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Common Tumbuka to Kinyarwanda phrases

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

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

Tip: read the Kinyarwanda 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 Kinyarwanda 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

    Muraho

  2. Zikomo

    Urakoze

  3. Muli bwanji

    Bwakire bwiza

  4. Muli bwanji

    Nimugoroba mwiza

  5. Muli bwanji

    Mwaramutse mwiza

  6. Usiku wabwino

    Ijoro ryiza

  7. Tiwonana

    Tuzabonana nyuma

  8. Tsalani bwino

    Murabeho

  9. Dzina lanu ndi ndani?

    Witwa nde?

  10. Dzina langa ndi John

    Nitwa John

  11. Muli bwanji?

    Umeze ute?

  12. Ndine wokondwa kukumana nanu

    Nishimiye kukumenya

Useful phrases for travellers

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

  1. Muli ndi Chingerezi?

    Uravuga Icyongereza? (muli ndi chingerezi)

  2. Sikuyankhula Hindi bwino

    Sinavuga Hindi neza (sikuyankhula hindi bwino)

  3. Sindikumva

    Sinumva (sindikumva)

  4. Chonde yankhulani pang'ono

    Nyabuneka vuga buhoro (chonde yankhulani pang'ono)

  5. Mungandiyankhulepo?

    Wabivuga ukundi? (mungandiyankhulepo)

  6. Kuti ndi kuti?

    Aho ubwiherero buri he? (kuti ndi kuti)

  7. Ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu?

    Nagenda nte ku mugi? (ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu)

  8. Pita kumanzere

    Hindukira ibumoso (pita kumanzere)

  9. Pita kumanja

    Hindukira iburyo (pita kumanja)

  10. Pita mwendo

    Genda imbere (pita mwendo)

  11. Ndi ndalama zingati?

    Igiciro ni ikihe? (ndi ndalama zingati)

  12. Tiketi imodzi, chonde

    Itike imwe, nyabuneka (tiketi imodzi, chonde)

  13. Ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano?

    Ni kure hano? (ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano)

  14. Ndakhalapo

    Ndi mu kaga (ndakhalapo)

  15. Ndingatengere kuti kuti SIM card?

    Nshobora kugura SIM card he? (ndingatengere kuti kuti sim card)

Everyday conversation

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

  1. Iye

    Yego

  2. Ayi

    Oya

  3. Pang'ono

    Birashoboka

  4. Ndikugwirizana

    Ndemeranya

  5. Sindikugwirizana

    Sinemeranya

  6. Ichi chimaoneka bwino

    Birumvikana neza

  7. Muli ndi chiyani choti mumaganize?

    Ubitekerezaho iki?

  8. Mungandithandize?

    Urashobora kumfasha?

  9. Ndikufuna thandizo

    Nkeneye ubufasha

  10. Dikirani pang’ono

    Tegereza gato

  11. Ndikupemphera

    Ndakwinginze

  12. Palibe vutoli

    Nta kibazo

  13. Zikomo

    Ibyishimo

  14. Tsiku lobadwa labwino

    Isabukuru nziza

  15. Pita bwino pa ulendo

    Ugire urugendo rwiza

Directions and getting around

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

  1. Kukakhala kuti chiteshi cha njinga?

    Aho ikigo cy'igariyamoshi kiri? (Aho ikigo cy'igariyamoshi kiri?)

  2. Kukakhala kuti malo otchinga basi?

    Aho ahagarara bisi? (Aho ahagarara bisi?)

  3. Ndi chigawo chiti?

    Ni iyihe platform? (Ni iyihe platform?)

  4. Nanga nthawi itangopita?

    Igihe izava ryari? (Igihe izava ryari?)

  5. Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera?

    Ese iyi niyo nzira nziza? (Ese iyi niyo nzira nziza?)

  6. Iyi ndi pafupi apa

    Iri hafi hano (Iri hafi hano)

  7. Iyi ndi kutali ndi apa

    Iri kure hano (Iri kure hano)

  8. Mungandionetse pa chithunzi?

    Ushobora kumfasha ku ikarita? (Ushobora kumfasha ku ikarita?)

  9. Chimitsa apa, chonde

    Hagarara hano, nyabuneka (Hagarara hano, nyabuneka)

  10. Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji?

    Bifata igihe kingana iki? (Bifata igihe kingana iki?)

