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Common Marshallese to Tumbuka phrases

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

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Looking for practical Marshallese to Tumbuka phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Marshallese 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: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Tumbuka-speaking trip in a few weeks.

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

    Moni (yoh-kweh)

  2. Komol tata

    Zikomo (koh-mol tah-tah)

  3. Yokwe in the morning

    Muli bwanji (yoh-kweh in the morning)

  4. Yokwe in the afternoon

    Muli bwanji (yoh-kweh in the afternoon)

  5. Yokwe in the evening

    Muli bwanji (yoh-kweh in the evening)

  6. Yokwe in the night

    Usiku wabwino (yoh-kweh in the night)

  7. Aolep in

    Tiwonana (ah-oh-lep in)

  8. Aolep

    Tsalani bwino (ah-oh-lep)

  9. Ejjab in name?

    Dzina lanu ndi ndani? (eh-jahb in name)

  10. Ejjab in John

    Dzina langa ndi John (eh-jahb in John)

  11. Iakwe?

    Muli bwanji? (ee-ah-kweh)

  12. Ejjab in an

    Ndine wokondwa kukumana nanu (eh-jahb in an)

Useful phrases for travellers

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

  1. Ijo im jab in English?

    Muli ndi Chingerezi? (muli ndi chingerezi)

  2. Ej jab in Hindi bwe enaj

    Sikuyankhula Hindi bwino (sikuyankhula hindi bwino)

  3. Ej jab in jorren

    Sindikumva (sindikumva)

  4. Jab in jorren bwe enaj

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

  5. Ejjab in jorren an?

    Mungandiyankhulepo? (mungandiyankhulepo)

  6. Ejjab in wōt ian?

    Kuti ndi kuti? (kuti ndi kuti)

  7. Ejjab in jorren eok wōt?

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

  8. Jab in jorren jān

    Pita kumanzere (pita kumanzere)

  9. Jab in jorren jān

    Pita kumanja (pita kumanja)

  10. Jab in jorren wōt

    Pita mwendo (pita mwendo)

  11. Ejjab in jorren eok?

    Ndi ndalama zingati? (ndi ndalama zingati)

  12. Jab in ticket, please

    Tiketi imodzi, chonde (tiketi imodzi, chonde)

  13. Ejjab in jorren eok?

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

  14. Ej jab in jorren

    Ndakhalapo (ndakhalapo)

  15. Ejjab in wōt in 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. Ejjab

    Iye

  2. Aolep

    Ayi

  3. Ejjab im aolep

    Pang'ono

  4. Ejjab im an

    Ndikugwirizana

  5. Aolep im an

    Sindikugwirizana

  6. Ejjab in aolep

    Ichi chimaoneka bwino

  7. Nin in ke ejjake?

    Muli ndi chiyani choti mumaganize?

  8. Ien ke eja in?

    Mungandithandize?

  9. Enaaj ejjake

    Ndikufuna thandizo

  10. Jab in

    Dikirani pang’ono

  11. Ejjab in jorren

    Ndikupemphera

  12. Aolep in jorren

    Palibe vutoli

  13. Bwij in jorren

    Zikomo

  14. Yokwe in jorren

    Tsiku lobadwa labwino

  15. Jab in ad jorren

    Pita bwino pa ulendo

Directions and getting around

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

  1. Enaaj im jab in train?

    Kukakhala kuti chiteshi cha njinga? (enaaj im jab in train)

  2. Enaaj im jab in bus?

    Kukakhala kuti malo otchinga basi? (enaaj im jab in bus)

  3. Iakwe im jab in platform?

    Ndi chigawo chiti? (iakwe im jab in platform)

  4. Nin in kijen?

    Nanga nthawi itangopita? (nin in kijen)

  5. Enaaj in jiban?

    Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera? (enaaj in jiban)

  6. Enaaj jikin in?

    Iyi ndi pafupi apa (enaaj jikin in)

  7. Enaaj jikin in jikin?

    Iyi ndi kutali ndi apa (enaaj jikin in jikin)

  8. Enaaj im jab in map?

    Mungandionetse pa chithunzi? (enaaj im jab in map)

  9. Jab in jikin, please

    Chimitsa apa, chonde (jab in jikin, please)

  10. Enaaj im jab in jikin?

    Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji? (enaaj im jab in jikin)

