Tumbuka to Kalaallisut Phrases

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

Tip: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Kalaallisut-speaking trip in a few weeks.

Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Tumbuka to Kalaallisut 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

Aluu
Zikomo

Qujanaq
Muli bwanji

Ullut qupp. imaarlutit
Muli bwanji

Ullut qupp. imaarlutit
Muli bwanji

Ullut qupp. imaarlutit
Usiku wabwino

Ullut qupp. imaarlutit
Tiwonana

Tassunga tulluusimavunga
Tsalani bwino

Tassunga
Dzina lanu ndi ndani?

Ilinniaritsi qanoq atit?
Dzina langa ndi John

Atikuuvoq John
Muli bwanji?

Qanoq ippit?
Ndine wokondwa kukumana nanu

Tassunga uanga angusinnaavunga

Useful phrases for travellers

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

Muli ndi Chingerezi?

Ilinniaritsi qallunaatuut? (iliniaritsi qallanaat?)
Sikuyankhula Hindi bwino

Hindi-pit maani allaat (hindi-pit maani allaat)
Sindikumva

Naluara (naluara)
Chonde yankhulani pang'ono

Tassuma siullermik oqalukkiartorneq (tassuma siullermik oqalukkiartorneq)
Mungandiyankhulepo?

Taanna ilisarit? (taanna ilisarit?)
Kuti ndi kuti?

Qarsoq kikkulluunniit? (qarsoq kikkulluunniit?)
Ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu?

Kangerlussuaq-kut kangerlussuup tungaanut qanoq ingerlaqqissinnaavunga? (kangerlussuaq-kut kangerlussuup tungaanut)
Pita kumanzere

Silaannaq (silaannaq)
Pita kumanja

Timmisartoq (timmisartoq)
Pita mwendo

Ilaqutariit (ilaqutariit)
Ndi ndalama zingati?

Kissavik qanoq? (kissavik qanoq?)
Tiketi imodzi, chonde

Ataaseq tikit, qaaqqi (ataaseq tikit, qaaqqi)
Ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano?

Tassunga qangali? (tassunga qangali?)
Ndakhalapo

Naluara (naluara)
Ndingatengere kuti kuti SIM card?

SIM-kortip qanoq pissarsiarisinnaavara? (sim-kortip qanoq pissarsiarisinnaavara?)

Everyday conversation

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

Iye

Aap (aap)
Ayi

Ila (ila)
Pang'ono

Piginnaasat (piginnaasat)
Ndikugwirizana

Sukumi (sukumi)
Sindikugwirizana

Sukumiinnaq (sukumiinnaq)
Ichi chimaoneka bwino

Tassuma pingaaruteqarpa (tassuma)
Muli ndi chiyani choti mumaganize?

Qanoq isumaqarpit? (qanoq)
Mungandithandize?

Ilannguarit? (ilannguarit)
Ndikufuna thandizo

Ilannguarit (ilannguarit)
Dikirani pang’ono

Tassunga tigua (tassunga)
Ndikupemphera

Uanga asanninneq (uanga)
Palibe vutoli

Ila, ilisarit (ila)
Zikomo

Takkulaarit (takkulaarit)
Tsiku lobadwa labwino

Tassunga ukioq (tassunga)
Pita bwino pa ulendo

Suli akunnittaraluaruit (suli)

Directions and getting around

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

Kukakhala kuti chiteshi cha njinga?

Qasigiaqanngilaq?
Kukakhala kuti malo otchinga basi?

Busstoppi kikkulluunniit?
Ndi chigawo chiti?

Qasigiaq kikkulluunniit?
Nanga nthawi itangopita?

Kissakkut ingerlaqqippoq?
Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera?

Taanna ilutigalugu?
Iyi ndi pafupi apa

Tassunga niaqorpoq
Iyi ndi kutali ndi apa

Tassunga niaqorpoq
Mungandionetse pa chithunzi?

Kujallermi takusinnaavakkit?
Chimitsa apa, chonde

Ilinniaritsi, taava?
Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji?

Kissakkut sivisussuseq?

Shopping and dining

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

Iyi ikuguliradi chingwe?

Qanoq akissagaa? (qanoq akissagaa)
Iyi ndi mtengo wopusa

Taanna qaffasissuuvoq (taanna qaffasissuuvoq)
Muli ndi chinthu chochepa mtengo?

