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Common Tumbuka to Tetum phrases

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

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

Tip: read the Tetum 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 Tetum 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

    Olá

  2. Zikomo

    Obrigadu

  3. Muli bwanji

    Bondia

  4. Muli bwanji

    Bona tarde

  5. Muli bwanji

    Bona noite

  6. Usiku wabwino

    Bona noite

  7. Tiwonana

    Ami hanesan

  8. Tsalani bwino

    Adeus

  9. Dzina lanu ndi ndani?

    Quale naran ida?

  10. Dzina langa ndi John

    Naran hau John.

  11. Muli bwanji?

    Kona ba o?

  12. Ndine wokondwa kukumana nanu

    Diak ba halo ho o.

Useful phrases for travellers

Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.

  1. Muli ndi Chingerezi?

    Keta fala Inglês? (muli ndi chingerezi)

  2. Sikuyankhula Hindi bwino

    Hau la fala Hindi diak. (sikuyankhula hindi bwino)

  3. Sindikumva

    Hau la hatene. (sindikumva)

  4. Chonde yankhulani pang'ono

    Favor fala ba moris. (chonde yankhulani pang'ono)

  5. Mungandiyankhulepo?

    Keta bele fala fali? (mungandiyankhulepo)

  6. Kuti ndi kuti?

    Onde mak banheira? (kuti ndi kuti)

  7. Ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu?

    Kona ne'ebe hau bele baa sentru cidade? (ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu)

  8. Pita kumanzere

    Virar ba hadau. (pita kumanzere)

  9. Pita kumanja

    Virar ba direita. (pita kumanja)

  10. Pita mwendo

    Baa diretamente. (pita mwendo)

  11. Ndi ndalama zingati?

    Iha ne'e barak? (ndi ndalama zingati)

  12. Tiketi imodzi, chonde

    Ticket ida, favor. (tiketi imodzi, chonde)

  13. Ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano?

    Iha ne'e laran ka? (ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano)

  14. Ndakhalapo

    Hau nune'e. (ndakhalapo)

  15. Ndingatengere kuti kuti SIM card?

    Onde mak hau bele compra SIM card? (ndingatengere kuti kuti sim card)

Everyday conversation

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

  1. Iye

    Sim

  2. Ayi

    La

  3. Pang'ono

    Talvez

  4. Ndikugwirizana

    Hau hakarak

  5. Sindikugwirizana

    Hau la hakarak

  6. Ichi chimaoneka bwino

    Nia mak diak

  7. Muli ndi chiyani choti mumaganize?

    Ita nian ideia sa?

  8. Mungandithandize?

    Mak bele ajuda hau?

  9. Ndikufuna thandizo

    Hau precisa ajuda

  10. Dikirani pang’ono

    Hakarak momentu

  11. Ndikupemphera

    Hau mós

  12. Palibe vutoli

    La problema

  13. Zikomo

    Parabens

  14. Tsiku lobadwa labwino

    Parabens ba aniversario

  15. Pita bwino pa ulendo

    Hau haruka viagen diak

Directions and getting around

Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.

  1. Kukakhala kuti chiteshi cha njinga?

    Onde está a estacão de trem? (Onde está a estacão de trem?)

  2. Kukakhala kuti malo otchinga basi?

    Onde está a paragem de autocarro? (Onde está a paragem de autocarro?)

  3. Ndi chigawo chiti?

    Iha ne'e plataforma sa'e? (Iha ne'e plataforma sa'e?)

  4. Nanga nthawi itangopita?

    Hora ne'e sai? (Hora ne'e sai?)

  5. Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera?

    Ema ne'e dalan certo ka? (Ema ne'e dalan certo ka?)

  6. Iyi ndi pafupi apa

    Iha ne'e perto (Iha ne'e perto)

  7. Iyi ndi kutali ndi apa

    Iha ne'e laran (Iha ne'e laran)

  8. Mungandionetse pa chithunzi?

    Kona ba mapa? (Kona ba mapa?)

  9. Chimitsa apa, chonde

    Parar iha ne'e, favor (Parar iha ne'e, favor)

  10. Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji?

