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Common Fon to Tumbuka phrases

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

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Looking for practical Fon to Tumbuka phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Fon 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: read the Tumbuka line out loud three times, then cover the Fon side and try to recall the meaning — repetition builds memory faster than silent reading.

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

    Moni (nɔ́)

  2. Mèdɔ́

    Zikomo (mèdɔ́)

  3. Mèdɔ́ agblɔ

    Muli bwanji (mèdɔ́ agblɔ)

  4. Mèdɔ́ ɖe

    Muli bwanji (mèdɔ́ ɖe)

  5. Mèdɔ́ ɖeɖe

    Muli bwanji (mèdɔ́ ɖeɖe)

  6. Mèdɔ́ xɔxɔ

    Usiku wabwino (mèdɔ́ xɔxɔ)

  7. Nɔ́ wɛ

    Tiwonana (nɔ́ wɛ)

  8. Nɔ́ wɛ ɖe

    Tsalani bwino (nɔ́ wɛ ɖe)

  9. Nɔ́ wɛ nɔ́?

    Dzina lanu ndi ndani? (nɔ́ wɛ nɔ́?)

  10. Mè nɔ́ John

    Dzina langa ndi John (mè nɔ́ John)

  11. Nɔ́ wɛ nɔ́?

    Muli bwanji? (nɔ́ wɛ nɔ́?)

  12. Mèdɔ́ nɔ́

    Ndine wokondwa kukumana nanu (mèdɔ́ nɔ́)

Useful phrases for travellers

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

  1. I gbè yé èdè Gẹ̀ẹ́sì?

    Muli ndi Chingerezi? (muli ndi chingerezi)

  2. Mè n'gbè yé Èdè Hindi kè.

    Sikuyankhula Hindi bwino (sikuyankhula hindi bwino)

  3. Mè n'kó nù.

    Sindikumva (sindikumva)

  4. S'il vous plaît, gbè yé kè.

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

  5. Mè s'kà yé nù?

    Mungandiyankhulepo? (mungandiyankhulepo)

  6. Èwé n'kà dɔ́?

    Kuti ndi kuti? (kuti ndi kuti)

  7. Mè n'kà yé nù àlà nà?

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

  8. Tò n'kà kè.

    Pita kumanzere (pita kumanzere)

  9. Tò n'kà pɔ́.

    Pita kumanja (pita kumanja)

  10. Lè n'kà kè.

    Pita mwendo (pita mwendo)

  11. Kí n'kà dɔ́?

    Ndi ndalama zingati? (ndi ndalama zingati)

  12. Mè s'kà àyé, s'il vous plaît.

    Tiketi imodzi, chonde (tiketi imodzi, chonde)

  13. Èwé n'kà mɛ́?

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

  14. Mè n'kà nɔ́.

    Ndakhalapo (ndakhalapo)

  15. Èwé n'kà nɔ́ 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. Ɛ

    Iye (e)

  2. Ayi

    Ayi (ayi)

  3. Mɛ

    Pang'ono (me)

  4. Mè yé

    Ndikugwirizana (me ye)

  5. Mè n'yi

    Sindikugwirizana (me n'yi)

  6. N'kɔ nɔ

    Ichi chimaoneka bwino (n'ko no)

  7. N'kɔ a kɔ?

    Muli ndi chiyani choti mumaganize? (n'ko a ko)

  8. I n'kɔ mɛ?

    Mungandithandize? (i n'ko me)

  9. Mè n'kɔ mɛ

    Ndikufuna thandizo (me n'ko me)

  10. Tɔ́ nɔ

    Dikirani pang’ono (to no)

  11. Mè nɔ n'kɔ

    Ndikupemphera (me no n'ko)

  12. Ayi n'kɔ

    Palibe vutoli (ayi n'ko)

  13. Mè nɔ wé

    Zikomo (me no we)

  14. Mè nɔ tɔ́

    Tsiku lobadwa labwino (me no to)

  15. N'kɔ a wé dɔ

    Pita bwino pa ulendo (n'ko a we do)

Directions and getting around

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

  1. N'ye wé train station?

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

  2. N'ye wé bus stop?

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

  3. Ké platform na?

    Ndi chigawo chiti? (Ké platform na?)

  4. Ké sa a yé?

    Nanga nthawi itangopita? (Ké sa a yé?)

  5. N'ye wé yé na?

    Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera? (N'ye wé yé na?)

  6. Yé na hɛn

    Iyi ndi pafupi apa (Yé na hɛn)

  7. Yé na hɛn gbo

    Iyi ndi kutali ndi apa (Yé na hɛn gbo)

  8. Mè wé hɛn n'ye map?

    Mungandionetse pa chithunzi? (Mè wé hɛn n'ye map?)

  9. Tó hɛn, s'il vous plaît

    Chimitsa apa, chonde (Tó hɛn, s'il vous plaît)

  10. Ké sa a yé?

    Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji? (Ké sa a yé?)

