From Wikitravel

The Tumbuka language is a Bantu language which is spoken in parts of Northern Malawi, Eastern Zambia, and South-Western Tanzania.

The language of the Tumbuka is called chiTumbuka - the 'chi' in front of Tumbuka meaning 'the language of', similar to 'ki' in kiSwahili or 'se' in seTswana.

The World Almanac (1998) estimates approximately 2,000,000 Tumbuka speakers exist in the aforementioned three countries.

There are substantial differences between the form of Tumbuka spoken in urban areas (which borrows some words from Chichewa/Nyanja) and the "village" or "deep" Tumbuka spoken in villages. Furthermore there are many alternative spellings in written Tumbuka, and no standard orthography. The Rumphi variant is often regarded as the most "linguistically pure", and is sometimes called "real Tumbuka".

Contents 1 Pronunciation 1.1 Vowels 1.2 Consonants 2 Vocabulary 2.1 Basics 2.2 Problems 2.3 Numbers 2.3.1 Clock time 2.3.2 Duration 2.3.3 Days 2.3.4 Months 2.3.5 Writing time and date 2.4 Colors 2.5 Transportation 2.5.1 Bus and train 2.5.2 Directions 2.5.3 Taxi 2.6 Lodging 2.7 Money 2.8 Eating 2.9 Bars 2.10 Shopping 2.11 Driving 2.12 Authority 3 Learning more

Pronunciation

Vowels

a 

like the "a" in "father"

e 

like the "ay" in "pay" (like the French é)

i 

like the "ee" in "tree" (like the French i)

o 

like the "o" in "home"

u 

something like the "oo" in "food"

Consonants

b 

like 'b' in "bed", but sometimes interchangeable with 'w'

c 

like 'k' in "kid"

ch 

like 'ch' in "chair"

d 

like 'd' in "dog"

f 

like 'f' in "fit"

g 

like 'g' in "go"

h 

like 'h' in "help"

j 

like 'dg' in "edge"

k 

like 'c' in "cat"

l 

like 'l' in "love", but often interchangable with 'r'

m 

like 'm' in "mother"

n 

like 'n' in "nice"

nkh 

like a 'n' sound at the back of the mouth expelling air through the nose

p 

like 'p' in "pig"

ph 

like a breathy 'p'

r 

like 'r' in "row", but often interchangable with 'l'

s 

like 'ss' in "hiss", like 'z' in "haze"

t 

like 't' in "top"

v 

like 'v' in "victory"

w 

like 'w' in "weight", but sometimes interchangeable with 'b'

y 

like 'y' in "yes"

z 

like 'z' in "haze"

Vocabulary

Basics

The standard greetings are addressed as questions, most of which can be answered with the word makola.

How are you? 

Muli uli? (...)

Fine. 

Makola. (...)

I'm fine, how are you? 

Nili makola, kwali namwe? (...)

Hello. (General positive response meaning hi, yes, thank you, etc.) 

Yebo/Yewo. (...)

Hello? (Is anyone at home?) 

Odi? (...)

Welcome. (Greeting.) 

response to "Odi" = "Odini" (...)

What is your name? 

Zina linu ndimwe njani? (...)

My name is ______ . 

Zina lane ndine ______ . (...)

Nice to meet you. 

Chatowa kuwonana nawe(...)

Please. 

Chonde(...)

Thank you. 

Yewo = common - Tawonga = deeper thanks/deeper Chitumbuka. (...)

You're welcome. 

(...)

Yes. 

Enya. (...)

No. 

Yayi. (...)

Excuse me. (getting attention) 

Pephani (...)

Excuse me. (begging pardon) 

Pephani (...)

I'm sorry. 

Pephani. (...) (also means sorry as with empathy)

Goodbye. (I'm going.) 

Naluta. (...)

Goodbye. (Go well.) 

Mwende makola. (...)

Goodbye. (Stay well) 

Murute makola. ("...")

Farewell. (We'll see each other later.) 

Tizamuonana.

I do not speak Tumbuka. 

Ine nkhuyowoya chiTumbuka yayi. (...)

