Wonani kulemba kwambula kuona kwa ChiTumbuka

{{Short description|Niger-Congo language originating in parts of Malawi, Zambia, and Tanzania}}
{{good article}}
{{Infobox language
| name             = ChiTumbuka
| nativename       = ''Chitumbuka''
| states           = [[Malawi]], [[Tanzania]], [[Zambia]]
| region           = 
| speakers         = 7 miliyoni
| date             = 2022
| ref              = 
| familycolor      = Niger-Congo
| fam2             = [[Atlantic–Congo languages|Atlantic–Congo]]
| fam3             = [[Volta-Congo]]
| fam4             = [[Benue–Congo languages|Benue–Congo]]
| fam5             = [[Bantoid languages|Bantoid]]
| fam6             = [[Southern Bantoid]]
| fam7             = [[Bantu languages|Bantu]] ([[Guthrie classification of Bantu languages#Zone N|Zone N]])
| fam8             = [[Nyasa languages|Nyasa]]
| iso2             = tum
| iso3             = tum
| glotto           = tumb1250
| glottorefname    = Tumbuka
| script           = {{Plainlist}}
* [[Latin script]] ([[#Orthography|Roman alphabet]])
* [[Mwangwego script]]
{{endplainlist}}
| minority         = {{plainlist}}
* {{flag|Malawi}}
* {{flag|Zambia}}
* {{flag|Tanzania}}
{{endplainlist}}
| guthrie          = N.21
| lingua           = [http://linguasphere.info/?page=linguascale&linguacode=99-AUS-wc 99-AUS-wc] (+ chi-Kamanga) <br>incl. varieties 99-AUS-wca...-wcl
}}

'''ChiTumbuka''' ntchiyowoyero cha [[ŴaTumbuka|ŵanthu]] ŵa mtundu wachi [[Bantu]] icho chikuyowoyeka mu [[Malaŵi]], [[Zambia]], na [[Tanzania]].<ref name="Michigan">[https://web.archive.org/web/20151123103050/http://africa.isp.msu.edu/afrlang/Tumbuka_root.html Michigan State University African Studies Center information page].</ref> Lizgu ili likumanyikwaso kuti Chitumbuka panji Citumbuka. Chi- icho chili kunthazi kwa Tumbuka chikung'anamura "mu nthowa ya", ndipo apa likung'anamura "chiyowoyero cha ŵanthu ŵa Tumbuka". ChiTumbuka chili mu chiyowoyero chimoza na [[ChiCheŵa|Chichewa]] na [[ChiSena|Sena]].<ref>Kiso (2012), pp.21ff.</ref>

Buku linyake ([[The World Almanac]]) likuti mu charu ichi muli ŵanthu pafupifupi 2,080,000. Ŵanthu ŵanandi ŵakuyowoya Chitumbuka, nangauli ŵanyake ŵakuti ŵalipo ŵachoko chomene. Ŵanthu ŵanandi awo ŵakuyowoya Chitumbuka ŵakukhala mu Malaŵi.<ref name="Michigan" /> ChiTumbuka ndicho chikuyowoyeka chomene kumpoto kwa Malawi, chomenechomene mu vigaŵa vya [[Rumphi]], [[Mzuzu]], na [[Mzimba]].<ref>University of Malawi (2006) Language Mapping Survey for Northern Malawi.</ref>

Pali mphambano yikuru pakati pa ciyowoyero ca chiTumbuka ico cikuyowoyeka mu misumba ya ku Malawi (ico cili na mazgu ghanyake kufuma ku [[Chiswahili|Ciswahili]] na Chichewa) na ciyowoyero ca chiTumbuka ico cikuyowoyeka mu mizi. Ŵanthu ŵanandi ŵakuwona kuti chiyowoyero cha Rumphi ndicho ntchakutowa chomene.<ref>Kamwendo (2004), p.282.</ref> Chiyowoyero cha ku Mzimba chikakhwaskika chomene na chiNgoni ([[ChiZulu|Zulu]]).

Kwamba kale, ŵanthu ŵanandi ŵakuyowoya Chitumbuka na Chichewa. Ndipouli, ciyowoyero ca Tumbuka cikasuzgika comene mu nyengo ya muwuso wa Pulezidenti [[Hastings Kamuzu Banda]], cifukwa mu 1968 cifukwa ca fundo yake yakuti paŵe mtundu umoza na ciyowoyero cimoza, ciyowoyero ici cikaleka kuŵa ca boma mu Malawi. Ntheura, mu masukulu, pa wayilesi, na mu manyuzipepara ŵakafumiskamo ciyowoyero ici.<ref>Kamwendo (2004), p.278.</ref> Mu 1994, apo boma la Tumbuka likamba kulamulira na vipani vinandi, ŵakambaso kutegherezga maungano gha pa wayilesi. Kweni mabuku na mabuku ghanyake ghakaŵa ghanandi yayi.<ref>See Language Mapping Survey for Northern Malawi (2006), pp.38-40 for a list of publications.</ref>

== Malembelo ==
[[File:WIKITONGUES-Temwa_Speaking_Tumbuka_-_free_to_use_file_under_Wikipedia_policies.webm|thumb|326x326px|Temwa wakuyowoya ChiTumbuka.]]
Pali nthowa ziŵiri zakulembera chiTumbuka izo zikugwiliskirika nchito: kalembero ka kaluso (kakulembeka mu [[Baibolo]] la Chitumbuka la [[Wikipediya|Wikipedia]] na mu [[nyuzipepara y]]<nowiki/>a Fuko), umo mazgu gha banthu 'ŵanthu' na chaka 'chaka' ghakulembeka na 'b' na 'ch', na kalembero ka kaluso (kakulembeka mu dikishonare ya Citumbuka iyo yikufumiskika pa [[Intaneti]] na Centre for Language Studies na mu Baibolo la pa Intaneti), umo mazgu ghakulembeka na 'ŵ' na 'c', nga ŵanthu na caka. (Sumu ya 'ŵ' ni [w] yakuzingilizgika makora iyo yikuzunulika na lulimi pafupi na i).<ref>Atkins, Guy (1950) [https://www.jstor.org/stable/1156786 "Suggestions for an Amended Spelling and Word Division of Nyanja"] ''Africa: Journal of the International African Institute'', Vol. 20, No. 3, p.205.</ref> Ŵanthu ŵakumanya yayi apo ŵakwenera kulemba 'r' na 'l', nga ni cakulya ([[Dikishonare]]) panji cakurya (Baibolo) 'chakurya.' (Nadi, [l] na [r] ni mazgu ghakupambanapambana gha chiyowoyero chimoza.) Kweniso pali kukayikira pakati pa mazgu ghakuti'sk' na'sy' (miskombe na misyombe ('bamboo') ghali mu dikishonare ya Citumbuka).<ref>See entries {{lang|tum|citatanga}}, {{lang|tum|cidunga}}, {{lang|tum|cihengo}}.</ref>

== Kuyowoya mazgu ==

=== Vowels ===
Mu chiyowoyero cha Tumbuka muli mazgu ghakuyana waka nga ni /a/, /ɛ/, /i/, /ɔ/, /u/ na /m̩/  aghoso ghali mu [[Chichewa]].<ref>Vail (1972), p. 1.</ref>
[[File:Monile.ogg|thumb|Kutauzgana mu ChiTumbuka.]]