Shopping and dining

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

  1. Mè wé na?

    Iyi ikuguliradi chingwe? (iyi ikuguliradi chingwe)

  2. Yè wé bɔ́ nɔ́.

    Iyi ndi mtengo wopusa (iyi ndi mtengo wopusa)

  3. A wé nɔ́ dɔ́?

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

  4. Mè wé hɛn nɔ́?

    Ningathe kulipira ndi khadi? (ningathe kulipira ndi khadi)

  5. Mè wé dɔ́ nɔ́ fɔ́.

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

  6. A wé nɔ́ bɔ́.

    Chikalata, chonde (chikalata, chonde)

  7. Sè wé bɔ́?

    Ntchito ikuphatikizidwa? (ntchito ikuphatikizidwa)

  8. Mè wé kɔ́ nɔ́.

    Ndine wopanda nyama (ndine wopanda nyama)

  9. Mè wé nɔ́ kɔ́ nɔ́.

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

  10. Yè wé sɔ́.

    Iyi ndi yokoma (iyi ndi yokoma)

  11. Mè wé nɔ́ mɛ́ nɔ́?

    Ningathe kupeza menyu? (ningathe kupeza menyu)

  12. Mè wé nɔ́ gɔ́ nɔ́.

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

Emergencies and health

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

  1. Nɔ̀ nɔ́ wɛ́

    Fufuzani polisi (nɔ̀ nɔ́ wɛ́)

  2. Nɔ̀ nɔ́ àmblans

    Fufuzani ambulansi (nɔ̀ nɔ́ àmblans)

  3. Mè hùn wá dɔ́ktɛ́

    Ndikufuna dokotala (mè hùn wá dɔ́ktɛ́)

  4. Mè tɔ́ dɔ́

    Ndikuwona bwino (mè tɔ́ dɔ́)

  5. Mè wá nùmɛ́ kɔ́

    Ndine wosowa ma groundnuts (mè wá nùmɛ́ kɔ́)

  6. Fɔ́ wɛ́ dɔ́kita nɔ́?

    Kuti ndi chiyani chachikondi? (fɔ́ wɛ́ dɔ́kita nɔ́?)

  7. A hùn nɔ́

    Kuli kuuma apa (a hùn nɔ́)

  8. Mè lɔ́ mɔ́ kɔ́tɔ́

    Ndasowa pasipoti yangu (mè lɔ́ mɔ́ kɔ́tɔ́)

  9. Kɔ́ nɔ́ nɔ́ wɛ́ mɔ́ hɔ́tɛ́l?

    Mungafufuze hotelo yanga? (kɔ́ nɔ́ nɔ́ wɛ́ mɔ́ hɔ́tɛ́l?)

  10. Sè!

    Thandizani! (sè!)

Work and business

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

  1. Mè wá nɔ́

    Ndalumba kukumana nanu (Me wa no)

  2. Mè tɔ́ nɔ́ kɔ́ sɔ́

    Tiyeni tiwoneke pa nthawi (Me to no ko so)

  3. Nɔ́ kɔ́ sɔ́ kó?

    Nthawi yiti ikukugwirirani ntchito? (No ko so ko?)

  4. Mè yé sɔ́ nɔ́ kɔ́ bɔ́

    Ndidzatumiza lipoti lero (Me ye so no ko bo)

  5. Mè tɔ́ nɔ́ kɔ́ bɔ́ kɔ́

    Tingathe kulankhula mawa? (Me to no ko bo ko)

  6. Mè tɔ́ nɔ́ kɔ́ sɔ́ nɔ́

    Chonde onani fayilo yolembedwa (Me to no ko so no)

  7. Mè tɔ́ nɔ́ kɔ́ nɔ́

    Zikomo chifukwa cha nthawi yanu (Me to no ko no)

  8. Mè tɔ́ nɔ́ kɔ́ sɔ́

    Ndikuyembekezera kugwira ntchito nanu (Me to no ko so)

  9. Nɔ́ kɔ́ sɔ́ kó?

    Mungathe kuthetsa mfundo imeneyi? (No ko so ko?)

  10. Mè tɔ́ nɔ́ kɔ́ sɔ́

    Nditenge nthawi ndikubwerereni (Me to no ko so)

  11. Nɔ́ kɔ́ sɔ́ kó

    Nthawi yomaliza ndi Lachisanu (No ko so ko)

Time, days and numbers

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

  1. Nukon wé?

    Ndi chiyani nthawi? (Ndi chiyani nthawi?)

  2. Wé hã tã

    Ndi saa tatu (we han ta)

  3. Ayi

    Lero (ayi)

  4. Mèbè

    Maŵa (mebe)

  5. Ayi gbo

    Kale (ayi gbo)

  6. Lundi

    Lolemba (lundi)

  7. Mardi

    Lachiwiri (mardi)

  8. Mercredi

    Lachitatu (mercredi)

  9. Yin

    Mmodzi (yin)

  10. Hè

    Awiri (he)

  11. Tã

    Atatu (tan)

  12. Dè

    Kumi (de)

  13. Yin hã

    Zana (yin han)

  14. Mè

    Pachikhalidwe (me)

  15. Hè hã

    Zambiri (he han)

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