Translate now

Common Tumbuka to Xhosa phrases

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

← Back to Tumbuka to Xhosa Translator

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

Tip: read the Xhosa 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 Xhosa 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

    Molo

  2. Zikomo

    Enkosi

  3. Muli bwanji

    Ubusuku obuhle

  4. Muli bwanji

    Ubusuku obuhle

  5. Muli bwanji

    Ubusuku obuhle

  6. Usiku wabwino

    Lala ngoxolo

  7. Tiwonana

    Ndiza kubonana kamva

  8. Tsalani bwino

    Hamba kakuhle

  9. Dzina lanu ndi ndani?

    Ngubani igama lakho?

  10. Dzina langa ndi John

    Igama lam nguJohn

  11. Muli bwanji?

    Unjani?

  12. Ndine wokondwa kukumana nanu

    Kuhle ukukwazi

Useful phrases for travellers

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

  1. Muli ndi Chingerezi?

    Uthetha isiNgesi? (muli ndi chingerezi)

  2. Sikuyankhula Hindi bwino

    Andithethi isiHindi kakuhle (sikuyankhula hindi bwino)

  3. Sindikumva

    Andiqondi (sindikumva)

  4. Chonde yankhulani pang'ono

    Nceda thethe kancinci (chonde yankhulani pang'ono)

  5. Mungandiyankhulepo?

    Ungakuphinda lokho? (mungandiyankhulepo)

  6. Kuti ndi kuti?

    Iphi ibhafu? (kuti ndi kuti)

  7. Ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu?

    Ndingafika njani kwi mveliso ye dolophu? (ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu)

  8. Pita kumanzere

    Jolisa kwesokunxele (pita kumanzere)

  9. Pita kumanja

    Jolisa kwesokudla (pita kumanja)

  10. Pita mwendo

    Hamba ngqo (pita mwendo)

  11. Ndi ndalama zingati?

    Iholo ingakanani? (ndi ndalama zingati)

  12. Tiketi imodzi, chonde

    Ithikithi elinye, nceda (tiketi imodzi, chonde)

  13. Ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano?

    Ingakanani ukusuka apha? (ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano)

  14. Ndakhalapo

    Ndilahlekile (ndakhalapo)

  15. Ndingatengere kuti kuti SIM card?

    Nphi endinokuthenga khona iSIM card? (ndingatengere kuti kuti sim card)

Everyday conversation

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

  1. Iye

    Ewe

  2. Ayi

    Hayi

  3. Pang'ono

    Mhlawumbi

  4. Ndikugwirizana

    Ndiyavuma

  5. Sindikugwirizana

    Andivumi

  6. Ichi chimaoneka bwino

    Okuhle

  7. Muli ndi chiyani choti mumaganize?

    Ucinga ntoni?

  8. Mungandithandize?

    Ungandinceda?

  9. Ndikufuna thandizo

    Ndidinga uncedo

  10. Dikirani pang’ono

    Linda umzuzu

  11. Ndikupemphera

    Ndicela uxolo

  12. Palibe vutoli

    Akukho ngxaki

  13. Zikomo

    Wamkelekile

  14. Tsiku lobadwa labwino

    Usuku olumnandi lokuzalwa

  15. Pita bwino pa ulendo

    Uhambo olukhuselekileyo

Directions and getting around

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

  1. Kukakhala kuti chiteshi cha njinga?

    Uphi umphakathi wemithwalo? (uphi umphakathi wemithwalo)

  2. Kukakhala kuti malo otchinga basi?

    Uphi umphakathi weebhasi? (uphi umphakathi weebhasi)

  3. Ndi chigawo chiti?

    Yeyiphi iphondo? (yeyiphi iphondo)

  4. Nanga nthawi itangopita?

    Ihamba ngexesha elingakanani? (ihamba ngexesha elingakanani)

  5. Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera?

    Ngaba le yindlela efanelekileyo? (ngaba le yindlela efanelekileyo)

  6. Iyi ndi pafupi apa

    Ikho kufutshane apha

  7. Iyi ndi kutali ndi apa

    Ikude apha

  8. Mungandionetse pa chithunzi?

    Ungandibonisa kwiimeko? (ungandibonisa kwiimeko)

  9. Chimitsa apa, chonde

    Misa apha, nceda

  10. Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji?

    Ithatha ixesha elingakanani?

