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Common Luganda to Tumbuka phrases

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

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Looking for practical Luganda to Tumbuka phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Luganda 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: when a Tumbuka phrase looks unfamiliar, compare it with the Luganda 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 Luganda 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. Oli otya?

    Moni (Oli otya?)

  2. Webale

    Zikomo (Webale)

  3. Osiibye otya?

    Muli bwanji (Osiibye otya?)

  4. Osiibye bulungi?

    Muli bwanji (Osiibye bulungi?)

  5. Osiibye otya?

    Muli bwanji (Osiibye otya?)

  6. Lwaki olugendo?

    Usiku wabwino (Lwaki olugendo?)

  7. Tugenda kutya?

    Tiwonana (Tugenda kutya?)

  8. Nkwagala

    Tsalani bwino (Nkwagala)

  9. Erinnya lyo ani?

    Dzina lanu ndi ndani? (Erinnya lyo ani?)

  10. Erinnya lyange nze John

    Dzina langa ndi John (Erinnya lyange nze John)

  11. Oli otya?

    Muli bwanji? (Oli otya?)

  12. Nkwagala okukulaba

    Ndine wokondwa kukumana nanu (Nkwagala okukulaba)

Useful phrases for travellers

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

  1. Okwogera mu Lungereza?

    Muli ndi Chingerezi? (muli ndi chingerezi)

  2. Sikozesa Hindi bulungi.

    Sikuyankhula Hindi bwino (sikuyankhula hindi bwino)

  3. Sijja kumanya.

    Sindikumva (sindikumva)

  4. Nnyonnyola bulungi.

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

  5. Osobola okwogera buno buno?

    Mungandiyankhulepo? (mungandiyankhulepo)

  6. Ekitanda kiki?

    Kuti ndi kuti? (kuti ndi kuti)

  7. Nteekateeka owa city center?

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

  8. Genda ku kkono.

    Pita kumanzere (pita kumanzere)

  9. Genda ku mwoyo.

    Pita kumanja (pita kumanja)

  10. Genda mu maaso.

    Pita mwendo (pita mwendo)

  11. Ekitundu kiki?

    Ndi ndalama zingati? (ndi ndalama zingati)

  12. Ticket emu, please.

    Tiketi imodzi, chonde (tiketi imodzi, chonde)

  13. Kiki kirekera wano?

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

  14. Ndi mu bubi.

    Ndakhalapo (ndakhalapo)

  15. Nneeyisa SIM card wano?

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

Everyday conversation

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

  1. Ye

    Iye

  2. Nedda

    Ayi

  3. Okwagala

    Pang'ono

  4. Nnaakuwandiika

    Ndikugwirizana

  5. Sikuwandiika

    Sindikugwirizana

  6. Kyo kyekirungi

    Ichi chimaoneka bwino

  7. Otekayo ki?

    Muli ndi chiyani choti mumaganize?

  8. Osobola okundabira?

    Mungandithandize?

  9. Nfuna obuyambi

    Ndikufuna thandizo

  10. Saba omukutu

    Dikirani pang’ono

  11. Nsaba

    Ndikupemphera

  12. Tewali kibadde

    Palibe vutoli

  13. Okwagaliza

    Zikomo

  14. Okwagaliza ku lunaku lw'okuzaala

    Tsiku lobadwa labwino

  15. Genda bulungi

    Pita bwino pa ulendo

Directions and getting around

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

  1. Ekitangaala ky'ekitanda?

    Kukakhala kuti chiteshi cha njinga? (ekitangaala ky'ekitanda)

  2. Ekitangaala ky'ekitanda?

    Kukakhala kuti malo otchinga basi? (ekitangaala ky'ekitanda)

  3. Ekitangaala ki?

    Ndi chigawo chiti? (ekitangaala ki)

  4. Bwe ki ssaawa esigala?

    Nanga nthawi itangopita? (bwe ki ssaawa esigala)

  5. Okwetegeka kwe?

    Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera? (okwetegeka kwe)

  6. Kiri wano wansi

    Iyi ndi pafupi apa (kiri wano wansi)

  7. Kiri mangu

    Iyi ndi kutali ndi apa (kiri mangu)

  8. Osobola okundabira ku kaddde?

    Mungandionetse pa chithunzi? (osobola okundabira ku kaddde)

  9. Ggenda wano, please

    Chimitsa apa, chonde (ggenda wano, please)

  10. Tewali bungi ki?

    Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji? (tewali bungi ki)

