Translate now

Common Luo to Tumbuka phrases

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

← Back to Luo to Tumbuka Translator

Looking for practical Luo to Tumbuka phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Luo 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 Luo 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 Luo 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. Naki

    Moni (Naki)

  2. Asante

    Zikomo (Asante)

  3. Naki chuo

    Muli bwanji (Naki chuo)

  4. Naki ng'ato

    Muli bwanji (Naki ng'ato)

  5. Naki owadgi

    Muli bwanji (Naki owadgi)

  6. Naki buya

    Usiku wabwino (Naki buya)

  7. Ting' kendo

    Tiwonana (Ting' kendo)

  8. Naki

    Tsalani bwino (Naki)

  9. Ine ng'ama in?

    Dzina lanu ndi ndani? (Ine ng'ama in?)

  10. Inyalo John

    Dzina langa ndi John (Inyalo John)

  11. Okwere?

    Muli bwanji? (Okwere?)

  12. Naki konyo

    Ndine wokondwa kukumana nanu (Naki konyo)

Useful phrases for travellers

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

  1. Naki konyo English?

    Muli ndi Chingerezi? (muli ndi chingerezi)

  2. Naki konyo Hindi mako.

    Sikuyankhula Hindi bwino (sikuyankhula hindi bwino)

  3. Nyingi.

    Sindikumva (sindikumva)

  4. Tende konyo chalo.

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

  5. Naki konyo to?

    Mungandiyankhulepo? (mungandiyankhulepo)

  6. Ith gi toilet?

    Kuti ndi kuti? (kuti ndi kuti)

  7. Ning'eyo konyo city center?

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

  8. Konyo chike.

    Pita kumanzere (pita kumanzere)

  9. Konyo duto.

    Pita kumanja (pita kumanja)

  10. Yie chalo.

    Pita mwendo (pita mwendo)

  11. Ning'eyo koro?

    Ndi ndalama zingati? (ndi ndalama zingati)

  12. Ticket moko, ndalo.

    Tiketi imodzi, chonde (tiketi imodzi, chonde)

  13. Nia ng'ato kendo?

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

  14. Nin gi chalo.

    Ndakhalapo (ndakhalapo)

  15. Ith gi SIM card?

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

Everyday conversation

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

  1. Ee

    Iye

  2. Ayi

    Ayi

  3. Kaka

    Pang'ono

  4. Akwong'

    Ndikugwirizana

  5. Ayi Akwong'

    Sindikugwirizana

  6. Ong'eyo

    Ichi chimaoneka bwino

  7. Ine owuon?

    Muli ndi chiyani choti mumaganize?

  8. Naki gi chalo?

    Mungandithandize?

  9. Nind gi chalo

    Ndikufuna thandizo

  10. Chakre

    Dikirani pang’ono

  11. Naki

    Ndikupemphera

  12. Ayi koro

    Palibe vutoli

  13. Naki chalo

    Zikomo

  14. Naki buo

    Tsiku lobadwa labwino

  15. Naki chalo gi chalo

    Pita bwino pa ulendo

Directions and getting around

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

  1. Naki yieng' ma train?

    Kukakhala kuti chiteshi cha njinga?

  2. Naki yieng' ma bus?

    Kukakhala kuti malo otchinga basi?

  3. Naki platform ng'eyo?

    Ndi chigawo chiti?

  4. Naki koro ng'ato?

    Nanga nthawi itangopita?

  5. Ning'eyo ni ng'ato?

    Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera?

  6. Niko neno.

    Iyi ndi pafupi apa

  7. Niko piny.

    Iyi ndi kutali ndi apa

  8. Okwong' ni on map?

    Mungandionetse pa chithunzi?

  9. Dhi here, please.

    Chimitsa apa, chonde

  10. Naki koro ng'ato?

    Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji?

