Looking for practical Tumbuka to Kanuri phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Tumbuka phrase first, then the Kanuri translation (Kanuri) — 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 Kanuri.
Tip: when a Kanuri 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 Kanuri 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
Sannu
Zikomo
Nagode
Muli bwanji
Ina kwana
Muli bwanji
Ina yamma
Muli bwanji
Ina dare
Usiku wabwino
Sai da safe
Tiwonana
Zan ganka
Tsalani bwino
Sai anjima
Dzina lanu ndi ndani?
Menene sunanka?
Dzina langa ndi John
Sunana John
Muli bwanji?
Lafiya lau?
Ndine wokondwa kukumana nanu
Na ji dadin haduwa da kai
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Muli ndi Chingerezi?
Kuna magana da Turanci?(muli ndi chingerezi)
Sikuyankhula Hindi bwino
Ba na magana da Hindi sosai.(sikuyankhula hindi bwino)
Sindikumva
Ba na fahimta.(sindikumva)
Chonde yankhulani pang'ono
Don Allah, ku yi magana a hankali.(chonde yankhulani pang'ono)
Mungandiyankhulepo?
Za ku iya faɗin hakan sake?(mungandiyankhulepo)
Kuti ndi kuti?
Ina wanka?(kuti ndi kuti)
Ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu?
Ta yaya zan isa tsakiyar birni?(ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu)
Pita kumanzere
Juya hagu.(pita kumanzere)
Pita kumanja
Juya dama.(pita kumanja)
Pita mwendo
Tafiya kai tsaye.(pita mwendo)
Ndi ndalama zingati?
Nawa ne farashin?(ndi ndalama zingati)
Tiketi imodzi, chonde
Tiket ɗaya, don Allah.(tiketi imodzi, chonde)
Ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano?
Shin yana da nisa daga nan?(ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano)
Ndakhalapo
Na ɓace.(ndakhalapo)
Ndingatengere kuti kuti SIM card?
Ina zan iya sayen kati na SIM?(ndingatengere kuti kuti sim card)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Iye
Eey(ee-y)
Ayi
A'a(ah-ah)
Pang'ono
Wata(wah-tah)
Ndikugwirizana
Na amu(nah ah-moo)
Sindikugwirizana
Na a'a amu(nah ah-ah ah-moo)
Ichi chimaoneka bwino
Iya na(ee-yah nah)
Muli ndi chiyani choti mumaganize?
Kaya ka yi tunani?(kah-yah kah yee too-nah-nee)
Mungandithandize?
Za ka iya taimaka min?(zah kah ee-yah tie-mah-kah meen)
Ndikufuna thandizo
Na bukaci taimako(nah boo-kah-chee tie-mah-koh)
Dikirani pang’ono
Duba dan lokaci(doo-bah dahn loh-kah-chee)
Ndikupemphera
Na yi hakuri(nah yee hah-koo-ree)
Palibe vutoli
Babu matsala(bah-boo maht-sah-lah)
Zikomo
Taya murna(tah-yah moor-nah)
Tsiku lobadwa labwino
Barka da haihuwa(bar-kah dah hai-hoo-wah)
Pita bwino pa ulendo
Ka yi tafiya lafiya(kah yee tah-fee-yah lah-fee-yah)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Kukakhala kuti chiteshi cha njinga?
Nye boko na gari?
Kukakhala kuti malo otchinga basi?
Nye boko na bas?
Ndi chigawo chiti?
Wane boko na?
Nanga nthawi itangopita?
Wane lokaci ya tafi?
Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera?
Shin wannan hanya ce?
Iyi ndi pafupi apa
Yana kusa da nan
Iyi ndi kutali ndi apa
Yana nesa da nan
Mungandionetse pa chithunzi?
Za ka iya nuna mini a taswirar?
Chimitsa apa, chonde
Tsaida nan, don Allah
Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji?
Yaya tsawon lokaci?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Iyi ikuguliradi chingwe?
Nayi na kudi?(Nayi na kudi?)
Iyi ndi mtengo wopusa
Wannan ya yi tsada sosai.(iyi ndi mtengo wopusa)
Muli ndi chinthu chochepa mtengo?
Shin kuna da wani abu mai rahusa?(muli ndi chinthu chochepa mtengo)
Ningathe kulipira ndi khadi?
Zan iya biyan kudi da kati?(ningathe kulipira ndi khadi)
Ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri
Ina so tebur don biyu.(ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri)
Chikalata, chonde
Lissafi, don Allah.(chikalata, chonde)
Ntchito ikuphatikizidwa?
Shin sabis ya haɗa?(ntchito ikuphatikizidwa)
Ndine wopanda nyama
Ni mai ganyayyaki ne.(ndine wopanda nyama)
Chonde, osati chakudya chothira
Ba tare da zaki ba, don Allah.(chonde, osati chakudya chothira)
Iyi ndi yokoma
Wannan yana da dadi.(iyi ndi yokoma)
Ningathe kupeza menyu?
Zan iya samun menu?(ningathe kupeza menyu)
Galasi ya madzi, chonde
Kofin ruwa, don Allah.(galasi ya madzi, chonde)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Fufuzani polisi
Dawari janga(Dawari janga)
Fufuzani ambulansi
Dawari ambulan(Dawari ambulan)
Ndikufuna dokotala
Ni na doctor(Ni na doctor)
Ndikuwona bwino
Ni na jaga(Ni na jaga)
Ndine wosowa ma groundnuts
Ni na haji goro(Ni na haji goro)
Kuti ndi chiyani chachikondi?
Ina asibiti na kusa?(Ina asibiti na kusa?)
Kuli kuuma apa
Yana ciwo a nan(Yana ciwo a nan)
Ndasowa pasipoti yangu
Ni na rasa passport na(Ni na rasa passport na)
Mungafufuze hotelo yanga?
Za ka iya dawari otel na?(Za ka iya dawari otel na?)
Thandizani!
Taimako!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Ndalumba kukumana nanu
Nde gaishe(nde gaishe)
Tiyeni tiwoneke pa nthawi
Mu gaishe taro(mu gaishe taro)
Nthawi yiti ikukugwirirani ntchito?
Wai gaishe lokaci?(wai gaishe lokaci)
Ndidzatumiza lipoti lero
Zan tura rahoto yau(zan tura rahoto yau)
Tingathe kulankhula mawa?
Zamu iya magana gobe?(zamu iya magana gobe)
Chonde onani fayilo yolembedwa
Don Allah ka sami fayil din da aka makala(don Allah ka sami fayil din da aka makala)
Zikomo chifukwa cha nthawi yanu
Na gode da lokacinka(na gode da lokacinka)
Ndikuyembekezera kugwira ntchito nanu
Ina fatan aiki tare da kai(ina fatan aiki tare da kai)
Mungathe kuthetsa mfundo imeneyi?
Za ka iya fayyace wannan batu?(za ka iya fayyace wannan batu)