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Common Tiv to Tumbuka phrases

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

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

    Moni

  2. Ior na

    Zikomo

  3. Mgbakpa u sha

    Muli bwanji

  4. Mgbakpa u kpa

    Muli bwanji

  5. Mgbakpa u ter

    Muli bwanji

  6. Mgbakpa u ter sha

    Usiku wabwino

  7. Kpa a joo

    Tiwonana

  8. Ior a joo

    Tsalani bwino

  9. Ior m ngu?

    Dzina lanu ndi ndani?

  10. M ngu John

    Dzina langa ndi John

  11. Ior m nande?

    Muli bwanji?

  12. Ior m nande a joo

    Ndine wokondwa kukumana nanu

Useful phrases for travellers

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

  1. I kpa English?

    Muli ndi Chingerezi? (muli ndi chingerezi)

  2. M nahan Hindi nahan.

    Sikuyankhula Hindi bwino (sikuyankhula hindi bwino)

  3. M nahan usha.

    Sindikumva (sindikumva)

  4. M nahan usha kpa.

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

  5. I kpa a sha?

    Mungandiyankhulepo? (mungandiyankhulepo)

  6. I we a joo?

    Kuti ndi kuti? (kuti ndi kuti)

  7. Nenge a kpa a city center?

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

  8. Kpa a joo.

    Pita kumanzere (pita kumanzere)

  9. Kpa a nahan.

    Pita kumanja (pita kumanja)

  10. Kpa a sha.

    Pita mwendo (pita mwendo)

  11. Nenge a kpa a fare?

    Ndi ndalama zingati? (ndi ndalama zingati)

  12. I kpa a ticket, please.

    Tiketi imodzi, chonde (tiketi imodzi, chonde)

  13. I we a nahan a nahan?

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

  14. M nahan sha.

    Ndakhalapo (ndakhalapo)

  15. I we a kpa 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. Ee

    Iye

  2. Naa

    Ayi

  3. Iye

    Pang'ono

  4. M na a kpa

    Ndikugwirizana

  5. M na a kpa nahan

    Sindikugwirizana

  6. I kpa a kpa

    Ichi chimaoneka bwino

  7. U kpa a nahan?

    Muli ndi chiyani choti mumaganize?

  8. U kpa m nahan?

    Mungandithandize?

  9. M na a kpa nahan

    Ndikufuna thandizo

  10. Kpa a kpa

    Dikirani pang’ono

  11. M na a kpa

    Ndikupemphera

  12. Naa a kpa

    Palibe vutoli

  13. I kpa a kpa

    Zikomo

  14. A kpa a kpa

    Tsiku lobadwa labwino

  15. U kpa a kpa

    Pita bwino pa ulendo

Directions and getting around

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

  1. Ior a kpa?

    Kukakhala kuti chiteshi cha njinga?

  2. Ior a nyam?

    Kukakhala kuti malo otchinga basi?

  3. Ior a gande?

    Ndi chigawo chiti?

  4. Nenge a kpa?

    Nanga nthawi itangopita?

  5. Ior a nenge a?

    Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera?

  6. I na kpa a.

    Iyi ndi pafupi apa

  7. I na kpa a kpa.

    Iyi ndi kutali ndi apa

  8. I ma ior a gande?

    Mungandionetse pa chithunzi?

  9. Kpa a, please.

    Chimitsa apa, chonde

  10. Nenge a kpa?

    Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji?

Shopping and dining

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

  1. Ior kwagh nahan?

    Iyi ikuguliradi chingwe? (iyi ikuguliradi chingwe)

  2. Ior u kpa a kpa

    Iyi ndi mtengo wopusa (iyi ndi mtengo wopusa)

  3. Ior m ngu u kpa?

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

  4. Ior m gban a card?

    Ningathe kulipira ndi khadi? (ningathe kulipira ndi khadi)

  5. A doo a table m ngu a yô

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

  6. Ior a bill, please

    Chikalata, chonde (chikalata, chonde)

  7. Ior a service m nahan?

    Ntchito ikuphatikizidwa? (ntchito ikuphatikizidwa)

  8. A m vegetarian

    Ndine wopanda nyama (ndine wopanda nyama)

  9. A m nahan a spicy food

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

  10. Ior a kpa

    Iyi ndi yokoma (iyi ndi yokoma)

  11. Ior m gban a menu?

    Ningathe kupeza menyu? (ningathe kupeza menyu)

  12. A glass a water, please

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

Emergencies and health

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

  1. Kpa a police

    Fufuzani polisi

  2. Kpa a ambulance

    Fufuzani ambulansi

  3. M ba a doctor

    Ndikufuna dokotala

  4. M kpa a kpa

    Ndikuwona bwino

  5. M kpa a nyam

    Ndine wosowa ma groundnuts

  6. I kpa a hospital mza?

    Kuti ndi chiyani chachikondi?

  7. I kpa a sha

    Kuli kuuma apa

  8. M kpa a passport m

    Ndasowa pasipoti yangu

  9. I kpa a hotel m?

    Mungafufuze hotelo yanga?

  10. Kpa!

    Thandizani!

Work and business

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

  1. Ior u kpa.

    Ndalumba kukumana nanu

  2. Ka a hia ikyô.

    Tiyeni tiwoneke pa nthawi

  3. Nî kpa u kpa?

    Nthawi yiti ikukugwirirani ntchito?

  4. M gbanor u kpe.

    Ndidzatumiza lipoti lero

  5. A hia nî u hia?

    Tingathe kulankhula mawa?

  6. M kpa u venge.

    Chonde onani fayilo yolembedwa

  7. Ior u nenge.

    Zikomo chifukwa cha nthawi yanu

  8. M hia u kpa.

    Ndikuyembekezera kugwira ntchito nanu

  9. Ior a hia u mba?

    Mungathe kuthetsa mfundo imeneyi?

  10. Ka m hia u.

    Nditenge nthawi ndikubwerereni

  11. Ikyô u kpa a Friday.

    Nthawi yomaliza ndi Lachisanu

Time, days and numbers

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

  1. Ior a kpa?

    Ndi chiyani nthawi? (Ndi chiyani nthawi?)

  2. Ior a tyoor

    Ndi saa tatu (Ior a tyoor)

  3. Ior

    Lero (Ior)

  4. Kpa

    Maŵa (Kpa)

  5. Ior a sha

    Kale (Ior a sha)

  6. Ior a yô

    Lolemba (Ior a yô)

  7. Ior a kô

    Lachiwiri (Ior a kô)

  8. Ior a ngô

    Lachitatu (Ior a ngô)

  9. Mba

    Mmodzi (Mba)

  10. Ishô

    Awiri (Ishô)

  11. Tyoor

    Atatu (Tyoor)

  12. Ishê

    Kumi (Ishê)

  13. Mba kpa

    Zana (Mba kpa)

  14. Ior a kpa

    Pachikhalidwe (Ior a kpa)

  15. Ior a kpa

    Zambiri (Ior a kpa)

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