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Common Nuer to Tumbuka phrases

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

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

    Moni

  2. Nyaak

    Zikomo

  3. Nhiar gɔ̈ɔ̈r

    Muli bwanji

  4. Nhiar aŋɔ̈r

    Muli bwanji

  5. Nhiar aŋɔ̈r

    Muli bwanji

  6. Nhiar kɔ̈c

    Usiku wabwino

  7. Aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n

    Tiwonana

  8. Kɛ̈n

    Tsalani bwino

  9. Cɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n?

    Dzina lanu ndi ndani?

  10. Cɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r John

    Dzina langa ndi John

  11. Cɛ̈l kɛ̈n?

    Muli bwanji?

  12. Kɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n

    Ndine wokondwa kukumana nanu

Useful phrases for travellers

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

  1. Nyaac ke nyin English?

    Muli ndi Chingerezi? (muli ndi chingerezi)

  2. Nyaac ma nyin Hindi ke nyin.

    Sikuyankhula Hindi bwino (sikuyankhula hindi bwino)

  3. Nyaac ma nyin.

    Sindikumva (sindikumva)

  4. Yin ke nyin kɛl.

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

  5. Yin ke nyin kɛl a thok?

    Mungandiyankhulepo? (mungandiyankhulepo)

  6. Yin thok a kɛl?

    Kuti ndi kuti? (kuti ndi kuti)

  7. Nyaac ke nyin a city center?

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

  8. Yin ke nyin a laar.

    Pita kumanzere (pita kumanzere)

  9. Yin ke nyin a jɛŋ.

    Pita kumanja (pita kumanja)

  10. Yin ke nyin a thok.

    Pita mwendo (pita mwendo)

  11. Yin ke nyin a kɛl?

    Ndi ndalama zingati? (ndi ndalama zingati)

  12. Yin ke nyin a ticket.

    Tiketi imodzi, chonde (tiketi imodzi, chonde)

  13. Yin ke nyin a thok?

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

  14. Nyaac ke nyin.

    Ndakhalapo (ndakhalapo)

  15. Yin thok a kɛl a 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. Aye

    Iye

  2. Naa

    Ayi

  3. Nyaak

    Pang'ono

  4. Nyeek a kech

    Ndikugwirizana

  5. Nyeek a kech naa

    Sindikugwirizana

  6. Iye kech kɛl

    Ichi chimaoneka bwino

  7. Nyaak a kech?

    Muli ndi chiyani choti mumaganize?

  8. Nyaak a kech a jɔɔr?

    Mungandithandize?

  9. Nyeek a jɔɔr kɛl

    Ndikufuna thandizo

  10. Kɛl a jɔɔr

    Dikirani pang’ono

  11. Nyeek a kech

    Ndikupemphera

  12. Naa a kech kɛl

    Palibe vutoli

  13. Aye kɛl

    Zikomo

  14. Aye kɛl a wɛr

    Tsiku lobadwa labwino

  15. Kɛl a jɔɔr a jɛɛr

    Pita bwino pa ulendo

Directions and getting around

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

  1. Känyë kɛ́l wɛ́l?

    Kukakhala kuti chiteshi cha njinga? (Känyë kɛl wel)

  2. Känyë kɛ́l bɔ́l?

    Kukakhala kuti malo otchinga basi? (Känyë kɛl bol)

  3. Kɛ́l bɛ́t kɛ́t?

    Ndi chigawo chiti? (Kel bet ket)

  4. Kɛ́l wɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́t?

    Nanga nthawi itangopita? (Kel wel it ket)

  5. Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l wɛ́l?

    Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera? (Kel it kel wel)

  6. Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l kɛ́l?

    Iyi ndi pafupi apa (Kel it kel kel)

  7. Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l jɔ́l?

    Iyi ndi kutali ndi apa (Kel it kel jol)

  8. Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l pɛ́t kɛ́t?

    Mungandionetse pa chithunzi? (Kel it kel pet ket)

  9. Kɛ́l jɛ́l kɛ́l, pɛ́l?

    Chimitsa apa, chonde (Kel jel kel pel)

  10. Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l jɔ́l kɛ́t?

    Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji? (Kel it kel jol ket)

Shopping and dining

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

  1. Nyaak cɛl?

    Iyi ikuguliradi chingwe? (iyi ikuguliradi chingwe)

  2. Kɛl yic kɛc

    Iyi ndi mtengo wopusa (iyi ndi mtengo wopusa)

  3. Yin kɛl nyin cɛl?

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

  4. Nyaak tɛr kɛl kɛc?

    Ningathe kulipira ndi khadi? (ningathe kulipira ndi khadi)

  5. Nyaak cɛl kɛl tɛbɛl kɛl nyin

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

  6. Nyaak cɛl kɛl bɛl

    Chikalata, chonde (chikalata, chonde)

  7. Yin kɛl cɛl kɛl tɛr?

    Ntchito ikuphatikizidwa? (ntchito ikuphatikizidwa)

  8. Nyaak cɛl wɛr

    Ndine wopanda nyama (ndine wopanda nyama)

  9. Nyaak cɛl kɛl wɛr kɛc

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

  10. Kɛl cɛl kɛl nyin

    Iyi ndi yokoma (iyi ndi yokoma)

  11. Nyaak cɛl kɛl mɛn?

    Ningathe kupeza menyu? (ningathe kupeza menyu)

  12. Nyaak cɛl kɛl gɛl wɛt

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

Emergencies and health

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

  1. Cïl wïr

    Fufuzani polisi (cil wir)

  2. Cïl an ambulance

    Fufuzani ambulansi (cil an ambulance)

  3. Aŋ thïr a doctor

    Ndikufuna dokotala (ang thir a doctor)

  4. Aŋ kɔc

    Ndikuwona bwino (ang koc)

  5. Aŋ kɔc a pïyït

    Ndine wosowa ma groundnuts (ang koc a piyit)

  6. Cït kɛ̈n hospital?

    Kuti ndi chiyani chachikondi? (cit ken hospital)

  7. Cïk bɛ̈t

    Kuli kuuma apa (cik bet)

  8. Aŋ kɛ̈n passport

    Ndasowa pasipoti yangu (ang ken passport)

  9. Aŋ kɛ̈n cïl my hotel?

    Mungafufuze hotelo yanga? (ang ken cil my hotel)

  10. Kɛ̈n!

    Thandizani! (ken)

Work and business

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

  1. Nyeu ke nyin

    Ndalumba kukumana nanu (nyin = meet)

  2. Nyeu ke jɔɔr ke nyin

    Tiyeni tiwoneke pa nthawi

  3. Kɛ kɛth jɔɔr a ke?

    Nthawi yiti ikukugwirirani ntchito?

  4. Nyeu ke kɛc report kɛ jɔɔl

    Ndidzatumiza lipoti lero

  5. Nyeu ke jɔɔr kɛ bɛt?

    Tingathe kulankhula mawa?

  6. Nyeu kɛ jɔɔr file kɛ kɛth

    Chonde onani fayilo yolembedwa

  7. Nyeu kɛ jɔɔr a ke kɛth

    Zikomo chifukwa cha nthawi yanu

  8. Nyeu ke jɔɔr kɛ bɛt a ke

    Ndikuyembekezera kugwira ntchito nanu

  9. A ke jɔɔr kɛ kɛth a?

    Mungathe kuthetsa mfundo imeneyi?

  10. Nyeu ke jɔɔr kɛ a ke

    Nditenge nthawi ndikubwerereni

  11. Kɛ deadline kɛ Friday

    Nthawi yomaliza ndi Lachisanu

Time, days and numbers

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

  1. Nii rɛ̈ŋa?

    Ndi chiyani nthawi? (Ndi chiyani nthawi?)

  2. Nii kɛ̈l lɔk thɛ̈n.

    Ndi saa tatu (nii kɛl lok then)

  3. Nii rɛ̈ŋa

    Lero (nii rɛŋa)

  4. Nii rɛ̈ŋa kɛ̈l

    Maŵa (nii rɛŋa kel)

  5. Nii rɛ̈ŋa kɛ̈l lɔk

    Kale (nii rɛŋa kel lok)

  6. Dɛ̈n tɛ̈n

    Lolemba (den ten)

  7. Dɛ̈n kɛ̈l

    Lachiwiri (den kel)

  8. Dɛ̈n lɔk

    Lachitatu (den lok)

  9. Kɛ̈l

    Mmodzi (kel)

  10. Lɔk

    Awiri (lok)

  11. Thɛ̈n

    Atatu (then)

  12. Jɛ̈n

    Kumi (jen)

  13. Kɛ̈l jɛ̈n

    Zana (kel jen)

  14. Nɛ̈ŋ

    Pachikhalidwe (neng)

  15. Kɛ̈l lɔk

    Zambiri (kel lok)

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