Looking for practical Bambara to Sango phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Bambara phrase first, then the Sango translation (Sango) — 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 Sango.
Tip: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Sango-speaking trip in a few weeks.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Bambara to Sango 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
Mbote
I ni sogoma
Mokolo
I ni bɔ
Mbote na nganga
I ni kɛ
Mbote na nganga ya zanga
I ni sɔgɔ
Mbote na nganga ya sika
I ni tulu
Ndeko na nganga
N bɛ se ka
Tango na yo
A bɛ se ka
Ayo
Nɛnɛ kɛ i tɛ?
Nani na yo?
N bɛ tɔgɔ John
Nani na nga John
I ni fɛ?
Oza malamu?
N bɛ se ka i fɛ
Mokili na yo
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
I ni ce English?
O yo na nganga English?(ee nee che English)
N mɔgɔ bɛ Hindi kɛ
O na yo na nganga Hindi na mboka.(N mo-go beh Hindi keh)
N mɔgɔ bɛ
O na yo na mboka.(N mo-go beh)
Sɛbɛn, kɛlɛ kɛ
Sokou, yo na nganga na mboka.(Sebene, keh-leh keh)
I ka fɔ a la?
O tanga na mboka?(Ee kah fo ah lah)
Bamanakan kɛn na?
Banga na yo na ndako?(Bah-mah-nah-kahn keh nah)
N bɛ fɔ kɔrɔbɔ?
Nde na yo na banga na mboka?(N beh fo koh-roh-boh)
Kɛlɛn bɔ
Kanga na mboko.(Keh-lehn boh)
Kɛlɛn bɔ kɔrɔ
Kanga na nganga.(Keh-lehn boh koh-roh)
Fɔ kɛlɛn
Kende na mboka.(Fo keh-lehn)
Fɛ kɛ?
Nde na yo na mboka?(Feh keh)
Kɛnɛ ticket, please
Mokolo na ticket, sokou.(Ken-eh ticket, please)
I kɛ fɔ kɛnɛ?
O na mboka na mboka?(Ee keh fo keh-neh)
N tɛ bɔ
O na yo na mboka.(N teh boh)
N bɛ fɔ SIM card kɛn?
Banga na yo na tanga SIM card?(N beh fo SIM card ken)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Aye
O
Ala
Té
Bara
Sâ
N bɛ bɔ
Ngâ tî
N bɛ fɔ
Ngâ té tî
I bɛ sɛbɛn
O bô
I ka fɛ kɛ?
Nâ tî yé?
I bɛ ma n bɔ?
O kâ yé tî?
N bɛ fɔ n bɔ
Ngâ kâ tî
Sira kɛ
Bê na
N tɛgɛ
Ngâ tî na
Ala ka fɔ
Té bô
I ni kɛ
Mâ tî
I ni tɔgɔ kɛ
Mâ na mbâ
I bɛ tɔgɔ kɛ
O kâ na mbê
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Fôlô kôkô tîgê?
O na wâ na gare?
Fôlô bôgô tîgê?
O na wâ na station de taxi?
I ni tîgê kô?
O na wâ na plateforme?
Kô tîgê bô?
O na tî na mbô?
I ni tîgê bô?
O na wâ na yâ?
I tîgê kâ.
O na bô na kâ.
I tîgê kâ fô.
O na fâ na kâ.
I bô kô tîgê fô?
O kâ tî na mappa?
Tîgê kâ, s'il vous plaît.
Kâ na kâ, s'il vous plaît.
Kô tîgê kô?
O na tî na mbô?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
I ni ce?
Mboka na yo?(mboka na yo)
O ye fɛɛrɛ.
Oko na mboka mingi(oko na mboka mingi)
I ni ka fɛɛrɛ?
Ozo na nanga mboka?(o zo na nanga mboka)
N bɛ tɔgɔ ka kɛ?
Naka na yeke na carte?(naka na yeke na carte)
N bɛ fɔlɔ kɛlɛ kɔrɔ.
Naka na table ya mibale(naka na table ya mibale)
Kɔrɔbaw, s'il vous plaît.
Bilan, s'il vous plaît(bilan, s'il vous plaît)
Sɛbɛ ka fo?
Service ezali na yango?(service ezali na yango)
N bɛ sɔgɔma.
Nani na mboka ya nyama(nani na mboka ya nyama)
Kɔrɔ fɛɛrɛ, s'il vous plaît.
Te na mabele ya sika, s'il vous plaît(te na mabele ya sika)
I ye sɔgɔ.
Oyo ezali malamu(oyo ezali malamu)
N bɛ fɔlɔ kɔrɔbaw?
Naka na menu?(naka na menu)
N bɛ fɔlɔ jɔrɔ.
Bokoko ya mai, s'il vous plaît(bokoko ya mai)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Nɔgɔ fɔlɔ
Banga nganga(nogo folo)
Nɔgɔ kɔrɔ
Banga ambulance(nogo koro)
N bɛ sɔrɔ
Mbi na doctor(n be soro)
N bɛ tɛgɛn
Mbi na yeke(n be tegen)
N bɛ fɔlɔ kɛlɛ
Mbi na alerji na kolo(n be folokele)
N bɛ kɔrɔ fɔlɔ?
A na hospital ya mboka?(n be koro folo)
I tɛgɛ fɛ
E yeke na mboko(i tege fe)
N bɛ kɛlɛ fɔlɔ
Mbi tanga passport na ngai(n be kele folo)
I bɛ nɔgɔ kɔrɔ fɔlɔ?
O tanga hotel na ngai?(i be nogo koro folo)
Tɛgɛ!
Sango!(tege)
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
N bɛ se ka kɛnɛ
Mbi na yo(Mbi na yo)
Ala ka yɛlɛ kɛnɛ
Tala na yeke mboka(Ala ka yɛlɛ kɛnɛ)
I ni bɔ a la?
Nani ti na yo?(I ni bɔ a la?)
N bɛ fɔ report la tɛgɛ
Nde na yeke report na tî(N bɛ fɔ report la tɛgɛ)
N bɛ fɔ tɛgɛ?
Oka na yeke na lobi?(N bɛ fɔ tɛgɛ?)
Sɔgɔma, fɔ file la a bɛ
S'il vous plaît, tî na file na mî(Sɔgɔma, fɔ file la a bɛ)
I ni ce, a bɛ sɔrɔ
Mesi na yo na tî(I ni ce, a bɛ sɔrɔ)
N bɛ fɔ a la ka yɛlɛ
Nde na tî na yeke na yo(N bɛ fɔ a la ka yɛlɛ)
I bɛ fɔ a la fɛ?
Oka na yeke na sî na tî?(I bɛ fɔ a la fɛ?)
N bɛ fɔ a la kɛ
Tala na yeke na yo(N bɛ fɔ a la kɛ)
Dɔgɔni tɛgɛ Friday
Nani na lobi na vendredi(Dɔgɔni tɛgɛ Friday)
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.