Translate now

Common Xhosa to Tumbuka phrases

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

← Back to Xhosa to Tumbuka Translator

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

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

Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Xhosa to Tumbuka 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. Molo

    Moni

  2. Enkosi

    Zikomo

  3. Ubusuku obuhle

    Muli bwanji

  4. Ubusuku obuhle

    Muli bwanji

  5. Ubusuku obuhle

    Muli bwanji

  6. Lala ngoxolo

    Usiku wabwino

  7. Ndiza kubonana kamva

    Tiwonana

  8. Hamba kakuhle

    Tsalani bwino

  9. Ngubani igama lakho?

    Dzina lanu ndi ndani?

  10. Igama lam nguJohn

    Dzina langa ndi John

  11. Unjani?

    Muli bwanji?

  12. Kuhle ukukwazi

    Ndine wokondwa kukumana nanu

Useful phrases for travellers

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

  1. Uthetha isiNgesi?

    Muli ndi Chingerezi? (muli ndi chingerezi)

  2. Andithethi isiHindi kakuhle

    Sikuyankhula Hindi bwino (sikuyankhula hindi bwino)

  3. Andiqondi

    Sindikumva (sindikumva)

  4. Nceda thethe kancinci

    Chonde yankhulani pang'ono (chonde yankhulani pang'ono)

  5. Ungakuphinda lokho?

    Mungandiyankhulepo? (mungandiyankhulepo)

  6. Iphi ibhafu?

    Kuti ndi kuti? (kuti ndi kuti)

  7. Ndingafika njani kwi mveliso ye dolophu?

    Ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu? (ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu)

  8. Jolisa kwesokunxele

    Pita kumanzere (pita kumanzere)

  9. Jolisa kwesokudla

    Pita kumanja (pita kumanja)

  10. Hamba ngqo

    Pita mwendo (pita mwendo)

  11. Iholo ingakanani?

    Ndi ndalama zingati? (ndi ndalama zingati)

  12. Ithikithi elinye, nceda

    Tiketi imodzi, chonde (tiketi imodzi, chonde)

  13. Ingakanani ukusuka apha?

    Ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano? (ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano)

  14. Ndilahlekile

    Ndakhalapo (ndakhalapo)

  15. Nphi endinokuthenga khona iSIM card?

    Ndingatengere kuti kuti SIM card? (ndingatengere kuti kuti sim card)

Everyday conversation

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

  1. Ewe

    Iye

  2. Hayi

    Ayi

  3. Mhlawumbi

    Pang'ono

  4. Ndiyavuma

    Ndikugwirizana

  5. Andivumi

    Sindikugwirizana

  6. Okuhle

    Ichi chimaoneka bwino

  7. Ucinga ntoni?

    Muli ndi chiyani choti mumaganize?

  8. Ungandinceda?

    Mungandithandize?

  9. Ndidinga uncedo

    Ndikufuna thandizo

  10. Linda umzuzu

    Dikirani pang’ono

  11. Ndicela uxolo

    Ndikupemphera

  12. Akukho ngxaki

    Palibe vutoli

  13. Wamkelekile

    Zikomo

  14. Usuku olumnandi lokuzalwa

    Tsiku lobadwa labwino

  15. Uhambo olukhuselekileyo

    Pita bwino pa ulendo

Directions and getting around

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

  1. Uphi umphakathi wemithwalo?

    Kukakhala kuti chiteshi cha njinga? (uphi umphakathi wemithwalo)

  2. Uphi umphakathi weebhasi?

    Kukakhala kuti malo otchinga basi? (uphi umphakathi weebhasi)

  3. Yeyiphi iphondo?

    Ndi chigawo chiti? (yeyiphi iphondo)

  4. Ihamba ngexesha elingakanani?

    Nanga nthawi itangopita? (ihamba ngexesha elingakanani)

  5. Ngaba le yindlela efanelekileyo?

    Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera? (ngaba le yindlela efanelekileyo)

  6. Ikho kufutshane apha

    Iyi ndi pafupi apa

  7. Ikude apha

    Iyi ndi kutali ndi apa

  8. Ungandibonisa kwiimeko?

    Mungandionetse pa chithunzi? (ungandibonisa kwiimeko)

  9. Misa apha, nceda

    Chimitsa apa, chonde

  10. Ithatha ixesha elingakanani?

    Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji?

