Looking for practical Tumbuka to Tamazight phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Tumbuka phrase first, then the Tamazight translation (Tamazight) — 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 Tamazight.
Tip: when a Tamazight 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 Tamazight 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
Azul(azul)
Zikomo
Tanemmirt(tanemmirt)
Muli bwanji
Sbah lkhir(sbah lkhir)
Muli bwanji
Nhar lkhir(nhar lkhir)
Muli bwanji
Mrahba(mrahba)
Usiku wabwino
Lila saïda(lila saïda)
Tiwonana
Nqra wul(nqra wul)
Tsalani bwino
Besslama(besslama)
Dzina lanu ndi ndani?
Mekka isem-ik?(mekka isem-ik)
Dzina langa ndi John
Isem-iyi John(isem-iyi John)
Muli bwanji?
Mekka tzemre?(mekka tzemre)
Ndine wokondwa kukumana nanu
Safi nniḍen(safi nniḍen)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Muli ndi Chingerezi?
Tzziɣ ad tḥeddar ɣef l'anglais?(tzziɣ ad tḥeddar gef l'anglais)
Sikuyankhula Hindi bwino
Ur tḥeddar ɣef l'hindi d-ɣer(ur tḥeddar gef l'hindi d-ɣer)
Sindikumva
Ur nḥemmer(ur nḥemmer)
Chonde yankhulani pang'ono
S'il te plaît, tḥeddar ssiɣ(s'il te plaît, tḥeddar ssiɣ)
Mungandiyankhulepo?
Ma tḥeddar aḥiḍ?(ma tḥeddar aḥiḍ)
Kuti ndi kuti?
Wul is tazart?(wul is tazart)
Ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu?
Mara ad nḥemmleḍ ɣef l'midant?(mara ad nḥemmleḍ gef l'midant)
Pita kumanzere
Tzziɣ ɣef l'berra(tzziɣ gef l'berra)
Pita kumanja
Tzziɣ ɣef l'yem(tzziɣ gef l'yem)
Pita mwendo
Ssaḍ ɣef l'ḥeqq(ssaḍ gef l'ḥeqq)
Ndi ndalama zingati?
Mara d-ḥeqq ɣef l'khedma?(mara d-ḥeqq gef l'khedma)
Tiketi imodzi, chonde
Ticket waḥid, s'il te plaît(ticket waḥid, s'il te plaît)
Ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano?
Ma d-ɣer ɣef wul?(ma d-ɣer gef wul)
Ndakhalapo
Nek d-ɣer(nek d-ɣer)
Ndingatengere kuti kuti SIM card?
Wul aḍ nḍiḍ SIM?(wul aḍ nḍiḍ SIM)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Iye
Ih
Ayi
Ula
Pang'ono
Mekkan
Ndikugwirizana
Nekni d ameqran
Sindikugwirizana
Ula d ameqran
Ichi chimaoneka bwino
Ala yid ihi
Muli ndi chiyani choti mumaganize?
Ma yid ihi?
Mungandithandize?
Ma tzemregh ad tazmert-iyi?
Ndikufuna thandizo
Nekni d tazmert
Dikirani pang’ono
Ssa ad tzemregh
Ndikupemphera
Nekni d ameksa
Palibe vutoli
Ula d tazmert
Zikomo
Tawuri
Tsiku lobadwa labwino
Aslema n tazmert
Pita bwino pa ulendo
Suffi d amezruy n tazmert
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Kukakhala kuti chiteshi cha njinga?
Wulaw n tizi n taddart?(wulaw n tizi n taddart)
Kukakhala kuti malo otchinga basi?
Wulaw n tizi n bus?(wulaw n tizi n bus)
Ndi chigawo chiti?
Mara tizi?(mara tizi)
Nanga nthawi itangopita?
Aman yebda?(aman yebda)
Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera?