Shopping and dining

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

  1. Nia ni?

    Iyi ikuguliradi chingwe? (iyi ikuguliradi chingwe)

  2. Owino ni gi chalo.

    Iyi ndi mtengo wopusa (iyi ndi mtengo wopusa)

  3. I konyo kanyo?

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

  4. Inyalo nind gi kad?

    Ningathe kulipira ndi khadi? (ningathe kulipira ndi khadi)

  5. Nin gi chula mar duong'.

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

  6. Chakruok, plis.

    Chikalata, chonde (chikalata, chonde)

  7. Isango ni gi?

    Ntchito ikuphatikizidwa? (ntchito ikuphatikizidwa)

  8. Nin gi vegeterian.

    Ndine wopanda nyama (ndine wopanda nyama)

  9. Naki chalo chalo, plis.

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

  10. Owino ni gi dho.

    Iyi ndi yokoma (iyi ndi yokoma)

  11. Inyalo nind gi menu?

    Ningathe kupeza menyu? (ningathe kupeza menyu)

  12. Gik konyo mar maji, plis.

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

Emergencies and health

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

  1. Nedhi polisi

    Fufuzani polisi

  2. Nedhi ambulance

    Fufuzani ambulansi

  3. Aneedo daktari

    Ndikufuna dokotala

  4. Akwong' gi chalo

    Ndikuwona bwino

  5. An gi allergy kuom peanuts

    Ndine wosowa ma groundnuts

  6. Naki hospital mar koro?

    Kuti ndi chiyani chachikondi?

  7. Okwong' mana

    Kuli kuuma apa

  8. Nying' my passport

    Ndasowa pasipoti yangu

  9. Inyalo nedhi hotel ang'wen?

    Mungafufuze hotelo yanga?

  10. Konyo!

    Thandizani!

Work and business

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

  1. Naki konyo

    Ndalumba kukumana nanu (Naki konyo)

  2. Nying' konyo joma

    Tiyeni tiwoneke pa nthawi (Nying' konyo joma)

  3. Naki konyo nigi?

    Nthawi yiti ikukugwirirani ntchito? (Naki konyo nigi?)

  4. Ng'ato nind gi report nyaka

    Ndidzatumiza lipoti lero (Ng'ato nind gi report nyaka)

  5. Ning'eyo konyo nyaka?

    Tingathe kulankhula mawa? (Ning'eyo konyo nyaka?)

  6. Chieng' ni file ni

    Chonde onani fayilo yolembedwa (Chieng' ni file ni)

  7. Asante gi chako

    Zikomo chifukwa cha nthawi yanu (Asante gi chako)

  8. Nying' konyo gi nyaka

    Ndikuyembekezera kugwira ntchito nanu (Nying' konyo gi nyaka)

  9. Ning'eyo konyo ni?

    Mungathe kuthetsa mfundo imeneyi? (Ning'eyo konyo ni?)

  10. Ning'eyo konyo nind gi

    Nditenge nthawi ndikubwerereni (Ning'eyo konyo nind gi)

  11. Dede ni Friday

    Nthawi yomaliza ndi Lachisanu (Dede ni Friday)

Time, days and numbers

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

  1. Naki ng'ato?

    Ndi chiyani nthawi? (Ndi chiyani nthawi?)

  2. Nye kendo ng'ato tati

    Ndi saa tatu (Nye kendo ng'ato tati)

  3. Nia

    Lero (Nia)

  4. Nia ng'ato

    Maŵa (Nia ng'ato)

  5. Nia kendo

    Kale (Nia kendo)

  6. Juma

    Lolemba (Juma)

  7. Juma mar ariyo

    Lachiwiri (Juma mar ariyo)

  8. Juma mar achiel

    Lachitatu (Juma mar achiel)

  9. Piny

    Mmodzi (Piny)

  10. Dhiang'

    Awiri (Dhiang')

  11. Tati

    Atatu (Tati)

  12. Polo

    Kumi (Polo)

  13. Piny ng'ato

    Zana (Piny ng'ato)

  14. Nyang'

    Pachikhalidwe (Nyang')

  15. Dhi

    Zambiri (Dhi)

Need to translate your own text? Use the free Luo to Tumbuka translator.

Open translator