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Common Bambara to Ndau phrases

100 practical Bambara to Ndau phrases for travel, study, work, and daily conversation.

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Looking for practical Bambara to Ndau phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Bambara phrase first, then the Ndau translation (Ndau) — 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 Ndau.

Tip: when a Ndau phrase looks unfamiliar, compare it with the Bambara 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 Bambara to Ndau 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.

  1. I ni ce

    Mhoro

  2. I ni sogoma

    Ndatenda

  3. I ni bɔ

    Mangwanani akanaka

  4. I ni kɛ

    Masikati akanaka

  5. I ni sɔgɔ

    Manheru akanaka

  6. I ni tulu

    Usiku hwakanaka

  7. N bɛ se ka

    Tichasangana zvakare

  8. A bɛ se ka

    Sara zvakanaka

  9. Nɛnɛ kɛ i tɛ?

    Zita rako ndiani?

  10. N bɛ tɔgɔ John

    Zita rangu ndiJohn

  11. I ni fɛ?

    Uri sei?

  12. N bɛ se ka i fɛ

    Ndinofara kukuziva

Useful phrases for travellers

Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.

  1. I ni ce English?

    Unotaura Chirungu here? (ee nee che English)

  2. N mɔgɔ bɛ Hindi kɛ

    Handitauri Hindi zvakanaka. (N mo-go beh Hindi keh)

  3. N mɔgɔ bɛ

    Handinzwisise. (N mo-go beh)

  4. Sɛbɛn, kɛlɛ kɛ

    Ndapota taura zvishoma. (Sebene, keh-leh keh)

  5. I ka fɔ a la?

    Ungazvitaura zvakare here? (Ee kah fo ah lah)

  6. Bamanakan kɛn na?

    Chimbuzi chiri kupi? (Bah-mah-nah-kahn keh nah)

  7. N bɛ fɔ kɔrɔbɔ?

    Ndingasvika sei ku nzvimbo yeguta? (N beh fo koh-roh-boh)

  8. Kɛlɛn bɔ

    Pinda kuruboshwe. (Keh-lehn boh)

  9. Kɛlɛn bɔ kɔrɔ

    Pinda kurudyi. (Keh-lehn boh koh-roh)

  10. Fɔ kɛlɛn

    Enda mberi. (Fo keh-lehn)

  11. Fɛ kɛ?

    Mari yefare ingani? (Feh keh)

  12. Kɛnɛ ticket, please

    Tiketi imwe, ndapota. (Ken-eh ticket, please)

  13. I kɛ fɔ kɛnɛ?

    Iko kure kubva pano? (Ee keh fo keh-neh)

  14. N tɛ bɔ

    Ndakakanganiswa. (N teh boh)

  15. N bɛ fɔ SIM card kɛn?

    Ndingatenga kupi SIM card? (N beh fo SIM card ken)

Everyday conversation

Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.

  1. Aye

    Ehe

  2. Ala

    Aih

  3. Bara

    Pangani

  4. N bɛ bɔ

    Ndakubvumirana

  5. N bɛ fɔ

    Handibvumirani

  6. I bɛ sɛbɛn

    Izvi zvinonzwika zvakanaka

  7. I ka fɛ kɛ?

    Unofungei?

  8. I bɛ ma n bɔ?

    Ungandibatsira here?

  9. N bɛ fɔ n bɔ

    Ndiri kuda rubatsiro

  10. Sira kɛ

    Mirira nguva shoma

  11. N tɛgɛ

    Ndineurombo

  12. Ala ka fɔ

    Hapana dambudziko

  13. I ni kɛ

    Makorokoto

  14. I ni tɔgɔ kɛ

    Makorokoto ezuva rekuzvarwa

  15. I bɛ tɔgɔ kɛ

    Iva nerwendo rwakanaka

Directions and getting around

Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.

  1. Fôlô kôkô tîgê?

    Kupi kwete chiteshi chenjere? (kupi kwete chiteshi chenjere)

  2. Fôlô bôgô tîgê?

    Kupi kwete chiteshi chebhazi? (kupi kwete chiteshi chebhazi)

  3. I ni tîgê kô?

    Ndeipi chikuva? (ndeipi chikuva)

  4. Kô tîgê bô?

    Ndeipi nguva inobva? (ndeipi nguva inobva)

  5. I ni tîgê bô?

    Iyi ndiyo nzira yakarurama? (iyi ndiyo nzira yakarurama)

  6. I tîgê kâ.

    Iri pedyo pano (iri pedyo pano)

  7. I tîgê kâ fô.

    Iri kure neapo (iri kure neapo)

  8. I bô kô tîgê fô?

    Unogona kundiratidza pamepu? (unogona kundiratidza pamepu)

  9. Tîgê kâ, s'il vous plaît.

    Mira pano, ndapota (mira pano, ndapota)

  10. Kô tîgê kô?

    Zvinotora nguva yakareba sei? (zvinotora nguva yakareba sei)

Shopping and dining

Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.

