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Common Mam to Tumbuka phrases

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

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

    Moni (sho'j)

  2. Tz'ik

    Zikomo (tz'ik)

  3. Xo'j nax

    Muli bwanji (sho'j nax)

  4. Xo'j q'ij

    Muli bwanji (sho'j q'ij)

  5. Xo'j k'ux

    Muli bwanji (sho'j k'ux)

  6. Xo'j k'ux nax

    Usiku wabwino (sho'j k'ux nax)

  7. K'ux q'ij

    Tiwonana (k'ux q'ij)

  8. Xo'j k'ux

    Tsalani bwino (sho'j k'ux)

  9. Ja' k'ux nax?

    Dzina lanu ndi ndani? (ha' k'ux nax?)

  10. Ja' k'ux nax John

    Dzina langa ndi John (ha' k'ux nax John)

  11. Jach' k'ux?

    Muli bwanji? (hach' k'ux?)

  12. Nab' k'ux

    Ndine wokondwa kukumana nanu (nab' k'ux)

Useful phrases for travellers

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

  1. ¿K'ax k'utun English?

    Muli ndi Chingerezi? (muli ndi chingerezi)

  2. Nek'ux k'utun Hindi k'ax k'utun.

    Sikuyankhula Hindi bwino (sikuyankhula hindi bwino)

  3. Nek'ux k'ax k'utun.

    Sindikumva (sindikumva)

  4. Por favor, k'utun k'ux.

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

  5. ¿K'ax k'utun k'ux?

    Mungandiyankhulepo? (mungandiyankhulepo)

  6. ¿Jach'och k'ux?

    Kuti ndi kuti? (kuti ndi kuti)

  7. ¿Jach'och k'ux ch'ich'?

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

  8. K'utun k'ux.

    Pita kumanzere (pita kumanzere)

  9. K'utun k'ux.

    Pita kumanja (pita kumanja)

  10. K'utun k'ux.

    Pita mwendo (pita mwendo)

  11. ¿K'ax k'ux ch'ich'?

    Ndi ndalama zingati? (ndi ndalama zingati)

  12. K'utun ch'ich', por favor.

    Tiketi imodzi, chonde (tiketi imodzi, chonde)

  13. ¿K'ax k'ux jach'och?

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

  14. Nek'ux k'ax k'ux.

    Ndakhalapo (ndakhalapo)

  15. ¿Jach'och k'ux k'utun 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. Juj

    Iye (hoo)

  2. Man

    Ayi (mah)

  3. K'ux

    Pang'ono (k'ush)

  4. Juj k'ux

    Ndikugwirizana (hoo k'ush)

  5. Man k'ux

    Sindikugwirizana (mah k'ush)

  6. K'ux juj

    Ichi chimaoneka bwino (k'ush hoo)

  7. ¿Juj k'ux k'ut?

    Muli ndi chiyani choti mumaganize? (¿hoo k'ush k'ut?)

  8. ¿Juj k'ux juj k'ux?

    Mungandithandize? (¿hoo k'ush hoo k'ush?)

  9. Juj k'ux juj k'ux k'ut

    Ndikufuna thandizo (hoo k'ush hoo k'ut)

  10. K'ux k'ut

    Dikirani pang’ono (k'ush k'ut)

  11. Juj k'ux k'ut

    Ndikupemphera (hoo k'ush k'ut)

  12. Man k'ux k'ut

    Palibe vutoli (mah k'ush k'ut)

  13. K'ux juj k'ut

    Zikomo (k'ush hoo k'ut)

  14. K'ux juj k'ut k'ux

    Tsiku lobadwa labwino (k'ush hoo k'ut k'ush)

  15. K'ux juj k'ut k'ux

    Pita bwino pa ulendo (k'ush hoo k'ut k'ush)

Directions and getting around

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

  1. ¿Jujuk pa ri tren?

    Kukakhala kuti chiteshi cha njinga?

  2. ¿Jujuk pa ri bus?

    Kukakhala kuti malo otchinga basi?

  3. ¿K'ux ri plataforma?

    Ndi chigawo chiti?

  4. ¿K'ux ri tiempo pa k'ux?

    Nanga nthawi itangopita?

  5. ¿¿K'ux ri camino?

    Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera?

  6. Ri k'ut pa ri.

    Iyi ndi pafupi apa

  7. Ri k'ut pa ri k'ul.

    Iyi ndi kutali ndi apa

  8. ¿¿K'ux k'ut ri mapa?

    Mungandionetse pa chithunzi?

  9. ¿¿K'ut pa ri, por favor?

    Chimitsa apa, chonde

  10. ¿¿K'ux ri tiempo?

    Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji?

