Looking for practical Bambara to Yoruba phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Bambara phrase first, then the Yoruba translation (Yoruba) — 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 Yoruba.
Tip: pick five Yoruba phrases from the greetings section and use them in a real message today. Small daily practice beats cramming before a trip.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Bambara to Yoruba 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
Bawo(bawoh)
I ni sogoma
O seun(oh shayoon)
I ni bɔ
E kaaro(eh kah-roh)
I ni kɛ
E kaasan(eh kah-sahn)
I ni sɔgɔ
E kuurole(eh koo-roh-leh)
I ni tulu
O daaro(oh dah-roh)
N bɛ se ka
A ri e laipe(ah ree eh lie-peh)
A bɛ se ka
O dabọ(oh dah-boh)
Nɛnɛ kɛ i tɛ?
Kí ni orukọ rẹ?(kee nee oh-roo-koh reh)
N bɛ tɔgɔ John
Orukọ mi ni John(oh-roo-koh mee nee John)
I ni fɛ?
Bawo ni?(bawoh nee)
N bɛ se ka i fɛ
Inu mi dun lati pade e(ee-noo mee doon lah-tee pah-deh eh)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
I ni ce English?
Ṣe o n sọ Gẹ́gẹ́?(Sheh oh n saw Geh-geh)
N mɔgɔ bɛ Hindi kɛ
Mi ò sọ Hindi dáadáa(Mee oh saw Hindi dah-dah)
N mɔgɔ bɛ
Mi ò ye mi(Mee oh yeh mee)
Sɛbɛn, kɛlɛ kɛ
Jọwọ sọ ní kíkankíkan(Joh-wah saw nee keen-kay-kahn)
I ka fɔ a la?
Ṣe o le sọ é lẹ́ẹ̀kan síi?(Sheh oh leh saw eh leh-eh-kahn see)
Bamanakan kɛn na?
Nibo ni baluwe wa?(Nee-boh nee bah-loo-weh wah)
N bɛ fɔ kɔrɔbɔ?
Báwo ni mo ṣe lọ sí àárín ìlú?(Bah-woh nee moh sheh law see ah-ree-nee loo)
Kɛlɛn bɔ
Yí si apa osi(Yee see ah-pah oh-shee)
Kɛlɛn bɔ kɔrɔ
Yí si apa otun(Yee see ah-pah oh-toon)
Fɔ kɛlɛn
Lọ taara(Law tah-rah)
Fɛ kɛ?
Elo ni owo ọkọ?(Eh-loh nee oh-woh oh-koh)
Kɛnɛ ticket, please
Ticket kan, jọwọ(Tee-ket kahn, joh-wah)
I kɛ fɔ kɛnɛ?
Ṣe ó jìnà síbí?(Sheh oh jee-nah see-bee)
N tɛ bɔ
Mo ti sọnù(Moh tee sohn-oo)
N bɛ fɔ SIM card kɛn?
Nibo ni mo ti le ra kaadi SIM?(Nee-boh nee moh tee leh rah kah-dee SIM)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Aye
Bẹẹni
Ala
Rara
Bara
Bóyá
N bɛ bɔ
Mo gba
N bɛ fɔ
Mo kọ
I bɛ sɛbɛn
Iyẹn dára
I ka fɛ kɛ?
Kí ni ìrònú rẹ?
I bɛ ma n bɔ?
Ṣé o lè ràn mí lọ́wọ́?
N bɛ fɔ n bɔ
Mo nílò ìrànlọ́wọ́
Sira kɛ
Dákẹ́ díẹ̀
N tɛgɛ
Mo bínú
Ala ka fɔ
Kò sí ìṣòro
I ni kɛ
Ẹ kú àṣeyọrí
I ni tɔgɔ kɛ
Ẹ kú ọjọ́ ibi
I bɛ tɔgɔ kɛ
Ṣe ìrìn àjò tó ààbò
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Fôlô kôkô tîgê?
Nibo ni ibudo ọkọ oju-irin wa?(Nibo ni ibudo ọkọ oju-irin wa?)
Fôlô bôgô tîgê?
Nibo ni ibudo bosi wa?(Nibo ni ibudo bosi wa?)
I ni tîgê kô?
Ibo ni pẹpẹ naa?(Ibo ni pẹpẹ naa?)
Kô tîgê bô?
Iwo wo ni o fi n lọ?(Iwo wo ni o fi n lọ?)
I ni tîgê bô?
Ṣe eyi ni ọna to tọ?(Ṣe eyi ni ọna to tọ?)
I tîgê kâ.
O sunmọ ibi yi
I tîgê kâ fô.
O jinna si ibi yi
I bô kô tîgê fô?
Ṣe o le fihan mi lori maapu?(Ṣe o le fihan mi lori maapu?)
Tîgê kâ, s'il vous plaît.
Duro nibi, jọwọ
Kô tîgê kô?
Bawo ni igba wo ni o gba?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
I ni ce?
Elo ni eyi?(elo ni eyi)
O ye fɛɛrɛ.
Eyi jẹ́ gbowó púpọ̀(eyi je gbowo pupo)
I ni ka fɛɛrɛ?
Ṣe o ni nkan tó rọrùn?(se o ni nkan to rorun)
N bɛ tɔgɔ ka kɛ?
Ṣe mo le sanwo pẹ̀lú kaadi?(se mo le sanwo pelu kaadi)
N bɛ fɔlɔ kɛlɛ kɔrɔ.
Mo fẹ́ tábìlì fún méjì(mo fe tabili fun meji)
Kɔrɔbaw, s'il vous plaît.
Iwe isanwo, jọwọ(iwe isanwo jowo)
Sɛbɛ ka fo?
Ṣe iṣẹ́ wa nínú?(se ise wa ninu)
N bɛ sɔgɔma.
Mo jẹ́ onjẹ ẹfọ(mo je onje efo)
Kɔrɔ fɛɛrɛ, s'il vous plaît.
Kò sí onjẹ tó ní ìkà, jọwọ(ko si onje to ni ika jowo)
I ye sɔgɔ.
Eyi dára(eyi dara)
N bɛ fɔlɔ kɔrɔbaw?
Ṣe mo le ní àtòjọ onjẹ?(se mo le ni atojo onje)
N bɛ fɔlɔ jɔrɔ.
Gilaasi omi, jọwọ(gilaasi omi jowo)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Nɔgɔ fɔlɔ
Pe iroyin ọlọpa(pe iroyin olopa)
Nɔgɔ kɔrɔ
Pe ambulance(pe ambulance)
N bɛ sɔrɔ
Mo nilo dokita(mo nilo dokita)
N bɛ tɛgɛn
Mo n ni irora(mo n ni irora)
N bɛ fɔlɔ kɛlɛ
Mo ni àkúnya sí ẹ̀fọ́(mo ni akunya si efo)
N bɛ kɔrɔ fɔlɔ?
Nibo ni ile-iwosan to sunmo?(nibo ni ile-iwosan to sunmo)
I tɛgɛ fɛ
O n dun nibi(o n dun nibi)
N bɛ kɛlɛ fɔlɔ
Mo padanu iwe irinna mi(mo padanu iwe irinna mi)
I bɛ nɔgɔ kɔrɔ fɔlɔ?
Se o le pe hotẹẹli mi?(se o le pe hoteeli mi)
Tɛgɛ!
I ranlọwọ!(i ranlọwọ)
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
N bɛ se ka kɛnɛ
Inu mi dun lati pade e(Inu mi dun lati pade e)
Ala ka yɛlɛ kɛnɛ
Jẹ ki a ṣe ipade(Ala ka yɛlɛ kɛnɛ)
I ni bɔ a la?
Iwo, wo ni akoko ti o ba mu?(I ni bɔ a la?)
N bɛ fɔ report la tɛgɛ
Mo maa fi iroyin ranṣẹ loni(N bɛ fɔ report la tɛgɛ)
N bɛ fɔ tɛgɛ?
Se a le ba ara wa sọrọ ni ọla?(N bɛ fɔ tɛgɛ?)
Sɔgɔma, fɔ file la a bɛ
Jọwọ ri faili ti a so mọ́(Sɔgɔma, fɔ file la a bɛ)
I ni ce, a bɛ sɔrɔ
O seun fun akoko rẹ(I ni ce, a bɛ sɔrɔ)
N bɛ fɔ a la ka yɛlɛ
Mo n reti lati ṣiṣẹ pẹlu rẹ(N bɛ fɔ a la ka yɛlɛ)
I bɛ fɔ a la fɛ?
Se o le ṣalaye aaye yẹn?(I bɛ fɔ a la fɛ?)
N bɛ fɔ a la kɛ
Jẹ ki n pada sọrọ si ọ(N bɛ fɔ a la kɛ)
Dɔgɔni tɛgɛ Friday
Akoko ipari ni Friday(Dɔgɔni tɛgɛ Friday)
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.