# Tumbuka phrasebook

Tumbuka (chiTumbuka) 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".

## 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 interchangeable 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 interchangeable 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.

#### all verbs will start like kugona (to sleep)

to build a verb use prounoun +tense+ verb

#### How are you?

    Muli uli?

#### Good.

    Nili Makola.

#### I'm fine, how are you?

    Nili makola, kwali Imwe?

#### Thank You. (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 lawo ndine ______ .

#### Nice to meet you.

    Chatowa kuwonana nawe.

#### Please.

    Chonde (when used, connotes begging)

#### Thank you.

    Yewo = common
    Tawonga = deeper thanks/deeper Chitumbuka.

#### You're welcome.

    Palije suzgo = no problem

#### Yes.

    Enya.

#### No.

    Yayi.

#### Sorry. (getting attention)

    Pephani

#### Excuse me. (begging pardon)

    Pephani

#### I'm sorry.

    Pephani. (also means sorry as with empathy)

#### Goodbye. (I'm going now.)

    Nakuluta sono.

#### Goodbye. (Go well, if someone else is leaving.)

    Mwende makola.

#### Goodbye. (Stay well, if you are leaving)

    Khalani makola.

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

    Tizamuonana.
    Tisanganenge. Tiwonanenge.

#### I do not speak Tumbuka.

    Ine nkhuyowoya chiTumbuka yayi.

#### English

    ChiZungu, which means the language of the white people, especially in Malawi and Zambia

#### Do you speak English?

    Kasi ... mukhuyowoya chiZungu?

#### Is there someone here who speaks English?

    Pali uyo wakuyowoya chiZungu pano?

#### Help!

    Novwire.

#### Stop!

    Leka!

#### Look out!

    Labisya

#### Good morning. (How have you woken?)

    Mwawuka uli?

#### I have woken fine, how about you?

    Tawuka makola, kwali imwe?

#### Good afternoon. (How has your day been?)

    Mwatandala uli?.

#### My day has been well, how about you?

    Tatandala makola, kwali imwe?

#### Good night.

    Mugone makola (Sleep Well). Usiku uwemi (Good night).

#### Sleep well. (To one who is going.)

    Mukugona makola.

#### I don't understand.

    Nikupulika yayi.

#### Where is the toilet?

    Chimbuzi chili nkhuni? (toilet = "chimbuzi")

### Problems
#### Leave me alone.

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

#### Don't touch me!

    Leka kunikola/Khwasya(Kunikhwasya yayi - Don't touch me)

#### I'll call the police.

    Niti cheme Kapokola(...)

#### Police!

    Kapokola(...)

#### Stop that!

    ("Leka!")

#### Stop! Thief!

    Munkhungu uyo(...)

#### I need your help.

    Nkhukhumba kuti mundovwiri(...)

#### It's an emergency.

    Ni suzgo gha mbuchimbuchi(...)

#### I'm lost.

    Na sowa/soba(...)

#### I lost my bag.

    na sovya chola chane, Nataya chola chane(...)

#### I lost my wallet.

    na sovya chikwama chane, Nataya chikwama chane(...)

#### I'm sick.

    Nalwala(...)

#### I've been injured.

    na pwetekeka(...)

#### I need a doctor.

    nkukhumba docotala/ng'anga(...)

#### Can I use your phone?

    ningayimba fone yinu(...)

### Numbers

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

#### 1

    moza (...)

#### 2

    bili (...)

#### 3

    tatu (...)

#### 4

    nayi (...)

#### 5

    nkondi, nkonde (...)

#### 6

    nkonde na kamoza (...)

#### 7

    nkonde na tubili (...)

#### 8

    nkonde na tutatu (...)

#### 9

    nkonde na tunayi (...)

#### 10

    Khumi (...)

#### 11

    Khumi na kamoza (...)

#### 12

    Khumi na Tubili (...)

#### 13

    Khumi na Tutatu (...)

#### 14

    Khumi na tunayi (...)

#### 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 (...)

#### 30

    ma Khumi ya tatu (...)

#### 40

    ma Khumi ya nayi (...)