Do you speak English? 

(...) (the language of the white people (usually English, but can be any) = "Chizungu")

Is there someone here who speaks English? 

Pali uyo wakuyowoya chiTumbuka pano?(...)

Help! 

Novwire(...)

Stop! 

Choka! ("...")

Look out! 

Labisya(...)

Good morning. (How have you woken?) 

Mwawuka uli? (...)

Good afternoon. (How has your day been?) 

Mwatandala uli?. (...)

Good night. 

Mugone makola(...)

Sleep well. (To one who is going.) 

Mugone makola. (...)

I don't understand. 

Nkhupulika yayi. (...)

Where is the toilet? 

chmbuzi chili nkhuni?(...) (toilet = "chimbuzi")

Problems

Leave me alone. 

Ni leke/ Ni lekani(many)(...)

Don't touch me! 

Leka kunikola/Khwasya(...)

I'll call the police. 

Niti cheme Kapokola(...)

Police! 

Kapokola(...)

Stop that! 

("Choka!")

Stop! Thief! 

(...)

I need your help. 

(...)

It's an emergency. 

(...)

I'm lost. 

Na sowa/soba(...)

I lost my bag. 

na sovya chola chane(...)

I lost my wallet. 

na sovya chikwama chane(...)

I'm sick. 

Nili kulwala(...)

I've been injured. 

na pwetekeka(...)

I need a doctor. 

nkukhumbika Ng'anga(...)

Can I use your phone? 

(...)

Numbers

Note that English numbers are often used even when speaking Tumbuka.

1 

wumoza (...)

2 

zibili, bili (...)

3 

tatu (...)

4 

ni, nayi (...)

5 

nkondi, nkonde (...)

6 

nkonde na kamoza (...)

7 

nkonde na tubili (...)

8 

nkonde na tutatu (...)

9 

nkonde na nayi (...)

10 

Khumi (...)

11 

Khumi na kamoza (...)

12 

Khumi na Tubili (...)

13 

Khumi na Tutatu (...)

14 

Khumi na Nayi (...)

15 

Khumi na Nkonde (...)

16 

Khumi na nkonde na kamoza (...)

17 

Khumi na nkonde na tubili (...)

18 

Khumi na nkonde na tutatu (...)

19 

Khumi na nkonde na Nayi (...)

20 

ma Khumi ya bili (...)

21 

ma Khumi ya bili na kamozo (...)

22 

ma Khumi ya bili na tumbili(...)

23 

ma Khumi ya bili na tutatu (...)

30 

ma Khumi ya tatu(...)

40 

ma Khumi ya nayi(...)

50 

ma Khumi ya nkonde(...)

60 

(...)

70 

(...)

80 

(...)

90 

(...)

100 

(...)

200 

(...)

300 

(...)

1000 

(...)

2000 

(...)

1,000,000 

(...)

1,000,000,000 

(...)

1,000,000,000,000 

(...)

number _____ (train, bus, etc.) 

(...)

half 

(...)

less 

(...)

more 

(...)

===Time=== ( Nyengo)

now 

Sono(...)

later 

Pambele(...)

before 

(...)

morning 

Mulenje(...)

afternoon 

ku mise(...)

evening 

(...)

night 

Usiku(...)

Clock time

The twenty-four hour clock is used in all Tumbuka-speaking areas.

What is the time? 

Ni nyengo uli? (...)

one o'clock AM 

(...)

two o'clock AM 

(...)

noon 

(...)

one o'clock PM 

(...)

two o'clock PM 

(...)

midnight 

(...)

Duration

_____ minute(s) 

_____ (...)

_____ hour(s) 

_____ (...)

_____ day(s) 

_____ (...)

_____ week(s) 

_____ (...)

_____ month(s) 

_____ (...)

_____ year(s) 

_____ (...)

Days

today 

Lelo (...)

yesterday 

mayiro (...)

tomorrow 

namanchero (...)

this week 

Sabata Yino (...)

last week 

Sabata Yamala (...)

next week 

Sabata Yikwiza (...)

Sunday 

Sabata (...)

