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Common Bambara to Somali phrases

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

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

Tip: when a Somali 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 Somali 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

    Salaan

  2. I ni sogoma

    Mahadsanid

  3. I ni bɔ

    Subax wanaagsan

  4. I ni kɛ

    Duhur wanaagsan

  5. I ni sɔgɔ

    Habeen wanaagsan

  6. I ni tulu

    Habeen wanaagsan

  7. N bɛ se ka

    Ilaa dambe

  8. A bɛ se ka

    Nabad gelyo

  9. Nɛnɛ kɛ i tɛ?

    Magacaa maxay tahay?

  10. N bɛ tɔgɔ John

    Magacaygu waa John

  11. I ni fɛ?

    Sidee tahay?

  12. N bɛ se ka i fɛ

    Aad ayaan ugu faraxsanahay in aan ku arko

Useful phrases for travellers

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

  1. I ni ce English?

    Ma ku hadashaa Ingiriisi? (Ma ku hadashaa Ingiriisi?)

  2. N mɔgɔ bɛ Hindi kɛ

    Hindi si fiican uma hadlo (N mo-go beh Hindi keh)

  3. N mɔgɔ bɛ

    Ma fahmin (N mo-go beh)

  4. Sɛbɛn, kɛlɛ kɛ

    Fadlan si tartiib ah u hadal (Sebene, keh-leh keh)

  5. I ka fɔ a la?

    Ma ku celin kartaa? (Ee kah fo ah lah)

  6. Bamanakan kɛn na?

    Musqusha xaggee buu yaalaa? (Bah-mah-nah-kahn keh nah)

  7. N bɛ fɔ kɔrɔbɔ?

    Sideen ku gaari karaa xarunta magaalada? (N beh fo koh-roh-boh)

  8. Kɛlɛn bɔ

    Bidix u leexo (Keh-lehn boh)

  9. Kɛlɛn bɔ kɔrɔ

    Midig u leexo (Keh-lehn boh koh-roh)

  10. Fɔ kɛlɛn

    Toos u soco (Fo keh-lehn)

  11. Fɛ kɛ?

    Immisa ayey tahay lacagta? (Feh keh)

  12. Kɛnɛ ticket, please

    Hal tigidh, fadlan (Ken-eh ticket, please)

  13. I kɛ fɔ kɛnɛ?

    Ma fog tahay halkan? (Ee keh fo keh-neh)

  14. N tɛ bɔ

    Waan lumay (N teh boh)

  15. N bɛ fɔ SIM card kɛn?

    Xaggee ka iibsan karaa kaarka SIM? (N beh fo SIM card ken)

Everyday conversation

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

  1. Aye

    Haa

  2. Ala

    Maya

  3. Bara

    Malaha

  4. N bɛ bɔ

    Waan ku raacsanahay

  5. N bɛ fɔ

    Waan ku raacsaneyn

  6. I bɛ sɛbɛn

    Taasi waa wax fiican

  7. I ka fɛ kɛ?

    Maxaad u malaynaysaa?

  8. I bɛ ma n bɔ?

    Ma i caawin kartaa?

  9. N bɛ fɔ n bɔ

    Waxaan u baahanahay caawimaad

  10. Sira kɛ

    Sug daqiiqad

  11. N tɛgɛ

    Waan ka xumahay

  12. Ala ka fɔ

    Dhib malahan

  13. I ni kɛ

    Hambalyo

  14. I ni tɔgɔ kɛ

    Dhalasho wacan

  15. I bɛ tɔgɔ kɛ

    Safar wanaagsan

Directions and getting around

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

  1. Fôlô kôkô tîgê?

    Xagee buu tareenka jooga?

  2. Fôlô bôgô tîgê?

    Xagee buu basaska jooga?

  3. I ni tîgê kô?

    Keenka sidee buu yahay?

  4. Kô tîgê bô?

    Goormee ayuu baxayaa?

  5. I ni tîgê bô?

    Ma tan saxda ah?

  6. I tîgê kâ.

    Waa halkan u dhow

  7. I tîgê kâ fô.

    Waa halkan fog

  8. I bô kô tîgê fô?

    Ma ii muujin kartaa khariidada?

  9. Tîgê kâ, s'il vous plaît.

    Halkan joog, fadlan

  10. Kô tîgê kô?

    Immisa waqti ayey qaadaneysaa?

Shopping and dining

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

  1. I ni ce?

    Imisa ayuu ku kacayaa?

  2. O ye fɛɛrɛ.

    Taasi waa qaali aad u badan.

  3. I ni ka fɛɛrɛ?

    Ma haysta wax ka jaban?