=== Consonants ===
Malizga gha chiyowoyero cha Tumbuka ghakuyana waka na gha Chichewa, kweni ghakupambana. Mu chiyowoyero cha Chichewa mulije mazgu ghakuti /ɣ/, /β/, na /h/. Kweniso ŵanthu ŵakutemwa kupulika mazgu agho ghakufuma mu mulomo {{IPA|/vʲ/}}, {{IPA|/fʲ/}}, {{IPA|/bʲ/}}, {{IPA|/pʲ/}}, {{IPA|/skʲ/}}, {{IPA|/zgʲ/}}, and {{IPA|/ɽʲ/}}.

Mu chiTumbuka mulije vilembo vya Chichewa nga ni /psj/, /bzj/, /t͡s/, /d͡z/. Mazgu gha /s/ na /z/ ghakusangika yayi mu ChiTumbuka, ntheura Chewa nsómba ('somba') = Tumbuka somba. Lizgu lakuti /ʃ/ likusangika mu mazgu gha ku vyaru vinyake pera nga ni shati ('shati') na shuga ('shuga'). ChiTumbuka /?? / nyengo zinyake chikuyana na Chichewa /d/, chiChewa kudwala 'kuŵa mulwari' = Tumbuka kulwala, Chichewa kudya 'kurya' = Tumbuka kulya. Kuyowoya kwa lizgu lakuti "sk" na lizgu lakuti "zg" vikupambana kuyana na chiyowoyero.

Ma consonants gha Tumbuka kanandi ghakusangika mu viyowoyero vinyake. Vinyake vingalembeka pambere chindindindi chindambe kufuma. Pa chithuzithuzi ichi, pali mazgu agho ghangaŵa pa chilembo ichi:
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+Malembo gha Tumbuka<ref>Chavula (2016), pp. 11–13.</ref><ref>Vail (1972), pp. 4–19.</ref>
! colspan="2" rowspan="2" |
! colspan="3" |[[Labial consonant|labial]]
! colspan="3" |[[Dental consonant|dental]]
! colspan="2" |[[Palatal consonant|palatal]]
! colspan="2" |[[Velar consonant|velar]]
! rowspan="2" |[[Glottal consonant|glottal]]
|-
!<small>plain</small>
!<small>lab.</small>
!<small>pal.</small>
!<small>plain</small>
!<small>lab.</small>
!<small>pal.</small>
!<small>plain</small>
!<small>lab.</small>
!<small>plain</small>
!<small>lab.</small>
|-
! colspan="2" |[[Nasal consonant|nasal]]
|ma<br />{{IPAslink|m}}
|mwa<br />{{IPAslink|mʷ}}
|mya<br />{{IPAslink|mʲ}}
|na<br />{{IPAslink|n}}
|nwa<br />{{IPAslink|nʷ}}
|nya<br />{{IPAslink|nʲ}}
|
|
|ng'a<br />{{IPAslink|ŋ}}
|ng'wa<br />{{IPAslink|ŋʷ}}
|
|-
! rowspan="5" |[[plosive]]/<br />[[affricate]]
!<small>unvoiced</small>
|pa<br />{{IPAslink|p}}
|pwa<br />{{IPAslink|pʷ}}
|pya<br />{{IPAslink|pʲ}}
|ta<br />{{IPAslink|t}}
|twa<br />{{IPAslink|tʷ}}
|tya<br />{{IPAslink|tʲ}}
|ca<br />{{IPAslink|t͡ʃ}}
|cwa<br />{{IPAslink|t͡ʃʷ}}
|ka<br />{{IPAslink|k}}
|kwa<br />{{IPAslink|kʷ}}
|
|-
!<small>voiced</small>
|ba<br />{{IPAslink|ɓ}}
|bwa<br />{{IPAslink|ɓʷ}}
|bya<br />{{IPAslink|bʲ}}
|da<br />{{IPAslink|ɗ}}
|dwa<br />{{IPAslink|ɗʷ}}
|dya<br />{{IPAslink|ɗʲ}}
|ja<br />{{IPAslink|d͡ʒ}}
|jwa<br />{{IPAslink|d͡ʒʷ}}
|ga<br />{{IPAslink|g}}
|gwa<br />{{IPAslink|gʷ}}
|
|-
!<small>aspirated</small>
|pha<br />{{IPAslink|pʰ}}
|phwa<br />{{IPAslink|pʷʰ}}
|phya<br />{{IPAslink|pʲʰ}}
|tha<br />{{IPAslink|tʰ}}
|thwa<br />{{IPAslink|tʷʰ}}
|thya<br />{{IPAslink|tʲʰ}}
|cha<br />{{IPAslink|t͡ʃʰ}}
|
|kha<br />{{IPAslink|kʰ}}
|khwa<br />{{IPAslink|kʷʰ}}
|
|-
!<small>nasalised</small>
|mba<br />{{IPAslink|ᵐb}}
|mbwa<br />{{IPAslink|ᵐbʷ}}
|mbya<br />{{IPAslink|ᵐbʲ}}
|nda<br />{{IPAslink|ⁿd}}
|ndwa<br />{{IPAslink|ⁿdʷ}}
|(ndya){{efn|Only in the word {{lang|tum|ndyali}}.}}<br />{{IPAslink|ⁿdʲ}}
|nja<br />{{IPAslink|ⁿd͡ʒ}}
|
|nga<br />{{IPAslink|ᵑg}}
|ngwa<br />{{IPAslink|ᵑgʷ}}
|
|-
!<small>nasalised<br />aspirated</small>
|mpha<br />{{IPAslink|ᵐpʰ}}
|mphwa<br />{{IPAslink|ᵐpʷʰ}}
|mphya<br />{{IPAslink|ᵐpʲʰ}}
|ntha<br />{{IPAslink|ⁿtʰ}}
|nthwa<br />{{IPAslink|ⁿtʷʰ}}
|(nthya)<br />{{IPAslink|ⁿtʲʰ}}
|ncha<br />{{IPAslink|ⁿt͡ʃʰ}}
|
|nkha<br />{{IPAslink|ᵑkʰ}}
|nkhwa<br />{{IPAslink|ᵑkʷʰ}}
|
|-
! rowspan="2" |[[fricative]]
!<small>unvoiced</small>
|fa<br />{{IPAslink|f}}
|fwa<br />{{IPAslink|fʷ}}
|fya<br />{{IPAslink|fʲ}}
|sa<br />{{IPAslink|s}}
|swa<br />{{IPAslink|sʷ}}
|ska (sya)<br />{{IPAslink|sʲ}}
|(sha)<br />{{IPAslink|ʃ}}
|
|
|
|ha<br />{{IPAslink|h}}
|-
!<small>voiced</small>
|va<br />{{IPAslink|v}}
|vwa<br />{{IPAslink|vʷ}}
|vya<br />{{IPAslink|vʲ}}
|za<br />{{IPAslink|z}}
|zwa<br />{{IPAslink|zʷ}}
|zga<br />{{IPAslink|zʲ}}
|
|
|
|
|
|-
! colspan="2" |[[semivowel]]/ [[Liquid consonant|liquid]]
|ŵa<br />{{IPAslink|β}}
|wa<br />{{IPAslink|w}}
|
|la/ra<br />{{IPAslink|ɽ}}
|lwa/rwa<br />{{IPAslink|ɽʷ}}
|lya/rya<br />{{IPAslink|ɽʲ}}
|ya<br />{{IPAslink|j}}
|
|gha<br />{{IPAslink|ɣ}}
|
|
|}
{{notelist}}

=== Kapulikikilo ===
Kupambana kukuru pakati pa Chichewa na Chitumbuka nkhwa kuti Chichewa ni chiyowoyero icho chikuyowoya mazgu ghakupambanapambana.

