Umbundu is the spirit that flows through our homes and villages.
In every song sung around the fire, every story told by the elders, and every proverb shared, Umbundu carries the strength and dreams of our people.
It’s the voice of our past and the hope for tomorrow.
Ready to embrace this vibrant heritage? Let’s begin this beautiful journey together.
Greetings in Umbundu
General greetings in Umbundu:
- Kalunga (one person)
- Kalungi (two people or more), used at any time
| English | Umbundu |
|---|---|
| Greetings | Ovilamo |
| Good morning | Omelē iwa. / Kalunga. |
| Good afternoon | Utanya uwa / Ekumbi lywa / Kalunga. |
| Good evening | Oñolosi iwa. / Kalunga. |
| How are you? | Ciwa? / Ndaty oñuahi? / Ndaty ciwa? / Oñuahi? / Ndaty cenda? |
| How are you today? | Ndamupi ove okasi etali? / Ndaty okasi etali? |
| I am fine | Ñasi ciwa. / Ciwa Ciwa. |
| Have a good day | Ekumbi liwa kokwove! |
| I am doing great | Ñasi calwa ciwa. / Ulamba lika. |
| Hi/Hello. Nice to meet you. | Kalunga. Ciwa calwa okukukuliyã. / Cafina calwa ame okukukuliyã. |
| See you soon | Noke. |
| See you later | Tulisanga noke. / Noke tulisanga. |
Love Words in Umbundu
| English | Umbundu |
|---|---|
| Love Language | Elimi lyocisola |
| I love you | Ame ndukusole |
| I miss you | Ndikasi longeva / Ñasi longeva |
| Love you so much | Ame ndukusole calwa |
| I want to see you | Ndiyongola okukumolã |
| I love you with all my heart | Ame ndukusole lutima wange wosi |
| I love you too | Lame vo ndukusole |
| I like you | Ame ndukusole |
| You are beautiful | Ove wafina / Waposoka |
| My love | Acisola cange |
| You look beautiful | Ove wafina / Waposoka |
| My beautiful wife | Ambuale yange |
| I miss you so much, darling | Ndiyevite ekambo lyalua lyove ambuale yange |
| I need you | Ame ndukusukila / Ndukusukila |
| You will miss me | Okandisukila / Okakwata ekambo lyange kokwiya kwotembo |
| Goodbye, my love | Suku akale love, acisola cange / Sala po ciwa a cisola cange |
| See you tomorrow | Helã tulisanga |
| I will marry you | Ndikuela love |
| I want some space | Ndiyongola otembo / Ndisukila otembo |
| I need your love | Ndisukila ocisola cove |
| You are mine | Ove u wange |
Directions in Umbundu
| English | Umbundu |
|---|---|
| Where are you? | Pi okasi? / Okasi pi ove? |
| Where did you go? | Wandele py? |
| Where do you live? | Onungambo yakupi? |
| Where are you going? | Wenda py? |
| Where were you? | Wakala pi? |
Common Questions in Conversation in Umbundu
| English | Umbundu |
|---|---|
| How much? | Ciñami? / Ciñami eci? |
| How are you feeling? | Oliyevite ndaty? |
| How have you been? | Ndamupi ove osole okuliyevayeva? |
| What is your name? | Onduko yaswa po? |
| What are you doing? | Nye okasi lokulinga? |
| What are you cooking/eating? | Okasi lokuteleka nye tulye? |
| Are you okay, dear? | Okasi ciwa, a soliwe yange? |
| When are you coming? | Tekelipi wiya? / Wiya tekepi? |
| How was your night/day? | Walale / Wosala? |
| How are you doing? | Ndaty oñuai? |
| How is your family? | Epata lyove liñuai? / Ocikumba ciñuai? |
| How was your day? | Wosala ndaty? Lyanda ciwa? |
| What is wrong? | Nye caponya (caliponya)? |
| What do you mean? | Nye cilomboloka eci oli l'okutana? |
| How's the weather over there? | Ndamupi otembo ikasi oku? |
| Have you gone to church? | Wandele ko'nembele? / Wandele kokufendela? |
| What is this? | Eci nye? |
| What's going on? | Nye cilipita? |
| Are you listening? | Ondiyevite? |
| Have you heard? | Waciyeva? |
| Can I go home? | Citava ame okwenda ko'njo? |
| Can I ask something? | Ndipondola okupula cimwe? |
| How is everything? | Cosi cikasi? |
| What’s your phone number? | Etendelo lyocimuñuamuñua cipy? |
Everyday Conversation in Umbundu
| English | Umbundu |
|---|---|
| Happy birthday | Locisola calwa, ulima uwa kokwove. |
| Thank you | Ndapandula. |
| I am sorry | Ngecele. / Nditetele. |
| You are welcome | Lacimwe / A cimwe ko. |
| Me too! | Lame vo! |
| God bless you | Suku akusandelele. |
| May God protect you | Suku akulave. |
| She is happy | Eye wasanjuka / Eye wonjuka. |
| Please help me | Mange ohenda, ñuatise. |
| I don't know | Sici / ame sici / ame sacikulihilē. |
| I will come tomorrow | Ndíya helã. / Ame ndiya helã. |
| Come here! | Enju kulo. |
| Feel at home | Lyanja. |
| Be blessed | Suku akusandelele. |
| I am coming soon | Ndili lokupitilã lokanyanyu. / Ñasi lokupitilã ale. |
| Excuse me | Sesa. / andi sesa. |
| Leave me alone | Ukandilambale / Ndukukale ciwa. |
| It is okay | Lacimwe. / Ciwa Ciwa. |
| I am going home | Ndaloña konjo. |
| I don't want | Ndiyongola. / Ame si yongola. |
| Love is a beautiful thing | Ocisola ocina cimue cafina. |
| Let me try | Linga ndiseteke. |
| Welcome home | Okutyukila kuwa konjo. |
| I reached home safely | Ndapitilã ciwa konjo. |
| God is good | Suku uwa. |
| I don't understand | Kacandilombolokele. |
| We are happy to see you | Twasanjuka lo kukumolã. |
| I have it | Ndikwete eci. / Ame ndicikwete. |
| Rest in peace | Puyuka po ciwa. |
| I don't have money | Sikwete olombongo. / Ndasaka. |
| I am done | Nda molusula. / Nda malã / Nda sula. |
| I am going to the shop | Ndaloña kocitanda. |
| Happy New Year | Ulima uwa wokaliye. |
| Stop using your phone | Andi talama lo'cimuñuamuñua. |
| I need a favour, please | Ndisukila ekwatiso, mange ohenda. |
| I haven’t seen you for ages | Sala akumola vali osimbo yalua. |
| Great to see you again | Ciwa okukumolã vali. |
| I really appreciate it | Ndapandula lutima wange wosi. |
| You made my day | Waposwisa eteke lyange. |
| No problem | Ovitangi lavimwe. / Kacikwete ovitangi. |
| Have you eaten it yet? | Ove walya ale? |
| Come let me take you home | Enju ndukwambate konjo. |
| You are very drunk | Ove wakolwa calua. |
| Can we have the meeting today? | Citava okukwata eliñualehēlo etali? |
| Clean my shoes please | Yelisa olohaku vyange, mange ohenda. |
| The sun is scorching | Utanya watuwa. |
| I'm going | Ndikasi okwenda. |
Discover five new Umbundu words every day with our Umbundu dictionary. Your journey to fluency begins!
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