Shopping and dining

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

  1. Kiki ky'ekitundu?

    Iyi ikuguliradi chingwe? (iyi ikuguliradi chingwe)

  2. Ekitundu kyo kireetese.

    Iyi ndi mtengo wopusa (iyi ndi mtengo wopusa)

  3. Oli n'ekikadde ekirala?

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

  4. Nneetaaga okwefuga ku kadi?

    Ningathe kulipira ndi khadi? (ningathe kulipira ndi khadi)

  5. Nneetaaga akatale ka abantu babiri.

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

  6. Ekitabo, please.

    Chikalata, chonde (chikalata, chonde)

  7. Okwetegereza kukyusiddwa?

    Ntchito ikuphatikizidwa? (ntchito ikuphatikizidwa)

  8. Nze ndi omukazi wa mboga.

    Ndine wopanda nyama (ndine wopanda nyama)

  9. Tewali emmere eya kinyama, please.

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

  10. Ono mulungi.

    Iyi ndi yokoma (iyi ndi yokoma)

  11. Nneetaaga menu?

    Ningathe kupeza menyu? (ningathe kupeza menyu)

  12. Ekikopo ky'amata, 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. Mpozzi polisi

    Fufuzani polisi

  2. Mpozzi ambulance

    Fufuzani ambulansi

  3. Nfuna daktari

    Ndikufuna dokotala

  4. Ndi mu mbeera mbi

    Ndikuwona bwino

  5. Ndi mu bbeera ya nfuzi

    Ndine wosowa ma groundnuts

  6. Okwetegereza hospital ey'ekyama?

    Kuti ndi chiyani chachikondi?

  7. Bikozesa wano

    Kuli kuuma apa

  8. Nfuuse passport yange

    Ndasowa pasipoti yangu

  9. Osobola okumpa mpozzi hotel yange?

    Mungafufuze hotelo yanga?

  10. Mbadde!

    Thandizani!

Work and business

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

  1. Nkwagala okubaako

    Ndalumba kukumana nanu (Nkwagala okubaako)

  2. Tugende mu nteekateeka

    Tiyeni tiwoneke pa nthawi (Tugende mu nteekateeka)

  3. Okwesiga ki?

    Nthawi yiti ikukugwirirani ntchito? (Okwesiga ki?)

  4. Nja kutandika okutuusa ebiragiro leero

    Ndidzatumiza lipoti lero (Nja kutandika okutuusa ebiragiro leero)

  5. Tusobola okubaako oluvannyuma?

    Tingathe kulankhula mawa? (Tusobola okubaako oluvannyuma?)

  6. Nsaba osanga fayiro eyakwatiddwa

    Chonde onani fayilo yolembedwa (Nsaba osanga fayiro eyakwatiddwa)

  7. Webale ku ssaawa yo

    Zikomo chifukwa cha nthawi yanu (Webale ku ssaawa yo)

  8. Ntegedde okubaako na ggwe

    Ndikuyembekezera kugwira ntchito nanu (Ntegedde okubaako na ggwe)

  9. Osobola okuddamu ekifaananyi?

    Mungathe kuthetsa mfundo imeneyi? (Osobola okuddamu ekifaananyi?)

  10. Nja kukuwandiikira

    Nditenge nthawi ndikubwerereni (Nja kukuwandiikira)

  11. Ekitundu ky’okusaba kiki ku Lwokutaano

    Nthawi yomaliza ndi Lachisanu (Ekitundu ky’okusaba kiki ku Lwokutaano)

Time, days and numbers

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

  1. Ki nsonga?

    Ndi chiyani nthawi? (Ndi chiyani nthawi?)

  2. Kiri saawa ssatu

    Ndi saa tatu (kiri saawa ssatu)

  3. Leero

    Lero (leero)

  4. Nne

    Maŵa (nne)

  5. Yaka

    Kale (yaka)

  6. Mmande

    Lolemba (mmande)

  7. Olwokubiri

    Lachiwiri (olwokubiri)

  8. Olwokutaano

    Lachitatu (olwokutaano)

  9. Emu

    Mmodzi (emu)

  10. Bbiri

    Awiri (bbiri)

  11. Ssatu

    Atatu (ssatu)

  12. Kkumi

    Kumi (kkumi)

  13. Kikumi

    Zana (kikumi)

  14. Okwetaba

    Pachikhalidwe (okwetaba)

  15. Mungeri

    Zambiri (mungeri)

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