ChiTumbuka chili na mazgu ghakupambanapambana, chifukwa lizgu lililose ilo likuyowoyeka payekha likuyana waka na lizgu lakwamba ilo likufuma pa lizgu laumaliro.<ref>Downing (2008, 2012).</ref> Ntheura, mu Citumbuka nchambura macitiko kupambaniska mazgu ghaŵiri ghakupambanapambana, nga umo vikuŵira mu Chichewa na viyowoyero vinyake vya Bantu. Ndipouli, lizgu laumaliro yayi ndilo likuŵa pa lizgu lililose, kweni lizgu laumaliro pera:<ref>Downing (2012), p.123.</ref>

* {{lang|tum|ti-ku-phika sî:ma}} 'tikuphika sima'

A greater variety of tonal patterns is found in the [[Ideophone|ideophones]] (expressive words) of Tumbuka; for example Low ({{lang|tum|yoyoyo}} 'disintegrating into small pieces'), High ({{lang|tum|fyá:}} 'swooping low (of birds)'), High-Low ({{lang|tum|phúli}} 'sound of thing bursting'), and Low-High ({{lang|tum|yií}} 'sudden disappearance'), etc.<ref>Moto (1999), pp.112-120.</ref>

Intonational tones are also used in Tumbuka; for example, in yes-no questions there is often a High-Low fall on the final syllable of the question:<ref>Downing (2008), p.55.</ref>

* {{lang|tum|ku-limirâ-so ngô:mâ?}} 'are you also weeding the maize?'

There does not seem to be any consistent, direct correlation between tone in Tumbuka and [[Focus (linguistics)|focus]].<ref>Downing (2012), p.129.</ref>

== Mazina ==

=== Noun classes ===
Nga umo vikuŵira na viyowoyero vya ŵanthu ŵa ku Bantu, mazina gha ChiTumbuka ghakupangika mu vigaŵa vyakupambanapambana kuyana na vigaŵa vya mazina. Lizgu lililose lili na lizgu lake lakwimira, lizgu lakwimira, na lizgu la chiyowoyero. Para pali mphindano pakati pa mazgu agha na mazgu ghakwambilira, mazgu agha ndigho ghakuŵa pakwamba pakusankha zina. Mwaciyelezgero, lizgu lakuti katundu 'vinthu,' nangauli lili na lizgu lakuti ka-, lili mu gulu 1, cifukwa munthu wakuyowoya katundu uyu 'vinthu ivi' na lizgu lakuti uyu. Ŵanthu ŵa ku Malaŵi (nga umo viliri mu dikishonare ya Citumbuka ya pa Yunivesite ya Malawi) ŵakuzunura mazina gha viŵaro mu viyowoyero vinyake nga ni "Mu-Ŵa-"; kweni ŵanthu ŵa ku Bantu ŵakuzunura viŵaro mu manambara (1/2 etc.) agho ghakuyana na viŵaro vya viŵaro mu viyowoyero vinyake vya ku Bantu. Nyengo zinyake mazina ghakukolerana yayi na magulu ghakulondezgapo agha, nga ni fumu'mukuru' (kalasi 9) uyo wali na mazina ghanandi mu kilasi 6.

'''Class 1/2 (Mu-Ŵa-)'''

Some nouns in this class lack the prefix Mu-:

* {{lang|tum|Munthu}} pl. {{lang|tum|ŵanthu (banthu)}} = person
* {{lang|tum|Muzungu}} pl. {{lang|tum|ŵazungu (bazungu)}} = foreigner, white man
* {{lang|tum|Mwana}} pl. {{lang|tum|ŵana (bana)}} = child
* {{lang|tum|Bulu}} pl. {{lang|tum|ŵabulu}} = donkey
* {{lang|tum|Sibweni}} pl. {{lang|tum|ŵasibweni}} = maternal uncle
* {{lang|tum|Katundu}} (no pl.) = goods, possessions

'''Class 3/4 (Mu-Mi-)'''

* {{lang|tum|Mutu}} pl. {{lang|tum|mitu}} = head
* {{lang|tum|Mkuyu}} pl. {{lang|tum|mikuyu}} = fig-tree
* {{lang|tum|Moyo}} pl. {{lang|tum|miyoyo}} = life
* {{lang|tum|Mtima}} pl. {{lang|tum|mitima}} = heart

'''Class 5/6 (Li-Ma-)'''

* {{lang|tum|Bele (bhele}} pl. {{lang|tum|mabele (mabhele)}} = breast
* {{lang|tum|Boma (bhoma)}} pl. {{lang|tum|maboma (mabhoma)}} = government, district
* {{lang|tum|Botolo (bhotolo)}} pl. {{lang|tum|mabotolo (mabhotolo)}} = bottle
* {{lang|tum|Fuko}} pl. {{lang|tum|mafuko}} = tribe, nation
* {{lang|tum|Jiso}} pl. {{lang|tum|maso}} = eye
* {{lang|tum|Maji}} (no singular) = water
* {{lang|tum|Phiri}} pl. {{lang|tum|mapiri}} = hill
* {{lang|tum|Suzgo}} pl. {{lang|tum|masuzgo}} = problem, trouble
* {{lang|tum|Woko}} pl. {{lang|tum|mawoko}} = hand

'''Class 7/8 (Ci-Vi-)'''

* {{lang|tum|Caka (chaka)}} pl. {{lang|tum|vyaka}} = year
* {{lang|tum|Caro (charo)}} pl. {{lang|tum|vyaro}} = country, land
* {{lang|tum|Ciŵeto (chibeto)}} pl. {{lang|tum|viŵeto (vibeto)}} = farm animal
* {{lang|tum|Cidakwa (chidakwa)}} pl. {{lang|tum|vidakwa}} = drunkard
* {{lang|tum|Cikoti (chikoti)}} pl. {{lang|tum|vikoti}} = whip

'''Class 9/10 (Yi-Zi-)'''

* {{lang|tum|Mbale}} pl. {{lang|tum|mbale (mambale)}} = plate
* {{lang|tum|Ndalama}} pl. {{lang|tum|ndalama}} = money
* {{lang|tum|Njelwa}} pl. {{lang|tum|njelwa}} = brick
* {{lang|tum|Nkhuku}} pl. {{lang|tum|nkhuku}} = chicken
* {{lang|tum|Somba}} pl. {{lang|tum|somba}} = fish

'''Class 11 (Lu-)'''

Some speakers treat words in this class as if they were in class 5/6.<ref>Shiozaki (2004).</ref>

* {{lang|tum|Lwande}} = side
* {{lang|tum|Lumbiri}} = fame
* {{lang|tum|Lulimi}} = tongue

'''Class 12/13 (Ka-Tu-)'''

* {{lang|tum|Kanthu (kantu)}} pl. {{lang|tum|tunthu (tuntu)}} = small thing
* {{lang|tum|Kamwana}} pl. {{lang|tum|tuŵana (tubana)}} = baby
* {{lang|tum|Kayuni}} pl. {{lang|tum|tuyuni}} = bird
* {{lang|tum|Tulo}} (no singular) = sleep

'''Class 14/6 (U-Ma-)'''

These nouns are frequently abstract and have no plural.

