Tumbuka phrasebook
Chitumbuka is a Bantu language which is spoken primarily in Malawi, Zambia, and Tanzania, as well as in Zimbabwe. It is the native as well as the primary language of at least twelve groups of peoples, including the Senga, Tumbuka, Yombe, Phoka, Henga, Hewe, Ngonis of Northern Malawi and Tonga people, making up to 12 dialects. In the Northern Region of Malawi, it is spoken in 6 districts of Rumphi, Karonga, Mzimba (including Mzuzu City), Chitipa, Nkhata-Bay, and Likoma District. In the Central Region of Malawi, it is spoken in 3 districts of Kasungu, Nkhotakota and Dowa.
In the Eastern Province of Zambia, Chitumbuka is spoken mainly in 5 districts, namely, Lumezi, Lundazi, Chasefu and Chama, with some in Chipata. In Muchinga Province of Zambia, the language is spoken in the districts of Isoka and other surrounding areas. In South Tanzania, it is spoken in Mbeya and Njombe districts that share boundary with Northern Malawi. In Zimbabwe, Chitumbuka is spoken to the lesser extent in Harare due to migrant labour by over 21, 000 people who migrated in the early 18th century.
The population of the Chitumbuka speaking people was estimated at 7.1 million speakers in both countries in 2024, and 2 more millions if adding those that speak as a second language.
Example conversationThe common Chitumbuka greetings between a visitor (traveller) and a local may be as follows:
Pronunciation
VocabularyThe standard greetings are addressed as questions, most of which can be answered with the word makola.
Sources and licences
- Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Tumbuka phrasebook" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0