Looking for practical Afar to Bemba phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Afar 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: pick five Bemba phrases from the greetings section and use them in a real message today. Small daily practice beats cramming before a trip.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Afar 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.
Nagaad
Shani(nagaad)
Galatooma
Natotela(galatooma)
Bariis
Muli shani(bariis)
Galab
Muli shani(galab)
Haal
Muli shani(haal)
Haalka habeen
Shalenipo bwino(haalka habeen)
Ilaa mar kale
Tukakutana(ilaa mar kale)
Nagaad
Twalumba(nagaad)
Maa magacaa?
Iwe ulishani?(maa magacaa)
Magacaygu waa John
Ndefwaya John(magacaygu waa John)
Iska waran?
Uli bwanji?(iska waran)
Aad baan ku faraxsanahay
Nashitasha kukumona(aad baan ku faraxsanahay)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Inni ingiriisi maahaa?
Ulyashi ulukanda mu Chingereza?(Inni ingiriisi maahaa?)
Hindi maahaa hinjiru
Ndefwaya ukulanda Hindi bwino(Hindi maahaa hinjiru)
Ani hinfahmi
Ndefwaya kumfwa(Ani hinfahmi)
Fadlan si maahaa siib
Nimwandi ulukanda buteko(Fadlan si maahaa siib)
Maahaa inna marra?
Ningaloleleko?(Maahaa inna marra?)
Maalin baadhu?
Ili kuti ikalamba?(Maalin baadhu?)
Akkam an magaalatti gahu?
Ningalileka shani ku city center?(Akkam an magaalatti gahu?)
Boodha kaaf
Fumya kumwendo(Boodha kaaf)
Boodha mirga
Fumya kumwendo(Boodha mirga)
Si qodhi
Enda pamo(Si qodhi)
Maalin abaal?
Kuli shani ifyabukata?(Maalin abaal?)
Tiket tokkon, fadlan
Ticket imwe, nomba(Tiket tokkon, fadlan)
Maalin faga?
Kuli lishilu ukulya?(Maalin faga?)
Ani dhumtu
Ndi lost(Ani dhumtu)
Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?
Ili kuti nindeke SIM card?(Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Eeyy
Eya(ee-yee)
Maya
Awe(mah-yah)
Gara
Panga(gah-rah)
Anigu waaq
Ndi bwino(ah-nee-goo wahk)
Anigu ma waaq
Ndi bwino na(ah-nee-goo mah wahk)
Tani waa'ee
Ilyo lishibukile(tah-nee wah-ee)
Ilaa ma waaq?
Uchite shani?(ee-lah mah wahk)
Ilaa naxar?
Ushakufwa?(ee-lah nah-khar)
Naxar aniga
Ndefwaya ifyakufwa(nah-khar ah-nee-gah)
Soo'aa
Leka ifi(soo-ah)
Waa'ee aniga
Nshakufwa(wah-ee ah-nee-gah)
Maya dhib
Takwaba shani(mah-yah dheeb)
Hambalyo
Nshakufwa bwino(ham-bahl-yo)
Bariis gadhay
Nashala bwino mu mwaka(bah-rees gah-thai)
Safar amni
Ube na mulimo wabwino(sah-far am-nee)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Eeyyoo taayka daab?
Uli kuti ikalamba ya chitima?(eyyoo taayka daab)
Eeyyoo gaari daab?
Uli kuti icikalo ca bisi?(eyyoo gaari daab)
Keenya kaafaa?
Ninshi ni platform iyi?(keenya kaafaa)
Waqti maayti?
Ninshi ikalamba?(waqti maayti)
Maayta kaan?
Ninshi iyi ni njira shabwino?(maayta kaan)
Ittaa hara
Ili pamo na pano.(ittaa hara)
Ittaa faar
Ili lishilu na pano.(ittaa faar)
Maafaa naafaa?
Ushibukishe pa mape?(maafaa naafaa)
Hara dhaaf, fadlan
Leka pano, chonde.(hara dhaaf, fadlan)
Waqti mee?
Kuli shani?(waqti mee)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.