It is also known as Chitumbuka or Citumbuka — the chi- prefix in front of Tumbuka means "the language of", and is understood in this case to mean "the language of (the Tumbuka people)".
Tamén é coñecida como chiTumbuka ou ciTumbuka — o prefixo chi- diante de Tumbuka significa "a lingua de", e enténdese que se refire á lingua do pobo tumbuka.