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Common Tumbuka to Chichewa phrases

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

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

Tip: read the Chichewa 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 Chichewa 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

    Moni

  2. Zikomo

    Zikomo

  3. Muli bwanji

    M'mawa wabwino

  4. Muli bwanji

    Masana abwino

  5. Muli bwanji

    Madziwabwino

  6. Usiku wabwino

    Usiku wabwino

  7. Tiwonana

    Tiwonana

  8. Tsalani bwino

    Tsalani bwino

  9. Dzina lanu ndi ndani?

    Dzina lako ndi ndani?

  10. Dzina langa ndi John

    Dzina langa ndi John

  11. Muli bwanji?

    Muli bwanji?

  12. Ndine wokondwa kukumana nanu

    Ndikufuna kukumana nanu

Useful phrases for travellers

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

  1. Muli ndi Chingerezi?

    Mukulankhula Chingerezi? (Mukulankhula Chingerezi?)

  2. Sikuyankhula Hindi bwino

    Sindikulankhula Hindi bwino (Sindikulankhula Hindi bwino)

  3. Sindikumva

    Sindikumva (Sindikumva)

  4. Chonde yankhulani pang'ono

    Chonde lukani pang'onopang'ono (Chonde lukani pang'onopang'ono)

  5. Mungandiyankhulepo?

    Mungathe kutero kwachiwiri? (Mungathe kutero kwachiwiri?)

  6. Kuti ndi kuti?

    Kuti ndi kuti chimbudzi? (Kuti ndi kuti chimbudzi?)

  7. Ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu?

    Ndingapite bwanji ku mseu wa mzinda? (Ndingapite bwanji ku mseu wa mzinda?)

  8. Pita kumanzere

    Pangani kumanzere (Pangani kumanzere)

  9. Pita kumanja

    Pangani kumanzere (Pangani kumanzere)

  10. Pita mwendo

    Pitani mwachindunji (Pitani mwachindunji)

  11. Ndi ndalama zingati?

    Ndi ndalama zingati? (Ndi ndalama zingati?)

  12. Tiketi imodzi, chonde

    Tiket imodzi, chonde (Tiket imodzi, chonde)

  13. Ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano?

    Ndi kutali bwanji kuchokera pano? (Ndi kutali bwanji kuchokera pano?)

  14. Ndakhalapo

    Ndakhalapo (Ndakhalapo)

  15. Ndingatengere kuti kuti SIM card?

    Ndingatengere kuti SIM card? (Ndingatengere kuti SIM card?)

Everyday conversation

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

  1. Iye

    Inde

  2. Ayi

    Ayi

  3. Pang'ono

    Mwina

  4. Ndikugwirizana

    Ndikugwirizana

  5. Sindikugwirizana

    Sindikugwirizana

  6. Ichi chimaoneka bwino

    Zimakoma

  7. Muli ndi chiyani choti mumaganize?

    Mumaganiza chiyani?

  8. Mungandithandize?

    Mungandithandize?

  9. Ndikufuna thandizo

    Ndikufuna thandizo

  10. Dikirani pang’ono

    Dikirani pang'ono

  11. Ndikupemphera

    Ndikupemphera

  12. Palibe vutoli

    Palibe vuto

  13. Zikomo

    Zikomo

  14. Tsiku lobadwa labwino

    Tsiku lobadwa labwino

  15. Pita bwino pa ulendo

    Pita bwino

Directions and getting around

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

  1. Kukakhala kuti chiteshi cha njinga?

    Kuti ndi kuti sitima?

  2. Kukakhala kuti malo otchinga basi?

    Kuti ndi kuti malo otsetsereka?

  3. Ndi chigawo chiti?

    Ndi chigawo chiti?

  4. Nanga nthawi itangopita?

    Ndi nthawi iti imatenga?

  5. Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera?

    Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera?

  6. Iyi ndi pafupi apa

    Ili pafupi pano

  7. Iyi ndi kutali ndi apa

    Ili kutali pano

  8. Mungandionetse pa chithunzi?

    Kodi mungandionetse pa mapu?

  9. Chimitsa apa, chonde

    Khalani pano, chonde

  10. Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji?

    Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji?

Shopping and dining

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

  1. Iyi ikuguliradi chingwe?

    Zimatenga ndalama zingati? (iyi ikuguliradi chingwe)

  2. Iyi ndi mtengo wopusa

    Izi ndizokwera mtengo kwambiri. (iyi ndi mtengo wopusa)

  3. Muli ndi chinthu chochepa mtengo?

    Kodi muli ndi chinthu chotsika mtengo? (muli ndi chinthu chochepa mtengo)

  4. Ningathe kulipira ndi khadi?

    Ndingathe kulipira ndi khadi? (ningathe kulipira ndi khadi)

  5. Ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri

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

  6. Chikalata, chonde

    Chikonthe, chonde. (chikalata, chonde)

  7. Ntchito ikuphatikizidwa?

    Kodi ntchito yakhala mu mtengo? (ntchito ikuphatikizidwa)

  8. Ndine wopanda nyama

    Ndine mvegetarian. (ndine wopanda nyama)

  9. Chonde, osati chakudya chothira

    Osati chakudya chotentha, chonde. (chonde, osati chakudya chothira)

  10. Iyi ndi yokoma

    Izi ndizochuluka. (iyi ndi yokoma)

  11. Ningathe kupeza menyu?

    Ndingathe kupeza menyu? (ningathe kupeza menyu)

  12. Galasi ya madzi, chonde

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

Emergencies and health

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

  1. Fufuzani polisi

    Fufuzani apolisi

  2. Fufuzani ambulansi

    Fufuzani ambulansi

  3. Ndikufuna dokotala

    Ndikufuna dokotala

  4. Ndikuwona bwino

    Ndikumva kutopa

  5. Ndine wosowa ma groundnuts

    Ndine wosokoneza ndi ma nuts a phala

  6. Kuti ndi chiyani chachikondi?

    Kuti ndi kuti chibadwe chachikondi?

  7. Kuli kuuma apa

    Kukonda apa

  8. Ndasowa pasipoti yangu

    Ndapeza pasipoti yanga

  9. Mungafufuze hotelo yanga?

    Mungafufuze hotelo yanga?

  10. Thandizani!

    Thandizani!

Work and business

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

  1. Ndalumba kukumana nanu

    Ndikuyamikira kukumana nanu

  2. Tiyeni tiwoneke pa nthawi

    Tiyeni tikhazikitse meeting

  3. Nthawi yiti ikukugwirirani ntchito?

    Ndi nthawi yanji yomwe ikugwira ntchito kwa inu?

  4. Ndidzatumiza lipoti lero

    Ndzatumiza lipoti lero

  5. Tingathe kulankhula mawa?

    Tingathe kulankhula mawa?

  6. Chonde onani fayilo yolembedwa

    Chonde pezani fayilo yowonjezedwa

  7. Zikomo chifukwa cha nthawi yanu

    Zikomo chifukwa cha nthawi yanu

  8. Ndikuyembekezera kugwira ntchito nanu

    Ndikuyembekezera kugwira ntchito nanu

  9. Mungathe kuthetsa mfundo imeneyi?

    Mungathe kuthetsa mfundo imeneyo?

  10. Nditenge nthawi ndikubwerereni

    Nditheke kubwerera kwa inu

  11. Nthawi yomaliza ndi Lachisanu

    Nthawi yotsiriza ndi Lachisanu

Time, days and numbers

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

  1. Ndi chiyani nthawi?

    Ndi nthawi yanji? (Ndi chiyani nthawi?)

  2. Ndi saa tatu

    Ndi nthawi itatu.

  3. Lero

    Lero

  4. Maŵa

    Mawa

  5. Kale

    Ch yesterday

  6. Lolemba

    Lolemba

  7. Lachiwiri

    Lachiwiri

  8. Lachitatu

    Lachitatu

  9. Mmodzi

    Chimodzi

  10. Awiri

    Chiwiri

  11. Atatu

    Chitatu

  12. Kumi

    Kumi

  13. Zana

    Zana

  14. Pachikhalidwe

    Pafupifupi

  15. Zambiri

    Zambiri

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