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Common Swati to Tumbuka phrases

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

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Looking for practical Swati to Tumbuka phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Swati 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: when a Tumbuka phrase looks unfamiliar, compare it with the Swati wording — noticing word order differences helps you understand grammar naturally.

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

    Moni

  2. Ngiyabonga

    Zikomo

  3. Siyaphila

    Muli bwanji

  4. Siyaphila

    Muli bwanji

  5. Siyaphila

    Muli bwanji

  6. Lalani kahle

    Usiku wabwino

  7. Sizobonana

    Tiwonana

  8. Hamba kahle

    Tsalani bwino

  9. Ubani igama lakho?

    Dzina lanu ndi ndani?

  10. Igama lami nguJohn

    Dzina langa ndi John

  11. Unjani?

    Muli bwanji?

  12. Kuhle ukuhlangana nawe

    Ndine wokondwa kukumana nanu

Useful phrases for travellers

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

  1. Ukhuluma ngesiNgisi?

    Muli ndi Chingerezi? (muli ndi chingerezi)

  2. Angikhulumi kahle ngesiHindi.

    Sikuyankhula Hindi bwino (sikuyankhula hindi bwino)

  3. Angiqondi.

    Sindikumva (sindikumva)

  4. Ngiyacela, khuluma kancane.

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

  5. Ungakuphindze lokho?

    Mungandiyankhulepo? (mungandiyankhulepo)

  6. Iphi indlu yangasese?

    Kuti ndi kuti? (kuti ndi kuti)

  7. Ngiyawufika kanjani emkhatsini?

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

  8. Phendukela kwesobunxele.

    Pita kumanzere (pita kumanzere)

  9. Phendukela kwesokudla.

    Pita kumanja (pita kumanja)

  10. Hamba phambili.

    Pita mwendo (pita mwendo)

  11. Kubiza malini?

    Ndi ndalama zingati? (ndi ndalama zingati)

  12. Ithikithi linye, ngiyacela.

    Tiketi imodzi, chonde (tiketi imodzi, chonde)

  13. Kude lapha?

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

  14. Ngilahlekile.

    Ndakhalapo (ndakhalapo)

  15. Ngingathenga kuphi ikhadi le-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. Yebo

    Iye

  2. Cha

    Ayi

  3. Mhlawumbe

    Pang'ono

  4. Ngiyavuma

    Ndikugwirizana

  5. Ngiyaphikisa

    Sindikugwirizana

  6. Lokho kuhle

    Ichi chimaoneka bwino

  7. Ucabanga ukuthini?

    Muli ndi chiyani choti mumaganize?

  8. Ungangisiza?

    Mungandithandize?

  9. Ngidinga usizo

    Ndikufuna thandizo

  10. Linda umzuzu

    Dikirani pang’ono

  11. Ngiyaxolisa

    Ndikupemphera

  12. Akukho nkinga

    Palibe vutoli

  13. Siyabonga

    Zikomo

  14. Siyavuma usuku lokuzalwa

    Tsiku lobadwa labwino

  15. Uhambe kahle

    Pita bwino pa ulendo

Directions and getting around

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

  1. Kuphi isiteshi sebhasi?

    Kukakhala kuti chiteshi cha njinga? (ku-pee ee-see-tay-shee seh-bah-see)

  2. Kuphi umphakatsi webhasi?

    Kukakhala kuti malo otchinga basi? (ku-pee oom-pah-kah-tsee weh-bah-see)

  3. Iyiphi i-platform?

    Ndi chigawo chiti? (ee-yee-pee ee-platform)

  4. Ngasiphi isikhathi iyahamba?

    Nanga nthawi itangopita? (ngah-see-pee ee-see-kah-thee ee-yah-hah-mba)

  5. Ngabe le yindlela efanele?

    Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera? (ngah-beh leh een-dleh-lah eh-fah-neh-leh)

  6. Kusondela lapha

    Iyi ndi pafupi apa (koo-son-deh-lah lah-pah)

  7. Kude lapha

    Iyi ndi kutali ndi apa (koo-deh lah-pah)

  8. Ungangikhombisa emmaphweni?

    Mungandionetse pa chithunzi? (oon-gah-nee-khom-bee-sah em-mah-poh-nee)

