Looking for practical Tumbuka to Tswana phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Tumbuka phrase first, then the Tswana translation (Tswana) — 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 Tswana.
Tip: read the Tswana 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 Tswana 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
Dumela
Zikomo
Ke a leboga
Muli bwanji
Dumelang
Muli bwanji
Dumela mo afternoon
Muli bwanji
Dumela mo evening
Usiku wabwino
Borai
Tiwonana
Tsamaya sentle
Tsalani bwino
Tsamaya sentle
Dzina lanu ndi ndani?
O na le leina mang?
Dzina langa ndi John
Leina la me ke John
Muli bwanji?
O kae?
Ndine wokondwa kukumana nanu
Ke itumetse go kopana le wena
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Muli ndi Chingerezi?
A o bua Seisemane?(muli ndi chingerezi)
Sikuyankhula Hindi bwino
Ke sitwa go bua Hindi sentle(sikuyankhula hindi bwino)
Sindikumva
Ke sitwa go tlhaloganya(sindikumva)
Chonde yankhulani pang'ono
Tsweetswee bua ka bonako(chonde yankhulani pang'ono)
Mungandiyankhulepo?
A o ka bo o bua seo gape?(mungandiyankhulepo)
Kuti ndi kuti?
Borai bo kae?(kuti ndi kuti)
Ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu?
Ke tshela jang go ya borai jwa motse?(ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu)
Pita kumanzere
Fetola go ya ka letlhako le letona(pita kumanzere)
Pita kumanja
Fetola go ya ka letlhako le lebaganeng(pita kumanja)
Pita mwendo
Tswelela ka fao(pita mwendo)
Ndi ndalama zingati?
Gaeletsi e bokae?(ndi ndalama zingati)
Tiketi imodzi, chonde
Tikit e le nngwe, tsweetswee(tiketi imodzi, chonde)
Ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano?
A ke kgole go tswa fano?(ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano)
Ndakhalapo
Ke a latlhela(ndakhalapo)
Ndingatengere kuti kuti SIM card?
Borai ke ka fao ke ka rekang SIM card?(ndingatengere kuti kuti sim card)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Iye
Ee
Ayi
Nnyaa
Pang'ono
Mafoko
Ndikugwirizana
Ke a dumela
Sindikugwirizana
Ke sitwa go dumela
Ichi chimaoneka bwino
Seo se utlwisa molemo
Muli ndi chiyani choti mumaganize?
O akanya eng?
Mungandithandize?
O ka nthusa?
Ndikufuna thandizo
Ke tlhoka thuso
Dikirani pang’ono
Emisa motsotso
Ndikupemphera
Ke maswabi
Palibe vutoli
Ga go na bothata
Zikomo
A re amogele
Tsiku lobadwa labwino
Tlhogomelo e e monate
Pita bwino pa ulendo
O seka wa tsamaea ka bolokegong
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Kukakhala kuti chiteshi cha njinga?
Ke kae borai jwa terene?(ke kae borai jwa terene)
Kukakhala kuti malo otchinga basi?
Ke kae borai jwa boso?(ke kae borai jwa boso)
Ndi chigawo chiti?
Ke phetogo efe?(ke phetogo efe)
Nanga nthawi itangopita?
Nako efe e tlogang?(nako efe e tlogang)
Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera?
A ke tsela e e siameng?(a ke tsela e e siameng)
Iyi ndi pafupi apa
E kgaogang fa(e kgaogang fa)
Iyi ndi kutali ndi apa
E le kgakala le fa(e le kgakala le fa)
Mungandionetse pa chithunzi?
O ka nthusa go bontsha mo mape?(o ka nthusa go bontsha mo mape)
Chimitsa apa, chonde
Emisa fa, tsweetswee(emisa fa, tsweetswee)
Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji?
E tsaya nako e kae?(e tsaya nako e kae)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Iyi ikuguliradi chingwe?
Ke bokae?(ke bo kae?)
Iyi ndi mtengo wopusa
Seo ke se expensive(se ke se expensive)
Muli ndi chinthu chochepa mtengo?
A o na le sengwe se se cheap?(a o na le sengwe se se cheap?)
Ningathe kulipira ndi khadi?
Na nka lefa ka khadi?(na nka lefa ka khadi?)
Ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri
Ke kopa tafole ya babedi(ke kopa tafole ya babedi)
Chikalata, chonde
Bille, tsweetswee(bille, tsweetswee)
Ntchito ikuphatikizidwa?
Na tshebeletso e akaretswe?(na tshebeletso e akaretswe?)
Ndine wopanda nyama
Ke movegetarian(ke mo vegetarian)
Chonde, osati chakudya chothira
A re na le dijo tse di spicy, tsweetswee(a re na le dijo tse di spicy, tsweetswee)
Iyi ndi yokoma
Se ke se monate(se ke se monate)
Ningathe kupeza menyu?
Na nka nna le menu?(na nka nna le menu?)
Galasi ya madzi, chonde
Glasi ya metsi, tsweetswee(glasi ya metsi, tsweetswee)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Fufuzani polisi
Bua le mapolesa
Fufuzani ambulansi
Bua le ambulance
Ndikufuna dokotala
Ke tlhoka ngaka
Ndikuwona bwino
Ke ikutlwa ke sitwa
Ndine wosowa ma groundnuts
Ke na le allergy go peanuts
Kuti ndi chiyani chachikondi?
Hospitale e kgethegileng e kae?
Kuli kuuma apa
Go botlhoko fa
Ndasowa pasipoti yangu
Ke sitwa passport ya me
Mungafufuze hotelo yanga?
O ka bua le hotele ya me?
Thandizani!
Thusa!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Ndalumba kukumana nanu
Ke itumetse go kopana le wena
Tiyeni tiwoneke pa nthawi
A re beye ngwaga ya kopano
Nthawi yiti ikukugwirirani ntchito?
Nako efe e go thusang?
Ndidzatumiza lipoti lero
Ke tla romela reporteng gompieno
Tingathe kulankhula mawa?
A re ka bua ka borai?
Chonde onani fayilo yolembedwa
Tsweetswee, etse fa faele e amanang
Zikomo chifukwa cha nthawi yanu
Ke a leboga ka nako ya gago
Ndikuyembekezera kugwira ntchito nanu
Ke itumelela go dira le wena
Mungathe kuthetsa mfundo imeneyi?
A o ka tlhalosa ntlha eo?
Nditenge nthawi ndikubwerereni
A ke boele go wena
Nthawi yomaliza ndi Lachisanu
Nako ya go fela ke Labohlano
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.