Shopping and dining

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

  1. Iyi ikuguliradi chingwe?

    Ithini le mali? (iyi ikuguliradi chingwe)

  2. Iyi ndi mtengo wopusa

    Le mali ibiza kakhulu. (iyi ndi mtengo wopusa)

  3. Muli ndi chinthu chochepa mtengo?

    Unayo into engabizi? (muli ndi chinthu chochepa mtengo)

  4. Ningathe kulipira ndi khadi?

    Ndingakhokha ngekhadi? (ningathe kulipira ndi khadi)

  5. Ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri

    Ndicela itafula lempahla ezimbini. (ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri)

  6. Chikalata, chonde

    Ibhili, nceda. (chikalata, chonde)

  7. Ntchito ikuphatikizidwa?

    Ingaba inkonzo ibandakanyekile? (ntchito ikuphatikizidwa)

  8. Ndine wopanda nyama

    Ndiyavegetarian. (ndine wopanda nyama)

  9. Chonde, osati chakudya chothira

    Akukho ukutya okunobhotolo, nceda. (chonde, osati chakudya chothira)

  10. Iyi ndi yokoma

    Oku kumnandi. (iyi ndi yokoma)

  11. Ningathe kupeza menyu?

    Ndingafumana imenyu? (ningathe kupeza menyu)

  12. Galasi ya madzi, chonde

    Ingxube ye water, nceda. (galasi ya madzi, chonde)

Emergencies and health

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

  1. Fufuzani polisi

    Biza uphondo

  2. Fufuzani ambulansi

    Biza i-ambulensi

  3. Ndikufuna dokotala

    Ndifuna ugqirha

  4. Ndikuwona bwino

    Ndiziva ndingalunganga

  5. Ndine wosowa ma groundnuts

    Ndine-allergy kwi-peanuts

  6. Kuti ndi chiyani chachikondi?

    Uphi umphakathi oseduze?

  7. Kuli kuuma apa

    Kubuhlungu apha

  8. Ndasowa pasipoti yangu

    Ndilahlekelwe yi passport yam

  9. Mungafufuze hotelo yanga?

    Ungabiza ihotele yam?

  10. Thandizani!

    Uncedo!

Work and business

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

  1. Ndalumba kukumana nanu

    Kuhle ukukwazi

  2. Tiyeni tiwoneke pa nthawi

    Masihlele umhlangano

  3. Nthawi yiti ikukugwirirani ntchito?

    Yiphi ixesha elikufaneleyo?

  4. Ndidzatumiza lipoti lero

    Ndiza kuthumela ingxelo namhlanje

  5. Tingathe kulankhula mawa?

    Singathetha ngomso?

  6. Chonde onani fayilo yolembedwa

    Nceda ufumane ifayile ehlanganisiweyo

  7. Zikomo chifukwa cha nthawi yanu

    Enkosi ngexesha lakho

  8. Ndikuyembekezera kugwira ntchito nanu

    Ndijonge phambili ekusebenzeni nawe

  9. Mungathe kuthetsa mfundo imeneyi?

    Ungacacisa le ndawo?

  10. Nditenge nthawi ndikubwerereni

    Mna ndiza kubuyela kuwe

  11. Nthawi yomaliza ndi Lachisanu

    Umhla wokugqibela nguLwesihlanu

Time, days and numbers

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

  1. Ndi chiyani nthawi?

    Yintoni ixesha? (Yin-toh-nee ikh-leh-zah?)

  2. Ndi saa tatu

    Iiyure ezintathu (Ee-yoo-reh e-zin-tah-thu)

  3. Lero

    Namhlanje (Nam-hlan-je)

  4. Maŵa

    Manga (Man-gah)

  5. Kale

    Izolo (Ee-zoh-loh)

  6. Lolemba

    Mvulo (M-vu-lo)

  7. Lachiwiri

    Lwesibini (Lwe-si-bi-nee)

  8. Lachitatu

    Lwesithathu (Lwe-si-tha-thu)

  9. Mmodzi

    Ene (Eh-neh)

  10. Awiri

    Mbini (M-bee-nee)

  11. Atatu

    Thathu (Thah-thu)

  12. Kumi

    Ishumi (Ee-shoo-mee)

  13. Zana

    Ishumi elinye (Ee-shoo-mee eh-leen-yeh)

  14. Pachikhalidwe

    Umgama (Um-gah-mah)

  15. Zambiri

    Ngaphezulu (Ngah-peh-zulu)

Need to translate your own text? Use the free Tumbuka to Xhosa translator.

Open translator