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Common Tumbuka to Shona phrases

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

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

Tip: pick five Shona 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 Shona 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 gare gare

  8. Tsalani bwino

    Sara zvakanaka

  9. Dzina lanu ndi ndani?

    Zita rako ndiani?

  10. Dzina langa ndi John

    Zita rangu ndiri John

  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? (unotaura chirungu here)

  2. Sikuyankhula Hindi bwino

    Handitauri Hindi zvakanaka (handitauri hindi zvakanaka)

  3. Sindikumva

    Handinzwisisi (handinzwisisi)

  4. Chonde yankhulani pang'ono

    Ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma (ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma)

  5. Mungandiyankhulepo?

    Ungazvitaura zvakare here? (ungazvitaura zvakare here)

  6. Kuti ndi kuti?

    Chimbuzi chiripi? (chimbuzi chiripi)

  7. Ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu?

    Ndingasvika sei kumusoro kwemaguta? (ndingasvika sei kumusoro kwemaguta)

  8. Pita kumanzere

    Tendeuka kuruboshwe (tendeuka kuruboshwe)

  9. Pita kumanja

    Tendeuka kurudyi (tendeuka kurudyi)

  10. Pita mwendo

    Enda mberi (enda mberi)

  11. Ndi ndalama zingati?

    Mari yechikwereti ingani? (mari yechikwereti ingani)

  12. Tiketi imodzi, chonde

    Tikiti imwe, ndapota (tikiti imwe, ndapota)

  13. Ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano?

    Iko kure here kubva pano? (iko kure here kubva pano)

  14. Ndakhalapo

    Ndakakanganiswa (ndakakanganiswa)

  15. Ndingatengere kuti kuti SIM card?

    Ndingatenga kupi kadhi reSIM? (ndingatenga kupi kadhi reSIM)

Everyday conversation

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

  1. Iye

    Ehe

  2. Ayi

    Kwete

  3. Pang'ono

    Pangove

  4. Ndikugwirizana

    Ndinobvumirana

  5. Sindikugwirizana

    Handibvumirane

  6. Ichi chimaoneka bwino

    Izvozvo zvinonzwika zvakanaka

  7. Muli ndi chiyani choti mumaganize?

    Unofungei?

  8. Mungandithandize?

    Unogona kundibatsira here?

  9. Ndikufuna thandizo

    Ndiri kuda rubatsiro

  10. Dikirani pang’ono

    Mirira kwechinguva

  11. Ndikupemphera

    Ndine urombo

  12. Palibe vutoli

    Hapana chakaipa

  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 kune chiteshi chechitima? (Kupi kune chiteshi chechitima?)

  2. Kukakhala kuti malo otchinga basi?

    Kupi kune chiteshi chebhazi? (Kupi kune chiteshi chebhazi?)

  3. Ndi chigawo chiti?

    Ndeipi puratifomu? (Ndeipi puratifomu?)

  4. Nanga nthawi itangopita?

    Inobva nenguva ipi? (Inobva nenguva ipi?)

  5. Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera?

    Iyi ndiyo nzira chaiyo here? (Iyi ndiyo nzira chaiyo here?)

  6. Iyi ndi pafupi apa

    Iri pedyo pano (Iri pedyo pano)

  7. Iyi ndi kutali ndi apa

    Iri kure nepano (Iri kure nepano)

  8. Mungandionetse pa chithunzi?

    Unogona kundiratidza pamepu here? (Unogona kundiratidza pamepu here?)

  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 here? (Zvinodhura here?)

  2. Iyi ndi mtengo wopusa

    Izvozvo zvinodhura kwazvo (iyi ndi mtengo wopusa)

  3. Muli ndi chinthu chochepa mtengo?

    Une chimwe chinhu chiri pamutengo wakaderera here? (muli ndi chinthu chochepa mtengo)

  4. Ningathe kulipira ndi khadi?

    Ndingabhadhara nekadhi here? (ningathe kulipira ndi khadi)

  5. Ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri

    Ndingada tafura yevaviri (ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri)

  6. Chikalata, chonde

    Chikwereti, ndapota (chikalata, chonde)

  7. Ntchito ikuphatikizidwa?

    Sevhisi iri mukati here? (ntchito ikuphatikizidwa)

  8. Ndine wopanda nyama

    Ndiri muvegetarian (ndine wopanda nyama)

  9. Chonde, osati chakudya chothira

    Hapana chikafu chinopisa, ndapota (chonde, osati chakudya chothira)

  10. Iyi ndi yokoma

    Izvi zvinonaka (iyi ndi yokoma)

  11. Ningathe kupeza menyu?

    Ndingawana menyu here? (ningathe kupeza menyu)

  12. Galasi ya madzi, chonde

    Girazi remvura, ndapota (galasi ya madzi, chonde)

Emergencies and health

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

  1. Fufuzani polisi

    Fonera mapurisa

  2. Fufuzani ambulansi

    Fonera amburensi

  3. Ndikufuna dokotala

    Ndiri kuda chiremba

  4. Ndikuwona bwino

    Ndiri kunzwa kusuruvara

  5. Ndine wosowa ma groundnuts

    Ndine allergic kumapundu

  6. Kuti ndi chiyani chachikondi?

    Chii chiri pedyo nechipatara?

  7. Kuli kuuma apa

    Zvinorwadza pano

  8. Ndasowa pasipoti yangu

    Ndakakanganwa pasipoti yangu

  9. Mungafufuze hotelo yanga?

    Unogona here kufonera 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

    Ngatirongei musangano

  3. Nthawi yiti ikukugwirirani ntchito?

    Ndeipi nguva inokodzera kwauri?

  4. Ndidzatumiza lipoti lero

    Ndichatumira chirevo nhasi

  5. Tingathe kulankhula mawa?

    Tingataure mangwana here?

  6. Chonde onani fayilo yolembedwa

    Ndapota tarisai 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?

    Ungajekesei iyo pfungwa?

  10. Nditenge nthawi ndikubwerereni

    Ndichadzoka kwauri

  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? (N-dei-pi n-guh-wah?)

  2. Ndi saa tatu

    Iri pa3 (Ee-ree pah-tatu)

  3. Lero

    Nhasi (N-ha-see)

  4. Maŵa

    Mangwana (Mahn-gwah-nah)

  5. Kale

    Zuro (Zoo-roh)

  6. Lolemba

    Muvhuro (Moo-vhoo-roh)

  7. Lachiwiri

    Chipiri (Chee-pee-ree)

  8. Lachitatu

    Chitatu (Chee-tah-too)

  9. Mmodzi

    Imwe (Ee-mweh)

  10. Awiri

    Piri (Pee-ree)

  11. Atatu

    Tatu (Tah-too)

  12. Kumi

    Gumi (Goo-mee)

  13. Zana

    Zana (Zah-nah)

  14. Pachikhalidwe

    Hafu (Hah-foo)

  15. Zambiri

    Zvimwe (Zvee-mweh)

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