Shopping and dining

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

  1. Ithini le mali?

    Iyi ikuguliradi chingwe? (iyi ikuguliradi chingwe)

  2. Le mali ibiza kakhulu.

    Iyi ndi mtengo wopusa (iyi ndi mtengo wopusa)

  3. Unayo into engabizi?

    Muli ndi chinthu chochepa mtengo? (muli ndi chinthu chochepa mtengo)

  4. Ndingakhokha ngekhadi?

    Ningathe kulipira ndi khadi? (ningathe kulipira ndi khadi)

  5. Ndicela itafula lempahla ezimbini.

    Ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri (ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri)

  6. Ibhili, nceda.

    Chikalata, chonde (chikalata, chonde)

  7. Ingaba inkonzo ibandakanyekile?

    Ntchito ikuphatikizidwa? (ntchito ikuphatikizidwa)

  8. Ndiyavegetarian.

    Ndine wopanda nyama (ndine wopanda nyama)

  9. Akukho ukutya okunobhotolo, nceda.

    Chonde, osati chakudya chothira (chonde, osati chakudya chothira)

  10. Oku kumnandi.

    Iyi ndi yokoma (iyi ndi yokoma)

  11. Ndingafumana imenyu?

    Ningathe kupeza menyu? (ningathe kupeza menyu)

  12. Ingxube ye water, nceda.

    Galasi ya madzi, chonde (galasi ya madzi, chonde)

Emergencies and health

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

  1. Biza uphondo

    Fufuzani polisi

  2. Biza i-ambulensi

    Fufuzani ambulansi

  3. Ndifuna ugqirha

    Ndikufuna dokotala

  4. Ndiziva ndingalunganga

    Ndikuwona bwino

  5. Ndine-allergy kwi-peanuts

    Ndine wosowa ma groundnuts

  6. Uphi umphakathi oseduze?

    Kuti ndi chiyani chachikondi?

  7. Kubuhlungu apha

    Kuli kuuma apa

  8. Ndilahlekelwe yi passport yam

    Ndasowa pasipoti yangu

  9. Ungabiza ihotele yam?

    Mungafufuze hotelo yanga?

  10. Uncedo!

    Thandizani!

Work and business

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

  1. Kuhle ukukwazi

    Ndalumba kukumana nanu

  2. Masihlele umhlangano

    Tiyeni tiwoneke pa nthawi

  3. Yiphi ixesha elikufaneleyo?

    Nthawi yiti ikukugwirirani ntchito?

  4. Ndiza kuthumela ingxelo namhlanje

    Ndidzatumiza lipoti lero

  5. Singathetha ngomso?

    Tingathe kulankhula mawa?

  6. Nceda ufumane ifayile ehlanganisiweyo

    Chonde onani fayilo yolembedwa

  7. Enkosi ngexesha lakho

    Zikomo chifukwa cha nthawi yanu

  8. Ndijonge phambili ekusebenzeni nawe

    Ndikuyembekezera kugwira ntchito nanu

  9. Ungacacisa le ndawo?

    Mungathe kuthetsa mfundo imeneyi?

  10. Mna ndiza kubuyela kuwe

    Nditenge nthawi ndikubwerereni

  11. Umhla wokugqibela nguLwesihlanu

    Nthawi yomaliza ndi Lachisanu

Time, days and numbers

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

  1. Yintoni ixesha?

    Ndi chiyani nthawi? (Ndi chiyani nthawi?)

  2. Iiyure ezintathu

    Ndi saa tatu (Ee-yoo-reh e-zin-tah-thu)

  3. Namhlanje

    Lero (Nam-hlan-je)

  4. Manga

    Maŵa (Man-gah)

  5. Izolo

    Kale (Ee-zoh-loh)

  6. Mvulo

    Lolemba (M-vu-lo)

  7. Lwesibini

    Lachiwiri (Lwe-si-bi-nee)

  8. Lwesithathu

    Lachitatu (Lwe-si-tha-thu)

  9. Ene

    Mmodzi (Eh-neh)

  10. Mbini

    Awiri (M-bee-nee)

  11. Thathu

    Atatu (Thah-thu)

  12. Ishumi

    Kumi (Ee-shoo-mee)

  13. Ishumi elinye

    Zana (Ee-shoo-mee eh-leen-yeh)

  14. Umgama

    Pachikhalidwe (Um-gah-mah)

  15. Ngaphezulu

    Zambiri (Ngah-peh-zulu)

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

Open translator