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Common Tumbuka to Mam phrases

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

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

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

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

    Xo'j (sho'j)

  2. Zikomo

    Tz'ik (tz'ik)

  3. Muli bwanji

    Xo'j nax (sho'j nax)

  4. Muli bwanji

    Xo'j q'ij (sho'j q'ij)

  5. Muli bwanji

    Xo'j k'ux (sho'j k'ux)

  6. Usiku wabwino

    Xo'j k'ux nax (sho'j k'ux nax)

  7. Tiwonana

    K'ux q'ij (k'ux q'ij)

  8. Tsalani bwino

    Xo'j k'ux (sho'j k'ux)

  9. Dzina lanu ndi ndani?

    Ja' k'ux nax? (ha' k'ux nax?)

  10. Dzina langa ndi John

    Ja' k'ux nax John (ha' k'ux nax John)

  11. Muli bwanji?

    Jach' k'ux? (hach' k'ux?)

  12. Ndine wokondwa kukumana nanu

    Nab' k'ux (nab' k'ux)

Useful phrases for travellers

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

  1. Muli ndi Chingerezi?

    ¿K'ax k'utun English? (muli ndi chingerezi)

  2. Sikuyankhula Hindi bwino

    Nek'ux k'utun Hindi k'ax k'utun. (sikuyankhula hindi bwino)

  3. Sindikumva

    Nek'ux k'ax k'utun. (sindikumva)

  4. Chonde yankhulani pang'ono

    Por favor, k'utun k'ux. (chonde yankhulani pang'ono)

  5. Mungandiyankhulepo?

    ¿K'ax k'utun k'ux? (mungandiyankhulepo)

  6. Kuti ndi kuti?

    ¿Jach'och k'ux? (kuti ndi kuti)

  7. Ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu?

    ¿Jach'och k'ux ch'ich'? (ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu)

  8. Pita kumanzere

    K'utun k'ux. (pita kumanzere)

  9. Pita kumanja

    K'utun k'ux. (pita kumanja)

  10. Pita mwendo

    K'utun k'ux. (pita mwendo)

  11. Ndi ndalama zingati?

    ¿K'ax k'ux ch'ich'? (ndi ndalama zingati)

  12. Tiketi imodzi, chonde

    K'utun ch'ich', por favor. (tiketi imodzi, chonde)

  13. Ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano?

    ¿K'ax k'ux jach'och? (ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano)

  14. Ndakhalapo

    Nek'ux k'ax k'ux. (ndakhalapo)

  15. Ndingatengere kuti kuti SIM card?

    ¿Jach'och k'ux k'utun SIM? (ndingatengere kuti kuti sim card)

Everyday conversation

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

  1. Iye

    Juj (hoo)

  2. Ayi

    Man (mah)

  3. Pang'ono

    K'ux (k'ush)

  4. Ndikugwirizana

    Juj k'ux (hoo k'ush)

  5. Sindikugwirizana

    Man k'ux (mah k'ush)

  6. Ichi chimaoneka bwino

    K'ux juj (k'ush hoo)

  7. Muli ndi chiyani choti mumaganize?

    ¿Juj k'ux k'ut? (¿hoo k'ush k'ut?)

  8. Mungandithandize?

    ¿Juj k'ux juj k'ux? (¿hoo k'ush hoo k'ush?)

  9. Ndikufuna thandizo

    Juj k'ux juj k'ux k'ut (hoo k'ush hoo k'ut)

  10. Dikirani pang’ono

    K'ux k'ut (k'ush k'ut)

  11. Ndikupemphera

    Juj k'ux k'ut (hoo k'ush k'ut)

  12. Palibe vutoli

    Man k'ux k'ut (mah k'ush k'ut)

  13. Zikomo

    K'ux juj k'ut (k'ush hoo k'ut)

  14. Tsiku lobadwa labwino

    K'ux juj k'ut k'ux (k'ush hoo k'ut k'ush)

  15. Pita bwino pa ulendo

    K'ux juj k'ut k'ux (k'ush hoo k'ut k'ush)

Directions and getting around

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

  1. Kukakhala kuti chiteshi cha njinga?

    ¿Jujuk pa ri tren?

  2. Kukakhala kuti malo otchinga basi?

    ¿Jujuk pa ri bus?

  3. Ndi chigawo chiti?

    ¿K'ux ri plataforma?

  4. Nanga nthawi itangopita?

    ¿K'ux ri tiempo pa k'ux?

  5. Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera?

    ¿¿K'ux ri camino?

  6. Iyi ndi pafupi apa

    Ri k'ut pa ri.

  7. Iyi ndi kutali ndi apa

    Ri k'ut pa ri k'ul.

  8. Mungandionetse pa chithunzi?

    ¿¿K'ux k'ut ri mapa?

  9. Chimitsa apa, chonde

    ¿¿K'ut pa ri, por favor?

