Looking for practical Tumbuka to Alur phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Tumbuka phrase first, then the Alur translation (Alur) — 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 Alur.
Tip: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Alur-speaking trip in a few weeks.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Tumbuka to Alur 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.
Moni
Salam
Zikomo
Matur nuwun
Muli bwanji
Selamat pagi
Muli bwanji
Selamat sore
Muli bwanji
Selamat malam
Usiku wabwino
Selamat bobo
Tiwonana
Sampai jumpa
Tsalani bwino
Selamat tinggal
Dzina lanu ndi ndani?
Sapa nama mu?
Dzina langa ndi John
Nama ku John
Muli bwanji?
Kabar apa?
Ndine wokondwa kukumana nanu
Senang bertemu denganmu
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Muli ndi Chingerezi?
Nyo nyi ngana Inggris?(muli ndi chingerezi)
Sikuyankhula Hindi bwino
Nyo ngana Hindi badi.(sikuyankhula hindi bwino)
Sindikumva
Nyo ngana nyo.(sindikumva)
Chonde yankhulani pang'ono
Tolong nyi lempang.(chonde yankhulani pang'ono)
Mungandiyankhulepo?
Nyo bisa nyi lagi?(mungandiyankhulepo)
Kuti ndi kuti?
Di mana kamar mandi?(kuti ndi kuti)
Ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu?
Nyo nyi ka pusat kota?(ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu)
Pita kumanzere
Belok kiri.(pita kumanzere)
Pita kumanja
Belok kanan.(pita kumanja)
Pita mwendo
Nyi terus.(pita mwendo)
Ndi ndalama zingati?
Berapa harga tiket?(ndi ndalama zingati)
Tiketi imodzi, chonde
Satu tiket, tolong.(tiketi imodzi, chonde)
Ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano?
Apakah jauh dari sini?(ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano)
Ndakhalapo
Nyo hilang.(ndakhalapo)
Ndingatengere kuti kuti SIM card?
Di mana bisa beli kartu SIM?(ndingatengere kuti kuti sim card)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Iye
Iyo
Ayi
Ayi
Pang'ono
Mungkin
Ndikugwirizana
Ngeye
Sindikugwirizana
Ayi ngeye
Ichi chimaoneka bwino
Iya, enak
Muli ndi chiyani choti mumaganize?
Napa pendapatmu?
Mungandithandize?
Bisa bantu saya?
Ndikufuna thandizo
Saya butuh bantuan
Dikirani pang’ono
Tunggu sebentar
Ndikupemphera
Saya minta maaf
Palibe vutoli
Tidak masalah
Zikomo
Selamat
Tsiku lobadwa labwino
Selamat ulang tahun
Pita bwino pa ulendo
Semoga selamat dalam perjalanan
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Kukakhala kuti chiteshi cha njinga?
Dika stasiun kereta?
Kukakhala kuti malo otchinga basi?
Dika halte bis?
Ndi chigawo chiti?
Platform mana?
Nanga nthawi itangopita?
Jam berapa ia berangkat?
Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera?
Apa ini jalan yang benar?
Iyi ndi pafupi apa
Iya dekat sini
Iyi ndi kutali ndi apa
Iya jauh dari sini
Mungandionetse pa chithunzi?
Bisa tunjukkan di peta?
Chimitsa apa, chonde
Berhenti di sini, tolong
Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji?
Berapa lama waktu yang dibutuhkan?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Iyi ikuguliradi chingwe?
Berapa harga ini?(iyi ikuguliradi chingwe)
Iyi ndi mtengo wopusa
Itu terlalu mahal.(iyi ndi mtengo wopusa)
Muli ndi chinthu chochepa mtengo?
Apakah ada yang lebih murah?(muli ndi chinthu chochepa mtengo)
Ningathe kulipira ndi khadi?
Bisa bayar pakai kartu?(ningathe kulipira ndi khadi)
Ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri
Saya mau meja untuk dua.(ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri)
Chikalata, chonde
Tagihan, tolong.(chikalata, chonde)
Ntchito ikuphatikizidwa?
Apakah layanan sudah termasuk?(ntchito ikuphatikizidwa)
Ndine wopanda nyama
Saya vegetarian.(ndine wopanda nyama)
Chonde, osati chakudya chothira
Tidak ada makanan pedas, tolong.(chonde, osati chakudya chothira)
Iyi ndi yokoma
Ini enak.(iyi ndi yokoma)
Ningathe kupeza menyu?
Bisa minta menu?(ningathe kupeza menyu)
Galasi ya madzi, chonde
Segelas air, tolong.(galasi ya madzi, chonde)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Fufuzani polisi
Bisa ngelap polisi
Fufuzani ambulansi
Bisa ngelap ambulans
Ndikufuna dokotala
Aku butuh dokter
Ndikuwona bwino
Aku merasa sakit
Ndine wosowa ma groundnuts
Aku alergi kacang tanah
Kuti ndi chiyani chachikondi?
Di mana rumah sakit terdekat?
Kuli kuuma apa
Sakit di sini
Ndasowa pasipoti yangu
Aku kehilangan paspor
Mungafufuze hotelo yanga?
Bisa telepon hotelku?
Thandizani!
Tolong!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Ndalumba kukumana nanu
Ngomong bareng kowe
Tiyeni tiwoneke pa nthawi
Ayo kita atur rapat
Nthawi yiti ikukugwirirani ntchito?
Jam pira sing cocog kanggo kowe?
Ndidzatumiza lipoti lero
Aku bakal ngirim laporan dina iki
Tingathe kulankhula mawa?
Apa kita bisa ngomong sesuk?
Chonde onani fayilo yolembedwa
Mangga deleng file sing dilampirake
Zikomo chifukwa cha nthawi yanu
Matur nuwun kanggo wektu kowe
Ndikuyembekezera kugwira ntchito nanu
Aku ngarep-arep bisa kerja bareng kowe
Mungathe kuthetsa mfundo imeneyi?
Apa kowe bisa nerangake titik kuwi?
Nditenge nthawi ndikubwerereni
Ayo aku bali menyang kowe
Nthawi yomaliza ndi Lachisanu
Wektu pungkasan yaiku Jumuah
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.