Looking for practical Tumbuka to Tuvan phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Tumbuka phrase first, then the Tuvan translation (Tuvan) — 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 Tuvan.
Tip: when a Tuvan 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 Tuvan 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
Салам(Salam)
Zikomo
Рахмат(Rakhmat)
Muli bwanji
Эртең менен(Erteŋ menen)
Muli bwanji
Кечи менен(Kechi menen)
Muli bwanji
Кечи менен(Kechi menen)
Usiku wabwino
Түнү менен(Tünü menen)
Tiwonana
Кийин көрүшөбүз(Kiin körişöbüz)
Tsalani bwino
Хош(Khosh)
Dzina lanu ndi ndani?
Сенин атың ким?(Senin atyŋ kim?)
Dzina langa ndi John
Менин атым Жон(Menin atyŋ Jon)
Muli bwanji?
Сен кандайсың?(Sen kandaysıŋ?)
Ndine wokondwa kukumana nanu
Сен менен таанышканыма кубанычтамын(Sen menen tañışqanıma kubanıçtamın)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Muli ndi Chingerezi?
Сиз инглиз тилинде сүйлөйсүзбү?(Siz ingliz tilinde süylöysüzbü?)
Sikuyankhula Hindi bwino
Мен хинди тилин жакшы сүйлөй албайм(Men khindi tilin zhakshy süylöy albaym)
Sindikumva
Мен түшүнбөйм(Men tüshünböym)
Chonde yankhulani pang'ono
Суранам, жай сүйлөңүз(Suranym, zhay süylöngüz)
Mungandiyankhulepo?
Сиз аны кайра айта аласызбы?(Siz any qayra ayta alasyzbı?)
Kuti ndi kuti?
Арык кайда?(Aryk kayda?)
Ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu?
Мен шаар борборуна кантип барам?(Men shaar borboruna kantip baram?)
Pita kumanzere
Солго буруңуз(Solgo buruñuz)
Pita kumanja
Оңго буруңуз(Ongo buruñuz)
Pita mwendo
Түз барат(Tüz barat)
Ndi ndalama zingati?
Такси акысы канча?(Taksi akysy kancha?)
Tiketi imodzi, chonde
Бир билет, суранам(Bir bilet, suranym)
Ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano?
Бул жерден алыспы?(Bul zherden alyspı?)
Ndakhalapo
Мен жоголдум(Men joholdum)
Ndingatengere kuti kuti SIM card?
Мен SIM карта кайдан сатып алам?(Men SIM karta kaydan satyp alam?)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Iye
Ээ(ee)
Ayi
Юк(yuk)
Pang'ono
Бәлки(bälki)
Ndikugwirizana
Мин риза(min riza)
Sindikugwirizana
Мин риза эмес(min riza emes)
Ichi chimaoneka bwino
Бу жакшы угулду(bu jakshy ugyldu)
Muli ndi chiyani choti mumaganize?
Сен эмне ойлойсуң?(sen emne oyloysung?)
Mungandithandize?
Сен мага жардам берерсиңби?(sen maga zardam berersingbi?)
Ndikufuna thandizo
Маңа жардам керек(maŋa zardam kereq)
Dikirani pang’ono
Бир аз күт(bir az küt)
Ndikupemphera
Кечир(kechir)
Palibe vutoli
Маселе жок(masele jok)
Zikomo
Куттуктайм(kuttuktaym)
Tsiku lobadwa labwino
Туулган күнүң менен!(tuulghan kününg menen!)
Pita bwino pa ulendo
Коопсуз саякат кыл(koopsooz sayakat qıl)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.