#### 50

    ma Khumi ya nkonde (...)

#### halve

    kuswa pakati,kugawa pakati (...)

#### less

    pachoko (...)

#### more

    chomeni (...)

### Clock time

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

#### now

    Sono

#### later

    panyuma

#### before

    pambere

#### morning

    mulenje
    na mulenje (in the morning)

#### afternoon

    mise
    na mise (in the afternoon)

#### evening

    mise, mazgetu(...)

#### night

    usiku

#### What is the time?

    Ni nyengo uli?
    Nyengo yili uli

#### one o'clock AM

    wanu koloko ya mulenje

#### two o'clock AM

    Thu koloko ya mulenje

#### noon

    namuhanya pakati

#### one o'clock PM

    wanu koloko ya mise

#### two o'clock PM

    Thu koloko ya mise

#### midnight

    usiku pakati

#### Duration
##### Hour

    ola (pl maola)

##### Day

    dazi (pl madazi)

##### Week

    sabata (pl masabta)

##### Month(s)

    _mwezi____ (.miyezi..)

##### Year

    chaka (pl vyaka)

#### Days
##### today

    muhanya uno

##### yesterday

    mayiro

##### tomorrow

    namachero

##### 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

English names are generally used but pronounced in Chitumbuka as follows:

##### January

    Janyuwali(...)

##### February

    Feburuwari(...)

##### March

    marichi(...)

##### April

    epurelo(...)

##### May

    Me(...)

##### June

    Juni(...)

##### July

    Julayi(...)

##### August

    Ogasiti(...)

##### September

    Seputembala(...)

##### October

    Okutobala(...)

##### November

    Novembala(...)

##### December

    Disembala(...)

#### Writing time and date

In chiTumbuka, traditionally times have been indicated by the position of the sun in the sky. The hand is used as in waving goodbye but turned round with the inside palm facing you and pointing to the eastern horizon for 6 o'clock am and western horizon for 6 pm. Pointing Overhead for midday. 6 O'clock am: Dazi likufuma, namulenje ("6:00 is generally the time when the sun rises in the tropics") 10 O'clock am: generally signalled as the position in the sky between sunrise and mid-day

### Colors

The main distinguished colours are Black,Red and white.

#### black

    ufipa(...)

#### white

    utuwa(...)

#### gray

    tuwulufu(...)

#### red

    uswesi(...)

#### blue

    ubidi(...)

#### yellow

    ngati ntula(...)

#### green

    ubiliwiri(...)

#### orange

    ngati ma lalanje(Like oranges)

#### brown

    khofi(...)

### Transportation

Journey/trip: ulendo Depart: nyamuka Arrive: Fika Travel: kwenda ulendo

#### Bus and train
##### How much is a ticket to _____?

    Ni ndalama zilinga kuluta ku ________(...)

##### One ticket to _____, please.

    Khukhumba Tikiti yimoza(...)

##### Where does this train/bus go?

    Sitima iyi yikuya nkhu? - where does this train go? Basi iyi yikuya nkhu? - where does this bus go?(...)

##### Where is the train/bus to _____?

    Sitima/Basi yaku ______ yili nkhu? (...)

##### Does this train/bus stop at _____?

    Sitima/Basi iyi yikuyima pa _______? (...)

##### When does the train/bus for _____ leave?

    Sitima/Basi yaku____ yinyamukenge pauli?(...)

##### When will this train/bus arrive in _____?

    Sitima/Basi yamfika pauli ku ________? (...)

#### Directions
##### How do I get to _____ ?

    Ningenda uli kukafika ku ____(...)

##### ...the train station?

    Chiteskeni cha sitima (...)

##### ...the bus station?

    Chiteskeni cha basi (...)

##### ...the airport?

    Chibanja (...)

##### ...the school?

    ...sukulu? (...)

##### ...the market?

    ...musika? (...)

##### ...the backpackers'?

    Mala yakugona(...)

##### ...the resthouse?

    resiti hausi(...)

##### ...the _____ hotel?

    hotela (...)