  1. I ni ce?

    Zvinodhura sei? (zvinodhura sei)

  2. O ye fɛɛrɛ.

    Izvozvo zvinodhura zvikuru (izvozvo zvinodhura zvikuru)

  3. I ni ka fɛɛrɛ?

    Une chimwe chiri pamutengo wakaderera here? (une chimwe chiri pamutengo wakaderera here)

  4. N bɛ tɔgɔ ka kɛ?

    Ndingabhadhara nekadhi here? (ndingabhadhara nekadhi here)

  5. N bɛ fɔlɔ kɛlɛ kɔrɔ.

    Ndinoda tafura yevasere (ndinoda tafura yevasere)

  6. Kɔrɔbaw, s'il vous plaît.

    Chikwereti, ndapota (chikwereti, ndapota)

  7. Sɛbɛ ka fo?

    Sevhisi yakabatanidzwa here? (sevhisi yakabatanidzwa here)

  8. N bɛ sɔgɔma.

    Ndiri vegetarian (ndiri vegetarian)

  9. Kɔrɔ fɛɛrɛ, s'il vous plaît.

    Hapana chikafu chinopisa, ndapota (hapana chikafu chinopisa, ndapota)

  10. I ye sɔgɔ.

    Izvi zvinonaka (izvi zvinonaka)

  11. N bɛ fɔlɔ kɔrɔbaw?

    Ndingawana menyu here? (ndingawana menyu here)

  12. N bɛ fɔlɔ jɔrɔ.

    Girazi remvura, ndapota (girazi remvura, ndapota)

Emergencies and health

Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.

  1. Nɔgɔ fɔlɔ

    Dai foni mapurisa (nogo folo)

  2. Nɔgɔ kɔrɔ

    Dai foni amburensi (nogo koro)

  3. N bɛ sɔrɔ

    Ndinoda chiremba (n be soro)

  4. N bɛ tɛgɛn

    Ndiri kurwara (n be tegen)

  5. N bɛ fɔlɔ kɛlɛ

    Ndine chiremera kumapudzi (n be folokele)

  6. N bɛ kɔrɔ fɔlɔ?

    Hospitali iri kupi pedyo? (n be koro folo)

  7. I tɛgɛ fɛ

    Zvinorwadza pano (i tege fe)

  8. N bɛ kɛlɛ fɔlɔ

    Ndakarasa pasipoti yangu (n be kele folo)

  9. I bɛ nɔgɔ kɔrɔ fɔlɔ?

    Unogona here kufoniya hotera yangu? (i be nogo koro folo)

  10. Tɛgɛ!

    Rubatsiro! (tege)

Work and business

Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.

  1. N bɛ se ka kɛnɛ

    Ndinofara kukusangana (N bɛ se ka kɛnɛ)

  2. Ala ka yɛlɛ kɛnɛ

    Ngatironge musangano (Ala ka yɛlɛ kɛnɛ)

  3. I ni bɔ a la?

    Ndeipi nguva inokufambira? (I ni bɔ a la?)

  4. N bɛ fɔ report la tɛgɛ

    Ndichatumira mushumo nhasi (N bɛ fɔ report la tɛgɛ)

  5. N bɛ fɔ tɛgɛ?

    Tingataure mangwana here? (N bɛ fɔ tɛgɛ?)

  6. Sɔgɔma, fɔ file la a bɛ

    Ndapota tsvaga faira rakabatanidzwa (Sɔgɔma, fɔ file la a bɛ)

  7. I ni ce, a bɛ sɔrɔ

    Ndatenda nenguva yako (I ni ce, a bɛ sɔrɔ)

  8. N bɛ fɔ a la ka yɛlɛ

    Ndiri kutarisira kushanda newe (N bɛ fɔ a la ka yɛlɛ)

  9. I bɛ fɔ a la fɛ?

    Ungajekesa iyo pfungwa here? (I bɛ fɔ a la fɛ?)

  10. N bɛ fɔ a la kɛ

    Regai ndidzoke kwamuri (N bɛ fɔ a la kɛ)

  11. Dɔgɔni tɛgɛ Friday

    Nguva yekupedzisira iChishanu (Dɔgɔni tɛgɛ Friday)

Time, days and numbers

Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.

  1. Ala ka kɛnɛ?

    Ndeipi nguva? (ndeipi nguva)

  2. I ye kelen kelen.

    Iri paawa nhatu (iri paawa nhatu)

  3. N bɔ

    Nhasi (nhasi)

  4. N bɔ kɛ

    Mangwana (mangwana)

  5. N bɔ fɛ

    Nezuro (nezuro)

  6. Tɔgɔ

    Muvhuro (muvhuro)

  7. Tɛgɛ

    Chipiri (chipiri)

  8. Alakɔ

    Chitatu (chitatu)

  9. Kelen

    Imwe (imwe)

  10. Duo

    Piri (piri)

  11. Tati

    Nhatu (nhatu)

  12. Folo

    Gumi (gumi)

  13. Dugukelen

    Zana (zana)

  14. Kelen fɛ

    Hafu (hafu)

  15. Kɛ

    Zvimwe (zvimwe)

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