  10. Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji?

    ¿¿K'ux ri tiempo?

Shopping and dining

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

  1. Iyi ikuguliradi chingwe?

    K'ux k'ulub' ri'? (K'ux k'ulub' ri'?)

  2. Iyi ndi mtengo wopusa

    K'ux ri' k'ulub'? (K'ux ri' k'ulub'?)

  3. Muli ndi chinthu chochepa mtengo?

    ¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax? (¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax?)

  4. Ningathe kulipira ndi khadi?

    ¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax k'oj? (¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax k'oj?)

  5. Ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri

    In k'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax k'oj? (In k'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax k'oj?)

  6. Chikalata, chonde

    Ri' k'ulub', por favor (Ri' k'ulub', por favor)

  7. Ntchito ikuphatikizidwa?

    ¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax? (¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax?)

  8. Ndine wopanda nyama

    In k'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax (In k'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax)

  9. Chonde, osati chakudya chothira

    ¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax? (¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax?)

  10. Iyi ndi yokoma

    K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax (K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax)

  11. Ningathe kupeza menyu?

    ¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax? (¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax?)

  12. Galasi ya madzi, chonde

    ¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax? (¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax?)

Emergencies and health

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

  1. Fufuzani polisi

    K'uxik la policía

  2. Fufuzani ambulansi

    K'uxik un ambulancia

  3. Ndikufuna dokotala

    Nek' a doctor

  4. Ndikuwona bwino

    K'utun k'ax

  5. Ndine wosowa ma groundnuts

    Nek' a k'uxi' ch'ich'

  6. Kuti ndi chiyani chachikondi?

    Jach' k'uxik la hospital?

  7. Kuli kuuma apa

    K'utun k'uxi' aquí

  8. Ndasowa pasipoti yangu

    Nek' a k'uxik mi pasaporte

  9. Mungafufuze hotelo yanga?

    ¿K'uxik a k'uxik mi hotel?

  10. Thandizani!

    ¡Ayuda!

Work and business

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

  1. Ndalumba kukumana nanu

    Chik'oj ch'ab'ej (chee-k'oh chahb'eh)

  2. Tiyeni tiwoneke pa nthawi

    K'axik ch'awik ri k'ulb'al (kah-hee k'ah-wik ree kool-bahl)

  3. Nthawi yiti ikukugwirirani ntchito?

    K'ut ri k'utal k'axik? (k'oot ree k'oo-tahl kah-hee)

  4. Ndidzatumiza lipoti lero

    In k'axik ri k'ik'oj ch'ich' (een kah-hee ree kee-k'oh ch'eech')

  5. Tingathe kulankhula mawa?

    K'axik ch'awik ri k'ik'oj k'ay? (kah-hee ch'ah-wik ree kee-k'oh kahy)

  6. Chonde onani fayilo yolembedwa

    Ch'awik ri k'ulb'al k'axik (ch'ah-wik ree kool-bahl kah-hee)

  7. Zikomo chifukwa cha nthawi yanu

    Tz'ib'ej ri k'utal (tzee-beh-eh ree k'oo-tahl)

  8. Ndikuyembekezera kugwira ntchito nanu

    In k'axik ri k'ulb'al k'axik (een kah-hee ree kool-bahl kah-hee)

  9. Mungathe kuthetsa mfundo imeneyi?

    K'axik ch'awik ri k'utal? (kah-hee ch'ah-wik ree k'oo-tahl)

  10. Nditenge nthawi ndikubwerereni

    K'axik in k'axik ch'awik (kah-hee een kah-hee ch'ah-wik)

  11. Nthawi yomaliza ndi Lachisanu

    Ri k'utal k'axik k'ay (ree k'oo-tahl kah-hee kahy)

Time, days and numbers

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

  1. Ndi chiyani nthawi?

    ¿K'ux ri'? (k'ux ri')

  2. Ndi saa tatu

    K'ux ri' k'i'ik' (k'ux ri' k'i'ik')

  3. Lero

    Rij (rij)

  4. Maŵa

    Rij k'i'ik' (rij k'i'ik')

  5. Kale

    Rij k'ux (rij k'ux)

  6. Lolemba

    Rij k'ux k'ay (rij k'ux k'ay)

  7. Lachiwiri

    Rij k'ux k'ay k'i' (rij k'ux k'ay k'i')

  8. Lachitatu

    Rij k'ux k'ay k'ax (rij k'ux k'ay k'ax)

  9. Mmodzi

    Jun (jun)

  10. Awiri

    K'ij (k'ij)

  11. Atatu

    K'i'ik' (k'i'ik')

  12. Kumi

    Waq (waq)

  13. Zana

    Jun b'ix (jun b'ix)

  14. Pachikhalidwe

    K'ux ri' k'ay (k'ux ri' k'ay)

  15. Zambiri

    K'ux (k'ux)

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