Looking for practical Tumbuka to Samoan phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Tumbuka phrase first, then the Samoan translation (Samoan) — 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 Samoan.
Tip: pick five Samoan 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 Samoan 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
Talofa
Zikomo
Fa'amolemole
Muli bwanji
Talofa i le taeao
Muli bwanji
Talofa i le afiafi
Muli bwanji
Talofa i le po
Usiku wabwino
O le po lelei
Tiwonana
Fa'afetai
Tsalani bwino
Tofa
Dzina lanu ndi ndani?
O ai lou igoa?
Dzina langa ndi John
O lo'u igoa o John
Muli bwanji?
O a mai oe?
Ndine wokondwa kukumana nanu
O le fiafia e feiloa'i ma oe
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Muli ndi Chingerezi?
E te tautala i le Igilisi?(muli ndi chingerezi)
Sikuyankhula Hindi bwino
E le mafai ona ou tautala i le Hindi lelei(sikuyankhula hindi bwino)
Sindikumva
E le mafai ona ou malamalama(sindikumva)
Chonde yankhulani pang'ono
Fa'amolemole tautala i se fa'atekinolosi(chonde yankhulani pang'ono)
Mungandiyankhulepo?
E mafai ona e fa'atekinolosi?(mungandiyankhulepo)
Kuti ndi kuti?
O fea le umukuka?(kuti ndi kuti)
Ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu?
E fa'apefea ona ou o'o i le ogatotonu o le aai?(ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu)
Pita kumanzere
Tali i le itu mauga(pita kumanzere)
Pita kumanja
Tali i le itu i matu(pita kumanja)
Pita mwendo
O le ala i le fa'atekinolosi(pita mwendo)
Ndi ndalama zingati?
E fia le tau o le ta'avale?(ndi ndalama zingati)
Tiketi imodzi, chonde
O se tiketi, fa'amolemole(tiketi imodzi, chonde)
Ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano?
E mamao mai iinei?(ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano)
Ndakhalapo
Ua ou leiloa(ndakhalapo)
Ndingatengere kuti kuti SIM card?
O fea e mafai ai ona ou fa'atau se ka'a SIM?(ndingatengere kuti kuti sim card)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Iye
Ioe
Ayi
Leai
Pang'ono
Atonu
Ndikugwirizana
O le fa'amaonia
Sindikugwirizana
O le fa'amaonia e le o ia
Ichi chimaoneka bwino
E lelei le fa'ailoa
Muli ndi chiyani choti mumaganize?
O le a sou manatu?
Mungandithandize?
E mafai ona e fesoasoani mai ia te a'u?
Ndikufuna thandizo
E manaʻomia le fesoasoani
Dikirani pang’ono
Fa'amolemole taofi se moment
Ndikupemphera
Fa'amolemole, ou te fa'amalie atu
Palibe vutoli
E leai se fa'aletonu
Zikomo
Fa'afetai
Tsiku lobadwa labwino
Manuia le aso fanau
Pita bwino pa ulendo
Ia manuia lau malaga
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Kukakhala kuti chiteshi cha njinga?
O fea le nofoaga o le taavale vae?
Kukakhala kuti malo otchinga basi?
O fea le nofoaga taofi o le autobus?
Ndi chigawo chiti?
O le fea le tulaga?
Nanga nthawi itangopita?
O le a le taimi e alu ai?
Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera?
O le ala saʻo lenei?
Iyi ndi pafupi apa
E latalata iinei
Iyi ndi kutali ndi apa
E mamao mai iinei
Mungandionetse pa chithunzi?
E mafai ona e fa'aali mai i le mapa?
Chimitsa apa, chonde
Taofi iinei, fa'amolemole
Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji?
E fia le taimi e alu ai?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Iyi ikuguliradi chingwe?
E fia le tau o lenei?(iyi ikuguliradi chingwe)
Iyi ndi mtengo wopusa
O le tau o ia o lo'o maualuga.(iyi ndi mtengo wopusa)
Muli ndi chinthu chochepa mtengo?
E iai ni mea e sili atu le taugofie?(muli ndi chinthu chochepa mtengo)
Ningathe kulipira ndi khadi?
E mafai ona ou totogi i le kaadi?(ningathe kulipira ndi khadi)
Ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri
Ou te mana'o i se laulau mo le lua.(ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri)
Chikalata, chonde
Fa'amolemole, le pili.(chikalata, chonde)
Ntchito ikuphatikizidwa?
O lo'o aofia i le auaunaga?(ntchito ikuphatikizidwa)
Ndine wopanda nyama
O a'u o se tagata 'ai fa'avae i le la'au.(ndine wopanda nyama)
Chonde, osati chakudya chothira
E leai ni mea 'ai vevela, fa'amolemole.(chonde, osati chakudya chothira)
Iyi ndi yokoma
E manaia lenei.(iyi ndi yokoma)
Ningathe kupeza menyu?
E mafai ona ou maua le menu?(ningathe kupeza menyu)
Galasi ya madzi, chonde
Fa'amolemole, se ipu vai.(galasi ya madzi, chonde)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Fufuzani polisi
Faafesootai leoleo
Fufuzani ambulansi
Faafesootai se ambulanse
Ndikufuna dokotala
E tatau ia te aʻu se fomaʻi
Ndikuwona bwino
O loʻu lagona e le lelei
Ndine wosowa ma groundnuts
O aʻu e i ai le allergy i fatu peni
Kuti ndi chiyani chachikondi?
O fea le falemaʻi e sili ona lata mai?
Kuli kuuma apa
E tiga iinei
Ndasowa pasipoti yangu
Ua ou leiloa laʻu pasese
Mungafufuze hotelo yanga?
E mafai ona e faafesootai laʻu otel?
Thandizani!
Fa'amolemole!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Ndalumba kukumana nanu
O le fiafia e feiloai i le fa'avae(O le fiafia e feiloai)
Tiyeni tiwoneke pa nthawi
Se'i o tatou fa'ata'ita'iga se fonotaga
Nthawi yiti ikukugwirirani ntchito?
O le a le taimi e lelei mo oe?
Ndidzatumiza lipoti lero
O le a ou auina atu le lipoti i le aso
Tingathe kulankhula mawa?
E mafai ona tatou talanoa i le taeao?
Chonde onani fayilo yolembedwa
Fa'amolemole, fa'aaoga le fa'amaumauga i le fa'amaumauga
Zikomo chifukwa cha nthawi yanu
Fa'afetai mo lou taimi
Ndikuyembekezera kugwira ntchito nanu
O lo'o ou fa'atali e galulue fa'atasi ma oe
Mungathe kuthetsa mfundo imeneyi?
E mafai ona e fa'amaonia le fa'avae?
Nditenge nthawi ndikubwerereni
Se'i o'u toe fo'i atu i le fa'avae
Nthawi yomaliza ndi Lachisanu
O le taimi e ta'ita'ia ai o le Aso Faraile
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.