    Kona tempu hira? (Kona tempu hira?)

Shopping and dining

Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.

  1. Iyi ikuguliradi chingwe?

    Ita nia presu sa'o? (ita nia presu sao?)

  2. Iyi ndi mtengo wopusa

    Esa mak baratu demais. (iyi ndi mtengo wopusa)

  3. Muli ndi chinthu chochepa mtengo?

    Ita iha coisa baratu seluk? (muli ndi chinthu chochepa mtengo)

  4. Ningathe kulipira ndi khadi?

    Posu ka la, hau bele paga ba kart? (ningathe kulipira ndi khadi)

  5. Ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri

    Hau hakarak mesa ba rua. (ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri)

  6. Chikalata, chonde

    Fatu, por favor. (chikalata, chonde)

  7. Ntchito ikuphatikizidwa?

    Servisu iha ka? (ntchito ikuphatikizidwa)

  8. Ndine wopanda nyama

    Hau vegetarian. (ndine wopanda nyama)

  9. Chonde, osati chakudya chothira

    Labele comida spicy, por favor. (chonde, osati chakudya chothira)

  10. Iyi ndi yokoma

    Esa mak saboru. (iyi ndi yokoma)

  11. Ningathe kupeza menyu?

    Posu ka la, hau bele hakarak menu? (ningathe kupeza menyu)

  12. Galasi ya madzi, chonde

    Kopa agua, por favor. (galasi ya madzi, chonde)

Emergencies and health

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

  1. Fufuzani polisi

    Liga ba polícia

  2. Fufuzani ambulansi

    Liga ba ambulansia

  3. Ndikufuna dokotala

    Hau precisa doutor

  4. Ndikuwona bwino

    Hau sente sick

  5. Ndine wosowa ma groundnuts

    Hau iha alergia ba karu

  6. Kuti ndi chiyani chachikondi?

    Onde iha ospitál ne'ebe mais perto?

  7. Kuli kuuma apa

    Ita hakarak iha ne'e

  8. Ndasowa pasipoti yangu

    Hau hasai passport

  9. Mungafufuze hotelo yanga?

    O pode liga ba hotel hau?

  10. Thandizani!

    Help!

Work and business

Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.

  1. Ndalumba kukumana nanu

    Hau kontente hatoo ho ita

  2. Tiyeni tiwoneke pa nthawi

    Kita halo reunião

  3. Nthawi yiti ikukugwirirani ntchito?

    Hora ne'ebe mak diak ba ita?

  4. Ndidzatumiza lipoti lero

    Hau sei hatoo relatoriu ona

  5. Tingathe kulankhula mawa?

    Ita bele halo conversa fali?

  6. Chonde onani fayilo yolembedwa

    Favor buka arquivo ne'e iha

  7. Zikomo chifukwa cha nthawi yanu

    Obrigadu ba ita-nia tempu

  8. Ndikuyembekezera kugwira ntchito nanu

    Hau hakarak trabalha ho ita

  9. Mungathe kuthetsa mfundo imeneyi?

    Ita bele klarifika ponto ne'e?

  10. Nditenge nthawi ndikubwerereni

    Hau sei volta ba ita

  11. Nthawi yomaliza ndi Lachisanu

    Prazo mak sexta-feira

Time, days and numbers

Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.

  1. Ndi chiyani nthawi?

    Hora ne'ebe? (hora ne'be)

  2. Ndi saa tatu

    Iha hora tolu. (iha hora tolu)

  3. Lero

    Oin loron (oin loron)

  4. Maŵa

    Amanhã (amanha)

  5. Kale

    Kona ba (kona ba)

  6. Lolemba

    Segunda-feira (segunda-feira)

  7. Lachiwiri

    Terça-feira (terca-feira)

  8. Lachitatu

    Quarta-feira (quarta-feira)

  9. Mmodzi

    Ida (ida)

  10. Awiri

    Dua (dua)

  11. Atatu

    Tolu (tolu)

  12. Kumi

    Sira (sira)

  13. Zana

    Nehun (nehun)

  14. Pachikhalidwe

    Metade (metade)

  15. Zambiri

    Lain (lain)

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