Shopping and dining

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

  1. Enaaj im jab?

    Iyi ikuguliradi chingwe? (iyi ikuguliradi chingwe)

  2. Ej juon im jab.

    Iyi ndi mtengo wopusa (iyi ndi mtengo wopusa)

  3. Enaaj im jab aolep?

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

  4. Enaaj im jipan eñ?

    Ningathe kulipira ndi khadi? (ningathe kulipira ndi khadi)

  5. Enaaj im jipan table roñ.

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

  6. Enaaj im jipan bill.

    Chikalata, chonde (chikalata, chonde)

  7. Enaaj im jab service?

    Ntchito ikuphatikizidwa? (ntchito ikuphatikizidwa)

  8. Ej im vegetarian.

    Ndine wopanda nyama (ndine wopanda nyama)

  9. Enaaj im jab spicy food.

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

  10. Ej ej jab.

    Iyi ndi yokoma (iyi ndi yokoma)

  11. Enaaj im jipan menu?

    Ningathe kupeza menyu? (ningathe kupeza menyu)

  12. Enaaj im jipan glass wōt.

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

Emergencies and health

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

  1. Kōmmani ian jān

    Fufuzani polisi (kōmmani ian jān)

  2. Kōmmani ian ambulance

    Fufuzani ambulansi (kōmmani ian ambulance)

  3. Ej jekōn doctor

    Ndikufuna dokotala (ej jekōn doctor)

  4. Ej jekūn

    Ndikuwona bwino (ej jekūn)

  5. Ej jekūn jab in jekōn

    Ndine wosowa ma groundnuts (ej jekūn jab in jekōn)

  6. Ejjab jān hospital in jān?

    Kuti ndi chiyani chachikondi? (ejjab jān hospital in jān?)

  7. Ej jekūn in

    Kuli kuuma apa (ej jekūn in)

  8. Ej jekūn passport

    Ndasowa pasipoti yangu (ej jekūn passport)

  9. Ijjab kōmmani ian hotel in?

    Mungafufuze hotelo yanga? (ijjab kōmmani ian hotel in?)

  10. Jab!

    Thandizani!

Work and business

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

  1. Ij jorren in

    Ndalumba kukumana nanu (I am glad to meet you)

  2. Kij in jorren eok

    Tiyeni tiwoneke pa nthawi (Let's arrange a meeting)

  3. Ejjab in jorren?

    Nthawi yiti ikukugwirirani ntchito? (What time is good for you?)

  4. Ej jekar in report an

    Ndidzatumiza lipoti lero (I will send the report today)

  5. Ejjab in jorren ak jorren?

    Tingathe kulankhula mawa? (Can we talk tomorrow?)

  6. Jab in jorren eok file an

    Chonde onani fayilo yolembedwa (Please see the attached file)

  7. Komol tata in jorren

    Zikomo chifukwa cha nthawi yanu (Thank you for your time)

  8. Ij jorren in jab in jorren

    Ndikuyembekezera kugwira ntchito nanu (I look forward to working with you)

  9. Ejjab in jorren eok?

    Mungathe kuthetsa mfundo imeneyi? (Can you clarify that point?)

  10. Kij in jorren eok

    Nditenge nthawi ndikubwerereni (Let me return to you)

  11. Ejjab in jorren Friday

    Nthawi yomaliza ndi Lachisanu (The deadline is Friday)

Time, days and numbers

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

  1. Ejjab in jorren?

    Ndi chiyani nthawi? (Ndi chiyani nthawi?)

  2. Ejjab in jorren 3

    Ndi saa tatu (ejjab in jorren 3)

  3. Jebar

    Lero (jebar)

  4. Jebar in

    Maŵa (jebar in)

  5. Jebar in jorren

    Kale (jebar in jorren)

  6. Jemenei

    Lolemba (jemenei)

  7. Jemebō

    Lachiwiri (jemebō)

  8. Jemān

    Lachitatu (jemān)

  9. Ikkōn

    Mmodzi (ikkōn)

  10. Rūn

    Awiri (rūn)

  11. Jebōn

    Atatu (jebōn)

  12. Jebōn in

    Kumi (jebōn in)

  13. Ikkōn raan

    Zana (ikkōn raan)

  14. Mōn

    Pachikhalidwe (mōn)

  15. Mōr

    Zambiri (mōr)

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