* {{lang|tum|Usiku}} = night
* {{lang|tum|Ulimi}} = farming
* {{lang|tum|Ulalo}} pl. {{lang|tum|maulalo}} = bridge
* {{lang|tum|Uta}} pl. {{lang|tum|mauta}} = bow

'''Class 15 (Ku-) Infinitive'''

* {{lang|tum|Kugula}} = to buy, buying
* {{lang|tum|Kwiba (kwibha)}} = to steal, stealing

'''Classes 16, 17, 18 (Pa-, Ku-, Mu-) Locative'''

* {{lang|tum|Pasi}} = underneath
* {{lang|tum|Kunthazi (kuntazi)}} = in front, before
* {{lang|tum|Mukati}} = inside

=== Concords ===
Viyezgo, vimanyikwiro, manambara, mazgu ghakupambanapambana, na vimanyikwiro mu Chitumbuka vikwenera kukolerana na lizgu ilo likuyowoyeka. Ŵakuchita nthena na vilembo vyakwambilira, vyakunthazi, panji vyakunthazi ivyo vikuchemeka 'concords.' Mtundu 1 uli na viyowoyero vyakupambanapambana, nga ni mazina ghakwimira vinthu, mazgu ghakwamba, mazgu ghaumaliro, manambara, vimanyikwiro, na mazgu ghaumaliro:<ref>Chase (2004).</ref><ref>Shiozaki (2004)</ref><ref>Vail (1971).</ref>

* {{lang|tum|Mwana u'''yu'''}} = this child
* {{lang|tum|Mwana '''yu'''moza}} = one child
* {{lang|tum|Mwana u'''yo'''}} = that child
* {{lang|tum|Mwana '''yo'''se}} = the whole child
* {{lang|tum|Mwana '''wa'''li'''yo'''se}} = every child
* {{lang|tum|Mwana '''wa'''ka'''mu'''wona}} = the child saw him
* {{lang|tum|Mwana '''mu'''choko (coko)}} = the small child
* {{lang|tum|Mwana '''wa''' Khumbo}} = Khumbo's child
* {{lang|tum|Mwana '''wa'''ne}} = my child
* {{lang|tum|Mwana '''wa'''wona}} = the child has seen

Other noun classes have a smaller variety of concords, as can be seen from the table below:
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; width: 200px; height: 200px;"
|+Table of Tumbuka concords
!
!noun
!English
!this
!num
!that
!all
!subj
!object
!adj
!of
!perf
|-
!1
|{{lang|tum|mwana}}
|child
|{{lang|tum|uyu}}
|''yu-''
|{{lang|tum|uyo}}
|{{lang|tum|yose}}
|''wa-''
|''-mu-''
|''mu-''
|{{lang|tum|wa}}
|''wa-''
|-
!2
|{{lang|tum|ŵana}}
|children
|{{lang|tum|aŵa}}
|''ŵa-''
|{{lang|tum|awo}}
|{{lang|tum|wose}}
|''ŵa-''
|''-ŵa-''
|''ŵa-''
|{{lang|tum|ŵa}}
|''ŵa-''
|-
!3
|{{lang|tum|mutu}}
|head
|{{lang|tum|uwu}}
|''wu-''
|{{lang|tum|uwo}}
|{{lang|tum|wose}}
|''wu-''
| -''wu-''
|''wu-''
|{{lang|tum|wa}}
|''wa-''
|-
!4
|{{lang|tum|mitu}}
|heads
|{{lang|tum|iyi}}
|''yi-''
|{{lang|tum|iyo}}
|{{lang|tum|yose}}
|''yi-''
|''-yi-''
|''yi-''
|{{lang|tum|ya}}
|''ya-''
|-
!5
|{{lang|tum|jiso}}
|eye
|{{lang|tum|ili}}
|''li-''
|{{lang|tum|ilo}}
|{{lang|tum|lose}}
|''li-''
|''-li-''
|''li-''
|{{lang|tum|la}}
|''la-''
|-
!6
|{{lang|tum|maso}}
|eyes
|{{lang|tum|agha}}
|''gha-''
|{{lang|tum|agho}}
|{{lang|tum|ghose}}
|''gha-''
|''-gha-''
|''gha-''
|{{lang|tum|gha}}
|''gha-''
|-
!7
|{{lang|tum|caka}}
|year
|{{lang|tum|ici}}
|''ci-''
|{{lang|tum|ico}}
|{{lang|tum|cose}}
|''ci-''
|''-ci-''
|''ci-''
|{{lang|tum|ca}}
|''ca-''
|-
!8
|{{lang|tum|vyaka}}
|years
|{{lang|tum|ivi}}
|''vi-''
|{{lang|tum|ivyo}}
|{{lang|tum|vyose}}
|''vi-''
|''-vi-''
|''vi-''
|{{lang|tum|vya}}
|''vya-''
|-
!9
|{{lang|tum|nyumba}}
|house
|{{lang|tum|iyi}}
|''yi-''
|{{lang|tum|iyo}}
|{{lang|tum|yose}}
|''yi-''
|''-yi-''
|''yi-''
|{{lang|tum|ya}}
|''ya-''
|-
!10
|{{lang|tum|nyumba}}
|houses
|{{lang|tum|izi}}
|''zi-''
|{{lang|tum|izo}}
|{{lang|tum|zose}}
|''zi-''
|''-zi-''
|''zi-''
|{{lang|tum|za}}
|''za-''
|-
!11
|{{lang|tum|lwande}}
|side
|{{lang|tum|ulu}}
|''lu-''
|{{lang|tum|ulo}}
|{{lang|tum|lose}}
|''lu-''
|''-lu-''
|''lu-''
|{{lang|tum|lwa}}
|''lwa-''
|-
!
|
|(or:
|{{lang|tum|ili}}
|''li-''
|{{lang|tum|ilo}}
|{{lang|tum|lose}}
|''li-''
|''-li-''
|''li-''
|{{lang|tum|la}}
|''la-'')
|-
!12
|{{lang|tum|kayuni}}
|bird
|{{lang|tum|aka}}
|''ka-''
|{{lang|tum|ako}}
|{{lang|tum|kose}}
|''ka-''
|''-ka-''
|''ka-''
|{{lang|tum|ka}}
|''ka-''
|-
!13
|{{lang|tum|tuyuni}}
|birds
|{{lang|tum|utu}}
|''tu-''
|{{lang|tum|uto}}
|{{lang|tum|tose}}
|''tu-''
|''-tu-''
|''tu-''
|{{lang|tum|twa}}
|''twa-''
|-
!14
|{{lang|tum|uta}}
|bow
|{{lang|tum|uwu}}
|''wu''-
|{{lang|tum|uwo}}
|{{lang|tum|wose}}
|''wu-''
|''-wu-''
|''wu-''
|{{lang|tum|wa}}
|''wa-''
|-
!15
|{{lang|tum|kugula}}
|buying
|{{lang|tum|uku}}
|''ku-''
|{{lang|tum|uko}}
|{{lang|tum|kose}}
|''ku-''
|''-ku-''
|''ku-''
|{{lang|tum|kwa}}
|''kwa-''
|-
!16
|{{lang|tum|pasi}}
|underneath
|{{lang|tum|apa}}
|''pa-''
|{{lang|tum|apo}}
|{{lang|tum|pose}}
|''pa-''
|''-pa-''
|''pa-''
|{{lang|tum|pa}}
|''pa-''
|-
!17
|{{lang|tum|kunthazi}}
|in front
|{{lang|tum|uku}}
|''ku-''
|{{lang|tum|uko}}
|{{lang|tum|kose}}
|''ku-''
|''-ku-''
|''ku-''
|{{lang|tum|kwa}}
|''kwa-''
|-
!18
|{{lang|tum|mukati}}
|inside
|{{lang|tum|umu}}
|''mu-''
|{{lang|tum|umo}}
|{{lang|tum|mose}}
|''mu-''
|''-mu-''
|''mu-''
|{{lang|tum|mwa}}
|''mwa-''
|-
|}

== Viyelezgero vya mazgu na malemba ==
Mazgu agha ndigho munthu wangayowoya para wakuluta ku chigaŵa icho ŵanthu ŵanandi ŵakuyowoya Chitumbuka:
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Tumbuka
!Chizungu
|-
|Moni
|Hello
|-
|Monile
|hello, to a group of people
|-
|Muli makola?
Mwaŵa uli?
|how are you?
|-
|Muli makola?
Mwaŵa uli?
|How are you?, to a group of people
|-
|Nili makola
|I'm okay
|-
|Tili makola
|We're okay
|-
|Naonga (chomene)
|Thank you (a lot)
|-
|Yewo (chomene)
|Thanks (a lot)
|-
|Ndiwe njani zina lako?
|What is your name?
|-
|Zina lane ndine....
|My name is....
|-
|Nyengo ili uli?
|What is the time?
|-
|Ningakuvwila?
|Can I help you?
|-
|Uyende makola
|Goodbye/go well/safe travels
|-
|Mwende makola
|Goodbye/go well/safe travels
(said to a group of people)
|-
|Enya/ Eh
|Yes
|-
|Yayi/Chala
|No
|-
|Kwali
|I don't know
|-
|Mukumanya kuyowoya Chizungu?
|Can you speak English?
|-
|Nayambapo kusambilila ChiTumbuka
|I've just started learning Tumbuka
|-
|Mukung'anamula vichi?
|What do you mean?
|-
|Chonde, ningaluta kubafa?
|May I please go to the bathroom?
|-
|Nakutemwa/Nkhukutemwa
|"I love you"
|-
|Phepa
|Sorry
|-
|Phepani
|Sorry (to agroup of people)
|-
|Banja
|Family
|-
|Yowoya
|Talk/speak
|}

== Verbs ==

=== Subject prefix ===
Viyezgo vyose vikwenera kuŵa na lizgu lakunjilira ilo likuyana na lizgu lakunjilira. Mwaciyerezgero, lizgu lakuti ciŵinda'muthondo' lili mu gulu la 7, ntheura usange ni munthu, verebu ili lili na c-:

: {{lang|tum|ciŵinda '''ci'''-ka-koma nkhalamu}} = 'the hunter killed a lion'<ref>Chavula (2016), p. 42.</ref>

It is also possible for the subject to be a locative noun (classes 16, 17, 18), in which case the verb has a locative prefix:<ref>Chavula (2016), p. 23.</ref>

: {{lang|tum|pamphasa '''pa'''-ka-khala mwana}} = 'on the mat there sat down a child'

The locative prefix ''ku-'' (class 17) is also used impersonally when discussing the weather:<ref>Chavula (2016), p. 24.</ref>

: {{lang|tum|'''ku'''kuzizima madazi ghano}} = 'it's cold these days'

When the subject is a personal pronoun, the subject prefixes are as follows (the pronoun itself may be omitted, but not the subject prefix):

: {{lang|tum|(ine) '''n'''-kha-gula}} = 'I bought' (''nkha-'' stands for ''ni-ka-'')
: {{lang|tum|(iwe) '''u'''-ka-gula}} = 'you bought' (informal, singular)
: {{lang|tum|(iyo)<ref>Chavula (2016), p. 23. But Kishindo et al. (2018), s.v. {{lang|tum|iye}}, have {{lang|tum|iye}}.</ref> '''wa'''-ka-gula}} = 'he, she bought'
: {{lang|tum|(ise) '''ti'''-ka-gula}} = 'we bought'
: {{lang|tum|(imwe) '''mu'''-ka-gula}} = 'you bought' (plural or respectful)
: {{lang|tum|(iwo) '''ŵa'''-ka-gula}} = 'they bought', 'he/she bought' (plural or respectful)

In the perfect tense, these are shortened to {{lang|tum|n-a-, w-a-, w-a-, t-a-, mw-a-, ŵ-a-}}, e.g. {{lang|tum|t-a-gula}} 'we have bought'.

In [[Karonga]] dialect, in the 3rd person singular ''a-'' is found instead of ''wa-'', and the 3rd plural is ''wa-'' instead of ''ŵa-'', except in the perfect tense, when ''wa-'' and ''ŵa-'' are used.<ref>McNicholl (2010), pp. 7–8.</ref>

=== Object-marker ===
To indicate the object, an infix can be added to the verb immediately before the verb root. Generally speaking, the object-marker is optional:<ref>Chavula (2016), pp. 51–64.</ref>

: {{lang|tum|Pokani wa('''yi''')gula galimoto}} = 'Pokani has bought a car' (class 9)
: {{lang|tum|Changa waka('''mu''')nyamula katundu}} = 'Changa carried the luggage' (class 1)

The object-marker agrees with the class of the object, as shown on the table of concords above.

The object-marker can also be a locative (classes 16, 17, or 18):<ref>Chavula (2016), p. 56.</ref>

: {{lang|tum|Kondwani wa('''pa''')kwera pa nyumba}} = 'Kondwani has climbed on top of the house'

The locative markers for personal pronouns are as follows:<ref>Chavula (2016), pp. 53–4.</ref>

: {{lang|tum|wa'''ni'''ona (ine)}} = 'he has seen me'
: {{lang|tum|wa'''ku'''ona (iwe)}} = 'he has seen you'
: {{lang|tum|wa'''mu'''ona}} = 'he has seen him/her'
: {{lang|tum|wa'''ti'''ona}} = 'he has seen us'
: {{lang|tum|wa'''mu'''ona'''ni'''}} = 'he has seen you' (plural or respectful)
: {{lang|tum|wa'''ŵa'''ona}} = 'he has seen them'

=== Tenses ===
Tenses in Tumbuka are made partly by adding infixes, and partly by suffixes. Unlike Chichewa, tones do not form any part of the distinction between one tense and another.

