Looking for practical Tumbuka to Sesotho phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Tumbuka phrase first, then the Sesotho translation (Sesotho) — 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 Sesotho.
Tip: when a Sesotho 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 Sesotho 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
Lumelang
Zikomo
Kea leboha
Muli bwanji
Dumelang
Muli bwanji
Molo
Muli bwanji
Dumelang
Usiku wabwino
Borai
Tiwonana
Re tla kopana hamorao
Tsalani bwino
Tsamaya hantle
Dzina lanu ndi ndani?
O na le lebitso lefe?
Dzina langa ndi John
Lebitso la ka ke John
Muli bwanji?
O kae?
Ndine wokondwa kukumana nanu
Ke thabela ho kopana le wena
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Muli ndi Chingerezi?
Na u bua Senyesemane?(muli ndi chingerezi)
Sikuyankhula Hindi bwino
Ke sitwa ho bua Hindi hantle(sikuyankhula hindi bwino)
Sindikumva
Ke sitwa ho utloisisa(sindikumva)
Chonde yankhulani pang'ono
Ka kopo bua butle(chonde yankhulani pang'ono)
Mungandiyankhulepo?
Na u ka boela ua re?(mungandiyankhulepo)
Kuti ndi kuti?
Ntloana e kae?(kuti ndi kuti)
Ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu?
Ke etse joang ho ea bohareng ba toropo?(ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu)
Pita kumanzere
Fetola ho ea letsohong(pita kumanzere)
Pita kumanja
Fetola ho ea ka ho letona(pita kumanja)
Pita mwendo
Eya ka pela(pita mwendo)
Ndi ndalama zingati?
Chelete ea sekepe ke e kae?(ndi ndalama zingati)
Tiketi imodzi, chonde
Tiket e le 'ngoe, ka kopo(tiketi imodzi, chonde)
Ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano?
Na e hole le mona?(ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano)
Ndakhalapo
Ke lahlehile(ndakhalapo)
Ndingatengere kuti kuti SIM card?
Ke kae moo ke ka rekang kharejamo?(ndingatengere kuti kuti sim card)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Iye
Ee
Ayi
Che
Pang'ono
Mohlomong
Ndikugwirizana
Ke lumela
Sindikugwirizana
Ke sitwa
Ichi chimaoneka bwino
Seo se utloahala hantle
Muli ndi chiyani choti mumaganize?
O nahana eng?
Mungandithandize?
Na o ka nthusa?
Ndikufuna thandizo
Ke hloka thuso
Dikirani pang’ono
Emisa motsotso
Ndikupemphera
Ke maswabi
Palibe vutoli
Ha ho bothata
Zikomo
O amohelehile
Tsiku lobadwa labwino
Letsatsi le monate la tsoalo
Pita bwino pa ulendo
Ebe le tsamaea hantle
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Kukakhala kuti chiteshi cha njinga?
Ke kae seteishene sa terene?(ke kae seteishene sa terene)
Kukakhala kuti malo otchinga basi?
Ke kae borai?(ke kae borai)
Ndi chigawo chiti?
Ke sehlopha sefe?(ke sehlopha sefe)
Nanga nthawi itangopita?
Nako e kae e tlohang?(nako e kae e tlohang)
Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera?
Na ena ke tsela e nepahetseng?(na ena ke tsela e nepahetseng)
Iyi ndi pafupi apa
E haufi le mona(e haufi le mona)
Iyi ndi kutali ndi apa
E hole le mona(e hole le mona)
Mungandionetse pa chithunzi?
O ka mpontša ka mapeng?(o ka mpontša ka mapeng)
Chimitsa apa, chonde
Emisa mona, ka kopo(emisa mona, ka kopo)
Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji?
E nka nako e kae?(e nka nako e kae)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Iyi ikuguliradi chingwe?
Se kostang hakaale?(se kostang hakaale)
Iyi ndi mtengo wopusa
Seo ke se theko e phahameng(seo ke se theko e phahameng)
Muli ndi chinthu chochepa mtengo?
Na le na le eng e theko e tlase?(na le na le eng e theko e tlase)
Ningathe kulipira ndi khadi?
Na nka lefa ka kharete?(na nka lefa ka kharete)
Ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri
Ke batla tafole bakeng sa batho ba babeli(ke batla tafole bakeng sa batho ba babeli)
Chikalata, chonde
Bille, ka kopo(bille, ka kopo)
Ntchito ikuphatikizidwa?
Na ts'ebeletso e kenyelletsoe?(na ts'ebeletso e kenyelletsoe)
Ndine wopanda nyama
Ke moithuti oa meroho(ke moithuti oa meroho)
Chonde, osati chakudya chothira
Tse ling tse chesang, ka kopo(tse ling tse chesang, ka kopo)
Iyi ndi yokoma
Se monate(se monate)
Ningathe kupeza menyu?
Na nka fumana lenane la mealtime?(na nka fumana lenane la mealtime)
Galasi ya madzi, chonde
Khalase ea metsi, ka kopo(khalase ea metsi, ka kopo)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Fufuzani polisi
Calla mapolesa
Fufuzani ambulansi
Calla ambulance
Ndikufuna dokotala
Ke hloka ngaka
Ndikuwona bwino
Ke ikutloa ke sitwa
Ndine wosowa ma groundnuts
Ke na le allergy ho peanuts
Kuti ndi chiyani chachikondi?
Hospital e haufi e kae?
Kuli kuuma apa
Ho bohloko mona
Ndasowa pasipoti yangu
Ke lahlehetsoe ke passport
Mungafufuze hotelo yanga?
Na o ka bitsa hotele ea ka?
Thandizani!
Thusa!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Ndalumba kukumana nanu
Ke thabile ho kopana le uena
Tiyeni tiwoneke pa nthawi
A re etse kopano
Nthawi yiti ikukugwirirani ntchito?
Nako e kae e loketseng uena?
Ndidzatumiza lipoti lero
Ke tla romela rapoto kajeno
Tingathe kulankhula mawa?
Na re ka bua ka moso?
Chonde onani fayilo yolembedwa
Ka kopo, fumana faele e amanang
Zikomo chifukwa cha nthawi yanu
Kea leboha ka nako ea hau
Ndikuyembekezera kugwira ntchito nanu
Ke lebeletse ho sebetsa le uena
Mungathe kuthetsa mfundo imeneyi?
Na u ka hlakisa ntlha eo?
Nditenge nthawi ndikubwerereni
A ke tle ke u boele
Nthawi yomaliza ndi Lachisanu
Nako e felletseng ke Labohlano
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.