Looking for practical Bambara to Afrikaans phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Bambara phrase first, then the Afrikaans translation (Afrikaans) — 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 Afrikaans.
Tip: read the Afrikaans line out loud three times, then cover the Bambara 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 Bambara to Afrikaans 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.
I ni ce
Hallo
I ni sogoma
Dankie
I ni bɔ
Goeie more
I ni kɛ
Goeie middag
I ni sɔgɔ
Goeie naand
I ni tulu
Goeie nag
N bɛ se ka
Sien jou later
A bɛ se ka
Totsiens
Nɛnɛ kɛ i tɛ?
Wat is jou naam?
N bɛ tɔgɔ John
My naam is John
I ni fɛ?
Hoe gaan dit?
N bɛ se ka i fɛ
Lekker om jou te ontmoet
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
I ni ce English?
Praat jy Engels?(ee nee che English)
N mɔgɔ bɛ Hindi kɛ
Ek praat nie goed Hindi nie.(N mo-go beh Hindi keh)
N mɔgɔ bɛ
Ek verstaan nie.(N mo-go beh)
Sɛbɛn, kɛlɛ kɛ
Praat asseblief stadig.(Sebene, keh-leh keh)
I ka fɔ a la?
Kan jy dit weer sê?(Ee kah fo ah lah)
Bamanakan kɛn na?
Waar is die badkamer?(Bah-mah-nah-kahn keh nah)
N bɛ fɔ kɔrɔbɔ?
Hoe kom ek by die stadsentrum?(N beh fo koh-roh-boh)
Kɛlɛn bɔ
Draai links.(Keh-lehn boh)
Kɛlɛn bɔ kɔrɔ
Draai regs.(Keh-lehn boh koh-roh)
Fɔ kɛlɛn
Gaan reguit.(Fo keh-lehn)
Fɛ kɛ?
Hoeveel is die tarief?(Feh keh)
Kɛnɛ ticket, please
Een kaartjie, asseblief.(Ken-eh ticket, please)
I kɛ fɔ kɛnɛ?
Is dit ver van hier?(Ee keh fo keh-neh)
N tɛ bɔ
Ek is verlore.(N teh boh)
N bɛ fɔ SIM card kɛn?
Waar kan ek 'n SIM-kaart koop?(N beh fo SIM card ken)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Aye
Ja
Ala
Nee
Bara
Miskien
N bɛ bɔ
Ek stem saam
N bɛ fɔ
Ek stem nie saam nie
I bɛ sɛbɛn
Dit klink goed
I ka fɛ kɛ?
Wat dink jy?
I bɛ ma n bɔ?
Kan jy my help?
N bɛ fɔ n bɔ
Ek het hulp nodig
Sira kɛ
Wag 'n oomblik
N tɛgɛ
Ek is jammer
Ala ka fɔ
Geen probleem
I ni kɛ
Geluk
I ni tɔgɔ kɛ
Gelukkige verjaarsdag
I bɛ tɔgɔ kɛ
Veilige reis
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Fôlô kôkô tîgê?
Waar is die treinstasie?
Fôlô bôgô tîgê?
Waar is die busstop?
I ni tîgê kô?
Watter platform is dit?
Kô tîgê bô?
Watter tyd vertrek dit?
I ni tîgê bô?
Is dit die regte pad?
I tîgê kâ.
Dit is naby hier.
I tîgê kâ fô.
Dit is ver van hier.
I bô kô tîgê fô?
Kan jy dit op die kaart wys?
Tîgê kâ, s'il vous plaît.
Stop hier, asseblief.
Kô tîgê kô?
Hoe lank neem dit?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
I ni ce?
Hoeveel kos dit?
O ye fɛɛrɛ.
Dit is te duur.
I ni ka fɛɛrɛ?
Het julle iets goedkoper?
N bɛ tɔgɔ ka kɛ?
Kan ek met 'n kaart betaal?
N bɛ fɔlɔ kɛlɛ kɔrɔ.
Ek wil 'n tafel vir twee hê.
Kɔrɔbaw, s'il vous plaît.
Die rekening, asseblief.
Sɛbɛ ka fo?
Is diens ingesluit?
N bɛ sɔgɔma.
Ek is 'n vegetariër.
Kɔrɔ fɛɛrɛ, s'il vous plaît.
Geen pittige kos, asseblief.
I ye sɔgɔ.
Dit is heerlik.
N bɛ fɔlɔ kɔrɔbaw?
Kan ek die spyskaart kry?
N bɛ fɔlɔ jɔrɔ.
‘n Glas water, asseblief.
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Nɔgɔ fɔlɔ
Bel die polisie(nogo folo)
Nɔgɔ kɔrɔ
Bel 'n ambulans(nogo koro)
N bɛ sɔrɔ
Ek het 'n dokter nodig(n be soro)
N bɛ tɛgɛn
Ek voel siek(n be tegen)
N bɛ fɔlɔ kɛlɛ
Ek is allergies vir grondboontjies(n be folokele)
N bɛ kɔrɔ fɔlɔ?
Waar is die naaste hospitaal?(n be koro folo)
I tɛgɛ fɛ
Dit seergemaak hier(i tege fe)
N bɛ kɛlɛ fɔlɔ
Ek het my paspoort verloor(n be kele folo)
I bɛ nɔgɔ kɔrɔ fɔlɔ?
Kan jy my hotel bel?(i be nogo koro folo)
Tɛgɛ!
Help!(tege)
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
N bɛ se ka kɛnɛ
Lekker om jou te ontmoet(N bɛ se ka kɛnɛ)
Ala ka yɛlɛ kɛnɛ
Kom ons skeduleer 'n vergadering(Ala ka yɛlɛ kɛnɛ)
I ni bɔ a la?
Watter tyd werk vir jou?(I ni bɔ a la?)
N bɛ fɔ report la tɛgɛ
Ek sal die verslag vandag stuur(N bɛ fɔ report la tɛgɛ)
N bɛ fɔ tɛgɛ?
Kan ons môre praat?(N bɛ fɔ tɛgɛ?)
Sɔgɔma, fɔ file la a bɛ
Asseblief vind die lêer aangeheg(Sɔgɔma, fɔ file la a bɛ)
I ni ce, a bɛ sɔrɔ
Dankie vir jou tyd(I ni ce, a bɛ sɔrɔ)
N bɛ fɔ a la ka yɛlɛ
Ek sien uit daarna om saam met jou te werk(N bɛ fɔ a la ka yɛlɛ)
I bɛ fɔ a la fɛ?
Kan jy daardie punt verduidelik?(I bɛ fɔ a la fɛ?)
N bɛ fɔ a la kɛ
Laat ek jou terugbel(N bɛ fɔ a la kɛ)
Dɔgɔni tɛgɛ Friday
Die sperdatum is Vrydag(Dɔgɔni tɛgɛ Friday)
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.