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Common Tamazight to Tumbuka phrases

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

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

    Moni (azul)

  2. Tanemmirt

    Zikomo (tanemmirt)

  3. Sbah lkhir

    Muli bwanji (sbah lkhir)

  4. Nhar lkhir

    Muli bwanji (nhar lkhir)

  5. Mrahba

    Muli bwanji (mrahba)

  6. Lila saïda

    Usiku wabwino (lila saïda)

  7. Nqra wul

    Tiwonana (nqra wul)

  8. Besslama

    Tsalani bwino (besslama)

  9. Mekka isem-ik?

    Dzina lanu ndi ndani? (mekka isem-ik)

  10. Isem-iyi John

    Dzina langa ndi John (isem-iyi John)

  11. Mekka tzemre?

    Muli bwanji? (mekka tzemre)

  12. Safi nniḍen

    Ndine wokondwa kukumana nanu (safi nniḍen)

Useful phrases for travellers

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

  1. Tzziɣ ad tḥeddar ɣef l'anglais?

    Muli ndi Chingerezi? (muli ndi chingerezi)

  2. Ur tḥeddar ɣef l'hindi d-ɣer

    Sikuyankhula Hindi bwino (sikuyankhula hindi bwino)

  3. Ur nḥemmer

    Sindikumva (sindikumva)

  4. S'il te plaît, tḥeddar ssiɣ

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

  5. Ma tḥeddar aḥiḍ?

    Mungandiyankhulepo? (mungandiyankhulepo)

  6. Wul is tazart?

    Kuti ndi kuti? (kuti ndi kuti)

  7. Mara ad nḥemmleḍ ɣef l'midant?

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

  8. Tzziɣ ɣef l'berra

    Pita kumanzere (pita kumanzere)

  9. Tzziɣ ɣef l'yem

    Pita kumanja (pita kumanja)

  10. Ssaḍ ɣef l'ḥeqq

    Pita mwendo (pita mwendo)

  11. Mara d-ḥeqq ɣef l'khedma?

    Ndi ndalama zingati? (ndi ndalama zingati)

  12. Ticket waḥid, s'il te plaît

    Tiketi imodzi, chonde (tiketi imodzi, chonde)

  13. Ma d-ɣer ɣef wul?

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

  14. Nek d-ɣer

    Ndakhalapo (ndakhalapo)

  15. Wul aḍ nḍiḍ 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. Ih

    Iye

  2. Ula

    Ayi

  3. Mekkan

    Pang'ono

  4. Nekni d ameqran

    Ndikugwirizana

  5. Ula d ameqran

    Sindikugwirizana

  6. Ala yid ihi

    Ichi chimaoneka bwino

  7. Ma yid ihi?

    Muli ndi chiyani choti mumaganize?

  8. Ma tzemregh ad tazmert-iyi?

    Mungandithandize?

  9. Nekni d tazmert

    Ndikufuna thandizo

  10. Ssa ad tzemregh

    Dikirani pang’ono

  11. Nekni d ameksa

    Ndikupemphera

  12. Ula d tazmert

    Palibe vutoli

  13. Tawuri

    Zikomo

  14. Aslema n tazmert

    Tsiku lobadwa labwino

  15. Suffi d amezruy n tazmert

    Pita bwino pa ulendo

Directions and getting around

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

  1. Wulaw n tizi n taddart?

    Kukakhala kuti chiteshi cha njinga? (wulaw n tizi n taddart)

  2. Wulaw n tizi n bus?

    Kukakhala kuti malo otchinga basi? (wulaw n tizi n bus)

  3. Mara tizi?

    Ndi chigawo chiti? (mara tizi)

  4. Aman yebda?

    Nanga nthawi itangopita? (aman yebda)

  5. Ihi, d wayen n tazmert?

    Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera? (ihi, d wayen n tazmert)

  6. Ihi, d amezwaru

    Iyi ndi pafupi apa (ihi, d amezwaru)

  7. Ihi, d tazmert

    Iyi ndi kutali ndi apa (ihi, d tazmert)

  8. Ttawwi t-wali di tmazirt?

    Mungandionetse pa chithunzi? (ttawwi t-wali di tmazirt)

  9. Ssa di tazmert, s'il te plaît

    Chimitsa apa, chonde (ssa di tazmert)

  10. Mara yebda?

    Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji? (mara yebda)

Shopping and dining

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

  1. Iḥed nniḍen?

    Iyi ikuguliradi chingwe? (iyi ikuguliradi chingwe)

