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Common Tongan to Tumbuka phrases

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

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Looking for practical Tongan to Tumbuka phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Tongan 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: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Tumbuka-speaking trip in a few weeks.

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

    Moni

  2. Mālō

    Zikomo

  3. Mālō e lelei

    Muli bwanji

  4. Mālō e lelei

    Muli bwanji

  5. Mālō e lelei

    Muli bwanji

  6. Nofo ā

    Usiku wabwino

  7. Tōfā

    Tiwonana

  8. Tōfā

    Tsalani bwino

  9. Ko e hā ho hingoa?

    Dzina lanu ndi ndani?

  10. Ko hoku hingoa ko John

    Dzina langa ndi John

  11. Ofa atu?

    Muli bwanji?

  12. Faka'apa'apa kiate koe

    Ndine wokondwa kukumana nanu

Useful phrases for travellers

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

  1. Oe te u talanoa i te Galuega?

    Muli ndi Chingerezi? (muli ndi chingerezi)

  2. Oe te u 'ikai talanoa lelei i te Hindi

    Sikuyankhula Hindi bwino (sikuyankhula hindi bwino)

  3. Oe te u 'ikai ma'u

    Sindikumva (sindikumva)

  4. Fakamolemole talanoa ha feitu'u

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

  5. Kuo 'i ai e ke talanoa 'o e toe?

    Mungandiyankhulepo? (mungandiyankhulepo)

  6. Ko e fea 'oku 'i ai e fanga?

    Kuti ndi kuti? (kuti ndi kuti)

  7. E fa'ahinga e u 'alu ki he tu'a o e kolo?

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

  8. Fakafoki ki he kolo

    Pita kumanzere (pita kumanzere)

  9. Fakafoki ki he 'akau

    Pita kumanja (pita kumanja)

  10. Alu 'o e 'alu

    Pita mwendo (pita mwendo)

  11. E hā e totongi?

    Ndi ndalama zingati? (ndi ndalama zingati)

  12. Tiketí 'e taha, fakamolemole

    Tiketi imodzi, chonde (tiketi imodzi, chonde)

  13. Oku 'i ai e 'i he 'i he 'a e fanga?

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

  14. Oku ou 'i ma'u

    Ndakhalapo (ndakhalapo)

  15. Ko e fea 'oku ou ma'u e 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. Āe

    Iye

  2. Ikai

    Ayi

  3. Māfai

    Pang'ono

  4. Oku ou ʻilo

    Ndikugwirizana

  5. Oku ou ʻikai ʻilo

    Sindikugwirizana

  6. Oku lelei ia

    Ichi chimaoneka bwino

  7. Ko e hā hoʻu manatu?

    Muli ndi chiyani choti mumaganize?

  8. Te u ʻofa mai?

    Mungandithandize?

  9. Oku ou fiemaʻu ʻofa

    Ndikufuna thandizo

  10. Fakamolemole

    Dikirani pang’ono

  11. Oku ou fakamolemole

    Ndikupemphera

  12. Ikai ha palopalema

    Palibe vutoli

  13. Fakaʻapaʻapa

    Zikomo

  14. Mālō e lelei ki he ʻaho mate

    Tsiku lobadwa labwino

  15. Fakaʻaongaʻi lelei

    Pita bwino pa ulendo

Directions and getting around

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

  1. Ko fea e falemai?

    Kukakhala kuti chiteshi cha njinga? (ko fea e fale mai)

  2. Ko fea e nofoa bus?

    Kukakhala kuti malo otchinga basi? (ko fea e nofoa bus)

  3. Ko e feheia e pātala?

    Ndi chigawo chiti? (ko e feheia e patala)

  4. He taimi fē e 'alu ai?

    Nanga nthawi itangopita? (he taimi fe e alu ai)

  5. Ko e ala lelei 'eni?

    Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera? (ko e ala lelei eni)

  6. Ko ia 'i he vaha'a ni

    Iyi ndi pafupi apa (ko ia i he vahaa ni)

  7. Ko ia 'i he tu'a

    Iyi ndi kutali ndi apa (ko ia i he tua)

  8. Oka e faka'ali'ali mai kiate au 'i he mapa?

    Mungandionetse pa chithunzi? (oka e fakaali ali mai kiate au i he mapa)

  9. Tū 'i he 'aiga, kataki

    Chimitsa apa, chonde (tu i he aiga kataki)

