Looking for practical Tumbuka to Iban phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Tumbuka phrase first, then the Iban translation (Iban) — 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 Iban.
Tip: read the Iban 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 Iban 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
Selamat
Zikomo
Terima kasih
Muli bwanji
Selamat pagi
Muli bwanji
Selamat petang
Muli bwanji
Selamat malam
Usiku wabwino
Selamat malam
Tiwonana
Jumpa lagi
Tsalani bwino
Selamat tinggal
Dzina lanu ndi ndani?
Siapa nama kamu?
Dzina langa ndi John
Nama saya John
Muli bwanji?
Apa khabar?
Ndine wokondwa kukumana nanu
Senang berjumpa dengan kamu
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Muli ndi Chingerezi?
Adakah kamu boleh bercakap bahasa Inggeris?(muli ndi chingerezi)
Sikuyankhula Hindi bwino
Aku tidak pandai bercakap Hindi.(sikuyankhula hindi bwino)
Sindikumva
Aku tidak faham.(sindikumva)
Chonde yankhulani pang'ono
Sila bercakap perlahan.(chonde yankhulani pang'ono)
Mungandiyankhulepo?
Bolehkah kamu cakap lagi?(mungandiyankhulepo)
Kuti ndi kuti?
Di mana tandas?(kuti ndi kuti)
Ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu?
Macam mana aku nak pergi ke pusat bandar?(ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu)
Pita kumanzere
Pusing kiri.(pita kumanzere)
Pita kumanja
Pusing kanan.(pita kumanja)
Pita mwendo
Pergi terus.(pita mwendo)
Ndi ndalama zingati?
Berapa tambangnya?(ndi ndalama zingati)
Tiketi imodzi, chonde
Satu tiket, sila.(tiketi imodzi, chonde)
Ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano?
Adakah ia jauh dari sini?(ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano)
Ndakhalapo
Aku tersesat.(ndakhalapo)
Ndingatengere kuti kuti SIM card?
Di mana aku boleh beli kad SIM?(ndingatengere kuti kuti sim card)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Iye
Ya
Ayi
Tidak
Pang'ono
Mungkin
Ndikugwirizana
Aku setuju
Sindikugwirizana
Aku tidak setuju
Ichi chimaoneka bwino
Itu kedengaran baik
Muli ndi chiyani choti mumaganize?
Apa pendapatmu?
Mungandithandize?
Boleh kah kamu bantu aku?
Ndikufuna thandizo
Aku perlukan bantuan
Dikirani pang’ono
Tunggu sebentar
Ndikupemphera
Aku minta maaf
Palibe vutoli
Tiada masalah
Zikomo
Tahniah
Tsiku lobadwa labwino
Selamat hari jadi
Pita bwino pa ulendo
Semoga perjalananmu selamat
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Kukakhala kuti chiteshi cha njinga?
Di mana stesen kereta api?(Di mana stesen kereta api?)
Kukakhala kuti malo otchinga basi?
Di mana perhentian bas?(Di mana perhentian bas?)
Ndi chigawo chiti?
Platform mana?(Platform mana?)
Nanga nthawi itangopita?
Pukul berapa ia bertolak?(Pukul berapa ia bertolak?)
Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera?
Adakah ini jalan yang betul?(Adakah ini jalan yang betul?)
Iyi ndi pafupi apa
Ia dekat sini(Ia dekat sini)
Iyi ndi kutali ndi apa
Ia jauh dari sini(Ia jauh dari sini)
Mungandionetse pa chithunzi?
Bolehkah anda tunjukkan saya di peta?(Bolehkah anda tunjukkan saya di peta?)
Chimitsa apa, chonde
Berhenti di sini, sila(Berhenti di sini, sila)
Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji?
Berapa lama ia mengambil masa?(Berapa lama ia mengambil masa?)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Iyi ikuguliradi chingwe?
Berapa harga ini?(iyi ikuguliradi chingwe)
Iyi ndi mtengo wopusa
Itu terlalu mahal(iyi ndi mtengo wopusa)
Muli ndi chinthu chochepa mtengo?
Ada tak barang yang lebih murah?(muli ndi chinthu chochepa mtengo)
Ningathe kulipira ndi khadi?
Bolehkah saya bayar dengan kad?(ningathe kulipira ndi khadi)
Ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri
Saya mahu meja untuk dua(ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri)
Chikalata, chonde
Bil, sila(chikalata, chonde)
Ntchito ikuphatikizidwa?
Adakah servis termasuk?(ntchito ikuphatikizidwa)
Ndine wopanda nyama
Saya seorang vegetarian(ndine wopanda nyama)
Chonde, osati chakudya chothira
Tiada makanan pedas, sila(chonde, osati chakudya chothira)