Looking for practical Tumbuka to Fulani phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Tumbuka phrase first, then the Fulani translation (Fulani) — 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 Fulani.
Tip: read the Fulani 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 Fulani 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
A jaraama
Zikomo
A jaraama
Muli bwanji
Nde woɗi
Muli bwanji
Nde njahi
Muli bwanji
Nde saare
Usiku wabwino
Nde daɗi
Tiwonana
A waawi
Tsalani bwino
Njaara
Dzina lanu ndi ndani?
Hol ko innde maa?
Dzina langa ndi John
Innde am ko John
Muli bwanji?
No mbadi?
Ndine wokondwa kukumana nanu
Mi yidi no feere ma
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Muli ndi Chingerezi?
A yiɗi wondi English?(muli ndi chingerezi)
Sikuyankhula Hindi bwino
Mi waawi Hindi ɗum jooɗi.(sikuyankhula hindi bwino)
Sindikumva
Mi waawi ɗum.(sindikumva)
Chonde yankhulani pang'ono
A jaabi e jooɗi.(chonde yankhulani pang'ono)
Mungandiyankhulepo?
A waawi ɓeydude ɗum?(mungandiyankhulepo)
Kuti ndi kuti?
Hol ko toilet?(kuti ndi kuti)
Ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu?
Nde miɗo jogii to ɗiɗo?(ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu)
Pita kumanzere
Sokki leydi.(pita kumanzere)
Pita kumanja
Sokki toɓɓere.(pita kumanja)
Pita mwendo
Yahi e jooɗi.(pita mwendo)
Ndi ndalama zingati?
Hol ko fee?(ndi ndalama zingati)
Tiketi imodzi, chonde
Nde ticket, a jaabi.(tiketi imodzi, chonde)
Ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano?
Ko ɓuri to?(ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano)
Ndakhalapo
Mi ɗaɓɓiti.(ndakhalapo)
Ndingatengere kuti kuti SIM card?
Hol ko mi waawi jokkude SIM?(ndingatengere kuti kuti sim card)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Iye
Eey(ey)
Ayi
Alaa(alaa)
Pang'ono
Wonaa(wonaa)
Ndikugwirizana
Mi yidi(mi yidi)
Sindikugwirizana
Mi yidi walaa(mi yidi walaa)
Ichi chimaoneka bwino
O wadi na'i(o wadi na'i)
Muli ndi chiyani choti mumaganize?
Hol no ndiyam?(hol no ndiyam)
Mungandithandize?
A waawi am warta?(a waawi am warta)
Ndikufuna thandizo
Mi yidi warta(mi yidi warta)
Dikirani pang’ono
Ndee na'i(ndee na'i)
Ndikupemphera
Mi yidi honto(mi yidi honto)
Palibe vutoli
Alaa honto(alaa honto)
Zikomo
A jaaraama(a jaaraama)
Tsiku lobadwa labwino
Barka da haihuwa(barka da haihuwa)
Pita bwino pa ulendo
Ndaari no feere(ndaari no feere)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Kukakhala kuti chiteshi cha njinga?
Hol ko jango?(hol ko jango)
Kukakhala kuti malo otchinga basi?
Hol ko wuro?(hol ko wuro)
Ndi chigawo chiti?
Hol ko platform?(hol ko platform)
Nanga nthawi itangopita?
Hol no feere?(hol no feere)
Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera?
Ko woni ndiyam?(ko woni ndiyam)
Iyi ndi pafupi apa
O wadi nder(o wadi nder)
Iyi ndi kutali ndi apa
O wadi fowru(o wadi fowru)
Mungandionetse pa chithunzi?
A waawi mi yahi nder map?(a waawi mi yahi nder map)
Chimitsa apa, chonde
Hakkil nder, mi yidi(hakkil nder, mi yidi)
Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji?
Hol no feere?(hol no feere)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Iyi ikuguliradi chingwe?
Nde wadi ko feere?(iyi ikuguliradi chingwe)
Iyi ndi mtengo wopusa
O wadi ko feere.(iyi ndi mtengo wopusa)
Muli ndi chinthu chochepa mtengo?
Aɗa jogii ko feere?(muli ndi chinthu chochepa mtengo)
Ningathe kulipira ndi khadi?
Miɗo waawi waɗde kaadi?(ningathe kulipira ndi khadi)
Ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri
Miɗo yiɗi teɓɓere ɗiɗi.(ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri)