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Common Tumbuka to Ndau phrases

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

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

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

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

    Mhoro

  2. Zikomo

    Ndatenda

  3. Muli bwanji

    Mangwanani akanaka

  4. Muli bwanji

    Masikati akanaka

  5. Muli bwanji

    Manheru akanaka

  6. Usiku wabwino

    Usiku hwakanaka

  7. Tiwonana

    Tichasangana zvakare

  8. Tsalani bwino

    Sara zvakanaka

  9. Dzina lanu ndi ndani?

    Zita rako ndiani?

  10. Dzina langa ndi John

    Zita rangu ndiJohn

  11. Muli bwanji?

    Uri sei?

  12. Ndine wokondwa kukumana nanu

    Ndinofara kukuziva

Useful phrases for travellers

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

  1. Muli ndi Chingerezi?

    Unotaura Chirungu here? (muli ndi chingerezi)

  2. Sikuyankhula Hindi bwino

    Handitauri Hindi zvakanaka. (sikuyankhula hindi bwino)

  3. Sindikumva

    Handinzwisise. (sindikumva)

  4. Chonde yankhulani pang'ono

    Ndapota taura zvishoma. (chonde yankhulani pang'ono)

  5. Mungandiyankhulepo?

    Ungazvitaura zvakare here? (mungandiyankhulepo)

  6. Kuti ndi kuti?

    Chimbuzi chiri kupi? (kuti ndi kuti)

  7. Ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu?

    Ndingasvika sei ku nzvimbo yeguta? (ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu)

  8. Pita kumanzere

    Pinda kuruboshwe. (pita kumanzere)

  9. Pita kumanja

    Pinda kurudyi. (pita kumanja)

  10. Pita mwendo

    Enda mberi. (pita mwendo)

  11. Ndi ndalama zingati?

    Mari yefare ingani? (ndi ndalama zingati)

  12. Tiketi imodzi, chonde

    Tiketi imwe, ndapota. (tiketi imodzi, chonde)

  13. Ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano?

    Iko kure kubva pano? (ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano)

  14. Ndakhalapo

    Ndakakanganiswa. (ndakhalapo)

  15. Ndingatengere kuti kuti SIM card?

    Ndingatenga kupi SIM card? (ndingatengere kuti kuti sim card)

Everyday conversation

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

  1. Iye

    Ehe

  2. Ayi

    Aih

  3. Pang'ono

    Pangani

  4. Ndikugwirizana

    Ndakubvumirana

  5. Sindikugwirizana

    Handibvumirani

  6. Ichi chimaoneka bwino

    Izvi zvinonzwika zvakanaka

  7. Muli ndi chiyani choti mumaganize?

    Unofungei?

  8. Mungandithandize?

    Ungandibatsira here?

  9. Ndikufuna thandizo

    Ndiri kuda rubatsiro

  10. Dikirani pang’ono

    Mirira nguva shoma

  11. Ndikupemphera

    Ndineurombo

  12. Palibe vutoli

    Hapana dambudziko

  13. Zikomo

    Makorokoto

  14. Tsiku lobadwa labwino

    Makorokoto ezuva rekuzvarwa

  15. Pita bwino pa ulendo

    Iva nerwendo rwakanaka

Directions and getting around

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

  1. Kukakhala kuti chiteshi cha njinga?

    Kupi kwete chiteshi chenjere? (kupi kwete chiteshi chenjere)

  2. Kukakhala kuti malo otchinga basi?

    Kupi kwete chiteshi chebhazi? (kupi kwete chiteshi chebhazi)

  3. Ndi chigawo chiti?

    Ndeipi chikuva? (ndeipi chikuva)

  4. Nanga nthawi itangopita?

    Ndeipi nguva inobva? (ndeipi nguva inobva)

  5. Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera?

    Iyi ndiyo nzira yakarurama? (iyi ndiyo nzira yakarurama)

  6. Iyi ndi pafupi apa

    Iri pedyo pano (iri pedyo pano)

  7. Iyi ndi kutali ndi apa

    Iri kure neapo (iri kure neapo)

  8. Mungandionetse pa chithunzi?

    Unogona kundiratidza pamepu? (unogona kundiratidza pamepu)

  9. Chimitsa apa, chonde

    Mira pano, ndapota (mira pano, ndapota)

  10. Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji?

