Translate now

Common Quechua to Tumbuka phrases

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

← Back to Quechua to Tumbuka Translator

Looking for practical Quechua to Tumbuka phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Quechua 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: read the Tumbuka line out loud three times, then cover the Quechua side and try to recall the meaning — repetition builds memory faster than silent reading.

Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Quechua 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. Ñukaka rimayki

    Moni (N/A)

  2. Sukhi

    Zikomo (N/A)

  3. Allin punchaw

    Muli bwanji (N/A)

  4. Allin sukta

    Muli bwanji (N/A)

  5. Allin ch'isi

    Muli bwanji (N/A)

  6. Allin wawa

    Usiku wabwino (N/A)

  7. Kusikuyki

    Tiwonana (N/A)

  8. Tinkunakama

    Tsalani bwino (N/A)

  9. ¿Iman nankichu?

    Dzina lanu ndi ndani? (N/A)

  10. Ñukapa sutiyki John

    Dzina langa ndi John (N/A)

  11. ¿Allin kachkanki?

    Muli bwanji? (N/A)

  12. Sumaq kawsayki

    Ndine wokondwa kukumana nanu (N/A)

Useful phrases for travellers

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

  1. ¿Ñukaka inglish rimayki?

    Muli ndi Chingerezi? (muli ndi chingerezi)

  2. Ñukaka hindi mana allin rimayku

    Sikuyankhula Hindi bwino (sikuyankhula hindi bwino)

  3. Ñukaka mana yachkani

    Sindikumva (sindikumva)

  4. Allichu rimay, ch'isi ch'isi

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

  5. ¿Kispa rimayki?

    Mungandiyankhulepo? (mungandiyankhulepo)

  6. ¿Maypin está waki?

    Kuti ndi kuti? (kuti ndi kuti)

  7. ¿Imataq chay llaqta sutinchikta rikhuy?

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

  8. Ñawi ch'isi

    Pita kumanzere (pita kumanzere)

  9. Ñawi ch'iri

    Pita kumanja (pita kumanja)

  10. Ch'isi ch'isi rikhuy

    Pita mwendo (pita mwendo)

  11. ¿Haykaq k'uchu?

    Ndi ndalama zingati? (ndi ndalama zingati)

  12. Chayni tiket, allichu

    Tiketi imodzi, chonde (tiketi imodzi, chonde)

  13. ¿Kawsayki chaypi?

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

  14. Ñukaka wañuyki

    Ndakhalapo (ndakhalapo)

  15. ¿Maypin SIM k'aruña?

    Ndingatengere kuti kuti SIM card? (ndingatengere kuti kuti sim card)

Everyday conversation

Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.

  1. Ari

    Iye (ari)

  2. Manan

    Ayi (manan)

  3. Ñukaka chaymi

    Pang'ono (ñukaka chaymi)

  4. Ñukaka chayniyuq

    Ndikugwirizana (ñukaka chayniyuq)

  5. Ñukaka manan chayniyuq

    Sindikugwirizana (ñukaka manan chayniyuq)

  6. Chay suyayki

    Ichi chimaoneka bwino (chay suyayki)

  7. Iman chayki?

    Muli ndi chiyani choti mumaganize? (iman chayki?)

  8. ¿Sukuyki?

    Mungandithandize? (sukuyki)

  9. Ñukaka sukuyki

    Ndikufuna thandizo (ñukaka sukuyki)

  10. Huk punchawni

    Dikirani pang’ono (huk punchawni)

  11. Ñukaka yuyariy

    Ndikupemphera (ñukaka yuyariy)

  12. Manan problema

    Palibe vutoli (manan problema)

  13. Yaykuyki

    Zikomo (yaykuyki)

  14. Wawqi kawsayki

    Tsiku lobadwa labwino (wawqi kawsayki)

  15. Sumaq q'aychikuyki

    Pita bwino pa ulendo (sumaq q'aychikuyki)

Directions and getting around

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

  1. ¿Maypi k'anchay chaka?

    Kukakhala kuti chiteshi cha njinga? (maypi k'anchay chaka)

  2. ¿Maypi bus chaka?

    Kukakhala kuti malo otchinga basi? (maypi bus chaka)

  3. ¿Ima platforma?

    Ndi chigawo chiti? (ima platforma)

  4. ¿Imataq ch'uyay?

    Nanga nthawi itangopita? (imataq ch'uyay)

  5. ¿Kayqa chaymi?

    Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera? (kayqa chaymi)

  6. Ñukaka chaypi kanki

    Iyi ndi pafupi apa (ñukaka chaypi kanki)

  7. Ñukaka chaypi mana kanki

    Iyi ndi kutali ndi apa (ñukaka chaypi mana kanki)

  8. ¿Kanki mapapi qhawchiy?

    Mungandionetse pa chithunzi? (kanki mapapi qhawchiy)

  9. ¿Kaypi t'ikray, por favor?

    Chimitsa apa, chonde (kaypi t'ikray, por favor)

  10. ¿Haykaq chaytaq?

    Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji? (haykaq chaytaq)

Shopping and dining

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

  1. ¿Imanalla kayqa?

    Iyi ikuguliradi chingwe? (iyi ikuguliradi chingwe)

  2. Kayqa chaylla q'aych'iy

    Iyi ndi mtengo wopusa (iyi ndi mtengo wopusa)

  3. ¿Rikch'ariyki kawsaykuchkan?

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

  4. ¿Tarjetaq paykuyta?

    Ningathe kulipira ndi khadi? (ningathe kulipira ndi khadi)

  5. Ñukaka iskayta tableta munani

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

  6. ¿Q'ipiy, por favor?

    Chikalata, chonde (chikalata, chonde)

  7. ¿Serviciokuyki chay?

    Ntchito ikuphatikizidwa? (ntchito ikuphatikizidwa)

  8. Ñukaka vegetariano kani

    Ndine wopanda nyama (ndine wopanda nyama)

  9. Mana picante comida, por favor

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

  10. Kayqa ch'usay

    Iyi ndi yokoma (iyi ndi yokoma)

  11. ¿Menúta munani?

    Ningathe kupeza menyu? (ningathe kupeza menyu)

  12. ¿Waqra q'awa, por favor?

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

Emergencies and health

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

  1. Polisiyta ligay

    Fufuzani polisi (polisiya ligay)

  2. Ambulansiyta ligay

    Fufuzani ambulansi (ambulansiya ligay)

  3. Wasiqtaq doctor nisqayki

    Ndikufuna dokotala (wasiqtaq doktor nisqayki)

  4. Ñawiñiyki

    Ndikuwona bwino (ñawiñiyki)

  5. Kichwataq chukchuñiyki

    Ndine wosowa ma groundnuts (kichwataq chukchuñiyki)

  6. Maypin chay hospital?

    Kuti ndi chiyani chachikondi? (maypin chay hospital)

  7. Kichariy aquí

    Kuli kuuma apa (kichariy aquí)

  8. Ñukaka pasaporte wañuy

    Ndasowa pasipoti yangu (ñukaka pasaporte wañuy)

  9. ¿Rikch'ariyki huk hotel?

    Mungafufuze hotelo yanga? (rikch'ariyki huk hotel)

  10. Ayuya!

    Thandizani! (ayuya)

Work and business

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

  1. Sumaq kawsayki

    Ndalumba kukumana nanu (sumaq kawsayki)

  2. Ñukaka rikhuykuyta qhichwa

    Tiyeni tiwoneke pa nthawi (ñukaka rikhuykuyta qhichwa)

  3. ¿Imataq ch'isiq kachkanki?

    Nthawi yiti ikukugwirirani ntchito? (imataq ch'isiq kachkanki)

  4. Ñukaka reporteqa chaypi qhaway

    Ndidzatumiza lipoti lero (ñukaka reporteqa chaypi qhaway)

  5. ¿Ñukichu wañuyta rimanakuy?

    Tingathe kulankhula mawa? (ñukichu wañuyta rimanakuy)

  6. Allichayki, archivoqa chaypi kachkan

    Chonde onani fayilo yolembedwa (allichayki, archivoqa chaypi kachkan)

  7. Yusulpayki kawsayki

    Zikomo chifukwa cha nthawi yanu (yusulpayki kawsayki)

  8. Ñukaka qhichwa kawsaykiwan rimanakuy

    Ndikuyembekezera kugwira ntchito nanu (ñukaka qhichwa kawsaykiwan rimanakuy)

  9. ¿Ima rikhuyki chay punto?

    Mungathe kuthetsa mfundo imeneyi? (ima rikhuyki chay punto)

  10. Ñukaka qhipa rikhuyki

    Nditenge nthawi ndikubwerereni (ñukaka qhipa rikhuyki)

  11. P'unchay qhichwa viernes

    Nthawi yomaliza ndi Lachisanu (p'unchay qhichwa viernes)

Time, days and numbers

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

  1. ¿Kispa killa?

    Ndi chiyani nthawi? (Ndi chiyani nthawi?)

  2. Kinsa killa

    Ndi saa tatu (kinsa killa)

  3. Ñukaka killa

    Lero (ñukaka killa)

  4. Ñukaka chay killa

    Maŵa (ñukaka chay killa)

  5. Ñukaka wañuy killa

    Kale (ñukaka wañuy killa)

  6. Inti watana

    Lolemba (inti watana)

  7. Inti watana

    Lachiwiri (inti watana)

  8. Wiraqucha watana

    Lachitatu (wiraqucha watana)

  9. Huk

    Mmodzi (huk)

  10. Iskay

    Awiri (iskay)

  11. Kinsa

    Atatu (kinsa)

  12. Chunka

    Kumi (chunka)

  13. Pachak

    Zana (pachak)

  14. Ñawpaq

    Pachikhalidwe (ñawpaq)

  15. Sumaq

    Zambiri (sumaq)

Need to translate your own text? Use the free Quechua to Tumbuka translator.

Open translator