Translate now

Common Tumbuka to Kikongo phrases

100 practical Tumbuka to Kikongo phrases for travel, study, work, and daily conversation.

← Back to Tumbuka to Kikongo Translator

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

Tip: when a Kikongo 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 Kikongo 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.

  1. Moni

    Mbote

  2. Zikomo

    Mele

  3. Muli bwanji

    Mokolo mayele

  4. Muli bwanji

    Mokolo ya ntango

  5. Muli bwanji

    Mokolo ya mambu

  6. Usiku wabwino

    Mokolo ya mpembe

  7. Tiwonana

    Tala mosi

  8. Tsalani bwino

    Tata

  9. Dzina lanu ndi ndani?

    Nki yina nzo?

  10. Dzina langa ndi John

    Nzo yami ke John

  11. Muli bwanji?

    Oko wanga?

  12. Ndine wokondwa kukumana nanu

    Nki ya mosi na yo

Useful phrases for travellers

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

  1. Muli ndi Chingerezi?

    Oyo o zola kutu English? (muli ndi chingerezi)

  2. Sikuyankhula Hindi bwino

    Nkeni kutu Hindi na mosi. (sikuyankhula hindi bwino)

  3. Sindikumva

    Nkeni kanga. (sindikumva)

  4. Chonde yankhulani pang'ono

    Mokolo, zola kutu na mosi. (chonde yankhulani pang'ono)

  5. Mungandiyankhulepo?

    Oyo o zola kutu na mosi? (mungandiyankhulepo)

  6. Kuti ndi kuti?

    Kutu wapi banzela? (kuti ndi kuti)

  7. Ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu?

    Nki zola kuenda na kati ya mbanza? (ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu)

  8. Pita kumanzere

    Tanda na luma. (pita kumanzere)

  9. Pita kumanja

    Tanda na mambu. (pita kumanja)

  10. Pita mwendo

    Enda na mosi. (pita mwendo)

  11. Ndi ndalama zingati?

    Nki mbongo ya ndako? (ndi ndalama zingati)

  12. Tiketi imodzi, chonde

    Ticket mosi, mokolo. (tiketi imodzi, chonde)

  13. Ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano?

    Nki feti na wapi? (ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano)

  14. Ndakhalapo

    Nkeni zola. (ndakhalapo)

  15. Ndingatengere kuti kuti SIM card?

    Kutu wapi nki zola ku tanga SIM? (ndingatengere kuti kuti sim card)

Everyday conversation

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

  1. Iye

    Ewe

  2. Ayi

    Te

  3. Pang'ono

    Kasi

  4. Ndikugwirizana

    Nkiadi

  5. Sindikugwirizana

    Nkiadi te

  6. Ichi chimaoneka bwino

    Oyo ke nkiadi malamu

  7. Muli ndi chiyani choti mumaganize?

    Nkiadi nini?

  8. Mungandithandize?

    Okanza kudi nki?

  9. Ndikufuna thandizo

    Nkiadi kudi nki

  10. Dikirani pang’ono

    Lela na nki

  11. Ndikupemphera

    Nkiadi na nki

  12. Palibe vutoli

    Te na nki

  13. Zikomo

    Tata na nki

  14. Tsiku lobadwa labwino

    Mokolo ya mbote

  15. Pita bwino pa ulendo

    Tala na nzala ya malamu

Directions and getting around

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

  1. Kukakhala kuti chiteshi cha njinga?

    Wana wanga na tanga ya nzo? (Wana wanga na tanga ya nzo?)

  2. Kukakhala kuti malo otchinga basi?

    Wana wanga na bus? (Wana wanga na bus?)

  3. Ndi chigawo chiti?

    Nki platform yai? (Nki platform yai?)

  4. Nanga nthawi itangopita?

    Soki nki ntangu yina yenda? (Soki nki ntangu yina yenda?)

  5. Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera?

    Yai ke nzila ya nki? (Yai ke nzila ya nki?)

  6. Iyi ndi pafupi apa

    Eza na nsi ya nzo (Eza na nsi ya nzo)

  7. Iyi ndi kutali ndi apa

    Eza na mosi ya nzo (Eza na mosi ya nzo)

  8. Mungandionetse pa chithunzi?

    Okanisa ngai na mape? (Okanisa ngai na mape?)

  9. Chimitsa apa, chonde

    Tanga wana, s'il vous plaît (Tanga wana, s'il vous plaît)

  10. Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji?