Monday 

Chimoza Mande (...)

Tuesday 

Chibiri (...)

Wednesday 

Chitatu (...)

Thursday 

Chinayi (...)

Friday 

Chinkondi (...)

Saturday 

Chisulo (...)

Months

January 

(...)

February 

(...)

March 

(...)

April 

(...)

May 

(...)

June 

(...)

July 

(...)

August 

(...)

September 

(...)

October 

(...)

November 

(...)

December 

(...)

Writing time and date

Give some examples how to write clock times and dates if it differs from English.

Colors

black 

(...)

white 

(...)

gray 

(...)

red 

(...)

blue 

(...)

yellow 

(...)

green 

(...)

orange 

(...)

purple 

(...)

brown 

(...)

Transportation

Bus and train

How much is a ticket to _____? 

(...)

One ticket to _____, please. 

(...)

Where does this train/bus go? 

(...)

Where is the train/bus to _____? 

(...)

Does this train/bus stop in _____? 

(...)

When does the train/bus for _____ leave? 

(...)

When will this train/bus arrive in _____? 

(...)

Directions

How do I get to _____ ? 

(...)

...the train station? 

Chiteskeni cha sitima (...)

...the bus station? 

Chiteskeni cha basi (...)

...the airport? 

Chibanza (...)

...the school? 

...sukulu? (...)

...the market? 

...musika? (...)

...the backpackers'? 

(...)

...the resthouse? 

(...)

...the _____ hotel? 

(...)

...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate? 

(...)

Where are there a lot of... 

(...)

...hotels? 

(...)

...restaurants? 

(...)

...bars? 

(...)

...sites to see? 

(...)

Can you show me on the map? 

(...)

Path 

Ntowa ("...")

Road 

Musewu/musewo ("...")

street 

Muzele (...)

City 

Mzinda ("...")

Turn left. 

Petukila ku mazele (...)

Turn right. 

Petukila ku malyelo (...)

left 

mazele (...)

right 

malyelo (...)

straight ahead 

ku ntazi (...)

towards the _____ 

(...)

past the _____ 

(...)

before the _____ 

(...)

Watch for the _____. 

(...)

intersection 

(...)

north 

Mpoto(...)

south 

Mwela(...)

east 

(...)

west 

(...)

uphill 

Kukapili(...)

downhill 

kusi kwalupili(...)

Taxi

Taxi! 

(...)

Take me to _____, please. 

(...)

How much does it cost to get to _____? 

(...)

Take me there, please. 

(...)

Lodging

Do you have any rooms available? 

(...)

How much is a room for one person/two people? 

(...)

Does the room come with... 

(...)

...bedsheets? 

(...)

...a mosquito net? 

(...)

...a bathroom? 

(...)

...a telephone? 

(...)

...a TV? 

(...)

May I see the room first? 

(...)

Do you have anything quieter? 

(...)

...bigger? 

(...)

...cleaner? 

(...)

...cheaper? 

(...)

OK, I'll take it. 

(...)

I will stay for _____ night(s). 

(...)

Can you suggest another hotel? 

(...)

Do you have a safe? 

(...)

...lockers? 

(...)

Is breakfast/supper included? 

(...)

What time is breakfast/supper? 

(...)

Please clean my room. 

(...)

Can you wake me at _____? 

(...)

I want to check out. 

(...)

Money

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars? 

(...)

Do you accept British pounds? 

(...)

Do you accept credit cards? 

(...)

Can you change money for me? 

(...)

Where can I get money changed? 

(...)

Can you change a traveler's check for me? 

(...)

Where can I get a traveler's check changed? 

(...)

What is the exchange rate? 

(...)

Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)? 

(...)

Eating

A table for one person/two people, please. 

(...)

Can I look at the menu, please? 

(...)

Can I look in the kitchen? 

(...)

Is there a house specialty? 

(...)

Is there a local specialty? 

(...)

I'm a vegetarian. 

(...)

I don't eat pork. 

(...)

I don't eat beef. 

(...)

I only eat kosher food. 

(...)

Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard) 

(...)

fixed-price meal 

(...)

