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Common Somali to Tumbuka phrases

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

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Looking for practical Somali to Tumbuka phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Somali 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: pick five Tumbuka phrases from the greetings section and use them in a real message today. Small daily practice beats cramming before a trip.

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

    Moni

  2. Mahadsanid

    Zikomo

  3. Subax wanaagsan

    Muli bwanji

  4. Duhur wanaagsan

    Muli bwanji

  5. Habeen wanaagsan

    Muli bwanji

  6. Habeen wanaagsan

    Usiku wabwino

  7. Ilaa dambe

    Tiwonana

  8. Nabad gelyo

    Tsalani bwino

  9. Magacaa maxay tahay?

    Dzina lanu ndi ndani?

  10. Magacaygu waa John

    Dzina langa ndi John

  11. Sidee tahay?

    Muli bwanji?

  12. Aad ayaan ugu faraxsanahay in aan ku arko

    Ndine wokondwa kukumana nanu

Useful phrases for travellers

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

  1. Ma ku hadashaa Ingiriisi?

    Muli ndi Chingerezi? (muli ndi chingerezi)

  2. Hindi si fiican uma hadlo

    Sikuyankhula Hindi bwino (sikuyankhula hindi bwino)

  3. Ma fahmin

    Sindikumva (sindikumva)

  4. Fadlan si tartiib ah u hadal

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

  5. Ma ku celin kartaa?

    Mungandiyankhulepo? (mungandiyankhulepo)

  6. Musqusha xaggee buu yaalaa?

    Kuti ndi kuti? (kuti ndi kuti)

  7. Sideen ku gaari karaa xarunta magaalada?

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

  8. Bidix u leexo

    Pita kumanzere (pita kumanzere)

  9. Midig u leexo

    Pita kumanja (pita kumanja)

  10. Toos u soco

    Pita mwendo (pita mwendo)

  11. Immisa ayey tahay lacagta?

    Ndi ndalama zingati? (ndi ndalama zingati)

  12. Hal tigidh, fadlan

    Tiketi imodzi, chonde (tiketi imodzi, chonde)

  13. Ma fog tahay halkan?

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

  14. Waan lumay

    Ndakhalapo (ndakhalapo)

  15. Xaggee ka iibsan karaa kaarka 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. Haa

    Iye

  2. Maya

    Ayi

  3. Malaha

    Pang'ono

  4. Waan ku raacsanahay

    Ndikugwirizana

  5. Waan ku raacsaneyn

    Sindikugwirizana

  6. Taasi waa wax fiican

    Ichi chimaoneka bwino

  7. Maxaad u malaynaysaa?

    Muli ndi chiyani choti mumaganize?

  8. Ma i caawin kartaa?

    Mungandithandize?

  9. Waxaan u baahanahay caawimaad

    Ndikufuna thandizo

  10. Sug daqiiqad

    Dikirani pang’ono

  11. Waan ka xumahay

    Ndikupemphera

  12. Dhib malahan

    Palibe vutoli

  13. Hambalyo

    Zikomo

  14. Dhalasho wacan

    Tsiku lobadwa labwino

  15. Safar wanaagsan

    Pita bwino pa ulendo

Directions and getting around

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

  1. Xagee buu tareenka jooga?

    Kukakhala kuti chiteshi cha njinga?

  2. Xagee buu basaska jooga?

    Kukakhala kuti malo otchinga basi?

  3. Keenka sidee buu yahay?

    Ndi chigawo chiti?

  4. Goormee ayuu baxayaa?

    Nanga nthawi itangopita?

  5. Ma tan saxda ah?

    Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera?

  6. Waa halkan u dhow

    Iyi ndi pafupi apa

  7. Waa halkan fog

    Iyi ndi kutali ndi apa

  8. Ma ii muujin kartaa khariidada?

    Mungandionetse pa chithunzi?

  9. Halkan joog, fadlan

    Chimitsa apa, chonde

  10. Immisa waqti ayey qaadaneysaa?

    Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji?