In the past a distinction is made between hodiernal tenses (referring to events of today) and remote tenses (referring to events of yesterday or some time ago). However, the boundary between recent and remote is not exact.<ref>Kiso (2012), p. 176.</ref>

Pali mphambano yikuru pakati pa nyengo iyo yajumpha na nyengo iyo yajumpha. Para munthu wakuyowoya mu nyengo yakufikapo, wakuyowoya kuti vinthu vicali makora, nga ni para wakuti: 'Vikondamoyo vyatandazgika mu munda.' Para munthu wakuyowoya lizgu lakuti ndakhala, wakung'anamura kuti "Nkhukhala" panji ndakondwa. Chizindikiro cha kutali chikugwiliskirika nchito pa vinthu ivyo vikacitika kale comene kweni ivyo vikucitika mazuŵa ghano, nga ni libwe lilikuwa 'libwe lawira' panji walikutayika 'wali kufwa.'<ref>Kiso (2012), pp. 171, 178.</ref><ref>Kiso (2012), p. 171, quoting Vail (1972).</ref>

Nyengo zakunthazi nazo zikupambaniska pakati pa vyakuchitika vyapafupi na vyakutali. Vinyake vikulongora kuti cakucitika ici cizamucitikira kunyake, nga ni ndamukuchezga 'Nizamuluta kukacezga.'<ref>Kiso (2012), p. 184, quoting Vail (1972).</ref>

Compound tenses are also found in Tumbuka, such as {{lang|tum|wati wagona}} 'he had slept', {{lang|tum|wakaŵa kuti wafumapo}} 'he had just left' and {{lang|tum|wazamukuŵa waguliska}} 'he will have sold'.<ref>Kiso (2012), pp. 172, 182, 184, quoting Vail (1972).</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: left"
|+Some Tumbuka tenses<ref>Kiso (2012), pp. 163–192.</ref>
!Tense
!Tense marker
!Example
!Translation
|-
!Present infinitive
|ku-
|{{lang|tum|'''ku'''-luta}}
|‘to go'
|-
!
|-
!Present simple
| -ku-
|{{lang|tum|wa-'''ku'''-luta}}
|‘he/she goes/is going’
|-
!Present habitual
| -ku-...-anga
|{{lang|tum|wa-'''ku'''-lut-'''anga'''}}
|‘he/she goes’ (some speakers only)
|-
!
|-
!Present perfect
| -a-
|{{lang|tum|w-'''a'''-luta}}
|‘he/she has gone’
|-
!Present perfect continuous
| -a-...-anga
|{{lang|tum|w-'''a'''-lut-'''anga'''}}
|‘he/she has been going'
|-
!Remote perfect
| -liku-
|{{lang|tum|wa-'''liku'''-luta}}
|‘he/she has gone’
|-
!
|-
!Recent past simple
| -angu-
|{{lang|tum|w-'''angu'''-luta}}
|‘he/she went’ (today)
|-
!Recent past continuous
| -angu-...-anga
|{{lang|tum|w-'''angu'''-lut-'''anga'''}}
|‘he/she was going' (today)
|-
!Remote past simple
| -ka-
|{{lang|tum|wa-'''ka'''-luta}}
|‘he/she went’
|-
!Remote past continuous
| -ka-...-anga
|{{lang|tum|wa-'''ka'''-lut-'''anga'''}}
|‘he/she was going/used to go'
|-
!
|-
![[Near future (grammar)|Near future]]
|...-enge
|{{lang|tum|wa-lut-'''enge'''}}
|'he will go' (now or today)
|-
!Emphatic future<ref>Kiso (2012), p. 183, quoting Vail (1972).</ref>
| -ti-...-enge
|{{lang|tum|wa-'''ti'''-lut-'''enge'''}}
|'he will certainly go'
|-
!Distal future<ref>Kiso (2012), p. 184, 185, quoting Vail (1972). For the term 'distal', see Botne (1999).</ref>
| -amu-(ku)-
|{{lang|tum|w-'''amuku'''-gula}}
|‘he/she will buy’ (elsewhere)
|-
!Remote future
| -zamu-(ku)-
|{{lang|tum|wa-'''zamu'''-luta}}
|‘he/she will go’ (tomorrow or later)
|-
!Remote future continuous
| -zamu-...-anga
|{{lang|tum|wa-'''zamu'''-lut-'''anga'''}}
|‘he/she will be going' (tomorrow or later)
|-
!
|-
!Present subjunctive
| -e
|{{lang|tum|ti-lut-'''e'''}}
|‘let's go'
|-
!Distal subjunctive
| -ka-...-e
|{{lang|tum|wa-'''ka'''-gul-'''e'''}}
|‘so that he can buy (elsewhere)'
|-
!Potential
| -nga-
|{{lang|tum|wa-'''nga'''-luta}}
|'he can go'<ref>McNicholl (2010), p. 8.</ref>
|}

Other future tenses are given by Vail (1972) and others.<ref>See Kiso (2012) pp. 182–188.</ref>

In the 1st person singular, ''ni-ku-'' and ''ni-ka-'' are shortened to ''nkhu-'' and ''nkha-'': {{lang|tum|nkhuluta}} 'I am going', 'I go', {{lang|tum|nkhalutanga}} 'I used to go'.<ref>Kiso (2012), pp. 163, 173.</ref>

=== Negative verbs ===
To make the negative of a verb in Tumbuka, the word {{lang|tum|yayi}} or {{lang|tum|cha(ra)}} is added at or near the end of the clause. It seems that {{lang|tum|yayi}} is preferred by younger speakers:<ref>Kiso (2012), p. 190.</ref>

: {{lang|tum|wakulemba kalata '''yayi'''}}
: 'he is not writing a letter'

: {{lang|tum|tizamugwira ntchito '''cha''' machero}}
: 'we will not work tomorrow'

With the present perfect tense, however, a separate form exists, adding ''-nda-'' and ending in ''-e'':<ref>Kiso (2012), p. 191.</ref>

: {{lang|tum|enya, n'''a'''kumana nawo}}
: 'yes, I have met him'

: {{lang|tum|yayi, ni'''nda'''kuman'''e''' nawo}}
: 'no, I haven't met him'

== The Ngoni influence on Tumbuka ==

'''Words of Ngoni (Zulu/Ndwandwe) origin found in Tumbuka:'''

Viyowoyero vyose vya Chitumbuka vikakhwaskika na chiyowoyero cha Chigoni, chomenechomene mu chigaŵa cha Mzimba ku Malawi. Chiyowoyero cha Ngoni chikamba na ŵanthu ŵa mtundu wa Ndwandwe awo ŵakaŵa ŵazengezgani ŵa fuko la Zulu pambere Ŵazulu ŵandaŵathereske. Ntheura chiyowoyero icho Ŵandwandwe ŵakayowoyanga chikaŵa chakuyana waka na cha Ŵazulu. Apa pali viyelezgero vinyake vya mazgu gha Chitumbuka agho ghali kufuma ku chiZulu/Ndwandwe, nangauli ghanandi ghali na mazgu ghakwambilira gha Chitumbuka agho ghakung'anamulika mu chiyowoyero ichi. 

