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Common Tumbuka to Bemba phrases

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

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Looking for practical Tumbuka to Bemba phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Tumbuka phrase first, then the Bemba translation (Bemba) — 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 Bemba.

Tip: read the Bemba line out loud three times, then cover the Tumbuka 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 Tumbuka to Bemba 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. Moni

    Shani

  2. Zikomo

    Natotela

  3. Muli bwanji

    Muli shani

  4. Muli bwanji

    Muli shani

  5. Muli bwanji

    Muli shani

  6. Usiku wabwino

    Shalenipo bwino

  7. Tiwonana

    Tukakutana

  8. Tsalani bwino

    Twalumba

  9. Dzina lanu ndi ndani?

    Iwe ulishani?

  10. Dzina langa ndi John

    Ndefwaya John

  11. Muli bwanji?

    Uli bwanji?

  12. Ndine wokondwa kukumana nanu

    Nashitasha kukumona

Useful phrases for travellers

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

  1. Muli ndi Chingerezi?

    Ulyashi ulukanda mu Chingereza? (muli ndi chingerezi)

  2. Sikuyankhula Hindi bwino

    Ndefwaya ukulanda Hindi bwino (sikuyankhula hindi bwino)

  3. Sindikumva

    Ndefwaya kumfwa (sindikumva)

  4. Chonde yankhulani pang'ono

    Nimwandi ulukanda buteko (chonde yankhulani pang'ono)

  5. Mungandiyankhulepo?

    Ningaloleleko? (mungandiyankhulepo)

  6. Kuti ndi kuti?

    Ili kuti ikalamba? (kuti ndi kuti)

  7. Ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu?

    Ningalileka shani ku city center? (ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu)

  8. Pita kumanzere

    Fumya kumwendo (pita kumanzere)

  9. Pita kumanja

    Fumya kumwendo (pita kumanja)

  10. Pita mwendo

    Enda pamo (pita mwendo)

  11. Ndi ndalama zingati?

    Kuli shani ifyabukata? (ndi ndalama zingati)

  12. Tiketi imodzi, chonde

    Ticket imwe, nomba (tiketi imodzi, chonde)

  13. Ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano?

    Kuli lishilu ukulya? (ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano)

  14. Ndakhalapo

    Ndi lost (ndakhalapo)

  15. Ndingatengere kuti kuti SIM card?

    Ili kuti nindeke SIM card? (ndingatengere kuti kuti sim card)

Everyday conversation

Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.

  1. Iye

    Eya

  2. Ayi

    Awe

  3. Pang'ono

    Panga

  4. Ndikugwirizana

    Ndi bwino

  5. Sindikugwirizana

    Ndi bwino na

  6. Ichi chimaoneka bwino

    Ilyo lishibukile

  7. Muli ndi chiyani choti mumaganize?

    Uchite shani?

  8. Mungandithandize?

    Ushakufwa?

  9. Ndikufuna thandizo

    Ndefwaya ifyakufwa

  10. Dikirani pang’ono

    Leka ifi

  11. Ndikupemphera

    Nshakufwa

  12. Palibe vutoli

    Takwaba shani

  13. Zikomo

    Nshakufwa bwino

  14. Tsiku lobadwa labwino

    Nashala bwino mu mwaka

  15. Pita bwino pa ulendo

    Ube na mulimo wabwino

Directions and getting around

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

  1. Kukakhala kuti chiteshi cha njinga?

    Uli kuti ikalamba ya chitima?

  2. Kukakhala kuti malo otchinga basi?

    Uli kuti icikalo ca bisi?

  3. Ndi chigawo chiti?

    Ninshi ni platform iyi?

  4. Nanga nthawi itangopita?

    Ninshi ikalamba?

  5. Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera?

    Ninshi iyi ni njira shabwino?

  6. Iyi ndi pafupi apa

    Ili pamo na pano.

  7. Iyi ndi kutali ndi apa

    Ili lishilu na pano.

  8. Mungandionetse pa chithunzi?

    Ushibukishe pa mape?

  9. Chimitsa apa, chonde

    Leka pano, chonde.

  10. Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji?

    Kuli shani?

Shopping and dining

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

  1. Iyi ikuguliradi chingwe?

    Ili shani? (Ili shani?)

  2. Iyi ndi mtengo wopusa

    Ili lya kuli (Ili lya kuli)

  3. Muli ndi chinthu chochepa mtengo?

    Muli na chimo chibulu? (Muli na chimo chibulu?)