Shopping and dining

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

  1. Iyi ikuguliradi chingwe?

    Iyi igura angahe? (iyi ikuguliradi chingwe)

  2. Iyi ndi mtengo wopusa

    Ibyo ni ibihenze cyane. (iyi ndi mtengo wopusa)

  3. Muli ndi chinthu chochepa mtengo?

    Ufite ikintu cyoroheje? (muli ndi chinthu chochepa mtengo)

  4. Ningathe kulipira ndi khadi?

    Nshobora kwishyura n'ikarita? (ningathe kulipira ndi khadi)

  5. Ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri

    Nashaka ameza y'abantu babiri. (ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri)

  6. Chikalata, chonde

    Ndagusabye, umwenda. (chikalata, chonde)

  7. Ntchito ikuphatikizidwa?

    Serivisi irimo? (ntchito ikuphatikizidwa)

  8. Ndine wopanda nyama

    Ndi umunyvegetari. (ndine wopanda nyama)

  9. Chonde, osati chakudya chothira

    Ntimukanyuze ibiryo birimo umunyu. (chonde, osati chakudya chothira)

  10. Iyi ndi yokoma

    Ibi biraryoshye. (iyi ndi yokoma)

  11. Ningathe kupeza menyu?

    Nshobora kubona urutonde rw'ibiryo? (ningathe kupeza menyu)

  12. Galasi ya madzi, chonde

    Ndagusabye, igikombe cy'amazi. (galasi ya madzi, chonde)

Emergencies and health

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

  1. Fufuzani polisi

    Hamagara polisi

  2. Fufuzani ambulansi

    Hamagara ambulance

  3. Ndikufuna dokotala

    Nkeneye umuganga

  4. Ndikuwona bwino

    Ndumva ndwaye

  5. Ndine wosowa ma groundnuts

    Mfite allergie ku mbuto z'ihene

  6. Kuti ndi chiyani chachikondi?

    Ihagararanye ry'ubuvuzi rihe?

  7. Kuli kuuma apa

    Birambabaza hano

  8. Ndasowa pasipoti yangu

    Nabuze pasiporo yanjye

  9. Mungafufuze hotelo yanga?

    Urashobora guhamagara hoteli yanjye?

  10. Thandizani!

    Fasha!

Work and business

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

  1. Ndalumba kukumana nanu

    Nishimiye guhura nawe

  2. Tiyeni tiwoneke pa nthawi

    Reka dushyireho inama

  3. Nthawi yiti ikukugwirirani ntchito?

    Ni ryari byakugendekera?

  4. Ndidzatumiza lipoti lero

    Nzohereza raporo uyu munsi

  5. Tingathe kulankhula mawa?

    Dushobora kuvugana ejo?

  6. Chonde onani fayilo yolembedwa

    Nyamuneka reba dosiye iri hano

  7. Zikomo chifukwa cha nthawi yanu

    Urakoze ku gihe cyawe

  8. Ndikuyembekezera kugwira ntchito nanu

    Ntegereje gukorana nawe

  9. Mungathe kuthetsa mfundo imeneyi?

    Wansobanurira icyo kibazo?

  10. Nditenge nthawi ndikubwerereni

    Nzakugarukira

  11. Nthawi yomaliza ndi Lachisanu

    Igihe ntarengwa ni ku wa gatanu

Time, days and numbers

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

  1. Ndi chiyani nthawi?

    Ni saa ingahe? (ni saa ingahe)

  2. Ndi saa tatu

    Ni saa tatu (ni saa tatu)

  3. Lero

    Uyu munsi (uyu munsi)

  4. Maŵa

    Ejo hazaza (ejo hazaza)

  5. Kale

    Ejo (ejo)

  6. Lolemba

    Kuwa Mbere (kuwa mbere)

  7. Lachiwiri

    Kuwa Kabiri (kuwa kabiri)

  8. Lachitatu

    Kuwa Gatatu (kuwa gatatu)

  9. Mmodzi

    Kimwe (kimwe)

  10. Awiri

    Kabiri (kabiri)

  11. Atatu

    Gatatu (gatatu)

  12. Kumi

    Cumi (cumi)

  13. Zana

    Ijana (ijana)

  14. Pachikhalidwe

    Igice (igice)

  15. Zambiri

    Byinshi (byinshi)

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