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Common Tumbuka to Tok Pisin phrases

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

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

Tip: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Tok Pisin-speaking trip in a few weeks.

Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Tumbuka to Tok Pisin 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

    Halo

  2. Zikomo

    Tenkyu

  3. Muli bwanji

    Gutpela moning

  4. Muli bwanji

    Gutpela apinun

  5. Muli bwanji

    Gutpela nait

  6. Usiku wabwino

    Gutpela nait

  7. Tiwonana

    Lukim yu bihain

  8. Tsalani bwino

    Gudbai

  9. Dzina lanu ndi ndani?

    Wanem nem bilong yu?

  10. Dzina langa ndi John

    Mi nem em John

  11. Muli bwanji?

    Yu stap gut?

  12. Ndine wokondwa kukumana nanu

    Gutpela long mitim yu

Useful phrases for travellers

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

  1. Muli ndi Chingerezi?

    Yu tok Pisin? (muli ndi chingerezi)

  2. Sikuyankhula Hindi bwino

    Mi no tok Hindi gut. (sikuyankhula hindi bwino)

  3. Sindikumva

    Mi no save. (sindikumva)

  4. Chonde yankhulani pang'ono

    Plis, tok liklik. (chonde yankhulani pang'ono)

  5. Mungandiyankhulepo?

    Yu ken tokim gen? (mungandiyankhulepo)

  6. Kuti ndi kuti?

    Wea toilet? (kuti ndi kuti)

  7. Ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu?

    Olsem wanem mi ken go long centa? (ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu)

  8. Pita kumanzere

    Taim yu go, tanim left. (pita kumanzere)

  9. Pita kumanja

    Taim yu go, tanim raet. (pita kumanja)

  10. Pita mwendo

    Go stret. (pita mwendo)

  11. Ndi ndalama zingati?

    Olsem wanem pris bilong fare? (ndi ndalama zingati)

  12. Tiketi imodzi, chonde

    Wan tiket, plis. (tiketi imodzi, chonde)

  13. Ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano?

    Em i long long wanem? (ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano)

  14. Ndakhalapo

    Mi lus. (ndakhalapo)

  15. Ndingatengere kuti kuti SIM card?

    Wea mi ken baim SIM card? (ndingatengere kuti kuti sim card)

Everyday conversation

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

  1. Iye

    Yes

  2. Ayi

    No

  3. Pang'ono

    Baibe

  4. Ndikugwirizana

    Mi agri

  5. Sindikugwirizana

    Mi no agri

  6. Ichi chimaoneka bwino

    Em i gut

  7. Muli ndi chiyani choti mumaganize?

    Yu ting wanem?

  8. Mungandithandize?

    Yu inap helpim mi?

  9. Ndikufuna thandizo

    Mi nidim help

  10. Dikirani pang’ono

    Wai liklik

  11. Ndikupemphera

    Mi sori

  12. Palibe vutoli

    No problem

  13. Zikomo

    Tenkyu

  14. Tsiku lobadwa labwino

    Hapi baisde

  15. Pita bwino pa ulendo

    Lukaut long trip

Directions and getting around

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

  1. Kukakhala kuti chiteshi cha njinga?

    Wea em train stesen?

  2. Kukakhala kuti malo otchinga basi?

    Wea em bus stop?

  3. Ndi chigawo chiti?

    Wea em platform?

  4. Nanga nthawi itangopita?

    Wanem taim em i likim?

  5. Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera?

    Dispela em stret rot?

  6. Iyi ndi pafupi apa

    Em i klostu hia

  7. Iyi ndi kutali ndi apa

    Em i longwe long hia

  8. Mungandionetse pa chithunzi?

    Yu inap soim mi long map?

  9. Chimitsa apa, chonde

    Stap hia, plis

  10. Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji?

    Hao long em i tek?

Shopping and dining

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

  1. Iyi ikuguliradi chingwe?

    Hamamas dispela i kost? (hamamas = how much)

  2. Iyi ndi mtengo wopusa

    Dispela i tu mipela (mipela = expensive)

  3. Muli ndi chinthu chochepa mtengo?

    Yu gat wanpela samting i nap? (nap = cheaper)

  4. Ningathe kulipira ndi khadi?

    Inap mi peim long kad? (peim = pay)

  5. Ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri

    Mi laikim wanpela tebol bilong tupela (ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri)

  6. Chikalata, chonde

    Bil, plis (chikalata, chonde)

  7. Ntchito ikuphatikizidwa?

    Service i stap insait? (stap = included)

  8. Ndine wopanda nyama

    Mi vegetarian (ndine wopanda nyama)

  9. Chonde, osati chakudya chothira

    No spicy kaikai, plis (chonde, osati chakudya chothira)

  10. Iyi ndi yokoma

    Dispela i naispela (iyi ndi yokoma)

  11. Ningathe kupeza menyu?

    Inap mi kisim menu? (ningathe kupeza menyu)

  12. Galasi ya madzi, chonde

    Wanpela glas bilong wota, plis (galasi ya madzi, chonde)

Emergencies and health

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

  1. Fufuzani polisi

    Kolim polis

  2. Fufuzani ambulansi

    Kolim ambulans

  3. Ndikufuna dokotala

    Mi nidim dokta

  4. Ndikuwona bwino

    Mi sik

  5. Ndine wosowa ma groundnuts

    Mi gat alergi long pinat

  6. Kuti ndi chiyani chachikondi?

    Wea hospital i klostu?

  7. Kuli kuuma apa

    I penim hia

  8. Ndasowa pasipoti yangu

    Mi lusim paspot

  9. Mungafufuze hotelo yanga?

    Yu inap kolim hotel bilong mi?

  10. Thandizani!

    Help!

Work and business

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

  1. Ndalumba kukumana nanu

    Nais long mitim yu

  2. Tiyeni tiwoneke pa nthawi

    Makim wanpela miting

  3. Nthawi yiti ikukugwirirani ntchito?

    Wanem taim i gut long yu?

  4. Ndidzatumiza lipoti lero

    Mi bai sendim report tude

  5. Tingathe kulankhula mawa?

    Inap bilong yumi tokim tede?

  6. Chonde onani fayilo yolembedwa

    Plis lukim fael i atach

  7. Zikomo chifukwa cha nthawi yanu

    Tenkyu long yu taim

  8. Ndikuyembekezera kugwira ntchito nanu

    Mi lukim forward long wok wantaim yu

  9. Mungathe kuthetsa mfundo imeneyi?

    Yu inap kliaim dispela point?

  10. Nditenge nthawi ndikubwerereni

    Lukim mi bai kam bek long yu

  11. Nthawi yomaliza ndi Lachisanu

    Deidlain i Fraida

Time, days and numbers

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

  1. Ndi chiyani nthawi?

    Dispela taim em i wanem? (Ndi chiyani nthawi?)

  2. Ndi saa tatu

    Em i tri oklok

  3. Lero

    Tude

  4. Maŵa

    Tumora

  5. Kale

    Yestede

  6. Lolemba

    Mande

  7. Lachiwiri

    Tiusde

  8. Lachitatu

    Wensde

  9. Mmodzi

    Wan

  10. Awiri

    Tu

  11. Atatu

    Tri

  12. Kumi

    Ten

  13. Zana

    Wan hanred

  14. Pachikhalidwe

    Haf

  15. Zambiri

    Mo

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