Looking for practical Tumbuka to Somali phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Tumbuka phrase first, then the Somali translation (Somali) — 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 Somali.
Tip: read the Somali 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 Somali 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
Salaan
Zikomo
Mahadsanid
Muli bwanji
Subax wanaagsan
Muli bwanji
Duhur wanaagsan
Muli bwanji
Habeen wanaagsan
Usiku wabwino
Habeen wanaagsan
Tiwonana
Ilaa dambe
Tsalani bwino
Nabad gelyo
Dzina lanu ndi ndani?
Magacaa maxay tahay?
Dzina langa ndi John
Magacaygu waa John
Muli bwanji?
Sidee tahay?
Ndine wokondwa kukumana nanu
Aad ayaan ugu faraxsanahay in aan ku arko
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Muli ndi Chingerezi?
Ma ku hadashaa Ingiriisi?(Ma ku hadashaa Ingiriisi?)
Sikuyankhula Hindi bwino
Hindi si fiican uma hadlo(sikuyankhula hindi bwino)
Sindikumva
Ma fahmin(sindikumva)
Chonde yankhulani pang'ono
Fadlan si tartiib ah u hadal(chonde yankhulani pang'ono)
Mungandiyankhulepo?
Ma ku celin kartaa?(mungandiyankhulepo)
Kuti ndi kuti?
Musqusha xaggee buu yaalaa?(kuti ndi kuti)
Ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu?
Sideen ku gaari karaa xarunta magaalada?(ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu)
Pita kumanzere
Bidix u leexo(pita kumanzere)
Pita kumanja
Midig u leexo(pita kumanja)
Pita mwendo
Toos u soco(pita mwendo)
Ndi ndalama zingati?
Immisa ayey tahay lacagta?(ndi ndalama zingati)
Tiketi imodzi, chonde
Hal tigidh, fadlan(tiketi imodzi, chonde)
Ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano?
Ma fog tahay halkan?(ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano)
Ndakhalapo
Waan lumay(ndakhalapo)
Ndingatengere kuti kuti SIM card?
Xaggee ka iibsan karaa kaarka SIM?(ndingatengere kuti kuti sim card)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Iye
Haa
Ayi
Maya
Pang'ono
Malaha
Ndikugwirizana
Waan ku raacsanahay
Sindikugwirizana
Waan ku raacsaneyn
Ichi chimaoneka bwino
Taasi waa wax fiican
Muli ndi chiyani choti mumaganize?
Maxaad u malaynaysaa?
Mungandithandize?
Ma i caawin kartaa?
Ndikufuna thandizo
Waxaan u baahanahay caawimaad
Dikirani pang’ono
Sug daqiiqad
Ndikupemphera
Waan ka xumahay
Palibe vutoli
Dhib malahan
Zikomo
Hambalyo
Tsiku lobadwa labwino
Dhalasho wacan
Pita bwino pa ulendo
Safar wanaagsan
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Kukakhala kuti chiteshi cha njinga?
Xagee buu tareenka jooga?
Kukakhala kuti malo otchinga basi?
Xagee buu basaska jooga?
Ndi chigawo chiti?
Keenka sidee buu yahay?
Nanga nthawi itangopita?
Goormee ayuu baxayaa?
Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera?
Ma tan saxda ah?
Iyi ndi pafupi apa
Waa halkan u dhow
Iyi ndi kutali ndi apa
Waa halkan fog
Mungandionetse pa chithunzi?
Ma ii muujin kartaa khariidada?
Chimitsa apa, chonde
Halkan joog, fadlan
Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji?
Immisa waqti ayey qaadaneysaa?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Iyi ikuguliradi chingwe?
Imisa ayuu ku kacayaa?(iyi ikuguliradi chingwe)
Iyi ndi mtengo wopusa
Taasi waa qaali aad u badan.(iyi ndi mtengo wopusa)
Muli ndi chinthu chochepa mtengo?
Ma haysta wax ka jaban?(muli ndi chinthu chochepa mtengo)
Ningathe kulipira ndi khadi?
Ma bixin karaa kaarka?(ningathe kulipira ndi khadi)
Ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri
Waxaan jeclaan lahaa miis laba qof ah.(ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri)