Looking for practical Afar to Bambara phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Afar 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: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Bambara-speaking trip in a few weeks.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Afar 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.
Nagaad
I ni ce(nagaad)
Galatooma
I ni sogoma(galatooma)
Bariis
I ni bɔ(bariis)
Galab
I ni kɛ(galab)
Haal
I ni sɔgɔ(haal)
Haalka habeen
I ni tulu(haalka habeen)
Ilaa mar kale
N bɛ se ka(ilaa mar kale)
Nagaad
A bɛ se ka(nagaad)
Maa magacaa?
Nɛnɛ kɛ i tɛ?(maa magacaa)
Magacaygu waa John
N bɛ tɔgɔ John(magacaygu waa John)
Iska waran?
I ni fɛ?(iska waran)
Aad baan ku faraxsanahay
N bɛ se ka i fɛ(aad baan ku faraxsanahay)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Inni ingiriisi maahaa?
I ni ce English?(ee nee che English)
Hindi maahaa hinjiru
N mɔgɔ bɛ Hindi kɛ(N mo-go beh Hindi keh)
Ani hinfahmi
N mɔgɔ bɛ(N mo-go beh)
Fadlan si maahaa siib
Sɛbɛn, kɛlɛ kɛ(Sebene, keh-leh keh)
Maahaa inna marra?
I ka fɔ a la?(Ee kah fo ah lah)
Maalin baadhu?
Bamanakan kɛn na?(Bah-mah-nah-kahn keh nah)
Akkam an magaalatti gahu?
N bɛ fɔ kɔrɔbɔ?(N beh fo koh-roh-boh)
Boodha kaaf
Kɛlɛn bɔ(Keh-lehn boh)
Boodha mirga
Kɛlɛn bɔ kɔrɔ(Keh-lehn boh koh-roh)
Si qodhi
Fɔ kɛlɛn(Fo keh-lehn)
Maalin abaal?
Fɛ kɛ?(Feh keh)
Tiket tokkon, fadlan
Kɛnɛ ticket, please(Ken-eh ticket, please)
Maalin faga?
I kɛ fɔ kɛnɛ?(Ee keh fo keh-neh)
Ani dhumtu
N tɛ bɔ(N teh boh)
Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?
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.
Eeyy
Aye(ee-yee)
Maya
Ala(mah-yah)
Gara
Bara(gah-rah)
Anigu waaq
N bɛ bɔ(ah-nee-goo wahk)
Anigu ma waaq
N bɛ fɔ(ah-nee-goo mah wahk)
Tani waa'ee
I bɛ sɛbɛn(tah-nee wah-ee)
Ilaa ma waaq?
I ka fɛ kɛ?(ee-lah mah wahk)
Ilaa naxar?
I bɛ ma n bɔ?(ee-lah nah-khar)
Naxar aniga
N bɛ fɔ n bɔ(nah-khar ah-nee-gah)
Soo'aa
Sira kɛ(soo-ah)
Waa'ee aniga
N tɛgɛ(wah-ee ah-nee-gah)
Maya dhib
Ala ka fɔ(mah-yah dheeb)
Hambalyo
I ni kɛ(ham-bahl-yo)
Bariis gadhay
I ni tɔgɔ kɛ(bah-rees gah-thai)
Safar amni
I bɛ tɔgɔ kɛ(sah-far am-nee)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Eeyyoo taayka daab?
Fôlô kôkô tîgê?(eyyoo taayka daab)
Eeyyoo gaari daab?
Fôlô bôgô tîgê?(eyyoo gaari daab)
Keenya kaafaa?
I ni tîgê kô?(keenya kaafaa)
Waqti maayti?
Kô tîgê bô?(waqti maayti)
Maayta kaan?
I ni tîgê bô?(maayta kaan)
Ittaa hara
I tîgê kâ.(ittaa hara)
Ittaa faar
I tîgê kâ fô.(ittaa faar)
Maafaa naafaa?