##### Where are ______

    ___ yili kuti? the noun comes first and there are different modifiers for different nouns ie: chili, yili, etck(...)

##### ...hotels?

    Mahotelu yali nkhu?(where are hotels?)malo yakugona ghali nkhu? where is the place to sleep?

##### ...bars?

    chilabo (traditional bar) mala yakumwa mowa (place to drink beer) (...)

##### Can you show me on the map?

    munganilongola pa mapu?(...)

##### Path

    Ntowa ("...")

##### Road

    Musewu/musewo ("...")

##### street

    Muzele (...)

##### City

    Mzinda ("...")

##### Gov't center

    boma

##### Turn left.

    Petukila ku mazele (...)

##### Turn right.

    Petukila ku malyelo (...)

##### left

    mazele (...)

##### right

    malyelo (...)

##### straight ahead

    ku ntazi (...)

##### towards the _____

    chaku______(...)

##### past the _____

    kujumpha ______(...)

##### before the _____

    Pambere ______(...)

##### north

    Mpoto(...)

##### south

    Mwela(...)

##### east

    vuma(...)

##### west

    kumanjiriro(...)

##### uphill

    chikwera(...)

##### downhill

    kusika(...)

#### Taxi
##### Taxi!

    matola (...)

##### Take me to _____, please.

    Muniyeyeko kuluta ku_____(...)

##### How much does it cost to get to _____?

    Ni mutengo uli kuluta ku______ (uli uli?...)

##### Take me there, please.

    Kaniperekezgani chonde - escort me please , Muniyeyeko chonde- give me a lift please(...)

### Lodging
#### Do you have any rooms available?

    malo yalipo?(...)

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

    Ni ndalama zilinga chipinda chimoza(...)

#### Does the room come with...

    Kasi malo/vipinda vili na....(...)

#### ...bedsheets/Blankets?

    vyakudika?(...)

#### May I see the room first?

    Niyawone malo(...)

#### ...bigger?

    chikulu(...)

#### OK, I'll take it.

    Mbwenu, ningatola (...)

#### I will stay for _____ night(s).

    Nikhalenge nausiku.. (...)

#### Is breakfast/supper included?

    Muli na chakurya cha mulenji? (...)

#### What time is breakfast/supper?

    Chakurya cha mulenji/namise pa nyengo uli?(...)

#### I want to check out.

    Nkhukhumba kuluta pa...(...)

### Money
#### Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?

    (Ka mukuzomera ndalama zachina America/Canada/Australia?...)

#### Do you accept British pounds?

    (Mukuzomera ndalama za ma paundi za ku Britain?...)

#### Can you change money for me?

    Kasi mungasintha ndalama?(...)

#### Where can I get money changed?

    Kasi ningasintha ndalama nkhu?(...)

#### Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)?
### Eating
#### Can I look at the menu, please?

    (Ningawona menu, chonde?...)

#### Can I look in the kitchen?

    Kasi ningawona mu kitchini?(...)

#### Is there a house specialty?

    (Mwapika vichi muhayauno?...)

#### Is there a local specialty?

    Kuli chakurya cha Malawi? (...)

#### I'm a vegetarian.

    Nkurya nyama yayi. (...)

#### I don't eat pork.

    Nkurya nyama ya nkumba yayi. (...)

#### I don't eat beef.

    Nkurya nyama ya ng'ombe yayi. (...)

#### I only eat kosher food.

    (Nkurya chakulya cha WaIslam/WaMwenyi pela...)

#### breakfast

    chakurya cha mulenji(...)

#### lunch

    (chakurya chamuhanya)

#### supper

    chakurya cha namise(...)

#### I want _____.

    Nkhukumba _____. (...)

#### I want a dish containing _____.

    (Nkhukumba mbale yimoza ya______ pamoza na______...)

#### chicken

    nkhuku (...)

#### beef

    Nyama ya Ng'ombe(...)

#### fish

    somba (usipa...)

#### small fish

    kapenta (...)

#### ham

    (nyama ya nkhumba...)

#### sausage

    (ori...)

#### eggs

    masumbi (...)

#### salad

    mphangwe (this is usually cooked greens)(...)

