Looking for practical Tumbuka to Yoruba phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Tumbuka phrase first, then the Yoruba translation (Yoruba) — 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 Yoruba.
Tip: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Yoruba-speaking trip in a few weeks.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Tumbuka to Yoruba 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
Bawo(bawoh)
Zikomo
O seun(oh shayoon)
Muli bwanji
E kaaro(eh kah-roh)
Muli bwanji
E kaasan(eh kah-sahn)
Muli bwanji
E kuurole(eh koo-roh-leh)
Usiku wabwino
O daaro(oh dah-roh)
Tiwonana
A ri e laipe(ah ree eh lie-peh)
Tsalani bwino
O dabọ(oh dah-boh)
Dzina lanu ndi ndani?
Kí ni orukọ rẹ?(kee nee oh-roo-koh reh)
Dzina langa ndi John
Orukọ mi ni John(oh-roo-koh mee nee John)
Muli bwanji?
Bawo ni?(bawoh nee)
Ndine wokondwa kukumana nanu
Inu mi dun lati pade e(ee-noo mee doon lah-tee pah-deh eh)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Muli ndi Chingerezi?
Ṣe o n sọ Gẹ́gẹ́?(Sheh oh n saw Geh-geh)
Sikuyankhula Hindi bwino
Mi ò sọ Hindi dáadáa(Mee oh saw Hindi dah-dah)
Sindikumva
Mi ò ye mi(Mee oh yeh mee)
Chonde yankhulani pang'ono
Jọwọ sọ ní kíkankíkan(Joh-wah saw nee keen-kay-kahn)
Mungandiyankhulepo?
Ṣe o le sọ é lẹ́ẹ̀kan síi?(Sheh oh leh saw eh leh-eh-kahn see)
Kuti ndi kuti?
Nibo ni baluwe wa?(Nee-boh nee bah-loo-weh wah)
Ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu?
Báwo ni mo ṣe lọ sí àárín ìlú?(Bah-woh nee moh sheh law see ah-ree-nee loo)
Pita kumanzere
Yí si apa osi(Yee see ah-pah oh-shee)
Pita kumanja
Yí si apa otun(Yee see ah-pah oh-toon)
Pita mwendo
Lọ taara(Law tah-rah)
Ndi ndalama zingati?
Elo ni owo ọkọ?(Eh-loh nee oh-woh oh-koh)
Tiketi imodzi, chonde
Ticket kan, jọwọ(Tee-ket kahn, joh-wah)
Ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano?
Ṣe ó jìnà síbí?(Sheh oh jee-nah see-bee)
Ndakhalapo
Mo ti sọnù(Moh tee sohn-oo)
Ndingatengere kuti kuti SIM card?
Nibo ni mo ti le ra kaadi SIM?(Nee-boh nee moh tee leh rah kah-dee SIM)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Iye
Bẹẹni
Ayi
Rara
Pang'ono
Bóyá
Ndikugwirizana
Mo gba
Sindikugwirizana
Mo kọ
Ichi chimaoneka bwino
Iyẹn dára
Muli ndi chiyani choti mumaganize?
Kí ni ìrònú rẹ?
Mungandithandize?
Ṣé o lè ràn mí lọ́wọ́?
Ndikufuna thandizo
Mo nílò ìrànlọ́wọ́
Dikirani pang’ono
Dákẹ́ díẹ̀
Ndikupemphera
Mo bínú
Palibe vutoli
Kò sí ìṣòro
Zikomo
Ẹ kú àṣeyọrí
Tsiku lobadwa labwino
Ẹ kú ọjọ́ ibi
Pita bwino pa ulendo
Ṣe ìrìn àjò tó ààbò
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Kukakhala kuti chiteshi cha njinga?
Nibo ni ibudo ọkọ oju-irin wa?(Nibo ni ibudo ọkọ oju-irin wa?)
Kukakhala kuti malo otchinga basi?
Nibo ni ibudo bosi wa?(Nibo ni ibudo bosi wa?)
Ndi chigawo chiti?