Ihi, d wayen n tazmert?(ihi, d wayen n tazmert)
Iyi ndi pafupi apa
Ihi, d amezwaru(ihi, d amezwaru)
Iyi ndi kutali ndi apa
Ihi, d tazmert(ihi, d tazmert)
Mungandionetse pa chithunzi?
Ttawwi t-wali di tmazirt?(ttawwi t-wali di tmazirt)
Chimitsa apa, chonde
Ssa di tazmert, s'il te plaît(ssa di tazmert)
Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji?
Mara yebda?(mara yebda)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Iyi ikuguliradi chingwe?
Iḥed nniḍen?(iḥed nniḍen)
Iyi ndi mtengo wopusa
Aḍu yella aḥil(aḍu yella aḥil)
Muli ndi chinthu chochepa mtengo?
Ma yella ḥeqq nniḍen?(ma yella ḥeqq nniḍen)
Ningathe kulipira ndi khadi?
Nekki nḥed n wigi?(nekki nḥed n wigi)
Ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri
Nekki nḥeb tazrigt n ddus(nekki nḥeb tazrigt n ddus)
Chikalata, chonde
Iḍeḍ, lla yella(iḍeḍ, lla yella)
Ntchito ikuphatikizidwa?
Ma yella tazrigt?(ma yella tazrigt)
Ndine wopanda nyama
Nekki d vegetarian(nekki d vegetarian)
Chonde, osati chakudya chothira
Ula d akken, lla yella(ula d akken, lla yella)
Iyi ndi yokoma
Aḍu yella amezruy(aḍu yella amezruy)
Ningathe kupeza menyu?
Nekki nḥeb tazrigt?(nekki nḥeb tazrigt)
Galasi ya madzi, chonde
Aḍu n waman, lla yella(aḍu n waman, lla yella)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Fufuzani polisi
Ssi l-police(ssi l-police)
Fufuzani ambulansi
Ssi l-ambulance(ssi l-ambulance)
Ndikufuna dokotala
Nekkin doctor(nekkin doctor)
Ndikuwona bwino
Nekkin yid(nekkin yid)
Ndine wosowa ma groundnuts
Nekkin agdud n tazart(nekkin agdud n tazart)
Kuti ndi chiyani chachikondi?
Wul is-sid n uḍar?(wul is-sid n uḍar)
Kuli kuuma apa
Ihdden hna(ihdden hna)
Ndasowa pasipoti yangu
Rraḍt pasport-i(rraḍt pasport-i)
Mungafufuze hotelo yanga?
Ma tssi l-hotel-i?(ma tssi l-hotel-i)
Thandizani!
Ayd!(ayd)
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Ndalumba kukumana nanu
Aḥlan, tḥemmleḍ(Ahlan, thammled)
Tiyeni tiwoneke pa nthawi
Neddu yid n tazmert(Neddu id n tazmert)
Nthawi yiti ikukugwirirani ntchito?
Mā yid tḥemmleḍ?(Ma id thammled?)
Ndidzatumiza lipoti lero
Nekka ad ssin yid n tazmert lḥeqq(Nekka ad ssin id n tazmert lhaqq)
Tingathe kulankhula mawa?
Nekka nḥeddru g tomorrow?(Nekka nhedru g tomorrow?)
Chonde onani fayilo yolembedwa
S'il te plaît, ḥeḍḍa yid n file(Sil te plait, hedha id n file)
Zikomo chifukwa cha nthawi yanu
Tanemmirt i wakkas n tazrigt(Tanemmirt i wakkas n tazrigt)
Ndikuyembekezera kugwira ntchito nanu
Nekka nḥemmel ad nḥeddru s'k(Nekka nhemel ad nhedru s'k)
Mungathe kuthetsa mfundo imeneyi?
Ma tḥemmleḍ aḥḍar yid?(Ma thammled ahdar id?)
Nditenge nthawi ndikubwerereni
Nekka ad nḥemmel ḍi s'k(Nekka ad nhemel di s'k)
Nthawi yomaliza ndi Lachisanu
Tazmert n timeḍi d Friday(Tazmert n timidi d Friday)
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.