    Zvinotora nguva yakareba sei? (zvinotora nguva yakareba sei)

Shopping and dining

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

  1. Iyi ikuguliradi chingwe?

    Zvinodhura sei? (zvinodhura sei)

  2. Iyi ndi mtengo wopusa

    Izvozvo zvinodhura zvikuru (izvozvo zvinodhura zvikuru)

  3. Muli ndi chinthu chochepa mtengo?

    Une chimwe chiri pamutengo wakaderera here? (une chimwe chiri pamutengo wakaderera here)

  4. Ningathe kulipira ndi khadi?

    Ndingabhadhara nekadhi here? (ndingabhadhara nekadhi here)

  5. Ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri

    Ndinoda tafura yevasere (ndinoda tafura yevasere)

  6. Chikalata, chonde

    Chikwereti, ndapota (chikwereti, ndapota)

  7. Ntchito ikuphatikizidwa?

    Sevhisi yakabatanidzwa here? (sevhisi yakabatanidzwa here)

  8. Ndine wopanda nyama

    Ndiri vegetarian (ndiri vegetarian)

  9. Chonde, osati chakudya chothira

    Hapana chikafu chinopisa, ndapota (hapana chikafu chinopisa, ndapota)

  10. Iyi ndi yokoma

    Izvi zvinonaka (izvi zvinonaka)

  11. Ningathe kupeza menyu?

    Ndingawana menyu here? (ndingawana menyu here)

  12. Galasi ya madzi, chonde

    Girazi remvura, ndapota (girazi remvura, ndapota)

Emergencies and health

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

  1. Fufuzani polisi

    Dai foni mapurisa

  2. Fufuzani ambulansi

    Dai foni amburensi

  3. Ndikufuna dokotala

    Ndinoda chiremba

  4. Ndikuwona bwino

    Ndiri kurwara

  5. Ndine wosowa ma groundnuts

    Ndine chiremera kumapudzi

  6. Kuti ndi chiyani chachikondi?

    Hospitali iri kupi pedyo?

  7. Kuli kuuma apa

    Zvinorwadza pano

  8. Ndasowa pasipoti yangu

    Ndakarasa pasipoti yangu

  9. Mungafufuze hotelo yanga?

    Unogona here kufoniya hotera yangu?

  10. Thandizani!

    Rubatsiro!

Work and business

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

  1. Ndalumba kukumana nanu

    Ndinofara kukusangana

  2. Tiyeni tiwoneke pa nthawi

    Ngatironge musangano

  3. Nthawi yiti ikukugwirirani ntchito?

    Ndeipi nguva inokufambira?

  4. Ndidzatumiza lipoti lero

    Ndichatumira mushumo nhasi

  5. Tingathe kulankhula mawa?

    Tingataure mangwana here?

  6. Chonde onani fayilo yolembedwa

    Ndapota tsvaga faira rakabatanidzwa

  7. Zikomo chifukwa cha nthawi yanu

    Ndatenda nenguva yako

  8. Ndikuyembekezera kugwira ntchito nanu

    Ndiri kutarisira kushanda newe

  9. Mungathe kuthetsa mfundo imeneyi?

    Ungajekesa iyo pfungwa here?

  10. Nditenge nthawi ndikubwerereni

    Regai ndidzoke kwamuri

  11. Nthawi yomaliza ndi Lachisanu

    Nguva yekupedzisira iChishanu

Time, days and numbers

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

  1. Ndi chiyani nthawi?

    Ndeipi nguva? (ndeipi nguva)

  2. Ndi saa tatu

    Iri paawa nhatu (iri paawa nhatu)

  3. Lero

    Nhasi (nhasi)

  4. Maŵa

    Mangwana (mangwana)

  5. Kale

    Nezuro (nezuro)

  6. Lolemba

    Muvhuro (muvhuro)

  7. Lachiwiri

    Chipiri (chipiri)

  8. Lachitatu

    Chitatu (chitatu)

  9. Mmodzi

    Imwe (imwe)

  10. Awiri

    Piri (piri)

  11. Atatu

    Nhatu (nhatu)

  12. Kumi

    Gumi (gumi)

  13. Zana

    Zana (zana)

  14. Pachikhalidwe

    Hafu (hafu)

  15. Zambiri

    Zvimwe (zvimwe)

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