Looking for practical Acholi to Bambara phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Acholi phrase first, then the Bambara translation (Bambara) — so you can scan quickly before a trip, class, or video call.
The phrases are grouped into eight topics: greetings and pleasantries, useful phrases for travellers, everyday conversation, directions and getting around, shopping and dining, emergencies and health, work and business, and time, days and numbers. Use the table of contents to jump straight to greetings, directions, dining, emergencies, or numbers. You do not need perfect grammar to start — short, clear sentences often work better than silence when you are learning Bambara.
Tip: read the Bambara line out loud three times, then cover the Acholi side and try to recall the meaning — repetition builds memory faster than silent reading.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Acholi to Bambara translator to paste your own messages and get an instant translation.
Greetings and pleasantries
Hello, goodbye, please, thank you, and polite introductions for meeting new people.
Ayo
I ni ce(ah-yo)
Naki
I ni sogoma(nah-kee)
Bok moti
I ni bɔ(bok mo-tee)
Bok nongo
I ni kɛ(bok non-go)
Bok obedo
I ni sɔgɔ(bok oh-beh-do)
Bok ngat
I ni tulu(bok ngat)
Tye kany
N bɛ se ka(tye kan-yee)
Itye
A bɛ se ka(ee-tye)
Iti ma ineno?
Nɛnɛ kɛ i tɛ?(ee-tee mah ee-neh-no)
Ineno John
N bɛ tɔgɔ John(ee-neh-no John)
Iti ma inyo?
I ni fɛ?(ee-tee mah een-yo)
Gat ma inyo
N bɛ se ka i fɛ(gaht mah een-yo)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Itye konyo English?
I ni ce English?(ee nee che English)
Nye konyo Hindi kanyim.
N mɔgɔ bɛ Hindi kɛ(N mo-go beh Hindi keh)
Nye neno.
N mɔgɔ bɛ(N mo-go beh)
Nye konyo tye kanyim.
Sɛbɛn, kɛlɛ kɛ(Sebene, keh-leh keh)
Itye konyo tye kanyim?
I ka fɔ a la?(Ee kah fo ah lah)
Iti kanyim ngat?
Bamanakan kɛn na?(Bah-mah-nah-kahn keh nah)
Nye konyo kanyim ku city center?
N bɛ fɔ kɔrɔbɔ?(N beh fo koh-roh-boh)
Konyo kuc.
Kɛlɛn bɔ(Keh-lehn boh)
Konyo kuc.
Kɛlɛn bɔ kɔrɔ(Keh-lehn boh koh-roh)
Tye kanyim.
Fɔ kɛlɛn(Fo keh-lehn)
Iti kanyim ngat?
Fɛ kɛ?(Feh keh)
One ticket, please.
Kɛnɛ ticket, please(Ken-eh ticket, please)
Iti kanyim kanyim?
I kɛ fɔ kɛnɛ?(Ee keh fo keh-neh)
Nye konyo.
N tɛ bɔ(N teh boh)
Iti kanyim ngat SIM card?
N bɛ fɔ SIM card kɛn?(N beh fo SIM card ken)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Aye
Aye
Bila
Ala
Kweyo
Bara
Ng'ato konyo
N bɛ bɔ
Ng'ato konyo ni
N bɛ fɔ
Okwero kany
I bɛ sɛbɛn
Ika kany?
I ka fɛ kɛ?
Ikwok kany?
I bɛ ma n bɔ?
Ng'ato konyo kany
N bɛ fɔ n bɔ
Tye kany
Sira kɛ
Ng'ato konyo
N tɛgɛ
Bila kany
Ala ka fɔ
Tye kany
I ni kɛ
Aye konyo
I ni tɔgɔ kɛ
Tye kany ma ng'ato
I bɛ tɔgɔ kɛ
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Atye kany kwo?
Fôlô kôkô tîgê?(Atye kany kwo?)
Atye kany bura?
Fôlô bôgô tîgê?(Atye kany bura?)
Kati onyo kwo?
I ni tîgê kô?(Kati onyo kwo?)
Nye kwo nongo?
Kô tîgê bô?(Nye kwo nongo?)
Kik kwo gwen?
I ni tîgê bô?(Kik kwo gwen?)
Okwang kany ici
I tîgê kâ.(Okwang kany ici)
Okwang kany piny
I tîgê kâ fô.(Okwang kany piny)
Nye konyo i map?
I bô kô tîgê fô?(Nye konyo i map?)
Doko ici, pe?
Tîgê kâ, s'il vous plaît.(Doko ici, pe?)
Nye kwo ngat?
Kô tîgê kô?(Nye kwo ngat?)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.