{| class="wikitable"
!English
!Tumbuka
!Tumbuka-Ngoni dialect
|-
|See
|Wona
|Bheka
|-
|Smoke
|Khweŵa
|Bhema
|-
|Man
|Mwanalume
|Doda
|-
|Virgin
|Mwali
|Nthombi
|}

== An example of Tumbuka ==

'''Months in Tumbuka:'''

{| class="wikitable"
!English
!Tumbuka
|-
|January
|Mathipa
|-
|February
|Muswela
|-
|March
|Nyakanyaka
|-
|April
|Masika
|-
|May
|Vuna
|-
|June
|Zizima
|-
|July
|Mphepo
|-
|August
|Mpupulu
|-
|September
|Lupya
|-
|October
|Zimya
|-
|November
|Thukila
|-
|December
|Vula
|}

Chiyelezgero cha nkhani ya ŵanthu iyo yikang'anamulika mu Chitumbuka na viyowoyero vinyake vya kumpoto kwa Malawi chili mu buku la Language Mapping Survey for Northern Malawi, ilo likalembeka na Center for Language Studies of the University of Malawi.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20210413225347/http://unima-cls.org/Docs/MappingNorthernMalawi/lm-northernmalawi.pdf Language Mapping Survey], p. 60-64.</ref> Buku la Chitumbuka ilo lili na nkhani iyi likuti:

: {{lang|tum|KALULU NA FULU (Citumbuka)|italics=no}}
: {{lang|tum|Fulu wakaluta kukapemphiska vyakulya ku ŵanthu. Pakuyeya thumba lake wakacita kukaka ku cingwe citali na kuvwara mu singo, ndipo pakwenda thumba lake likizanga kunyuma kwakhe.|italics=no}}

: {{lang|tum|Wali mu nthowa, kalulu wakiza kunyuma kwakhe ndipo wakati “bowo, thumba lane!” Fulu wakati, "Thumba ndane iwe, wona cingwe ici ndakaka sono nkhuguza pakwenda.” Kalulu wakakana nipera, ndipo wakati “Tilute ku Mphala yikateruzge.” Mphala yikadumula mlandu na kuceketa cingwe ico Fulu wakakakira thumba. Ŵakatola thumba lira ndipo ŵakapa kalulu.|italics=no}}

: {{lang|tum|Pa zuŵa linyakhe Kalulu wakendanga, Fulu wakamsanga ndipo wakati, "Bowo, mcira wane!" Kalulu wakati, “Ake! Fulu iwe m'cira ngwane." Fulu wakakana, ndipo wakati, "Ndasola ngwane." Ŵakaluta ku mphala, kuti yikaŵeruzge. Ku Mphala kula mlandu ukatowera Fulu. Ŵakadumula m'cira wa Kalulu nakupa Fulu.|italics=no}}

: (Translation)
: THE TORTOISE AND THE HARE
: Tortoise went to beg food from people. To carry his bag, he tied it to a long string and wore it round his neck. As he walked along, the bag was coming behind him.

: As he was on his way, Hare came up behind him and said, "There it is, my bag!" Tortoise said "The bag is mine, see this string I've tied now I'm pulling it as I go." Hare refused to accept this and said "Let's go the Court, so that it can judge us." The Court examined the case and cut Tortoise's string which he'd tied the bag with. They took that bag and gave it to Hare.

: Another day when Hare was walking along, Tortoise found him and said, "There it is, my tail!" Hare said, "Nonsense, this is my tail, Tortoise." Tortoise refused to accept this and said, "What I've got is mine." They went to the Court so that it could make a judgement. In that Court, the case went in Tortoise's favour. They cut off Hare's tail and gave it to Tortoise.

== Some vocabulary ==

=== Helpful phrases ===

* {{lang|tum|Enya}}    =  Yes
* {{lang|tum|Yayi}}    =  No
* {{lang|tum|Yebo (yeŵo)}}   =  Thank you
* {{lang|tum|Taonga}} = We are thankful
* {{lang|tum|Nkhukhumba chakurya!}} = I want some food !
* {{lang|tum|Munganipako chakurya?}} = could you give me some food?
* {{lang|tum|Ine nkhuyowoya chiTumbuka yayi!}} = I do not speak chiTumbuka!
* {{lang|tum|Yendani makola}} = Travel well.
* {{lang|tum|Nkukhumba maji yakumwa}} = I would like water to drink.

=== Greetings ===

* {{lang|tum|Mwawuka uli?}} =  Good morning.  (How did you wake up?)
* {{lang|tum|Tawuka makola.  Kwali imwe?}} =  Fine.  And you? (I woke up well.  I don't know about you?)
* {{lang|tum|Muli uli?}} = How are you?
* {{lang|tum|Nili makola, kwali imwe?}} = I am fine, how are you?
* {{lang|tum|Mwatandala uli?}}  = Good afternoon. (How did you spend the day?)
* {{lang|tum|Natandala makola.  Kwali imwe?}} = Good afternoon.  How are you? (I spent the day well.  I don't know about you?)
* {{lang|tum|Monile}} = somewhat more formal than "Hi". Perhaps best translated as "Greetings".
* {{lang|tum|Tionanenge}} = We shall meet again.

=== People ===
The plural ba- (ŵa-) is often used for politeness when referring to elders:

* {{lang|tum|Munyamata}} = boy
* {{lang|tum|Banyamata (ŵanyamata)}} = boys
* {{lang|tum|Musungwana}} = girl
* {{lang|tum|Basungwana (ŵasungwana)}} = girls
* {{lang|tum|Bamwali (ŵamwali)}} = young ladies
* {{lang|tum|Banchembere (ŵancembele)}} = a woman with babies
* {{lang|tum|Bamama (ŵamama)}} = mother
* {{lang|tum|Badada(ŵadhadha)}} = dad
* {{lang|tum|Bagogo (ŵagogo)}} = grandmother
* {{lang|tum|Babuya (ŵabhuya)}} = grandmother, also used when addressing old female persons
* {{lang|tum|Basekulu (ŵasekulu)}} = grandfather
* {{lang|tum|Bankhazi (ŵankhazi)}} = paternal aunt
* {{lang|tum|ŵa/Bamama ŵa/bachoko / ŵa/bakulu}} = maternal aunt usually your mother's younger/older sister
* {{lang|tum|Basibweni (ŵasibweni)}} = maternal uncle
* {{lang|tum|Badada(ŵadhadha) bachoko / bakulu}} = paternal uncle usually your father's younger/older brother
* {{lang|tum|Mudumbu(mudhumbu) wane}} = my brother/ sister (for addressing a sibling of the opposite sex)
* {{lang|tum|Muchoko wane / muzuna wane/ munung'una wane}} = my young brother / sister (for addressing a sibling of the same sex)
* {{lang|tum|Mukuru wane / mulala wane}} = my elder brother / sister (for addressing a sibling of the same sex)

=== Verbs ===

* {{lang|tum|Kusebela (Kuseŵera)}} = to play
* {{lang|tum|Kuseka}} = to laugh
* {{lang|tum|Kurya}} = to eat
* {{lang|tum|Kugona}} = to sleep
* {{lang|tum|Kwenda}} = to walk
* {{lang|tum|Kuchimbila}} = to run
* {{lang|tum|Kulemba}} = to write
* {{lang|tum|Kuchapa}} = to do laundry
* {{lang|tum|Kugeza}} = to bath
* {{lang|tum|Kuphika}} = to cook
* {{lang|tum|Kulima}} = to dig / cultivate
* {{lang|tum|Kupanda}} = to plant
* {{lang|tum|Kuvina}} = to dance
* {{lang|tum|Kwimba}} = to sing

=== Animals ===       

* {{lang|tum|Fulu}} = tortoise
* {{lang|tum|Kalulu}} = hare
* {{lang|tum|Gwere}} = hippo
* {{lang|tum|Chimbwi}} = hyena
* {{lang|tum|Njoka}} = snake
* {{lang|tum|Nkhumba}} = pig
* {{lang|tum|Ng'ombe}} = cow
* {{lang|tum|Nchebe (Ncheŵe)}} = dog
* {{lang|tum|Chona/pusi/kiti}} = cat
* {{lang|tum|Mbelele}} = sheep
* {{lang|tum|Nkalamu}} = lion
* {{lang|tum|Mbuzi}} = goat
* {{lang|tum|Nkhuku}} = chicken