Ibo ni pẹpẹ naa?(Ibo ni pẹpẹ naa?)
Nanga nthawi itangopita?
Iwo wo ni o fi n lọ?(Iwo wo ni o fi n lọ?)
Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera?
Ṣe eyi ni ọna to tọ?(Ṣe eyi ni ọna to tọ?)
Iyi ndi pafupi apa
O sunmọ ibi yi
Iyi ndi kutali ndi apa
O jinna si ibi yi
Mungandionetse pa chithunzi?
Ṣe o le fihan mi lori maapu?(Ṣe o le fihan mi lori maapu?)
Chimitsa apa, chonde
Duro nibi, jọwọ
Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji?
Bawo ni igba wo ni o gba?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Iyi ikuguliradi chingwe?
Elo ni eyi?(elo ni eyi)
Iyi ndi mtengo wopusa
Eyi jẹ́ gbowó púpọ̀(eyi je gbowo pupo)
Muli ndi chinthu chochepa mtengo?
Ṣe o ni nkan tó rọrùn?(se o ni nkan to rorun)
Ningathe kulipira ndi khadi?
Ṣe mo le sanwo pẹ̀lú kaadi?(se mo le sanwo pelu kaadi)
Ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri
Mo fẹ́ tábìlì fún méjì(mo fe tabili fun meji)
Chikalata, chonde
Iwe isanwo, jọwọ(iwe isanwo jowo)
Ntchito ikuphatikizidwa?
Ṣe iṣẹ́ wa nínú?(se ise wa ninu)
Ndine wopanda nyama
Mo jẹ́ onjẹ ẹfọ(mo je onje efo)
Chonde, osati chakudya chothira
Kò sí onjẹ tó ní ìkà, jọwọ(ko si onje to ni ika jowo)
Iyi ndi yokoma
Eyi dára(eyi dara)
Ningathe kupeza menyu?
Ṣe mo le ní àtòjọ onjẹ?(se mo le ni atojo onje)
Galasi ya madzi, chonde
Gilaasi omi, jọwọ(gilaasi omi jowo)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Fufuzani polisi
Pe iroyin ọlọpa(pe iroyin olopa)
Fufuzani ambulansi
Pe ambulance(pe ambulance)
Ndikufuna dokotala
Mo nilo dokita(mo nilo dokita)
Ndikuwona bwino
Mo n ni irora(mo n ni irora)
Ndine wosowa ma groundnuts
Mo ni àkúnya sí ẹ̀fọ́(mo ni akunya si efo)
Kuti ndi chiyani chachikondi?
Nibo ni ile-iwosan to sunmo?(nibo ni ile-iwosan to sunmo)
Kuli kuuma apa
O n dun nibi(o n dun nibi)
Ndasowa pasipoti yangu
Mo padanu iwe irinna mi(mo padanu iwe irinna mi)
Mungafufuze hotelo yanga?
Se o le pe hotẹẹli mi?(se o le pe hoteeli mi)
Thandizani!
I ranlọwọ!(i ranlọwọ)
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Ndalumba kukumana nanu
Inu mi dun lati pade e(Inu mi dun lati pade e)
Tiyeni tiwoneke pa nthawi
Jẹ ki a ṣe ipade
Nthawi yiti ikukugwirirani ntchito?
Iwo, wo ni akoko ti o ba mu?
Ndidzatumiza lipoti lero
Mo maa fi iroyin ranṣẹ loni
Tingathe kulankhula mawa?
Se a le ba ara wa sọrọ ni ọla?
Chonde onani fayilo yolembedwa
Jọwọ ri faili ti a so mọ́
Zikomo chifukwa cha nthawi yanu
O seun fun akoko rẹ
Ndikuyembekezera kugwira ntchito nanu
Mo n reti lati ṣiṣẹ pẹlu rẹ
Mungathe kuthetsa mfundo imeneyi?
Se o le ṣalaye aaye yẹn?
Nditenge nthawi ndikubwerereni
Jẹ ki n pada sọrọ si ọ
Nthawi yomaliza ndi Lachisanu
Akoko ipari ni Friday
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.