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Common Bambara to Shona phrases

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

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

Tip: read the Shona 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 Shona 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 gare gare

  8. A bɛ se ka

    Sara zvakanaka

  9. Nɛnɛ kɛ i tɛ?

    Zita rako ndiani?

  10. N bɛ tɔgɔ John

    Zita rangu ndiri John

  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? (unotaura chirungu here)

  2. N mɔgɔ bɛ Hindi kɛ

    Handitauri Hindi zvakanaka (handitauri hindi zvakanaka)

  3. N mɔgɔ bɛ

    Handinzwisisi (handinzwisisi)

  4. Sɛbɛn, kɛlɛ kɛ

    Ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma (ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma)

  5. I ka fɔ a la?

    Ungazvitaura zvakare here? (ungazvitaura zvakare here)

  6. Bamanakan kɛn na?

    Chimbuzi chiripi? (chimbuzi chiripi)

  7. N bɛ fɔ kɔrɔbɔ?

    Ndingasvika sei kumusoro kwemaguta? (ndingasvika sei kumusoro kwemaguta)

  8. Kɛlɛn bɔ

    Tendeuka kuruboshwe (tendeuka kuruboshwe)

  9. Kɛlɛn bɔ kɔrɔ

    Tendeuka kurudyi (tendeuka kurudyi)

  10. Fɔ kɛlɛn

    Enda mberi (enda mberi)

  11. Fɛ kɛ?

    Mari yechikwereti ingani? (mari yechikwereti ingani)

  12. Kɛnɛ ticket, please

    Tikiti imwe, ndapota (tikiti imwe, ndapota)

  13. I kɛ fɔ kɛnɛ?

    Iko kure here kubva pano? (iko kure here kubva pano)

  14. N tɛ bɔ

    Ndakakanganiswa (ndakakanganiswa)

  15. N bɛ fɔ SIM card kɛn?

    Ndingatenga kupi kadhi reSIM? (ndingatenga kupi kadhi reSIM)

Everyday conversation

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

  1. Aye

    Ehe

  2. Ala

    Kwete

  3. Bara

    Pangove

  4. N bɛ bɔ

    Ndinobvumirana

  5. N bɛ fɔ

    Handibvumirane

  6. I bɛ sɛbɛn

    Izvozvo zvinonzwika zvakanaka

  7. I ka fɛ kɛ?

    Unofungei?

  8. I bɛ ma n bɔ?

    Unogona kundibatsira here?

  9. N bɛ fɔ n bɔ

    Ndiri kuda rubatsiro

  10. Sira kɛ

    Mirira kwechinguva

  11. N tɛgɛ

    Ndine urombo

  12. Ala ka fɔ

    Hapana chakaipa

  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 kune chiteshi chechitima? (Kupi kune chiteshi chechitima?)

  2. Fôlô bôgô tîgê?

    Kupi kune chiteshi chebhazi? (Kupi kune chiteshi chebhazi?)

  3. I ni tîgê kô?

    Ndeipi puratifomu? (Ndeipi puratifomu?)

  4. Kô tîgê bô?

    Inobva nenguva ipi? (Inobva nenguva ipi?)

  5. I ni tîgê bô?

    Iyi ndiyo nzira chaiyo here? (Iyi ndiyo nzira chaiyo here?)

  6. I tîgê kâ.

    Iri pedyo pano (Iri pedyo pano)

  7. I tîgê kâ fô.

    Iri kure nepano (Iri kure nepano)

  8. I bô kô tîgê fô?

    Unogona kundiratidza pamepu here? (Unogona kundiratidza pamepu here?)

  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 here? (Zvinodhura here?)

  2. O ye fɛɛrɛ.

    Izvozvo zvinodhura kwazvo

  3. I ni ka fɛɛrɛ?

    Une chimwe chinhu chiri pamutengo wakaderera here?

  4. N bɛ tɔgɔ ka kɛ?

    Ndingabhadhara nekadhi here?

  5. N bɛ fɔlɔ kɛlɛ kɔrɔ.

    Ndingada tafura yevaviri

  6. Kɔrɔbaw, s'il vous plaît.

    Chikwereti, ndapota

  7. Sɛbɛ ka fo?

    Sevhisi iri mukati here?

  8. N bɛ sɔgɔma.

    Ndiri muvegetarian

  9. Kɔrɔ fɛɛrɛ, s'il vous plaît.

    Hapana chikafu chinopisa, ndapota

  10. I ye sɔgɔ.

    Izvi zvinonaka

  11. N bɛ fɔlɔ kɔrɔbaw?

    Ndingawana menyu here?

  12. N bɛ fɔlɔ jɔrɔ.

    Girazi remvura, ndapota

Emergencies and health

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

  1. Nɔgɔ fɔlɔ

    Fonera mapurisa (nogo folo)

  2. Nɔgɔ kɔrɔ

    Fonera amburensi (nogo koro)

  3. N bɛ sɔrɔ

    Ndiri kuda chiremba (n be soro)

  4. N bɛ tɛgɛn

    Ndiri kunzwa kusuruvara (n be tegen)

  5. N bɛ fɔlɔ kɛlɛ

    Ndine allergic kumapundu (n be folokele)

  6. N bɛ kɔrɔ fɔlɔ?

    Chii chiri pedyo nechipatara? (n be koro folo)

  7. I tɛgɛ fɛ

    Zvinorwadza pano (i tege fe)

  8. N bɛ kɛlɛ fɔlɔ

    Ndakakanganwa pasipoti yangu (n be kele folo)

  9. I bɛ nɔgɔ kɔrɔ fɔlɔ?

    Unogona here kufonera 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

    Ngatirongei musangano (Ala ka yɛlɛ kɛnɛ)

  3. I ni bɔ a la?

    Ndeipi nguva inokodzera kwauri? (I ni bɔ a la?)

  4. N bɛ fɔ report la tɛgɛ

    Ndichatumira chirevo 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 tarisai 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?

    Ungajekesei iyo pfungwa? (I bɛ fɔ a la fɛ?)

  10. N bɛ fɔ a la kɛ

    Ndichadzoka kwauri (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? (N-dei-pi n-guh-wah?)

  2. I ye kelen kelen.

    Iri pa3 (Ee-ree pah-tatu)

  3. N bɔ

    Nhasi (N-ha-see)

  4. N bɔ kɛ

    Mangwana (Mahn-gwah-nah)

  5. N bɔ fɛ

    Zuro (Zoo-roh)

  6. Tɔgɔ

    Muvhuro (Moo-vhoo-roh)

  7. Tɛgɛ

    Chipiri (Chee-pee-ree)

  8. Alakɔ

    Chitatu (Chee-tah-too)

  9. Kelen

    Imwe (Ee-mweh)

  10. Duo

    Piri (Pee-ree)

  11. Tati

    Tatu (Tah-too)

  12. Folo

    Gumi (Goo-mee)

  13. Dugukelen

    Zana (Zah-nah)

  14. Kelen fɛ

    Hafu (Hah-foo)

  15. Kɛ

    Zvimwe (Zvee-mweh)

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