Looking for practical Tumbuka to Dinka phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Tumbuka phrase first, then the Dinka translation (Dinka) — 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 Dinka.
Tip: read the Dinka 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 Dinka 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
Yaaŋ(yaaŋ)
Zikomo
Ajak(ajak)
Muli bwanji
Bäny äyö(bäny äyö)
Muli bwanji
Bäny kɛ̈l(bäny kɛ̈l)
Muli bwanji
Bäny nyin(bäny nyin)
Usiku wabwino
Bäny kɛ̈l(bäny kɛ̈l)
Tiwonana
Yin kɛ̈l(yin kɛ̈l)
Tsalani bwino
Yin kɛ̈l(yin kɛ̈l)
Dzina lanu ndi ndani?
Nin kɛ̈l yïn?(nin kɛ̈l yïn?)
Dzina langa ndi John
Nin yïn John(nin yïn John)
Muli bwanji?
Kɛ̈l yïn?(kɛ̈l yïn?)
Ndine wokondwa kukumana nanu
Bäny kɛ̈l yïn(bäny kɛ̈l yïn)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Muli ndi Chingerezi?
Nyaac ke wic ku English?(muli ndi chingerezi)
Sikuyankhula Hindi bwino
Aye nyin wic Hindi kɔc.(sikuyankhula hindi bwino)
Sindikumva
Aye nyin kɔc.(sindikumva)
Chonde yankhulani pang'ono
Yin kɔc ke nyin.(chonde yankhulani pang'ono)
Mungandiyankhulepo?
Yin wic ke nyin?(mungandiyankhulepo)
Kuti ndi kuti?
Cɔl kɛ thon?(kuti ndi kuti)
Ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu?
Nyaac kɛ jɛt ke cɛl?(ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu)
Pita kumanzere
Yin tɛŋ ke thok.(pita kumanzere)
Pita kumanja
Yin tɛŋ ke kɛl.(pita kumanja)
Pita mwendo
Yin tɛŋ ke cɛl.(pita mwendo)
Ndi ndalama zingati?
Cɔl kɛ thon?(ndi ndalama zingati)
Tiketi imodzi, chonde
Kɛl thok, yin.(tiketi imodzi, chonde)
Ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano?
Cɔl kɛ jɔk ke cɛl?(ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano)
Ndakhalapo
Aye nyin thok.(ndakhalapo)
Ndingatengere kuti kuti SIM card?
Cɔl kɛ jɛt ke SIM?(ndingatengere kuti kuti sim card)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Iye
Aye
Ayi
Naa
Pang'ono
Cok
Ndikugwirizana
Aye nyin
Sindikugwirizana
Naa nyin
Ichi chimaoneka bwino
Käth aŋöör
Muli ndi chiyani choti mumaganize?
Käŋ aŋöör?
Mungandithandize?
Nyaŋ aŋöör?
Ndikufuna thandizo
Aye bɛ̈t aŋöör
Dikirani pang’ono
Käŋ aŋöör
Ndikupemphera
Aye kɛ̈l
Palibe vutoli
Naa kɛ̈l
Zikomo
Bɛ̈t aŋöör
Tsiku lobadwa labwino
Bɛ̈t aŋöör kuɔr
Pita bwino pa ulendo
Käth aŋöör kuɔr
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Kukakhala kuti chiteshi cha njinga?
Cïïr yïnë kël?(Cii r yin e kel)
Kukakhala kuti malo otchinga basi?
Cïïr yïnë kël jëŋ?(Cii r yin e kel jeng)
Ndi chigawo chiti?
Këc yïnë kël?(Kec yin e kel)
Nanga nthawi itangopita?
Këc kël yïnë?(Kec kel yin e)
Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera?
Këc yïnë kël wël?(Kec yin e kel wel)
Iyi ndi pafupi apa
Këc yïnë kël jëŋ?(Kec yin e kel jeng)
Iyi ndi kutali ndi apa
Këc yïnë kël wël?(Kec yin e kel wel)
Mungandionetse pa chithunzi?