#### (fresh) vegetables

    kwambula kupika(...)

#### (fresh) fruit

    vipaso(...)

#### banana

    ntochi (...)

#### maize porridge

    nsima (...)

#### relish (served with nsima)

    dende (...)

#### bread

    chingwa, bredi (...)

#### rice

    mpunga (...)

#### beans

    Nchunga(...)

#### May I have a glass of _____?

    Nkhumba....(...)

#### May I have a cup of _____?

    ni paniko nkhombo ya______?(...)

#### tea (drink)

    tiyi (...)

#### juice

    jusi(...)

#### water

    maji (...)

#### beer

    Mowa(...)

#### red/white wine

    Vinyu liswesi/Vinyu lituwa(...)

#### May I have some _____?

    ni paniko(...)

#### salt

    muchele (...)

#### butter

    margarina(...)

#### sugar

    suga (...)

#### Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)

    (I-sayi...)

#### I'm finished.

    (basi, nakuta chomeme...)

#### It was delicious.

    Chakurya chikunowa. (...)

#### Please clear the plates.

    sukani mbale(...)

#### The check, please.
### Bars
#### Do you serve alcohol?

    (mukuguliska mowa?)

#### A beer/two beers, please.

    (mowa/mowa wubiri...)

#### A glass of red/white wine, please.

    (kavinyo ka mukhombo..)

#### whiskey

    (kachasu...)

#### water

    maji (...)

#### tonic water

    (maji twa muchele)

#### orange juice

    (malalanje/olenje)

#### Coke (soda)

    Coca cola (kakumwa ka ku zizimisya kusingo)

#### Do you have any bar snacks?

    (twakukhwasula pa mowa tulipo?)

#### One more, please.

    (unyakhe chonde)

#### Another round, please.

    (unyakhe wa chiwerezga)

#### When is closing time?

    (nyengo yakujalila ni vichi?)

### Shopping
#### Do you have this in my size?

    (mulinacho/mulinayo chanthene/yanthene ichi/iyi icho/iyo chinganikwana/yinganikawana?)

#### How much is this?

    Nizilinga? (...)

#### That's too expensive.

    Wadula. (mudulalizia...)

#### to be expensive

    kudula (...)

#### cheap

    chamtengo uchoko(...)

#### I can't afford it.

    Ningakwanisya yayi(...)

#### I don't want it.

    Nkuchikhumba yayi(...)

#### You're cheating me.

    Ukunitetezga(...)

#### I'm not interested.

    Nilije khumbilo (..)

#### OK, I'll take it.

    Inya, niyeyenge(...)

#### Can I have a bag?

    Munganipasako thumba?(...)

#### Do you ship (overseas)?

    kusilya kwa nyanja(...)

#### I need...

    Nkhukhumba (...)

#### ...toothpaste.

    makhwala ya mino(...)

#### ...soap.

    Sopo(...)

#### ...antimalaria medicine.

    makhwala ya nyimbo(...)

#### ...stomach medicine.

    Munkwala wa Munthumbo(...)

#### ...a razor.

    (nevala)

#### ...postage stamps.

    (stamba)

#### ...batteries.

    (Mabatili)

#### ...a pen.

    Chilembelo(...)

#### ...an English-English dictionary.
### Driving
#### diesel
### Authority
#### I haven't done anything wrong.

    (nindanange chili chose)

#### It was a misunderstanding.

    (Tindapulikanane apa)

#### Where are you taking me?

    (mukunitolela nkhu?)

#### Am I under arrest?

    (kasi ndakakika)

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

    (Ine ndine muamerica/muaustralia, etc.)

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

    (Nkhukumba kuyowoya na Wa embasi ya Amerika, etc.)

#### I want to talk to a lawyer.

    (nkhukhumba niyowoye na mmanyi wa maBlango)

#### Can I just pay a fine now?

    (Ningalipira sono apa nthena?)

### Asking about language
#### How do you say _____ ?

    (Ka ichi mukuti uli_____)

#### What is this/that called?

    (ichi ni chi vichi______ku chitumbuka)