== Wonaniso ==

* [[Tumbuka people]]
* [[Tumbuka mythology]]

== Notable Tumbuka People ==

* [[Shepherd Bushiri|Sheperd Bushiri]] (Christian preacher)
* [[Mwai Kumwenda]] (netball player)
* [[Bridget Kumwenda|Briddget Kumwenda]] (netball player)
* [[Chakufwa Chihana]] ( human rights activist and politician)
* [[Enoch Chihana]] (member of parliament)

== Ukaboni ==
{{reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
{{refbegin}}
* Botne, Robert (1999). [https://web.archive.org/web/20210413225148/https://scholarworks.iu.edu/dspace/bitstream/handle/2022/3356/botne%20book%20chapter.pdf?sequence=1 "Future and distal -ka-'s: Proto-Bantu or nascent form(s)?"]. In: Jean-Marie Hombert and Larry M. Hyman (eds.), ''Bantu Historical Linguistics: Theoretical and Empirical Perspectives''. Stanford, CA: Center for the Study of Language and Information, pp.&nbsp;473–515.
* Chase, Robert (2004). "A Comparison of Demonstratives in the Karonga and Henga Dialects of Tumbuka". Undergraduate paper. Amherst: Dept. of Linguistics, Univ. of Massachusetts.
* Chavula, Jean Josephine (2016). [https://www.lotpublications.nl/Documents/423_fulltext.pdf "Verbal derivation and valency in Chitumbuka"]. Leiden University doctoral thesis.
* Downing, Laura J. (2006). "The Prosody and Syntax of Focus in Chitumbuka". ''ZAS Papers in Linguistics'' 43, 55-79.
* Downing, Laura J. (2008). "Focus and prominence in Chichewa, Chitumbuka and Durban Zulu". ''ZAS Papers in Linguistics'' 49, 47-65.
* Downing, Laura J. (2012). [http://www.lingref.com/cpp/acal/42/paper2764.pdf "On the (Non-)congruence of Focus and Prominence in Tumbuka"]. ''Selected Proceedings of the 42nd Annual Conference on African Linguistics'', ed. Michael R. Marlo et al., 122-133. Somerville, MA: Cascadilla Proceedings Project.
* Downing, Laura J. (2017). "Tone and intonation in Chichewa and Tumbuka". In Laura J. Downing & Annie Rialland (eds) ''Intonation in African Tone Languages''. de Gruyter, Berlin/Boston, pp.&nbsp;365–392.
* Downing, Laura J. (2019). [https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Laura_Downing/publication/335175896_Tumbuka_prosody_Between_tone_and_stress/links/5d55398645851545af43be4d/Tumbuka-prosody-Between-tone-and-stress.pdf "Tumbuka prosody: Between tone and stress"].  In: Emily Clem et al (eds). ''Theory and Description in African Linguistics: Selected papers from the 47th Annual Conference on African Linguistics'', 75-94. Also available online at: [https://books.google.com/books?id=fPSrDwAAQBAJ&dq=Tumbuka+prosody%3A+Between+tone+and+stress&pg=PA75]
* Elmslie, Walter Angus (1923): ''Introductory Grammar of the Tumbuka Language''. Livingstonia Mission Press.
* Kamwendo, Gregory H. (2004). [https://web.archive.org/web/20200929073334/http://www.njas.helsinki.fi/pdf-files/vol13num3/kamwendo.pdf Kamwendo "Your Chitumbuka is Shallow. It's not the Real Chitumbuka: Linguistic Purism Among Chitumbuka Speakers in Malawi"], ''Nordic Journal of African Studies'' 13(3): 275–288.
* Kishindo, Pascal J. et Allan L. Lipenga (2006). ''Parlons citumbuka : langue et culture du Malawi et de la Zambie'', L'Harmattan, Paris, Budapest, Kinshasa, 138 pages. {{ISBN|2-296-00470-9}}
* Kishindo, Pascal J. (ed), Jean J. Chavula and others (2018). {{lang|tum|Mung'anamulira mazgo wa Citumbuka}} (Citumbuka dictionary). Centre for Language Studies, University of Malawi. {{ISBN|978-99960-9-610-5}}
* Kiso, Andrea (2012). [http://su.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:546594/FULLTEXT01.pdf "Tense and Aspect in Chichewa, Citumbuka, and Cisena"]. Ph.D. Thesis. Stockholm University.
* McNicholl, Duncan (2010). [http://malawinetwork.org/guide-to-chitumbuka.pdf "The No-Nonsense Guide to Learning Chitumbuka: Volume 1"].
* Moto, Francis (1999). "The Tonal Phonology of Bantu Ideophones". ''Malilime: Malawian Journal of Linguistics'' no.1, 100-120. (pp.&nbsp;112–119 deals with tone in Chitumbuka ideophones).
* Mphande, L. (1989). "A Phonological Analysis of the Ideophone in Chitumbuka". Ph.D. Dissertation. The University of Texas, Austin.
* Shiozaki, Lisa (2004). "Concordial agreement in the Karonga dialect of Tumbuka". Undergraduate paper. Amherst: Dept. of Linguistics, Univ. of Massachusetts.
* Turner, W.M. (1952). ''Tumbuka–Tonga–English Dictionary'' The Hetherwick Press, Blantyre, Nyasaland (now Malawi).
* University of Malawi Centre for Language Studies (2006). [https://web.archive.org/web/20210413225347/http://unima-cls.org/Docs/MappingNorthernMalawi/lm-northernmalawi.pdf "Language Mapping Survey for Northern Malawi"].
* Vail, Hazen Leroy (1971). "The noun classes of Tumbuka". ''African studies'', v. 30, 1, p.&nbsp;35-59.
* Vail, Hazen Leroy (1972). "Aspects of the Tumbuka Verb". Ph.D. dissertation, University of Wisconsin.
{{refend}}

== External links ==
{{InterWiki|code=tum}}
{{Wikivoyage|Tumbuka phrasebook|Tumbuka|a phrasebook}}

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20151123103050/http://africa.isp.msu.edu/afrlang/Tumbuka_root.html Very brief report on Tumbuka language.]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20210413225347/http://unima-cls.org/Docs/MappingNorthernMalawi/lm-northernmalawi.pdf Language Mapping Survey for Northern Malawi]. University of Malawi Centre for Language Studies, 2006.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20210413225407/http://unima-cls.org/Docs/MappingNorthernMalawi/mw-north-a4.jpg Language Map of Northern Malawi]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20051222115610/http://embangweni.com/chitumbu.htm Some more chiTumbuka vocabulary.]
* [http://www.bisharat.net/wikidoc/pmwiki.php/PanAfrLoc/Tumbuka PanAfrican L10n page on Tumbuka]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20210308020136/http://www.unima-cls.org/ Citumbuka monolingual dictionary]

{{Languages of Malawi}}
{{Languages of Zambia}}
{{Narrow Bantu languages|N-S}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tumbuka Language}}
[[Category:Tumbuka language| ]]
[[Category:Nyasa languages]]
[[Category:Languages of Malawi]]
[[Category:Languages of Zambia]]
[[Category:Tumbuka people]]
[[Category:Non-tonal languages in tonal families]]
[[Category:Click languages|Tumbuka language (Mzimba dialect)]]