à la carte 

(...)

breakfast 

(...)

lunch 

(...)

tea (meal) 

(...)

supper 

(...)

I want _____. 

Nkhukumba _____. (...)

I want a dish containing _____. 

(...)

chicken 

nkhuku (...)

beef 

Nyama ya Ng'ombe(...)

fish 

somba (...)

small fish 

kapenta (...)

ham 

(...)

sausage 

(...)

cheese 

(...)

eggs 

masumbi (...)

salad 

(...)

(fresh) vegetables 

(...)

(fresh) fruit 

(...)

banana 

ntochi (...)

maize porridge 

nsima (...)

relish (served with nsima) 

dende (...)

bread 

chingwa (...)

toast 

(...)

noodles 

(...)

rice 

mpunga (...)

beans 

Nchunga(...)

May I have a glass of _____? 

(...)

May I have a cup of _____? 

ni paniko nkhombo ya______?(...)

May I have a bottle of _____? 

(...)

coffee 

(...)

tea (drink) 

tiyi (...)

juice 

(...)

(bubbly) water 

(...)

water 

maji (...)

beer 

Moba(...)

red/white wine 

Vinyu liswesi/Vinyu lituwa(...)

May I have some _____? 

ni paniko(...)

salt 

muchele (...)

black pepper 

(...)

butter 

(...)

sugar 

suga (...)

Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)

(...)

I'm finished. 

(...)

It was delicious. 

(...)

Please clear the plates. 

sukani mbale(...)

The check, please. 

(...)

Bars

Do you serve alcohol? 

(...)

Is there table service? 

(...)

A beer/two beers, please. 

(...)

A glass of red/white wine, please. 

(...)

A pint, please. 

(...)

A bottle, please. 

(...)

_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please. 

(...)

whiskey 

(...)

vodka 

(...)

rum 

(...)

water 

maji (...)

club soda 

(...)

tonic water 

(...)

orange juice 

(...)

Coke (soda) 

Coca cola (...)

Do you have any bar snacks? 

(...)

One more, please. 

(...)

Another round, please. 

(...)

When is closing time? 

(...)

Shopping

Do you have this in my size? 

(...)

How much is this? 

Nizilinga? (...)

That's too expensive. 

Wadula. (...)

Would you take _____? 

(...)

to be expensive 

kudula (...)

cheap 

(...)

I can't afford it. 

(...)

I don't want it. 

(...)

You're cheating me. 

(...)

I'm not interested. 

(..)

OK, I'll take it. 

(...)

Can I have a bag? 

(...)

Do you ship (overseas)? 

(...)

I need... 

(...)

...toothpaste. 

(...)

...a toothbrush. 

(...)

...tampons. 

(...)

...soap. 

(...)

...shampoo. 

(...)

...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen) 

(...)

...antimalaria medicine. 

(...)

...stomach medicine. 

(...)

...a razor. 

(...)

...an umbrella. 

(...)

...sunblock lotion. 

(...)

...a postcard. 

(...)

...postage stamps. 

(...)

...batteries. 

(...)

...writing paper. 

(...)

...a pen. 

(...)

...English-language books. 

(...)

...English-language magazines. 

(...)

...an English-language newspaper. 

(...)

...an English-English dictionary. 

(...)

Driving

I want to rent a car. 

(...)

Can I get insurance? 

(...)

stop (on a street sign) 

(...)

one way 

(...)

yield 

(...)

no parking 

(...)

speed limit 

(...)

gas (petrol) station 

(...)

petrol 

(...)

diesel 

(...)

Authority

I haven't done anything wrong. 

(...)

It was a misunderstanding. 

(...)

Where are you taking me? 

(...)

Am I under arrest? 

(...)

I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen. 

(...)

I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate. 

(...)

I want to talk to a lawyer. 

(...)

Can I just pay a fine now? 

(...)

Learning more

This is where you'd give more information on learning the language, such as links to online courses or textbooks, or suggestions for in-person courses to take, or pointers to a dictionary or two.

How do you say _____ ? 

(...)

What is this/that called? 

(...)

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