Looking for practical Tumbuka to Papiamento phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Tumbuka phrase first, then the Papiamento translation (Papiamento) — 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 Papiamento.
Tip: read the Papiamento 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 Papiamento 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
Halo
Zikomo
Dank'i
Muli bwanji
Bon dia
Muli bwanji
Bon tardi
Muli bwanji
Bon nochi
Usiku wabwino
Bon nochi
Tiwonana
Hasta luego
Tsalani bwino
Ayo
Dzina lanu ndi ndani?
Kiko ta bo nòmber?
Dzina langa ndi John
Mi nòmber ta John
Muli bwanji?
Kon ta bai?
Ndine wokondwa kukumana nanu
Dushi pa konosé bo
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Muli ndi Chingerezi?
Bo ta papia Ingles?(Bo ta papia Ingles?)
Sikuyankhula Hindi bwino
Mi no ta papia Hindi bon(Mi no ta papia Hindi bon)
Sindikumva
Mi no ta komprondé(Mi no ta komprondé)
Chonde yankhulani pang'ono
Por fabor, papia lentamente(Por fabor, papia lentamente)
Mungandiyankhulepo?
Podé bo duna e palabra otro vez?(Podé bo duna e palabra otro vez?)
Kuti ndi kuti?
Unda ta e baño?(Unda ta e baño?)
Ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu?
Kiko mi mester hasi pa yega na centro di ciudad?(Kiko mi mester hasi pa yega na centro di ciudad?)
Pita kumanzere
Duna ku left(Duna ku left)
Pita kumanja
Duna ku right(Duna ku right)
Pita mwendo
Bai straight(Bai straight)
Ndi ndalama zingati?
Kantu ta e tarifa?(Kantu ta e tarifa?)
Tiketi imodzi, chonde
Un tiket, por fabor(Un tiket, por fabor)
Ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano?
Ta leu for di aki?(Ta leu for di aki?)
Ndakhalapo
Mi ta perdo(Mi ta perdo)
Ndingatengere kuti kuti SIM card?
Unda mi por komprá un SIM card?(Unda mi por komprá un SIM card?)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Iye
Si
Ayi
No
Pang'ono
Quizás
Ndikugwirizana
Mi ta akordá
Sindikugwirizana
Mi no ta akordá
Ichi chimaoneka bwino
Esaki ta suena bon
Muli ndi chiyani choti mumaganize?
Kiko bo ta pensa?
Mungandithandize?
Bo por yuda mi?
Ndikufuna thandizo
Mi mester yuda
Dikirani pang’ono
Spera un momentu
Ndikupemphera
Mi ta diskulpa
Palibe vutoli
No tin problema
Zikomo
Felicidades
Tsiku lobadwa labwino
Feliz cumpleaños
Pita bwino pa ulendo
Ten un viahe seguro
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Kukakhala kuti chiteshi cha njinga?
Unda ta e stasyon di tren?
Kukakhala kuti malo otchinga basi?
Unda ta e parada di bus?
Ndi chigawo chiti?
Kual plataforma ta?
Nanga nthawi itangopita?
Kico ora e ta bai?
Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera?
Esaki ta e manera correctu?
Iyi ndi pafupi apa
E ta cerca aki
Iyi ndi kutali ndi apa
E ta leu for di aki
Mungandionetse pa chithunzi?
Poei mostra mi na e mapa?
Chimitsa apa, chonde
Para aki, por fabor
Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji?
Kantu tempu e ta tuma?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Iyi ikuguliradi chingwe?
Kiko ta e precio di esaki?(iyi ikuguliradi chingwe)
Iyi ndi mtengo wopusa
Esaki ta demasiado caro.(iyi ndi mtengo wopusa)
Muli ndi chinthu chochepa mtengo?
Bo tin algo mas barato?(muli ndi chinthu chochepa mtengo)
Ningathe kulipira ndi khadi?
Porke mi por paga ku tarjeta?(ningathe kulipira ndi khadi)
Ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri
Mi ke un mesa pa dos.(ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri)
Chikalata, chonde
E cuenta, por fabor.(chikalata, chonde)
Ntchito ikuphatikizidwa?
E servicio ta inkludí?(ntchito ikuphatikizidwa)
Ndine wopanda nyama
Mi ta vegetariano.(ndine wopanda nyama)
Chonde, osati chakudya chothira
No komida picante, por fabor.(chonde, osati chakudya chothira)
Iyi ndi yokoma
Esaki ta sabroso.(iyi ndi yokoma)
Ningathe kupeza menyu?
Porke mi por tin e menu?(ningathe kupeza menyu)
Galasi ya madzi, chonde
Un bashi di awa, por fabor.(galasi ya madzi, chonde)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Fufuzani polisi
Llama polis
Fufuzani ambulansi
Llama un ambulansia
Ndikufuna dokotala
Mi mester un doktor
Ndikuwona bwino
Mi ta sinti mal
Ndine wosowa ma groundnuts
Mi ta alergiko pa maní
Kuti ndi chiyani chachikondi?
Unda ta e hospital mas cercano?
Kuli kuuma apa
Ta doli aki
Ndasowa pasipoti yangu
Mi a perde mi pasaporte
Mungafufuze hotelo yanga?
Bo por llama mi hotel?
Thandizani!
Yuda!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Ndalumba kukumana nanu
Bon dii pa conoce bo
Tiyeni tiwoneke pa nthawi
Deja nos programa un reuníon
Nthawi yiti ikukugwirirani ntchito?
Kiko ora ta bon pa bo?
Ndidzatumiza lipoti lero
Mi ta manda e report di awor
Tingathe kulankhula mawa?
Por ta papia mañan?
Chonde onani fayilo yolembedwa
Por fabor, haya e file anexa
Zikomo chifukwa cha nthawi yanu
Danki pa bo tempo
Ndikuyembekezera kugwira ntchito nanu
Mi ta spera pa traha ku bo
Mungathe kuthetsa mfundo imeneyi?
Bo por klarifica esaki?
Nditenge nthawi ndikubwerereni
Deja mi a volve na bo
Nthawi yomaliza ndi Lachisanu
E deadline ta dia dushi
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.