I bô kô tîgê fô?(maafaa naafaa)
Hara dhaaf, fadlan
Tîgê kâ, s'il vous plaît.(hara dhaaf, fadlan)
Waqti mee?
Kô tîgê kô?(waqti mee)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Iyayka mi'aa?
I ni ce?(iyayka mi'aa)
Iyayka xayl
O ye fɛɛrɛ.(iyayka xayl)
Ma'ayka hara gabbir?
I ni ka fɛɛrɛ?(ma'ayka hara gabbir)
Karta ka'ayka?
N bɛ tɔgɔ ka kɛ?(karta ka'ayka)
Mi'ayka mi'ida laba
N bɛ fɔlɔ kɛlɛ kɔrɔ.(mi'ayka mi'ida laba)
Xisaab, fadlan
Kɔrɔbaw, s'il vous plaît.(xisaab, fadlan)
Adeegku ma ku jira?
Sɛbɛ ka fo?(adeegku ma ku jira)
Anigu waxaan ahay khudradeed
N bɛ sɔgɔma.(anigu waxaan ahay khudradeed)
Cunto kulul ma jirto, fadlan
Kɔrɔ fɛɛrɛ, s'il vous plaît.(cunto kulul ma jirto)
Tani waa macaan
I ye sɔgɔ.(tani waa macaan)
Mi'ayka liiska?
N bɛ fɔlɔ kɔrɔbaw?(mi'ayka liiska)
Dharbaaxda biyo, fadlan
N bɛ fɔlɔ jɔrɔ.(dharbaaxda biyo)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Waaqa booliisi
Nɔgɔ fɔlɔ(nogo folo)
Waaqa ambulaansii
Nɔgɔ kɔrɔ(nogo koro)
Dooktar naaf barbaachisa
N bɛ sɔrɔ(n be soro)
Naanu dhukkuba qaba
N bɛ tɛgɛn(n be tegen)
Qoricha fooniif dhukkuba qaba
N bɛ fɔlɔ kɛlɛ(n be folokele)
Hospitaala dhihoo eessa?
N bɛ kɔrɔ fɔlɔ?(n be koro folo)
Asitti dhukkuba qaba
I tɛgɛ fɛ(i tege fe)
Paaspoortii koo dhabe
N bɛ kɛlɛ fɔlɔ(n be kele folo)
Hoteela koo waaqa?
I bɛ nɔgɔ kɔrɔ fɔlɔ?(i be nogo koro folo)
Gargaarsa!
Tɛgɛ!(tege)
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Nagaad waayi
N bɛ se ka kɛnɛ(N bɛ se ka kɛnɛ)
Nagaad kaabirna waayi
Ala ka yɛlɛ kɛnɛ(Ala ka yɛlɛ kɛnɛ)
Waqti mee waayi?
I ni bɔ a la?(I ni bɔ a la?)
Warqad kaan diraya harra
N bɛ fɔ report la tɛgɛ(N bɛ fɔ report la tɛgɛ)
Maanta waayi hadalnaa?
N bɛ fɔ tɛgɛ?(N bɛ fɔ tɛgɛ?)
Faylka ku lifaaqan fadlan
Sɔgɔma, fɔ file la a bɛ(Sɔgɔma, fɔ file la a bɛ)
Mahadsanid waqtigaaga
I ni ce, a bɛ sɔrɔ(I ni ce, a bɛ sɔrɔ)
Waxaan rajeynayaa inaan la shaqeeyo
N bɛ fɔ a la ka yɛlɛ(N bɛ fɔ a la ka yɛlɛ)
Ma cadayn kartaa dhibicdaas?
I bɛ fɔ a la fɛ?(I bɛ fɔ a la fɛ?)
Iga raadi dib
N bɛ fɔ a la kɛ(N bɛ fɔ a la kɛ)
Waqtiga kama dambaysta waa Jimco
Dɔgɔni tɛgɛ Friday(Dɔgɔni tɛgɛ Friday)
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.