Aŋë yïnë kël kɔc?(Ang e yin e kel koc)
Chimitsa apa, chonde
Nye kël jëŋ, jëŋ?(Nye kel jeng jeng)
Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji?
Këc yïnë kël jëŋ?(Kec yin e kel jeng)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Iyi ikuguliradi chingwe?
Kuoth ke nyin?(kuoth ke nyin)
Iyi ndi mtengo wopusa
Nyaak ke thok kɛ̈r(nyaak ke thok kɛ̈r)
Muli ndi chinthu chochepa mtengo?
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r?(aye ke nyin kɛ̈r)
Ningathe kulipira ndi khadi?
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɔc?(aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɔc)
Ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri
Aye ke nyin a tɛ́bɛl kɛ̈r duɔŋ(aye ke nyin a tɛ́bɛl kɛ̈r duɔŋ)
Chikalata, chonde
Kɛ́l, please(kɛ́l, please)
Ntchito ikuphatikizidwa?
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɛ́l?(aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɛ́l)
Ndine wopanda nyama
Aye ke nyin a kɔc(aye ke nyin a kɔc)
Chonde, osati chakudya chothira
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r aŋɔr, please(aye ke nyin kɛ̈r aŋɔr, please)
Iyi ndi yokoma
Nyaak ke aŋɔr(nyaak ke aŋɔr)
Ningathe kupeza menyu?
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r a menu?(aye ke nyin kɛ̈r a menu)
Galasi ya madzi, chonde
Aye ke nyin a kɔl aŋɔr, please(aye ke nyin a kɔl aŋɔr, please)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Fufuzani polisi
Bɛɛr kɔl pɔlɪs
Fufuzani ambulansi
Bɛɛr kɔl ambʊlɛns
Ndikufuna dokotala
A pɛɛr dɔkta
Ndikuwona bwino
A jɛt kɔc
Ndine wosowa ma groundnuts
A kɛl kɔc bɛɛr pɛɛnʊt
Kuti ndi chiyani chachikondi?
Cɛɛr kɛ bɛɛr hɔspɪtɔl?
Kuli kuuma apa
Kɔc kɛ tɛŋ
Ndasowa pasipoti yangu
A lɔst pɑspɔt
Mungafufuze hotelo yanga?
Kɛl bɛɛr kɔl hɔtɛl a?
Thandizani!
Yɛɛr!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Ndalumba kukumana nanu
Yin ke nyin(Yin ke nyin)
Tiyeni tiwoneke pa nthawi
Nyaak ke nyin ke jieng(Nyaak ke nyin ke jieng)
Nthawi yiti ikukugwirirani ntchito?
Cieng nyin ke jieng?(Cieng nyin ke jieng?)
Ndidzatumiza lipoti lero
Aye ke cïe report kɛ̈t(Aye ke cïe report kɛ̈t)
Tingathe kulankhula mawa?
Nyaak ke jieng kɛ̈t?(Nyaak ke jieng kɛ̈t?)
Chonde onani fayilo yolembedwa
Nyaak ke cïe file kɛ̈t(Nyaak ke cïe file kɛ̈t)
Zikomo chifukwa cha nthawi yanu
Ayiir ke nyin kɛ̈t(Ayiir ke nyin kɛ̈t)
Ndikuyembekezera kugwira ntchito nanu
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈t jieng(Aye ke nyin kɛ̈t jieng)
Mungathe kuthetsa mfundo imeneyi?
Nyaak ke cïe kɛ̈t?(Nyaak ke cïe kɛ̈t?)
Nditenge nthawi ndikubwerereni
Nyaak ke cïe nyin kɛ̈t(Nyaak ke cïe nyin kɛ̈t)
Nthawi yomaliza ndi Lachisanu
Cieng kɛ̈t ke Friday(Cieng kɛ̈t ke Friday)
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.