Ilaat akitsunnguamik pissavutit? (ilaats akitsunnguamik pissavutit)
Ningathe kulipira ndi khadi?

Kardimik akilissaguit? (kardimik akilissaguit)
Ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri

Manniit marluk toqqarfigissavakka (manniit marluk toqqarfigissavakka)
Chikalata, chonde

Akileraarut, please (akileraarut, please)
Ntchito ikuphatikizidwa?

Obsit ilanngullugit? (obsit ilanngullugit)
Ndine wopanda nyama

Vegetarian-iuvunga (vegetarian-iuvunga)
Chonde, osati chakudya chothira

Sukkatsoq atorsinnaanngilara, please (sukkatsoq atorsinnaanngilara)
Iyi ndi yokoma

Tassami neriugassaavoq (tassami neriugassaavoq)
Ningathe kupeza menyu?

Menu-qaanga? (menu-qaanga)
Galasi ya madzi, chonde

Sukkatsoq imaq, please (sukkatsoq imaq)

Emergencies and health

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

Fufuzani polisi

Suliat allattariaq (suliat allattariaq)
Fufuzani ambulansi

Ambulance allattariaq (ambulance allattariaq)
Ndikufuna dokotala

Doktorimik pisariaqartiga (doktorimik pisariaqartiga)
Ndikuwona bwino

Sukorsimavunga (sukorsimavunga)
Ndine wosowa ma groundnuts

Pikkorissumik allaatiga (pikkorissumik allaatiga)
Kuti ndi chiyani chachikondi?

Sumiippit najugassarsiorfiit? (sumiippit najugassarsiorfiit)
Kuli kuuma apa

Tamassa nikinga (tamassa nikinga)
Ndasowa pasipoti yangu

Paspoortimik nikerpunga (paspoortimik nikerpunga)
Mungafufuze hotelo yanga?

Hotelimi allattariaq? (hotelimi allattariaq)
Thandizani!

Naluara!

Work and business

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

Ndalumba kukumana nanu

Tassunga nuannaarpunga (tassunga nuannaartoq)
Tiyeni tiwoneke pa nthawi

Tassunga ataatsimiinnerup pilersaarusiorneqarnera (tassunga ataatsimiinnerup pilersaarusiorneqarnera)
Nthawi yiti ikukugwirirani ntchito?

Qanoq akunnera iluaqutaasinnaava? (qanoq akunnit)
Ndidzatumiza lipoti lero

Oqaatsit ullumikkut nassiuppa (oqaatsit ullumikkut)
Tingathe kulankhula mawa?

Ullup akunnerani oqaloqateqarsinnaavunga? (ullup akunnerani)
Chonde onani fayilo yolembedwa

Tassunga allagartaq ilanngullugu takusinnaavat (tassunga allagartaq)
Zikomo chifukwa cha nthawi yanu

Qujanaq piffissaqit (qujanaq piffissaqit)
Ndikuyembekezera kugwira ntchito nanu

Tassunga suleqatigiinnissaq qilanaara (tassunga suleqatigiinnissaq)
Mungathe kuthetsa mfundo imeneyi?

Oqaatiga qanoq paasitinniarpat? (oqaatiga paasitinniarpat)
Nditenge nthawi ndikubwerereni

Tassunga uagut qinerpa (tassunga qinerpa)
Nthawi yomaliza ndi Lachisanu

Piffissaq naammassineq ulloq sisamanngorneq (piffissaq naammassineq)

Time, days and numbers

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

Ndi chiyani nthawi?

Kissarit? (kisa-rit)
Ndi saa tatu

Tamatumani pingasunngorpoq (tamatumani pingasunngorpoq)
Lero

Ulloq (ulloq)
Maŵa

Ullumi (ullumi)
Kale

Ullumi qaammat (ullumi qaammat)
Lolemba

Ataasinngorneq (ataasinngorneq)
Lachiwiri

Marlunngorneq (marlunngorneq)
Lachitatu

Pingasunngorneq (pingasunngorneq)
Mmodzi

Ataaseq (ataaseq)
Awiri

Marluk (marluk)
Atatu

Pingasunnguaq (pingasunnguaq)
Kumi

Qullik (qullik)
Zana

Mioo (mioo)
Pachikhalidwe

Kitsik (kitsik)
Zambiri

Kujallik (kuja-llik)

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Common Tumbuka to Kalaallisut phrases