  2. Aḍu yella aḥil

    Iyi ndi mtengo wopusa (iyi ndi mtengo wopusa)

  3. Ma yella ḥeqq nniḍen?

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

  4. Nekki nḥed n wigi?

    Ningathe kulipira ndi khadi? (ningathe kulipira ndi khadi)

  5. Nekki nḥeb tazrigt n ddus

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

  6. Iḍeḍ, lla yella

    Chikalata, chonde (chikalata, chonde)

  7. Ma yella tazrigt?

    Ntchito ikuphatikizidwa? (ntchito ikuphatikizidwa)

  8. Nekki d vegetarian

    Ndine wopanda nyama (ndine wopanda nyama)

  9. Ula d akken, lla yella

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

  10. Aḍu yella amezruy

    Iyi ndi yokoma (iyi ndi yokoma)

  11. Nekki nḥeb tazrigt?

    Ningathe kupeza menyu? (ningathe kupeza menyu)

  12. Aḍu n waman, lla yella

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

Emergencies and health

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

  1. Ssi l-police

    Fufuzani polisi (ssi l-police)

  2. Ssi l-ambulance

    Fufuzani ambulansi (ssi l-ambulance)

  3. Nekkin doctor

    Ndikufuna dokotala (nekkin doctor)

  4. Nekkin yid

    Ndikuwona bwino (nekkin yid)

  5. Nekkin agdud n tazart

    Ndine wosowa ma groundnuts (nekkin agdud n tazart)

  6. Wul is-sid n uḍar?

    Kuti ndi chiyani chachikondi? (wul is-sid n uḍar)

  7. Ihdden hna

    Kuli kuuma apa (ihdden hna)

  8. Rraḍt pasport-i

    Ndasowa pasipoti yangu (rraḍt pasport-i)

  9. Ma tssi l-hotel-i?

    Mungafufuze hotelo yanga? (ma tssi l-hotel-i)

  10. Ayd!

    Thandizani! (ayd)

Work and business

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

  1. Aḥlan, tḥemmleḍ

    Ndalumba kukumana nanu (Ahlan, thammled)

  2. Neddu yid n tazmert

    Tiyeni tiwoneke pa nthawi (Neddu id n tazmert)

  3. Mā yid tḥemmleḍ?

    Nthawi yiti ikukugwirirani ntchito? (Ma id thammled?)

  4. Nekka ad ssin yid n tazmert lḥeqq

    Ndidzatumiza lipoti lero (Nekka ad ssin id n tazmert lhaqq)

  5. Nekka nḥeddru g tomorrow?

    Tingathe kulankhula mawa? (Nekka nhedru g tomorrow?)

  6. S'il te plaît, ḥeḍḍa yid n file

    Chonde onani fayilo yolembedwa (Sil te plait, hedha id n file)

  7. Tanemmirt i wakkas n tazrigt

    Zikomo chifukwa cha nthawi yanu (Tanemmirt i wakkas n tazrigt)

  8. Nekka nḥemmel ad nḥeddru s'k

    Ndikuyembekezera kugwira ntchito nanu (Nekka nhemel ad nhedru s'k)

  9. Ma tḥemmleḍ aḥḍar yid?

    Mungathe kuthetsa mfundo imeneyi? (Ma thammled ahdar id?)

  10. Nekka ad nḥemmel ḍi s'k

    Nditenge nthawi ndikubwerereni (Nekka ad nhemel di s'k)

  11. Tazmert n timeḍi d Friday

    Nthawi yomaliza ndi Lachisanu (Tazmert n timidi d Friday)

Time, days and numbers

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

  1. Walu tazrigt?

    Ndi chiyani nthawi? (Ndi chiyani nthawi?)

  2. Tazrigt tga tlat

    Ndi saa tatu (Tazrigt tga tlat)

  3. Lḥeṛ

    Lero (Lḥeṛ)

  4. Ssa

    Maŵa (Ssa)

  5. Azzul

    Kale (Azzul)

  6. Yemmes

    Lolemba (Yemmes)

  7. Yemmes n tazart

    Lachiwiri (Yemmes n tazart)

  8. Yemmes n tazrigt

    Lachitatu (Yemmes n tazrigt)

  9. Yid

    Mmodzi (Yid)

  10. Sin

    Awiri (Sin)

  11. Tlat

    Atatu (Tlat)

  12. Mraw

    Kumi (Mraw)

  13. Miyaz

    Zana (Miyaz)

  14. Nniḍ

    Pachikhalidwe (Nniḍ)

  15. Iḍen

    Zambiri (Iḍen)

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