Looking for practical Tumbuka to Marshallese phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Tumbuka phrase first, then the Marshallese translation (Marshallese) — 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 Marshallese.
Tip: read the Marshallese 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 Marshallese 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
Yokwe(yoh-kweh)
Zikomo
Komol tata(koh-mol tah-tah)
Muli bwanji
Yokwe in the morning(yoh-kweh in the morning)
Muli bwanji
Yokwe in the afternoon(yoh-kweh in the afternoon)
Muli bwanji
Yokwe in the evening(yoh-kweh in the evening)
Usiku wabwino
Yokwe in the night(yoh-kweh in the night)
Tiwonana
Aolep in(ah-oh-lep in)
Tsalani bwino
Aolep(ah-oh-lep)
Dzina lanu ndi ndani?
Ejjab in name?(eh-jahb in name)
Dzina langa ndi John
Ejjab in John(eh-jahb in John)
Muli bwanji?
Iakwe?(ee-ah-kweh)
Ndine wokondwa kukumana nanu
Ejjab in an(eh-jahb in an)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Muli ndi Chingerezi?
Ijo im jab in English?(Ijo im jab in English?)
Sikuyankhula Hindi bwino
Ej jab in Hindi bwe enaj(Ej jab in Hindi bwe enaj)
Sindikumva
Ej jab in jorren(Ej jab in jorren)
Chonde yankhulani pang'ono
Jab in jorren bwe enaj(Jab in jorren bwe enaj)
Mungandiyankhulepo?
Ejjab in jorren an?(Ejjab in jorren an?)
Kuti ndi kuti?
Ejjab in wōt ian?(Ejjab in wōt ian?)
Ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu?
Ejjab in jorren eok wōt?(Ejjab in jorren eok wōt?)
Pita kumanzere
Jab in jorren jān(Jab in jorren jān)
Pita kumanja
Jab in jorren jān(Jab in jorren jān)
Pita mwendo
Jab in jorren wōt(Jab in jorren wōt)
Ndi ndalama zingati?
Ejjab in jorren eok?(Ejjab in jorren eok?)
Tiketi imodzi, chonde
Jab in ticket, please(Jab in ticket, please)
Ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano?
Ejjab in jorren eok?(Ejjab in jorren eok?)
Ndakhalapo
Ej jab in jorren(Ej jab in jorren)
Ndingatengere kuti kuti SIM card?
Ejjab in wōt in SIM card?(Ejjab in wōt in SIM card?)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Iye
Ejjab
Ayi
Aolep
Pang'ono
Ejjab im aolep
Ndikugwirizana
Ejjab im an
Sindikugwirizana
Aolep im an
Ichi chimaoneka bwino
Ejjab in aolep
Muli ndi chiyani choti mumaganize?
Nin in ke ejjake?
Mungandithandize?
Ien ke eja in?
Ndikufuna thandizo
Enaaj ejjake
Dikirani pang’ono
Jab in
Ndikupemphera
Ejjab in jorren
Palibe vutoli
Aolep in jorren
Zikomo
Bwij in jorren
Tsiku lobadwa labwino
Yokwe in jorren
Pita bwino pa ulendo
Jab in ad jorren
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Kukakhala kuti chiteshi cha njinga?
Enaaj im jab in train?(enaaj im jab in train)
Kukakhala kuti malo otchinga basi?
Enaaj im jab in bus?(enaaj im jab in bus)
Ndi chigawo chiti?
Iakwe im jab in platform?(iakwe im jab in platform)
Nanga nthawi itangopita?
Nin in kijen?(nin in kijen)
Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera?
Enaaj in jiban?(enaaj in jiban)
Iyi ndi pafupi apa
Enaaj jikin in?(enaaj jikin in)
Iyi ndi kutali ndi apa
Enaaj jikin in jikin?(enaaj jikin in jikin)
Mungandionetse pa chithunzi?
Enaaj im jab in map?(enaaj im jab in map)
Chimitsa apa, chonde
Jab in jikin, please(jab in jikin, please)
Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji?
Enaaj im jab in jikin?(enaaj im jab in jikin)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Iyi ikuguliradi chingwe?
Enaaj im jab?(iyi ikuguliradi chingwe)
Iyi ndi mtengo wopusa
Ej juon im jab.(iyi ndi mtengo wopusa)
Muli ndi chinthu chochepa mtengo?
Enaaj im jab aolep?(muli ndi chinthu chochepa mtengo)
Ningathe kulipira ndi khadi?
Enaaj im jipan eñ?(ningathe kulipira ndi khadi)
Ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri
Enaaj im jipan table roñ.(ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri)
Chikalata, chonde
Enaaj im jipan bill.(chikalata, chonde)
Ntchito ikuphatikizidwa?
Enaaj im jab service?(ntchito ikuphatikizidwa)
Ndine wopanda nyama
Ej im vegetarian.(ndine wopanda nyama)
Chonde, osati chakudya chothira
Enaaj im jab spicy food.(chonde, osati chakudya chothira)
Iyi ndi yokoma
Ej ej jab.(iyi ndi yokoma)
Ningathe kupeza menyu?
Enaaj im jipan menu?(ningathe kupeza menyu)
Galasi ya madzi, chonde
Enaaj im jipan glass wōt.(galasi ya madzi, chonde)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Fufuzani polisi
Kōmmani ian jān(kōmmani ian jān)
Fufuzani ambulansi
Kōmmani ian ambulance(kōmmani ian ambulance)
Ndikufuna dokotala
Ej jekōn doctor(ej jekōn doctor)
Ndikuwona bwino
Ej jekūn(ej jekūn)
Ndine wosowa ma groundnuts
Ej jekūn jab in jekōn(ej jekūn jab in jekōn)
Kuti ndi chiyani chachikondi?
Ejjab jān hospital in jān?(ejjab jān hospital in jān?)
Kuli kuuma apa
Ej jekūn in(ej jekūn in)
Ndasowa pasipoti yangu
Ej jekūn passport(ej jekūn passport)
Mungafufuze hotelo yanga?
Ijjab kōmmani ian hotel in?(ijjab kōmmani ian hotel in?)
Thandizani!
Jab!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Ndalumba kukumana nanu
Ij jorren in(I am glad to meet you)
Tiyeni tiwoneke pa nthawi
Kij in jorren eok(Let's arrange a meeting)
Nthawi yiti ikukugwirirani ntchito?
Ejjab in jorren?(What time is good for you?)
Ndidzatumiza lipoti lero
Ej jekar in report an(I will send the report today)
Tingathe kulankhula mawa?
Ejjab in jorren ak jorren?(Can we talk tomorrow?)
Chonde onani fayilo yolembedwa
Jab in jorren eok file an(Please see the attached file)
Zikomo chifukwa cha nthawi yanu
Komol tata in jorren(Thank you for your time)
Ndikuyembekezera kugwira ntchito nanu
Ij jorren in jab in jorren(I look forward to working with you)
Mungathe kuthetsa mfundo imeneyi?
Ejjab in jorren eok?(Can you clarify that point?)
Nditenge nthawi ndikubwerereni
Kij in jorren eok(Let me return to you)
Nthawi yomaliza ndi Lachisanu
Ejjab in jorren Friday(The deadline is Friday)
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.