  9. Misa lapha, ngiyacela

    Chimitsa apa, chonde (mee-sah lah-pah, ngee-yah-cheh-lah)

  10. Kuthathe isikhathi esingaki?

    Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji? (koo-thah-teh ee-see-kah-thee eh-sing-ah-kee)

Shopping and dining

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

  1. Kubiza malini le?

    Iyi ikuguliradi chingwe? (iyi ikuguliradi chingwe)

  2. Lokhu kubiza kakhulu

    Iyi ndi mtengo wopusa (iyi ndi mtengo wopusa)

  3. Unayo yini leyo ephansi?

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

  4. Ngiyakwazi ukukhokha ngekhadi?

    Ningathe kulipira ndi khadi? (ningathe kulipira ndi khadi)

  5. Ngithanda itafula lababili

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

  6. Ibhili, ngiyacela

    Chikalata, chonde (chikalata, chonde)

  7. Inkonzo ibhajetwe?

    Ntchito ikuphatikizidwa? (ntchito ikuphatikizidwa)

  8. Ngiyi-vegetarian

    Ndine wopanda nyama (ndine wopanda nyama)

  9. Akukho ukudla okushisayo, ngiyacela

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

  10. Lokhu kuhle

    Iyi ndi yokoma (iyi ndi yokoma)

  11. Ngicela imenyu?

    Ningathe kupeza menyu? (ningathe kupeza menyu)

  12. Ingilazi yamanzi, ngiyacela

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

Emergencies and health

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

  1. Biza emaphoyisa

    Fufuzani polisi

  2. Biza i-ambulance

    Fufuzani ambulansi

  3. Ngidinga udokotela

    Ndikufuna dokotala

  4. Ngizizwa ngigula

    Ndikuwona bwino

  5. Ngiyavuma emantongomane

    Ndine wosowa ma groundnuts

  6. Kuphi esibhedlela esiseduze?

    Kuti ndi chiyani chachikondi?

  7. Kukhala lapha

    Kuli kuuma apa

  8. Ngilahlekelwe ipasipoti yami

    Ndasowa pasipoti yangu

  9. Ungabiza ihhotela yami?

    Mungafufuze hotelo yanga?

  10. Siza!

    Thandizani!

Work and business

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

  1. Kuhle kukuhlangana nawe

    Ndalumba kukumana nanu

  2. Masihlele umhlangano

    Tiyeni tiwoneke pa nthawi

  3. Yini isikhathi esikufanele?

    Nthawi yiti ikukugwirirani ntchito?

  4. Ngizothumela umbiko namuhla

    Ndidzatumiza lipoti lero

  5. Singakhuluma kusasa?

    Tingathe kulankhula mawa?

  6. Sicela uthole ifayela elihlanganisiwe

    Chonde onani fayilo yolembedwa

  7. Ngiyabonga ngesikhathi sakho

    Zikomo chifukwa cha nthawi yanu

  8. Ngilindele ukusebenza nawe

    Ndikuyembekezera kugwira ntchito nanu

  9. Ungacacisa le ndaba?

    Mungathe kuthetsa mfundo imeneyi?

  10. Ngizobuyela kuwe

    Nditenge nthawi ndikubwerereni

  11. Usuku lokugcina nguLwesihlanu

    Nthawi yomaliza ndi Lachisanu

Time, days and numbers

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

  1. Kukhona isikhathi esingakanani?

    Ndi chiyani nthawi? (Ndi chiyani nthawi?)

  2. Kukhona ematfuba lamatsatfu.

    Ndi saa tatu

  3. Namuhla

    Lero

  4. Kusasa

    Maŵa

  5. Izolo

    Kale

  6. Msombuluko

    Lolemba

  7. Lwesibili

    Lachiwiri

  8. Lwesithathu

    Lachitatu

  9. Kunye

    Mmodzi

  10. Kubili

    Awiri

  11. Kumatfuba

    Atatu

  12. Lishumi

    Kumi

  13. Kukhulu

    Zana

  14. Hhafu

    Pachikhalidwe

  15. Kanye

    Zambiri

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