Looking for practical Tumbuka to Maltese phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Tumbuka phrase first, then the Maltese translation (Maltese) — 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 Maltese.
Tip: pick five Maltese phrases from the greetings section and use them in a real message today. Small daily practice beats cramming before a trip.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Tumbuka to Maltese 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
Ħello
Zikomo
Grazzi
Muli bwanji
Bongu
Muli bwanji
Bongu filgħaxija
Muli bwanji
Il-lejl it-tajba
Usiku wabwino
Il-lejl it-tajba
Tiwonana
Naraw x'imkien
Tsalani bwino
Addio
Dzina lanu ndi ndani?
X'jismek?
Dzina langa ndi John
Jien jisimni John
Muli bwanji?
Kif inti?
Ndine wokondwa kukumana nanu
Nice li niltaqgħu
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Muli ndi Chingerezi?
Titkellem bl-Ingliż?(muli ndi chingerezi)
Sikuyankhula Hindi bwino
Ma nitkellimx sew il-Hindi.(sikuyankhula hindi bwino)
Sindikumva
Ma nifhimx.(sindikumva)
Chonde yankhulani pang'ono
Jekk jogħġbok, itkellem bil-mod.(chonde yankhulani pang'ono)
Mungandiyankhulepo?
Tista' tgħid dan mill-ġdid?(mungandiyankhulepo)
Kuti ndi kuti?
Fejn hi l-banju?(kuti ndi kuti)
Ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu?
Kif nista' naslu ċ-ċentru tal-belt?(ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu)
Pita kumanzere
Iċċaqlaq lemin.(pita kumanzere)
Pita kumanja
Iċċaqlaq xellug.(pita kumanja)
Pita mwendo
Mur dritt.(pita mwendo)
Ndi ndalama zingati?
Kemm hi l-prezz?(ndi ndalama zingati)
Tiketi imodzi, chonde
Biljetta waħda, jekk jogħġbok.(tiketi imodzi, chonde)
Ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano?
Huwa 'l bogħod minn hawn?(ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano)
Ndakhalapo
Jien mitluf.(ndakhalapo)
Ndingatengere kuti kuti SIM card?
Fejn nista' nixtri SIM card?(ndingatengere kuti kuti sim card)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Iye
Iva
Ayi
Le
Pang'ono
Forse
Ndikugwirizana
Naqbel
Sindikugwirizana
Ma naqblux
Ichi chimaoneka bwino
Dak jismu tajjeb
Muli ndi chiyani choti mumaganize?
X'jidhrulek?
Mungandithandize?
Tista' tgħinni?
Ndikufuna thandizo
Għandi bżonn għajnuna
Dikirani pang’ono
Staqsi ftit
Ndikupemphera
Jien skużani
Palibe vutoli
L-ebda problema
Zikomo
Prosit
Tsiku lobadwa labwino
Happy birthday
Pita bwino pa ulendo
Ikollok vjaġġ sikur
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Kukakhala kuti chiteshi cha njinga?
Fejn hi l-istazzjon tal-ferrovija?
Kukakhala kuti malo otchinga basi?
Fejn hi l-ħanut tal-linja?
Ndi chigawo chiti?
Liema pjattaforma hi?
Nanga nthawi itangopita?
X'ħin titlaq?
Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera?
Hija din it-triq it-tajba?
Iyi ndi pafupi apa
Hija viċin hawn.
Iyi ndi kutali ndi apa
Hija 'l bogħod minn hawn.
Mungandionetse pa chithunzi?
Tista' turi lili fuq il-mappa?
Chimitsa apa, chonde
Waqqaf hawn, jekk jogħġbok.
Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji?
Kemm tieħu?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Iyi ikuguliradi chingwe?
Kemm jiswa dan?(iyi ikuguliradi chingwe)
Iyi ndi mtengo wopusa
Dak huwa wisq għali.(iyi ndi mtengo wopusa)
Muli ndi chinthu chochepa mtengo?
Għandek xi ħaġa iktar irħisa?(muli ndi chinthu chochepa mtengo)
Ningathe kulipira ndi khadi?
Nista' nħallas bil-karta?(ningathe kulipira ndi khadi)
Ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri
Nixtieq mejda għal tnejn.(ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri)
Chikalata, chonde
Il-kont, jekk jogħġbok.(chikalata, chonde)
Ntchito ikuphatikizidwa?
Huwa servizz inkluż?(ntchito ikuphatikizidwa)
Ndine wopanda nyama
Jien veġetarjan.(ndine wopanda nyama)
Chonde, osati chakudya chothira
Ebda ikel picanti, jekk jogħġbok.(chonde, osati chakudya chothira)
Iyi ndi yokoma
Dan huwa delizzjuż.(iyi ndi yokoma)
Ningathe kupeza menyu?
Nista' nkun għandi l-menu?(ningathe kupeza menyu)
Galasi ya madzi, chonde
Bott ta' ilma, jekk jogħġbok.(galasi ya madzi, chonde)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Fufuzani polisi
Iċċempel lill-pulizija
Fufuzani ambulansi
Iċċempel ambulanza
Ndikufuna dokotala
Għandi bżonn tabib
Ndikuwona bwino
Inħossni morda
Ndine wosowa ma groundnuts
Jien allerġiku għall-ġammie
Kuti ndi chiyani chachikondi?
Fejn hu l-isptar l-eqreb?
Kuli kuuma apa
Iħossni hawn
Ndasowa pasipoti yangu
Ntlejt il-passaport tiegħi
Mungafufuze hotelo yanga?
Tista' iċċempel l-lukanda tiegħi?
Thandizani!
Għajnuna!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Ndalumba kukumana nanu
Nice li niltaqgħu
Tiyeni tiwoneke pa nthawi
Ejja nippjanaw laqgħa
Nthawi yiti ikukugwirirani ntchito?
Liema ħin jaħdem għalik?
Ndidzatumiza lipoti lero
Se nibgħat ir-rapport illum
Tingathe kulankhula mawa?
Nistgħu nitkellmu għada?
Chonde onani fayilo yolembedwa
Jekk jogħġbok sib il-fajl imwaqqaf
Zikomo chifukwa cha nthawi yanu
Grazzi għall-ħin tiegħek
Ndikuyembekezera kugwira ntchito nanu
Nistenna bil-ħerqa li naħdem miegħek
Mungathe kuthetsa mfundo imeneyi?
Tista' tikkjarifika dak il-punt?
Nditenge nthawi ndikubwerereni
Ħalli nirrivija lilek
Nthawi yomaliza ndi Lachisanu
Il-limitu huwa l-Ġimgħa
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.