Looking for practical Malay (Bahasa Melayu) to Tumbuka phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Malay 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 Malay 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 Malay (Bahasa Melayu) 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.
Halo
Moni
Terima kasih
Zikomo
Selamat pagi
Muli bwanji
Selamat petang
Muli bwanji
Selamat malam
Muli bwanji
Selamat malam
Usiku wabwino
Jumpa lagi
Tiwonana
Selamat tinggal
Tsalani bwino
Siapa nama anda?
Dzina lanu ndi ndani?
Nama saya John
Dzina langa ndi John
Apa khabar?
Muli bwanji?
Senang berjumpa dengan anda
Ndine wokondwa kukumana nanu
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Adakah anda bercakap dalam bahasa Inggeris?
Muli ndi Chingerezi?(muli ndi chingerezi)
Saya tidak bercakap Hindi dengan baik
Sikuyankhula Hindi bwino(sikuyankhula hindi bwino)