Shopping and dining

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

  1. Imisa ayuu ku kacayaa?

    Iyi ikuguliradi chingwe? (iyi ikuguliradi chingwe)

  2. Taasi waa qaali aad u badan.

    Iyi ndi mtengo wopusa (iyi ndi mtengo wopusa)

  3. Ma haysta wax ka jaban?

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

  4. Ma bixin karaa kaarka?

    Ningathe kulipira ndi khadi? (ningathe kulipira ndi khadi)

  5. Waxaan jeclaan lahaa miis laba qof ah.

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

  6. Fadlan, biilka.

    Chikalata, chonde (chikalata, chonde)

  7. Ma ku jirtaa adeegga?

    Ntchito ikuphatikizidwa? (ntchito ikuphatikizidwa)

  8. Anigu waxaan ahay khudradeed.

    Ndine wopanda nyama (ndine wopanda nyama)

  9. Fadlan, cunto aan xawaash lahayn.

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

  10. Tani waa macaan.

    Iyi ndi yokoma (iyi ndi yokoma)

  11. Ma heli karaa menu?

    Ningathe kupeza menyu? (ningathe kupeza menyu)

  12. Fadlan, koob biyo ah.

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

Emergencies and health

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

  1. Wac booliiska

    Fufuzani polisi

  2. Wac ambalaas

    Fufuzani ambulansi

  3. Waxaan u baahanahay dhakhtar

    Ndikufuna dokotala

  4. Waxaan dareemayaa xanuun

    Ndikuwona bwino

  5. Waxaan leeyahay xasaasiyad lowska

    Ndine wosowa ma groundnuts

  6. Isbitaalka ugu dhow xagee buu yaalaa?

    Kuti ndi chiyani chachikondi?

  7. Halkaan ayaa i xanuunaya

    Kuli kuuma apa

  8. Dukumeentigayga safarka ayaan lumiyay

    Ndasowa pasipoti yangu

  9. Ma wici kartaa hoteelkeyga?

    Mungafufuze hotelo yanga?

  10. Caawimaad!

    Thandizani!

Work and business

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

  1. Aad baan ugu faraxsanahay in aan ku arko

    Ndalumba kukumana nanu

  2. Aan qorshayno kulan

    Tiyeni tiwoneke pa nthawi

  3. Waa maxay waqtiga ku habboon adiga?

    Nthawi yiti ikukugwirirani ntchito?

  4. Waxaan maanta soo diri doonaa warbixinta

    Ndidzatumiza lipoti lero

  5. Ma ka hadli karnaa berri?

    Tingathe kulankhula mawa?

  6. Fadlan eeg faylka ku lifaaqan

    Chonde onani fayilo yolembedwa

  7. Waad ku mahadsan tahay waqtigaaga

    Zikomo chifukwa cha nthawi yanu

  8. Waxaan rajeynayaa in aan kula shaqeeyo

    Ndikuyembekezera kugwira ntchito nanu

  9. Ma faahfaahin kartaa dhibicdaas?

    Mungathe kuthetsa mfundo imeneyi?

  10. Aan ku soo laabto

    Nditenge nthawi ndikubwerereni

  11. Waqtiga kama dambaysta ah waa Jimcaha

    Nthawi yomaliza ndi Lachisanu

Time, days and numbers

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

  1. Waa imisa saac?

    Ndi chiyani nthawi? (Ndi chiyani nthawi?)

  2. Waa seddex saac

    Ndi saa tatu (Waa seddex saac)

  3. Maanta

    Lero

  4. Berri

    Maŵa

  5. Shalay

    Kale

  6. Isniin

    Lolemba

  7. Talaado

    Lachiwiri

  8. Arbaco

    Lachitatu

  9. Hal

    Mmodzi

  10. Laba

    Awiri

  11. Seddex

    Atatu

  12. Toban

    Kumi

  13. Boqol

    Zana

  14. Nus

    Pachikhalidwe

  15. Aynu

    Zambiri

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