Looking for practical Tumbuka to Igbo phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Tumbuka phrase first, then the Igbo translation (Igbo) — 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 Igbo.
Tip: when a Igbo 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 Igbo 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
Ndewo(Ndewo)
Zikomo
Daalụ(Daalụ)
Muli bwanji
Ụtụtụ ọma(Ụtụtụ ọma)
Muli bwanji
Ehihie ọma(Ehihie ọma)
Muli bwanji
Mgbede ọma(Mgbede ọma)
Usiku wabwino
Ka chi fo(Ka chi fo)
Tiwonana
Hụ gị n'anya(Hụ gị n'anya)
Tsalani bwino
Ka ọ dị(Ka ọ dị)
Dzina lanu ndi ndani?
Kedu aha gị?(Kedu aha gị?)
Dzina langa ndi John
Aha m bụ John(Aha m bụ John)
Muli bwanji?
Kedu?(Kedu?)
Ndine wokondwa kukumana nanu
Ọ dị m ụtọ ịmata gị(Ọ dị m ụtọ ịmata gị)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Muli ndi Chingerezi?
Ị na-asụ Bekee?(muli ndi chingerezi)
Sikuyankhula Hindi bwino
Anaghị m asụ Hindi nke ọma(sikuyankhula hindi bwino)
Sindikumva
Anaghị m aghọta(sindikumva)
Chonde yankhulani pang'ono
Biko sụpụta nwayọọ(chonde yankhulani pang'ono)
Mungandiyankhulepo?
Ị nwere ike ikwu ya ọzọ?(mungandiyankhulepo)
Kuti ndi kuti?
Ebee ka ụlọ mposi dị?(kuti ndi kuti)
Ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu?
Kedu ka m ga-esi ruo etiti obodo?(ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu)
Pita kumanzere
Tụọ aka ekpe(pita kumanzere)
Pita kumanja
Tụọ aka nri(pita kumanja)
Pita mwendo
Gaa n'ihu(pita mwendo)
Ndi ndalama zingati?
Elo ka ụgwọ njem?(ndi ndalama zingati)
Tiketi imodzi, chonde
Otu tiketi, biko(tiketi imodzi, chonde)
Ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano?
Ọ dị anya site n'ebe a?(ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano)
Ndakhalapo
Echere m na m furu efu(ndakhalapo)
Ndingatengere kuti kuti SIM card?
Ebee ka m ga-azụta kaadị SIM?(ndingatengere kuti kuti sim card)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Iye
Ee
Ayi
Mba
Pang'ono
O nwere ike
Ndikugwirizana
A na m akwado
Sindikugwirizana
A naghị m akwado
Ichi chimaoneka bwino
O yiri ka ọ dị mma
Muli ndi chiyani choti mumaganize?
Kedu ihe ị chere?
Mungandithandize?
Ị nwere ike inyere m?
Ndikufuna thandizo
Achọrọ m enyemaka
Dikirani pang’ono
Chere nkeji
Ndikupemphera
Echegbula m
Palibe vutoli
Enweghị nsogbu
Zikomo
Nnọọ
Tsiku lobadwa labwino
Ezi ụbọchị ọmụmụ
Pita bwino pa ulendo
Nwee njem dị mma
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Kukakhala kuti chiteshi cha njinga?
Ebee ka ọdụ ụgbọ oloko dị?(Ebee ka odu ugo oloko di?)
Kukakhala kuti malo otchinga basi?
Ebee ka ọdụ bọs dị?(Ebee ka odu bos di?)
Ndi chigawo chiti?
Kedu ebe a na-apụ?(Kedu ebe a na-apu?)
Nanga nthawi itangopita?
Kedu oge ọ na-apụ?(Kedu oge o na-apu?)
Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera?
Ọ bụ ụzọ ziri ezi?(O bu uzo ziri ezi?)
Iyi ndi pafupi apa
Ọ dị nso ebe a(O di nso ebe a)
Iyi ndi kutali ndi apa
Ọ dị anya site na ebe a(O di anya site na ebe a)
Mungandionetse pa chithunzi?
Ị nwere ike igosi m na maapụ?(I nwere ike igosi m na mapu?)
Chimitsa apa, chonde
Kwụsị ebe a, biko(Kwụsị ebe a, biko)
Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji?
Olee ogologo oge ọ na-ewe?(Olee ogologo oge o na-ewe?)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Iyi ikuguliradi chingwe?
Ego ole ka nke a na-eri?(Ego ole ka nke a na-eri?)
Iyi ndi mtengo wopusa
Nke a dị oke ọnụ.(iyi ndi mtengo wopusa)
Muli ndi chinthu chochepa mtengo?
Ị nwere ihe dị cheaper?(muli ndi chinthu chochepa mtengo)
Ningathe kulipira ndi khadi?
Enwere m ike ịkwụ ụgwọ site na kaadị?(ningathe kulipira ndi khadi)
Ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri
Achọrọ m tebụl maka mmadụ abụọ.(ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri)
Chikalata, chonde
Biko, nye m ụgwọ.(chikalata, chonde)
Ntchito ikuphatikizidwa?
Ọ bụ ọrụ e tinyere?(ntchito ikuphatikizidwa)
Ndine wopanda nyama
Abụ m onye na-eri nri akwụkwọ.(ndine wopanda nyama)