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Common Ndau to Tumbuka phrases

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

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

    Moni

  2. Ndatenda

    Zikomo

  3. Mangwanani akanaka

    Muli bwanji

  4. Masikati akanaka

    Muli bwanji

  5. Manheru akanaka

    Muli bwanji

  6. Usiku hwakanaka

    Usiku wabwino

  7. Tichasangana zvakare

    Tiwonana

  8. Sara zvakanaka

    Tsalani bwino

  9. Zita rako ndiani?

    Dzina lanu ndi ndani?

  10. Zita rangu ndiJohn

    Dzina langa ndi John

  11. Uri sei?

    Muli bwanji?

  12. Ndinofara kukuziva

    Ndine wokondwa kukumana nanu

Useful phrases for travellers

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

  1. Unotaura Chirungu here?

    Muli ndi Chingerezi? (muli ndi chingerezi)

  2. Handitauri Hindi zvakanaka.

    Sikuyankhula Hindi bwino (sikuyankhula hindi bwino)

  3. Handinzwisise.

    Sindikumva (sindikumva)

  4. Ndapota taura zvishoma.

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

  5. Ungazvitaura zvakare here?

    Mungandiyankhulepo? (mungandiyankhulepo)

  6. Chimbuzi chiri kupi?

    Kuti ndi kuti? (kuti ndi kuti)

  7. Ndingasvika sei ku nzvimbo yeguta?

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

  8. Pinda kuruboshwe.

    Pita kumanzere (pita kumanzere)

  9. Pinda kurudyi.

    Pita kumanja (pita kumanja)

  10. Enda mberi.

    Pita mwendo (pita mwendo)

  11. Mari yefare ingani?

    Ndi ndalama zingati? (ndi ndalama zingati)

  12. Tiketi imwe, ndapota.

    Tiketi imodzi, chonde (tiketi imodzi, chonde)

  13. Iko kure kubva pano?

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

  14. Ndakakanganiswa.

    Ndakhalapo (ndakhalapo)

  15. Ndingatenga kupi 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. Ehe

    Iye

  2. Aih

    Ayi

  3. Pangani

    Pang'ono

  4. Ndakubvumirana

    Ndikugwirizana

  5. Handibvumirani

    Sindikugwirizana

  6. Izvi zvinonzwika zvakanaka

    Ichi chimaoneka bwino

  7. Unofungei?

    Muli ndi chiyani choti mumaganize?

  8. Ungandibatsira here?

    Mungandithandize?

  9. Ndiri kuda rubatsiro

    Ndikufuna thandizo

  10. Mirira nguva shoma

    Dikirani pang’ono

  11. Ndineurombo

    Ndikupemphera

  12. Hapana dambudziko

    Palibe vutoli

  13. Makorokoto

    Zikomo

  14. Makorokoto ezuva rekuzvarwa

    Tsiku lobadwa labwino

  15. Iva nerwendo rwakanaka

    Pita bwino pa ulendo

Directions and getting around

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

  1. Kupi kwete chiteshi chenjere?

    Kukakhala kuti chiteshi cha njinga? (kupi kwete chiteshi chenjere)

  2. Kupi kwete chiteshi chebhazi?

    Kukakhala kuti malo otchinga basi? (kupi kwete chiteshi chebhazi)

  3. Ndeipi chikuva?

    Ndi chigawo chiti? (ndeipi chikuva)

  4. Ndeipi nguva inobva?

    Nanga nthawi itangopita? (ndeipi nguva inobva)

  5. Iyi ndiyo nzira yakarurama?

    Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera? (iyi ndiyo nzira yakarurama)

  6. Iri pedyo pano

    Iyi ndi pafupi apa (iri pedyo pano)

  7. Iri kure neapo

    Iyi ndi kutali ndi apa (iri kure neapo)

  8. Unogona kundiratidza pamepu?

    Mungandionetse pa chithunzi? (unogona kundiratidza pamepu)

  9. Mira pano, ndapota

    Chimitsa apa, chonde (mira pano, ndapota)

