Looking for practical Acholi to Bemba phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Acholi phrase first, then the Bemba translation (Bemba) — 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 Bemba.
Tip: when a Bemba phrase looks unfamiliar, compare it with the Acholi wording — noticing word order differences helps you understand grammar naturally.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Acholi to Bemba 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
Shani(ah-yo)
Naki
Natotela(nah-kee)
Bok moti
Muli shani(bok mo-tee)
Bok nongo
Muli shani(bok non-go)
Bok obedo
Muli shani(bok oh-beh-do)
Bok ngat
Shalenipo bwino(bok ngat)
Tye kany
Tukakutana(tye kan-yee)
Itye
Twalumba(ee-tye)
Iti ma ineno?
Iwe ulishani?(ee-tee mah ee-neh-no)
Ineno John
Ndefwaya John(ee-neh-no John)
Iti ma inyo?
Uli bwanji?(ee-tee mah een-yo)
Gat ma inyo
Nashitasha kukumona(gaht mah een-yo)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Itye konyo English?
Ulyashi ulukanda mu Chingereza?
Nye konyo Hindi kanyim.
Ndefwaya ukulanda Hindi bwino
Nye neno.
Ndefwaya kumfwa
Nye konyo tye kanyim.
Nimwandi ulukanda buteko
Itye konyo tye kanyim?
Ningaloleleko?
Iti kanyim ngat?
Ili kuti ikalamba?
Nye konyo kanyim ku city center?
Ningalileka shani ku city center?
Konyo kuc.
Fumya kumwendo
Konyo kuc.
Fumya kumwendo
Tye kanyim.
Enda pamo
Iti kanyim ngat?
Kuli shani ifyabukata?
One ticket, please.
Ticket imwe, nomba
Iti kanyim kanyim?
Kuli lishilu ukulya?
Nye konyo.
Ndi lost
Iti kanyim ngat SIM card?
Ili kuti nindeke SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Aye
Eya
Bila
Awe
Kweyo
Panga
Ng'ato konyo
Ndi bwino
Ng'ato konyo ni
Ndi bwino na
Okwero kany
Ilyo lishibukile
Ika kany?
Uchite shani?
Ikwok kany?
Ushakufwa?
Ng'ato konyo kany
Ndefwaya ifyakufwa
Tye kany
Leka ifi
Ng'ato konyo
Nshakufwa
Bila kany
Takwaba shani
Tye kany
Nshakufwa bwino
Aye konyo
Nashala bwino mu mwaka
Tye kany ma ng'ato
Ube na mulimo wabwino
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Atye kany kwo?
Uli kuti ikalamba ya chitima?(Atye kany kwo?)
Atye kany bura?
Uli kuti icikalo ca bisi?(Atye kany bura?)
Kati onyo kwo?
Ninshi ni platform iyi?(Kati onyo kwo?)
Nye kwo nongo?
Ninshi ikalamba?(Nye kwo nongo?)
Kik kwo gwen?
Ninshi iyi ni njira shabwino?(Kik kwo gwen?)
Okwang kany ici
Ili pamo na pano.(Okwang kany ici)
Okwang kany piny
Ili lishilu na pano.(Okwang kany piny)
Nye konyo i map?
Ushibukishe pa mape?(Nye konyo i map?)
Doko ici, pe?
Leka pano, chonde.(Doko ici, pe?)
Nye kwo ngat?
Kuli shani?(Nye kwo ngat?)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.