thandizo

  10. Fɔlɔ kɔrɔ

    Dikirani pang’ono

  11. N bɛ sɔrɔ

    Ndikupemphera

  12. Ayi bɛ sɔrɔ

    Palibe vutoli

  13. N bɛ sɔrɔ fɛ

    Zikomo

  14. Bara fɛsɛ

    Tsiku lobadwa labwino

  15. I bɛ kɔ fɛ kɛ

    Pita bwino pa ulendo

Directions and getting around

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

  1. N ye train station kɔ?

    Kukakhala kuti chiteshi cha njinga? (N ye train station kɔ?)

  2. N ye bus stop kɔ?

    Kukakhala kuti malo otchinga basi? (N ye bus stop kɔ?)

  3. N bɛɛ platform kɔ?

    Ndi chigawo chiti? (N bɛɛ platform kɔ?)

  4. N bɛɛ jɔ kɔ?

    Nanga nthawi itangopita? (N bɛɛ jɔ kɔ?)

  5. I ye nyɛ kɔ?

    Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera? (I ye nyɛ kɔ?)

  6. I ye bɔ kɔ a la.

    Iyi ndi pafupi apa (I ye bɔ kɔ a la.)

  7. I ye bɔ kɔ a la bɔ.

    Iyi ndi kutali ndi apa (I ye bɔ kɔ a la bɔ.)

  8. I bɛ tɛgɛ mɛn kɔ map la?

    Mungandionetse pa chithunzi? (I bɛ tɛgɛ mɛn kɔ map la?)

  9. Sɔrɔ a la, bɛɛ.

    Chimitsa apa, chonde

  10. N bɛɛ jɔ kɔ bɔ?

    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 fɔlɔ.

    Iyi ndi mtengo wopusa (iyi ndi mtengo wopusa)

  3. I bɛ ye kɔrɔ fɔlɔ?

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

  4. N bɛ tɔɔrɔ kɔ?

    Ningathe kulipira ndi khadi? (ningathe kulipira ndi khadi)

  5. N bɛ fɔlɔ kɛlɛ tɔɔ.

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

  6. N bɛ fɔlɔ, jɛ.

    Chikalata, chonde (chikalata, chonde)

  7. Sɛbɛ bɛ fɔlɔ?

    Ntchito ikuphatikizidwa? (ntchito ikuphatikizidwa)

  8. N bɛ kɛlɛ fɔlɔ.

    Ndine wopanda nyama (ndine wopanda nyama)

  9. Ala fɔlɔ kɔrɔ, jɛ.

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

  10. I ye fɛ.

    Iyi ndi yokoma (iyi ndi yokoma)

  11. N bɛ fɔlɔ kɛlɛ?

    Ningathe kupeza menyu? (ningathe kupeza menyu)

  12. N bɛ fɔlɔ dɔɔni, jɛ.

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

Emergencies and health

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

  1. N ka bɛɛ yera

    Fufuzani polisi (N ka bɛɛ yera)

  2. N ka bɛɛ kɔrɔ

    Fufuzani ambulansi (N ka bɛɛ kɔrɔ)

  3. N bɛɛ fɔlɔ

    Ndikufuna dokotala (N bɛɛ fɔlɔ)

  4. N bɛɛ sɔrɔ

    Ndikuwona bwino (N bɛɛ sɔrɔ)

  5. N bɛɛ kɛlɛ fɔlɔ

    Ndine wosowa ma groundnuts (N bɛɛ kɛlɛ fɔlɔ)

  6. Ala kɔrɔ bɛɛ fɔlɔ?

    Kuti ndi chiyani chachikondi? (Ala kɔrɔ bɛɛ fɔlɔ?)

  7. I bɛɛ sɔrɔ

    Kuli kuuma apa (I bɛɛ sɔrɔ)

  8. N bɛɛ sɔgɔ kɔrɔ

    Ndasowa pasipoti yangu (N bɛɛ sɔgɔ kɔrɔ)

  9. I bɛɛ kɔrɔ n bɛɛ kɔrɔ?

    Mungafufuze hotelo yanga? (I bɛɛ kɔrɔ n bɛɛ kɔrɔ?)

  10. Yɛlɛ!

    Thandizani! (Yɛlɛ!)

Work and business

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

  1. N'ko fôlô

    Ndalumba kukumana nanu (n'ko folo)

  2. N'ko bôlô fôlô

    Tiyeni tiwoneke pa nthawi (n'ko bolo folo)

  3. N'ko fôlô kôlô?

    Nthawi yiti ikukugwirirani ntchito? (n'ko folo kolo)

  4. N'ko têgê fôlô kô

    Ndidzatumiza lipoti lero (n'ko tege folo ko)

  5. N'ko bôlô kô fôlô

    Tingathe kulankhula mawa? (n'ko bolo ko folo)

  6. N'ko bôlô fôlô kô

    Chonde onani fayilo yolembedwa (n'ko bolo folo ko)

  7. N'ko sôgô fôlô

    Zikomo chifukwa cha nthawi yanu (n'ko sogo folo)

  8. N'ko fôlô kô fôlô

    Ndikuyembekezera kugwira ntchito nanu (n'ko folo ko folo)

  9. N'ko fôlô kô

    Mungathe kuthetsa mfundo imeneyi? (n'ko folo ko)

  10. N'ko bôlô fôlô

    Nditenge nthawi ndikubwerereni (n'ko bolo folo)

  11. N'ko fôlô kô

    Nthawi yomaliza ndi Lachisanu (n'ko folo ko)

Time, days and numbers

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

  1. N'ko fô?

    Ndi chiyani nthawi? (Ndi chiyani nthawi?)

  2. I ye tulu fô.

    Ndi saa tatu (I ye tulu fô.)

  3. N'ko kô.

    Lero (N'ko kô.)

  4. N'ko fô.

    Maŵa (N'ko fô.)

  5. N'ko kô fô.

    Kale (N'ko kô fô.)

  6. N'ko kô tulu.

    Lolemba (N'ko kô tulu.)

  7. N'ko kô sô.

    Lachiwiri (N'ko kô sô.)

  8. N'ko kô kô.

    Lachitatu (N'ko kô kô.)

  9. Kelen.

    Mmodzi (Kelen.)

  10. Nin.

    Awiri (Nin.)

  11. Tulu.

    Atatu (Tulu.)

  12. Folo.

    Kumi (Folo.)

  13. Kelen fô.

    Zana (Kelen fô.)

  14. Fô kelen.

    Pachikhalidwe (Fô kelen.)

  15. Kô.

    Zambiri (Kô.)

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