  4. Ningathe kulipira ndi khadi?

    Ningakupanga na kadi? (Ningakupanga na kadi?)

  5. Ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri

    Ningakonda itabo lyakupanga abali babili (Ningakonda itabo lyakupanga abali babili)

  6. Chikalata, chonde

    Icilanga, tapali (Icilanga, tapali)

  7. Ntchito ikuphatikizidwa?

    Ubufyashi bwakupanga? (Ubufyashi bwakupanga?)

  8. Ndine wopanda nyama

    Ndi mvegetarian (Ndi mvegetarian)

  9. Chonde, osati chakudya chothira

    Nshikala na fya spicy, tapali (Nshikala na fya spicy, tapali)

  10. Iyi ndi yokoma

    Ili lya bwino (Ili lya bwino)

  11. Ningathe kupeza menyu?

    Ningakonda ifyalo? (Ningakonda ifyalo?)

  12. Galasi ya madzi, chonde

    Icupa ca mvula, tapali (Icupa ca mvula, tapali)

Emergencies and health

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

  1. Fufuzani polisi

    Tuma abashitisha

  2. Fufuzani ambulansi

    Tuma ambulance

  3. Ndikufuna dokotala

    Nshikala na doctor

  4. Ndikuwona bwino

    Nshikala bwino

  5. Ndine wosowa ma groundnuts

    Ndi na allergy ku nsalu

  6. Kuti ndi chiyani chachikondi?

    Ili kuti hospital ya pafupi?

  7. Kuli kuuma apa

    Kuli ububi pano

  8. Ndasowa pasipoti yangu

    Nashitile passport yangu

  9. Mungafufuze hotelo yanga?

    Nawe tuma hotel yangu?

  10. Thandizani!

    Chikondi!

Work and business

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

  1. Ndalumba kukumana nanu

    Nashamukeni (na-sha-mu-ke-ni)

  2. Tiyeni tiwoneke pa nthawi

    Tulefwaya ukusanga (tu-le-fwa-ya u-ku-sanga)

  3. Nthawi yiti ikukugwirirani ntchito?

    Ninshi ifikala bwino kwa iwe? (nin-shi i-fi-ka-la bwi-no kwa i-we)

  4. Ndidzatumiza lipoti lero

    Nizakutuma ifishina lelo (ni-za-ku-tu-ma i-fi-shi-na le-lo)

  5. Tingathe kulankhula mawa?

    Twafwaya ukusambilila lero? (twa-fwa-ya u-ku-sam-bi-li-la le-ro)

  6. Chonde onani fayilo yolembedwa

    Nomba fwebo file iliko (nom-ba fwe-bo fi-le i-li-ko)

  7. Zikomo chifukwa cha nthawi yanu

    Natotela pa nshita (na-to-te-la pa nshi-ta)

  8. Ndikuyembekezera kugwira ntchito nanu

    Nifwaya ukushanda na iwe (ni-fwa-ya u-ku-shan-da na i-we)

  9. Mungathe kuthetsa mfundo imeneyi?

    Wakosa ukufumya icikomo? (wa-ko-sa u-ku-fum-ya i-ci-ko-mo)

  10. Nditenge nthawi ndikubwerereni

    Nizakukumbusha (ni-za-ku-kum-bu-sha)

  11. Nthawi yomaliza ndi Lachisanu

    Ishina lyakupela ni Lwapula (i-shi-na lya-ku-pe-la ni Lwa-pu-la)

Time, days and numbers

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

  1. Ndi chiyani nthawi?

    Ninshi ilya shani? (Ninshi ilya shani?)

  2. Ndi saa tatu

    Kuli nomba itatu. (Kuli nomba itatu.)

  3. Lero

    Lelo. (Lelo.)

  4. Maŵa

    Mwaume. (Mwaume.)

  5. Kale

    Kale. (Kale.)

  6. Lolemba

    Lwandi. (Lwandi.)

  7. Lachiwiri

    Lwakabamba. (Lwakabamba.)

  8. Lachitatu

    Lwapili. (Lwapili.)

  9. Mmodzi

    Imwe. (Imwe.)

  10. Awiri

    Ibili. (Ibili.)

  11. Atatu

    Itatu. (Itatu.)

  12. Kumi

    Icumi. (Icumi.)

  13. Zana

    Cikumi. (Cikumi.)

  14. Pachikhalidwe

    Pafya. (Pafya.)

  15. Zambiri

    Ilyo. (Ilyo.)

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