Looking for practical Tumbuka to Chamorro phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Tumbuka phrase first, then the Chamorro translation (Chamorro) — 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 Chamorro.
Tip: when a Chamorro phrase looks unfamiliar, compare it with the Tumbuka 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 Tumbuka to Chamorro 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
Håfa adai
Zikomo
Si Yu'os Ma'åse'
Muli bwanji
Buenas Dias
Muli bwanji
Buenas Tarde
Muli bwanji
Buenas Noches
Usiku wabwino
Buenas Noches
Tiwonana
Hasta luego
Tsalani bwino
Adios
Dzina lanu ndi ndani?
Håfa na'ån-mu?
Dzina langa ndi John
Guahu si John
Muli bwanji?
Como estas?
Ndine wokondwa kukumana nanu
Maliu hao
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Muli ndi Chingerezi?
Hu guaiya i Ingles?(Hoo gwaiya ee Ingles?)
Sikuyankhula Hindi bwino
Ti hu guaiya i Hindi put klan(Ti hoo gwaiya ee Hindi put klan)
Sindikumva
Ti hu maolek(Ti hoo maolek)
Chonde yankhulani pang'ono
Sigu, hu guaiya put maolek(Sigu, hoo gwaiya put maolek)
Mungandiyankhulepo?
Taimanu un maolek i esta?(Taimanu un maolek ee esta?)
Kuti ndi kuti?
Onde i banyo?(Onde ee banyo?)
Ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu?
Kao siña un maolek para i sentro?(Kao siña un maolek para ee sentro?)
Pita kumanzere
Taimanu un fanhuyong(Taimanu un fanhuyong)
Pita kumanja
Taimanu un fanhuyong todu(Taimanu un fanhuyong todu)
Pita mwendo
Fanhuyong put maolek(Fanhuyong put maolek)
Ndi ndalama zingati?
Håfa i presu?(Hafa ee presu?)
Tiketi imodzi, chonde
Un tiket, si yu'us(Un tiket, si yuus)
Ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano?
Kao ti i tano' put este?(Kao ti ee tano' put este?)
Ndakhalapo
Hu ma'pos(Hoo mapos)
Ndingatengere kuti kuti SIM card?
Onde siña un prupe i SIM card?(Onde siña un prupe ee SIM card?)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Iye
Åhe(ahe)
Ayi
Ahe(ahe)
Pang'ono
Sao(sao)
Ndikugwirizana
Mungnga' yo'(mungna yo)
Sindikugwirizana
Ti mungnga' yo'(ti mungna yo)
Ichi chimaoneka bwino
Sao na maolek(sao na maolek)
Muli ndi chiyani choti mumaganize?
Håfa siña un chule'?(hafasina un chule)
Mungandithandize?
Siña un ayuda yu'?(sina un ayuda yu)
Ndikufuna thandizo
Guaiya yu' ayuda(guaiya yu ayuda)
Dikirani pang’ono
Tåya' un tiempo(taya un tiempo)
Ndikupemphera
Dispensa(dispensa)
Palibe vutoli
Ti un problema(ti un problema)
Zikomo
Felicidades(felicidades)
Tsiku lobadwa labwino
Feliz cumpleaños(feliz cumpleaños)
Pita bwino pa ulendo
Målek na biyahe(malek na biyahe)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Kukakhala kuti chiteshi cha njinga?
Kao asu i estasion tren?(Kao asu i estasion tren?)
Kukakhala kuti malo otchinga basi?
Kao asu i parada bus?(Kao asu i parada bus?)
Ndi chigawo chiti?
Kao na platforma?(Kao na platforma?)
Nanga nthawi itangopita?
Kao tiempo na ma li'e?(Kao tiempo na ma li'e?)
Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera?
Kao esta i hinoch?(Kao esta i hinoch?)
Iyi ndi pafupi apa
Guaha na' anai(Guaha na' anai)
Iyi ndi kutali ndi apa
Guaha na' malago(Guaha na' malago)
Mungandionetse pa chithunzi?
Kao puede u fanhuyong yu' gi i mapa?(Kao puede u fanhuyong yu' gi i mapa?)
Chimitsa apa, chonde
Tenda i manhuyong, por favor(Tenda i manhuyong, por favor)
Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji?
Håfa tiempo na ma chule'?(Håfa tiempo na ma chule'?)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Iyi ikuguliradi chingwe?
Håfa na'ån i prisu?(Hafa na'an i priso?)
Iyi ndi mtengo wopusa
Malu' i prisu(Malu i priso)
Muli ndi chinthu chochepa mtengo?
Tåya' hao ni' otro na bagay na mas barato?(Taya hao ni otro na bagay na mas barato?)
Ningathe kulipira ndi khadi?
Hu na'ån na magi' gi card?(Hu na'an na magi' gi card?)
Ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri
Guståmi un tabla para dos(Gustami un tabla para dos)
Chikalata, chonde
I bill, por favor(I bill, por favor)
Ntchito ikuphatikizidwa?
Inkludi i serbisyo?(Inkludi i serbisyo?)
Ndine wopanda nyama
Yu' u vegetarian(Yu' u vegetarian)
Chonde, osati chakudya chothira
Ahe' i ma'gas na makan, por favor(Ahe i magas na makan, por favor)
Iyi ndi yokoma
Guaha i mas smak(Guaha i mas smak)
Ningathe kupeza menyu?
Hu na'ån i menu?(Hu na'an i menu?)
Galasi ya madzi, chonde
Un baso na tåsi, por favor(Un baso na tasi, por favor)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Fufuzani polisi
Tåyi i police
Fufuzani ambulansi
Tåyi un ambulance
Ndikufuna dokotala
Hu necesita un dokto
Ndikuwona bwino
Hu fanhasso
Ndine wosowa ma groundnuts
Hu tiene alergia gi manåmko
Kuti ndi chiyani chachikondi?
Kao donde i hospital mas nær
Kuli kuuma apa
Må'olek i na'ån
Ndasowa pasipoti yangu
Hu ma'pos i passport
Mungafufuze hotelo yanga?
Kao tåyi i hotel-ku?
Thandizani!
Tulong!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Ndalumba kukumana nanu
Måolek siha hao(maw-lek see-ha how)
Tiyeni tiwoneke pa nthawi
Måta i tiempo para un mitin
Nthawi yiti ikukugwirirani ntchito?
Kao hu na'ån tiempo para hao?
Ndidzatumiza lipoti lero
Hu sendi i report i hoy
Tingathe kulankhula mawa?
Kao siña ta'lo i mañana?
Chonde onani fayilo yolembedwa
Sigu i file na in attach
Zikomo chifukwa cha nthawi yanu
Si yu'os ma'åse para i tiempo
Ndikuyembekezera kugwira ntchito nanu
Hu na'fanmacho' gi un tiningo'
Mungathe kuthetsa mfundo imeneyi?
Kao siña un klari i punto?
Nditenge nthawi ndikubwerereni
Måta hu chule' para un
Nthawi yomaliza ndi Lachisanu
I deadline siha i Biernes
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.