Looking for practical Tumbuka to Sango phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Tumbuka phrase first, then the Sango translation (Sango) — 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 Sango.
Tip: when a Sango phrase looks unfamiliar, compare it with the Tumbuka wording — noticing word order differences helps you understand grammar naturally.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Tumbuka to Sango 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
Mbote
Zikomo
Mokolo
Muli bwanji
Mbote na nganga
Muli bwanji
Mbote na nganga ya zanga
Muli bwanji
Mbote na nganga ya sika
Usiku wabwino
Ndeko na nganga
Tiwonana
Tango na yo
Tsalani bwino
Ayo
Dzina lanu ndi ndani?
Nani na yo?
Dzina langa ndi John
Nani na nga John
Muli bwanji?
Oza malamu?
Ndine wokondwa kukumana nanu
Mokili na yo
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Muli ndi Chingerezi?
O yo na nganga English?(muli ndi chingerezi)
Sikuyankhula Hindi bwino
O na yo na nganga Hindi na mboka.(sikuyankhula hindi bwino)
Sindikumva
O na yo na mboka.(sindikumva)
Chonde yankhulani pang'ono
Sokou, yo na nganga na mboka.(chonde yankhulani pang'ono)
Mungandiyankhulepo?
O tanga na mboka?(mungandiyankhulepo)
Kuti ndi kuti?
Banga na yo na ndako?(kuti ndi kuti)
Ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu?
Nde na yo na banga na mboka?(ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu)
Pita kumanzere
Kanga na mboko.(pita kumanzere)
Pita kumanja
Kanga na nganga.(pita kumanja)
Pita mwendo
Kende na mboka.(pita mwendo)
Ndi ndalama zingati?
Nde na yo na mboka?(ndi ndalama zingati)
Tiketi imodzi, chonde
Mokolo na ticket, sokou.(tiketi imodzi, chonde)
Ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano?
O na mboka na mboka?(ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano)
Ndakhalapo
O na yo na mboka.(ndakhalapo)
Ndingatengere kuti kuti SIM card?
Banga na yo na tanga SIM card?(ndingatengere kuti kuti sim card)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Iye
O
Ayi
Té
Pang'ono
Sâ
Ndikugwirizana
Ngâ tî
Sindikugwirizana
Ngâ té tî
Ichi chimaoneka bwino
O bô
Muli ndi chiyani choti mumaganize?
Nâ tî yé?
Mungandithandize?
O kâ yé tî?
Ndikufuna thandizo
Ngâ kâ tî
Dikirani pang’ono
Bê na
Ndikupemphera
Ngâ tî na
Palibe vutoli
Té bô
Zikomo
Mâ tî
Tsiku lobadwa labwino
Mâ na mbâ
Pita bwino pa ulendo
O kâ na mbê
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Kukakhala kuti chiteshi cha njinga?
O na wâ na gare?
Kukakhala kuti malo otchinga basi?
O na wâ na station de taxi?
Ndi chigawo chiti?
O na wâ na plateforme?
Nanga nthawi itangopita?
O na tî na mbô?
Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera?
O na wâ na yâ?
Iyi ndi pafupi apa
O na bô na kâ.
Iyi ndi kutali ndi apa
O na fâ na kâ.
Mungandionetse pa chithunzi?
O kâ tî na mappa?
Chimitsa apa, chonde
Kâ na kâ, s'il vous plaît.
Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji?
O na tî na mbô?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Iyi ikuguliradi chingwe?
Mboka na yo?(mboka na yo)
Iyi ndi mtengo wopusa
Oko na mboka mingi(oko na mboka mingi)
Muli ndi chinthu chochepa mtengo?
Ozo na nanga mboka?(o zo na nanga mboka)
Ningathe kulipira ndi khadi?
Naka na yeke na carte?(naka na yeke na carte)
Ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri
Naka na table ya mibale(naka na table ya mibale)
Chikalata, chonde
Bilan, s'il vous plaît(bilan, s'il vous plaît)
Ntchito ikuphatikizidwa?
Service ezali na yango?(service ezali na yango)
Ndine wopanda nyama
Nani na mboka ya nyama(nani na mboka ya nyama)
Chonde, osati chakudya chothira
Te na mabele ya sika, s'il vous plaît(te na mabele ya sika)
Iyi ndi yokoma
Oyo ezali malamu(oyo ezali malamu)
Ningathe kupeza menyu?
Naka na menu?(naka na menu)
Galasi ya madzi, chonde
Bokoko ya mai, s'il vous plaît(bokoko ya mai)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Fufuzani polisi
Banga nganga
Fufuzani ambulansi
Banga ambulance
Ndikufuna dokotala
Mbi na doctor
Ndikuwona bwino
Mbi na yeke
Ndine wosowa ma groundnuts
Mbi na alerji na kolo
Kuti ndi chiyani chachikondi?
A na hospital ya mboka?
Kuli kuuma apa
E yeke na mboko
Ndasowa pasipoti yangu
Mbi tanga passport na ngai
Mungafufuze hotelo yanga?
O tanga hotel na ngai?
Thandizani!
Sango!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Ndalumba kukumana nanu
Mbi na yo(Mbi na yo)
Tiyeni tiwoneke pa nthawi
Tala na yeke mboka
Nthawi yiti ikukugwirirani ntchito?
Nani ti na yo?
Ndidzatumiza lipoti lero
Nde na yeke report na tî
Tingathe kulankhula mawa?
Oka na yeke na lobi?
Chonde onani fayilo yolembedwa
S'il vous plaît, tî na file na mî
Zikomo chifukwa cha nthawi yanu
Mesi na yo na tî
Ndikuyembekezera kugwira ntchito nanu
Nde na tî na yeke na yo
Mungathe kuthetsa mfundo imeneyi?
Oka na yeke na sî na tî?
Nditenge nthawi ndikubwerereni
Tala na yeke na yo
Nthawi yomaliza ndi Lachisanu
Nani na lobi na vendredi
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.