  10. E taha e taimi?

    Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji? (e taha e taimi)

Shopping and dining

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

  1. Ehia te fua o kēia?

    Iyi ikuguliradi chingwe? (iyi ikuguliradi chingwe)

  2. Ko ia, e lahi loā

    Iyi ndi mtengo wopusa (iyi ndi mtengo wopusa)

  3. Ofa mai ha meʻakai e ngāue?

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

  4. E mafai au ke totongi e pātu?

    Ningathe kulipira ndi khadi? (ningathe kulipira ndi khadi)

  5. Ofa atu au ke he meʻakai e tolu

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

  6. Te fua, kataki

    Chikalata, chonde (chikalata, chonde)

  7. E aofia ai te ngāue?

    Ntchito ikuphatikizidwa? (ntchito ikuphatikizidwa)

  8. O au ko e meʻakai

    Ndine wopanda nyama (ndine wopanda nyama)

  9. Kātoa ʻa e meʻakai ʻālohi, kataki

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

  10. Ko ʻeni, e lelei

    Iyi ndi yokoma (iyi ndi yokoma)

  11. E mafai au ke maʻu e meʻakai?

    Ningathe kupeza menyu? (ningathe kupeza menyu)

  12. Ha ipu vai, kataki

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

Emergencies and health

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

  1. Tū mai e polisi

    Fufuzani polisi

  2. Tū mai e ambulance

    Fufuzani ambulansi

  3. Ofa mai e fomaʻi

    Ndikufuna dokotala

  4. Oku ou fehi

    Ndikuwona bwino

  5. Oku ou maʻu e fakamātoato ki e pīnati

    Ndine wosowa ma groundnuts

  6. Ko e fea e hōspitali lahi?

    Kuti ndi chiyani chachikondi?

  7. Oku ʻi ai e ʻā

    Kuli kuuma apa

  8. Naʻe ou fā e pāsipoti

    Ndasowa pasipoti yangu

  9. Te ke tū mai e hoteli ko hoku?

    Mungafufuze hotelo yanga?

  10. Fakamolemole!

    Thandizani!

Work and business

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

  1. Mālō e lelei

    Ndalumba kukumana nanu

  2. Tōmua ta seti ha fakataha

    Tiyeni tiwoneke pa nthawi

  3. Ko e hā e taimi e lelei kiate koe?

    Nthawi yiti ikukugwirirani ntchito?

  4. Te u fa'ahinga e lipooti 'i he 'aho ni

    Ndidzatumiza lipoti lero

  5. Tēnā mafai ta talanoa 'i he 'aho 'apongipongi?

    Tingathe kulankhula mawa?

  6. Kātoa e faile 'oku fakafā

    Chonde onani fayilo yolembedwa

  7. Mālō 'aupito kiate koe

    Zikomo chifukwa cha nthawi yanu

  8. Te u fie ma'u ke ngāue mo koe

    Ndikuyembekezera kugwira ntchito nanu

  9. Kātoa e mafai ke ke fakakaukau 'a e konga 'o ia?

    Mungathe kuthetsa mfundo imeneyi?

  10. Tēnā e 'alu au kiate koe

    Nditenge nthawi ndikubwerereni

  11. Ko e ta'u 'o e ngāue ko e Falaite

    Nthawi yomaliza ndi Lachisanu

Time, days and numbers

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

  1. Ko e ha e uo e taimi?

    Ndi chiyani nthawi? (Ndi chiyani nthawi?)

  2. E tolu e uo e taimi

    Ndi saa tatu (E tolu e uo e taimi)

  3. Ongo

    Lero (Ongo)

  4. Taimi e aupito

    Maŵa (Taimi e aupito)

  5. Taimi e ma'u

    Kale (Taimi e ma'u)

  6. Mōnite

    Lolemba (Mōnite)

  7. Tūsite

    Lachiwiri (Tūsite)

  8. Pūsite

    Lachitatu (Pūsite)

  9. Tahi

    Mmodzi (Tahi)

  10. Tolu

    Awiri (Tolu)

  11. Tolu

    Atatu (Tolu)

  12. Taha

    Kumi (Taha)

  13. Ono

    Zana (Ono)

  14. Taha

    Pachikhalidwe (Taha)

  15. Faka'apa'apa

    Zambiri (Faka'apa'apa)

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