  10. Zvinotora nguva yakareba sei?

    Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji? (zvinotora nguva yakareba sei)

Shopping and dining

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

  1. Zvinodhura sei?

    Iyi ikuguliradi chingwe? (iyi ikuguliradi chingwe)

  2. Izvozvo zvinodhura zvikuru

    Iyi ndi mtengo wopusa (iyi ndi mtengo wopusa)

  3. Une chimwe chiri pamutengo wakaderera here?

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

  4. Ndingabhadhara nekadhi here?

    Ningathe kulipira ndi khadi? (ningathe kulipira ndi khadi)

  5. Ndinoda tafura yevasere

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

  6. Chikwereti, ndapota

    Chikalata, chonde (chikalata, chonde)

  7. Sevhisi yakabatanidzwa here?

    Ntchito ikuphatikizidwa? (ntchito ikuphatikizidwa)

  8. Ndiri vegetarian

    Ndine wopanda nyama (ndine wopanda nyama)

  9. Hapana chikafu chinopisa, ndapota

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

  10. Izvi zvinonaka

    Iyi ndi yokoma (iyi ndi yokoma)

  11. Ndingawana menyu here?

    Ningathe kupeza menyu? (ningathe kupeza menyu)

  12. Girazi remvura, ndapota

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

Emergencies and health

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

  1. Dai foni mapurisa

    Fufuzani polisi

  2. Dai foni amburensi

    Fufuzani ambulansi

  3. Ndinoda chiremba

    Ndikufuna dokotala

  4. Ndiri kurwara

    Ndikuwona bwino

  5. Ndine chiremera kumapudzi

    Ndine wosowa ma groundnuts

  6. Hospitali iri kupi pedyo?

    Kuti ndi chiyani chachikondi?

  7. Zvinorwadza pano

    Kuli kuuma apa

  8. Ndakarasa pasipoti yangu

    Ndasowa pasipoti yangu

  9. Unogona here kufoniya hotera yangu?

    Mungafufuze hotelo yanga?

  10. Rubatsiro!

    Thandizani!

Work and business

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

  1. Ndinofara kukusangana

    Ndalumba kukumana nanu

  2. Ngatironge musangano

    Tiyeni tiwoneke pa nthawi

  3. Ndeipi nguva inokufambira?

    Nthawi yiti ikukugwirirani ntchito?

  4. Ndichatumira mushumo nhasi

    Ndidzatumiza lipoti lero

  5. Tingataure mangwana here?

    Tingathe kulankhula mawa?

  6. Ndapota tsvaga faira rakabatanidzwa

    Chonde onani fayilo yolembedwa

  7. Ndatenda nenguva yako

    Zikomo chifukwa cha nthawi yanu

  8. Ndiri kutarisira kushanda newe

    Ndikuyembekezera kugwira ntchito nanu

  9. Ungajekesa iyo pfungwa here?

    Mungathe kuthetsa mfundo imeneyi?

  10. Regai ndidzoke kwamuri

    Nditenge nthawi ndikubwerereni

  11. Nguva yekupedzisira iChishanu

    Nthawi yomaliza ndi Lachisanu

Time, days and numbers

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

  1. Ndeipi nguva?

    Ndi chiyani nthawi? (Ndi chiyani nthawi?)

  2. Iri paawa nhatu

    Ndi saa tatu (iri paawa nhatu)

  3. Nhasi

    Lero (nhasi)

  4. Mangwana

    Maŵa (mangwana)

  5. Nezuro

    Kale (nezuro)

  6. Muvhuro

    Lolemba (muvhuro)

  7. Chipiri

    Lachiwiri (chipiri)

  8. Chitatu

    Lachitatu (chitatu)

  9. Imwe

    Mmodzi (imwe)

  10. Piri

    Awiri (piri)

  11. Nhatu

    Atatu (nhatu)

  12. Gumi

    Kumi (gumi)

  13. Zana

    Zana (zana)

  14. Hafu

    Pachikhalidwe (hafu)

  15. Zvimwe

    Zambiri (zvimwe)

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