Shopping and dining

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

  1. K'ux k'ulub' ri'?

    Iyi ikuguliradi chingwe? (iyi ikuguliradi chingwe)

  2. K'ux ri' k'ulub'?

    Iyi ndi mtengo wopusa (iyi ndi mtengo wopusa)

  3. ¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax?

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

  4. ¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax k'oj?

    Ningathe kulipira ndi khadi? (ningathe kulipira ndi khadi)

  5. In k'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax k'oj?

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

  6. Ri' k'ulub', por favor

    Chikalata, chonde (chikalata, chonde)

  7. ¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax?

    Ntchito ikuphatikizidwa? (ntchito ikuphatikizidwa)

  8. In k'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax

    Ndine wopanda nyama (ndine wopanda nyama)

  9. ¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax?

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

  10. K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax

    Iyi ndi yokoma (iyi ndi yokoma)

  11. ¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax?

    Ningathe kupeza menyu? (ningathe kupeza menyu)

  12. ¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax?

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

Emergencies and health

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

  1. K'uxik la policía

    Fufuzani polisi

  2. K'uxik un ambulancia

    Fufuzani ambulansi

  3. Nek' a doctor

    Ndikufuna dokotala

  4. K'utun k'ax

    Ndikuwona bwino

  5. Nek' a k'uxi' ch'ich'

    Ndine wosowa ma groundnuts

  6. Jach' k'uxik la hospital?

    Kuti ndi chiyani chachikondi?

  7. K'utun k'uxi' aquí

    Kuli kuuma apa

  8. Nek' a k'uxik mi pasaporte

    Ndasowa pasipoti yangu

  9. ¿K'uxik a k'uxik mi hotel?

    Mungafufuze hotelo yanga?

  10. ¡Ayuda!

    Thandizani!

Work and business

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

  1. Chik'oj ch'ab'ej

    Ndalumba kukumana nanu (chee-k'oh chahb'eh)

  2. K'axik ch'awik ri k'ulb'al

    Tiyeni tiwoneke pa nthawi (kah-hee k'ah-wik ree kool-bahl)

  3. K'ut ri k'utal k'axik?

    Nthawi yiti ikukugwirirani ntchito? (k'oot ree k'oo-tahl kah-hee)

  4. In k'axik ri k'ik'oj ch'ich'

    Ndidzatumiza lipoti lero (een kah-hee ree kee-k'oh ch'eech')

  5. K'axik ch'awik ri k'ik'oj k'ay?

    Tingathe kulankhula mawa? (kah-hee ch'ah-wik ree kee-k'oh kahy)

  6. Ch'awik ri k'ulb'al k'axik

    Chonde onani fayilo yolembedwa (ch'ah-wik ree kool-bahl kah-hee)

  7. Tz'ib'ej ri k'utal

    Zikomo chifukwa cha nthawi yanu (tzee-beh-eh ree k'oo-tahl)

  8. In k'axik ri k'ulb'al k'axik

    Ndikuyembekezera kugwira ntchito nanu (een kah-hee ree kool-bahl kah-hee)

  9. K'axik ch'awik ri k'utal?

    Mungathe kuthetsa mfundo imeneyi? (kah-hee ch'ah-wik ree k'oo-tahl)

  10. K'axik in k'axik ch'awik

    Nditenge nthawi ndikubwerereni (kah-hee een kah-hee ch'ah-wik)

  11. Ri k'utal k'axik k'ay

    Nthawi yomaliza ndi Lachisanu (ree k'oo-tahl kah-hee kahy)

Time, days and numbers

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

  1. ¿K'ux ri'?

    Ndi chiyani nthawi? (Ndi chiyani nthawi?)

  2. K'ux ri' k'i'ik'

    Ndi saa tatu (k'ux ri' k'i'ik')

  3. Rij

    Lero (rij)

  4. Rij k'i'ik'

    Maŵa (rij k'i'ik')

  5. Rij k'ux

    Kale (rij k'ux)

  6. Rij k'ux k'ay

    Lolemba (rij k'ux k'ay)

  7. Rij k'ux k'ay k'i'

    Lachiwiri (rij k'ux k'ay k'i')

  8. Rij k'ux k'ay k'ax

    Lachitatu (rij k'ux k'ay k'ax)

  9. Jun

    Mmodzi (jun)

  10. K'ij

    Awiri (k'ij)

  11. K'i'ik'

    Atatu (k'i'ik')

  12. Waq

    Kumi (waq)

  13. Jun b'ix

    Zana (jun b'ix)

  14. K'ux ri' k'ay

    Pachikhalidwe (k'ux ri' k'ay)

  15. K'ux

    Zambiri (k'ux)

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