Looking for practical Bemba to Fon phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Bemba phrase first, then the Fon translation (Fon) — 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 Fon.
Tip: read the Fon line out loud three times, then cover the Bemba 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 Bemba to Fon 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.
Shani
Nɔ́(nɔ́)
Natotela
Mèdɔ́(mèdɔ́)
Muli shani
Mèdɔ́ agblɔ(mèdɔ́ agblɔ)
Muli shani
Mèdɔ́ ɖe(mèdɔ́ ɖe)
Muli shani
Mèdɔ́ ɖeɖe(mèdɔ́ ɖeɖe)
Shalenipo bwino
Mèdɔ́ xɔxɔ(mèdɔ́ xɔxɔ)
Tukakutana
Nɔ́ wɛ(nɔ́ wɛ)
Twalumba
Nɔ́ wɛ ɖe(nɔ́ wɛ ɖe)
Iwe ulishani?
Nɔ́ wɛ nɔ́?(nɔ́ wɛ nɔ́?)
Ndefwaya John
Mè nɔ́ John(mè nɔ́ John)
Uli bwanji?
Nɔ́ wɛ nɔ́?(nɔ́ wɛ nɔ́?)
Nashitasha kukumona
Mèdɔ́ nɔ́(mèdɔ́ nɔ́)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Ulyashi ulukanda mu Chingereza?
I gbè yé èdè Gẹ̀ẹ́sì?
Ndefwaya ukulanda Hindi bwino
Mè n'gbè yé Èdè Hindi kè.
Ndefwaya kumfwa
Mè n'kó nù.
Nimwandi ulukanda buteko
S'il vous plaît, gbè yé kè.
Ningaloleleko?
Mè s'kà yé nù?
Ili kuti ikalamba?
Èwé n'kà dɔ́?
Ningalileka shani ku city center?
Mè n'kà yé nù àlà nà?
Fumya kumwendo
Tò n'kà kè.
Fumya kumwendo
Tò n'kà pɔ́.
Enda pamo
Lè n'kà kè.
Kuli shani ifyabukata?
Kí n'kà dɔ́?
Ticket imwe, nomba
Mè s'kà àyé, s'il vous plaît.
Kuli lishilu ukulya?
Èwé n'kà mɛ́?
Ndi lost
Mè n'kà nɔ́.
Ili kuti nindeke SIM card?
Èwé n'kà nɔ́ SIM?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Eya
Ɛ(e)
Awe
Ayi(ayi)
Panga
Mɛ(me)
Ndi bwino
Mè yé(me ye)
Ndi bwino na
Mè n'yi(me n'yi)
Ilyo lishibukile
N'kɔ nɔ(n'ko no)
Uchite shani?
N'kɔ a kɔ?(n'ko a ko)
Ushakufwa?
I n'kɔ mɛ?(i n'ko me)
Ndefwaya ifyakufwa
Mè n'kɔ mɛ(me n'ko me)
Leka ifi
Tɔ́ nɔ(to no)
Nshakufwa
Mè nɔ n'kɔ(me no n'ko)
Takwaba shani
Ayi n'kɔ(ayi n'ko)
Nshakufwa bwino
Mè nɔ wé(me no we)
Nashala bwino mu mwaka
Mè nɔ tɔ́(me no to)
Ube na mulimo wabwino
N'kɔ a wé dɔ(n'ko a we do)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Uli kuti ikalamba ya chitima?
N'ye wé train station?(N'ye wé train station?)
Uli kuti icikalo ca bisi?
N'ye wé bus stop?(N'ye wé bus stop?)
Ninshi ni platform iyi?
Ké platform na?(Ké platform na?)
Ninshi ikalamba?
Ké sa a yé?(Ké sa a yé?)
Ninshi iyi ni njira shabwino?
N'ye wé yé na?(N'ye wé yé na?)
Ili pamo na pano.
Yé na hɛn(Yé na hɛn)
Ili lishilu na pano.
Yé na hɛn gbo(Yé na hɛn gbo)
Ushibukishe pa mape?
Mè wé hɛn n'ye map?(Mè wé hɛn n'ye map?)
Leka pano, chonde.
Tó hɛn, s'il vous plaît(Tó hɛn, s'il vous plaît)
Kuli shani?
Ké sa a yé?(Ké sa a yé?)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.