  4. N bɛ tɔgɔ ka kɛ?

    Ma bixin karaa kaarka?

  5. N bɛ fɔlɔ kɛlɛ kɔrɔ.

    Waxaan jeclaan lahaa miis laba qof ah.

  6. Kɔrɔbaw, s'il vous plaît.

    Fadlan, biilka.

  7. Sɛbɛ ka fo?

    Ma ku jirtaa adeegga?

  8. N bɛ sɔgɔma.

    Anigu waxaan ahay khudradeed.

  9. Kɔrɔ fɛɛrɛ, s'il vous plaît.

    Fadlan, cunto aan xawaash lahayn.

  10. I ye sɔgɔ.

    Tani waa macaan.

  11. N bɛ fɔlɔ kɔrɔbaw?

    Ma heli karaa menu?

  12. N bɛ fɔlɔ jɔrɔ.

    Fadlan, koob biyo ah.

Emergencies and health

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

  1. Nɔgɔ fɔlɔ

    Wac booliiska (nogo folo)

  2. Nɔgɔ kɔrɔ

    Wac ambalaas (nogo koro)

  3. N bɛ sɔrɔ

    Waxaan u baahanahay dhakhtar (n be soro)

  4. N bɛ tɛgɛn

    Waxaan dareemayaa xanuun (n be tegen)

  5. N bɛ fɔlɔ kɛlɛ

    Waxaan leeyahay xasaasiyad lowska (n be folokele)

  6. N bɛ kɔrɔ fɔlɔ?

    Isbitaalka ugu dhow xagee buu yaalaa? (n be koro folo)

  7. I tɛgɛ fɛ

    Halkaan ayaa i xanuunaya (i tege fe)

  8. N bɛ kɛlɛ fɔlɔ

    Dukumeentigayga safarka ayaan lumiyay (n be kele folo)

  9. I bɛ nɔgɔ kɔrɔ fɔlɔ?

    Ma wici kartaa hoteelkeyga? (i be nogo koro folo)

  10. Tɛgɛ!

    Caawimaad! (tege)

Work and business

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

  1. N bɛ se ka kɛnɛ

    Aad baan ugu faraxsanahay in aan ku arko (N bɛ se ka kɛnɛ)

  2. Ala ka yɛlɛ kɛnɛ

    Aan qorshayno kulan (Ala ka yɛlɛ kɛnɛ)

  3. I ni bɔ a la?

    Waa maxay waqtiga ku habboon adiga? (I ni bɔ a la?)

  4. N bɛ fɔ report la tɛgɛ

    Waxaan maanta soo diri doonaa warbixinta (N bɛ fɔ report la tɛgɛ)

  5. N bɛ fɔ tɛgɛ?

    Ma ka hadli karnaa berri? (N bɛ fɔ tɛgɛ?)

  6. Sɔgɔma, fɔ file la a bɛ

    Fadlan eeg faylka ku lifaaqan (Sɔgɔma, fɔ file la a bɛ)

  7. I ni ce, a bɛ sɔrɔ

    Waad ku mahadsan tahay waqtigaaga (I ni ce, a bɛ sɔrɔ)

  8. N bɛ fɔ a la ka yɛlɛ

    Waxaan rajeynayaa in aan kula shaqeeyo (N bɛ fɔ a la ka yɛlɛ)

  9. I bɛ fɔ a la fɛ?

    Ma faahfaahin kartaa dhibicdaas? (I bɛ fɔ a la fɛ?)

  10. N bɛ fɔ a la kɛ

    Aan ku soo laabto (N bɛ fɔ a la kɛ)

  11. Dɔgɔni tɛgɛ Friday

    Waqtiga kama dambaysta ah waa Jimcaha (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?

    Waa imisa saac? (Waa imisa saac)

  2. I ye kelen kelen.

    Waa seddex saac (Waa seddex saac)

  3. N bɔ

    Maanta (N bo)

  4. N bɔ kɛ

    Berri (N bo ke)

  5. N bɔ fɛ

    Shalay (N bo fe)

  6. Tɔgɔ

    Isniin (Togo)

  7. Tɛgɛ

    Talaado (Tege)

  8. Alakɔ

    Arbaco (Alako)

  9. Kelen

    Hal (Kelen)

  10. Duo

    Laba (Duo)

  11. Tati

    Seddex (Tati)

  12. Folo

    Toban (Folo)

  13. Dugukelen

    Boqol (Dugukelen)

  14. Kelen fɛ

    Nus (Kelen fe)

  15. Kɛ

    Aynu (Ke)

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