    Nki ntangu yina yenda? (Nki ntangu yina yenda?)

Shopping and dining

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

  1. Iyi ikuguliradi chingwe?

    Nki yina kudi? (nki yina kudi)

  2. Iyi ndi mtengo wopusa

    Yina kele na nsi (yina kele na nsi)

  3. Muli ndi chinthu chochepa mtengo?

    Ona kima ki nsi? (ona kima ki nsi)

  4. Ningathe kulipira ndi khadi?

    Ncanza kudi na kadi? (ncanza kudi na kadi)

  5. Ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri

    Nkena na mesa ya mosi na mosi (nkena na mesa ya mosi na mosi)

  6. Chikalata, chonde

    Kadi, ndakisa (kadi, ndakisa)

  7. Ntchito ikuphatikizidwa?

    Kasi nsi ya mpasi ke na? (kasi nsi ya mpasi ke na)

  8. Ndine wopanda nyama

    Ndi muvegetari (ndi muvegetari)

  9. Chonde, osati chakudya chothira

    Kaka mfu, ndakisa (kaka mfu, ndakisa)

  10. Iyi ndi yokoma

    Yina kele na nsi (yina kele na nsi)

  11. Ningathe kupeza menyu?

    Ncanza na menu? (ncanza na menu)

  12. Galasi ya madzi, chonde

    Ndi kadi ya mvula, ndakisa (ndi kadi ya mvula, ndakisa)

Emergencies and health

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

  1. Fufuzani polisi

    Landa boma

  2. Fufuzani ambulansi

    Landa ambulance

  3. Ndikufuna dokotala

    Nkeni mosi

  4. Ndikuwona bwino

    Nkeni na mbisi

  5. Ndine wosowa ma groundnuts

    Nkeni na nsembu ya nsembu

  6. Kuti ndi chiyani chachikondi?

    Wana hospital ya mbote?

  7. Kuli kuuma apa

    Eka na nki

  8. Ndasowa pasipoti yangu

    Nkeni tanga pasipoti na ngai

  9. Mungafufuze hotelo yanga?

    Olanda hotel na ngai?

  10. Thandizani!

    Tala!

Work and business

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

  1. Ndalumba kukumana nanu

    Nzo ya kima (Nzò ya kima)

  2. Tiyeni tiwoneke pa nthawi

    Tukala na mbandu (Tukàla na mbàndu)

  3. Nthawi yiti ikukugwirirani ntchito?

    Nki nsi ya ntangu? (Nki nsi ya ntángu?)

  4. Ndidzatumiza lipoti lero

    Ndi zola ku sendela nsi ya lufulu (Ndi zòla ku sendèla nsi ya lufùlu)

  5. Tingathe kulankhula mawa?

    Tukala na kanda se (Tukàla na kànda sè?)

  6. Chonde onani fayilo yolembedwa

    Tula nsi ya file ya kima (Tùla nsi ya file ya kima)

  7. Zikomo chifukwa cha nthawi yanu

    Mosi na nsi ya ntangu (Mòsi na nsi ya ntángu)

  8. Ndikuyembekezera kugwira ntchito nanu

    Ndi zola ku zola na yo (Ndi zòla ku zòla na yò)

  9. Mungathe kuthetsa mfundo imeneyi?

    Nki o zola ku zola nki? (Nki o zòla ku zòla nki?)

  10. Nditenge nthawi ndikubwerereni

    Ndi zola ku yindula na yo (Ndi zòla ku yìndula na yò)

  11. Nthawi yomaliza ndi Lachisanu

    Nsi ya kima yina nsi ya mposo (Nsi ya kima yìna nsi ya mposò)

Time, days and numbers

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

  1. Ndi chiyani nthawi?

    Nkiadi ki zole? (Nkiadi ki zole?)

  2. Ndi saa tatu

    Kikuma kinsatu (Kikuma kinsatu)

  3. Lero

    Lelo

  4. Maŵa

    Kuna

  5. Kale

    Kima

  6. Lolemba

    Mokolo wa mbandu

  7. Lachiwiri

    Mokolo wa mosi

  8. Lachitatu

    Mokolo wa ntete

  9. Mmodzi

    Mosi

  10. Awiri

    Mbale

  11. Atatu

    Mitatu

  12. Kumi

    Kumi

  13. Zana

    Kimo na nkama

  14. Pachikhalidwe

    Nseke

  15. Zambiri

    Nzo

Need to translate your own text? Use the free Tumbuka to Kikongo translator.

Open translator