Looking for practical Bemba to Jamaican Patois phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Bemba phrase first, then the Jamaican Patois translation (Jamaican Patois) — 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 Jamaican Patois.
Tip: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Jamaican Patois-speaking trip in a few weeks.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Bemba to Jamaican Patois 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
Wah gwaan
Natotela
Tank yuh
Muli shani
Gud mawnin
Muli shani
Gud afta noon
Muli shani
Gud evnin
Shalenipo bwino
Gud nite
Tukakutana
Likkle more
Twalumba
Lata
Iwe ulishani?
Wah yuh name?
Ndefwaya John
Mi name a John
Uli bwanji?
Ow yuh do?
Nashitasha kukumona
Nice fi meet yuh
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Ulyashi ulukanda mu Chingereza?
Yuh speak English?
Ndefwaya ukulanda Hindi bwino
Mi nuh speak Hindi good
Ndefwaya kumfwa
Mi nuh understand
Nimwandi ulukanda buteko
Please talk slow
Ningaloleleko?
Yuh can seh dat again?
Ili kuti ikalamba?
Whe di bathroom deh?
Ningalileka shani ku city center?
How mi fi get to di city center?
Fumya kumwendo
Turn left
Fumya kumwendo
Turn right
Enda pamo
Go straight
Kuli shani ifyabukata?
How much fi di fare?
Ticket imwe, nomba
One ticket, please
Kuli lishilu ukulya?
Is it far from yah?
Ndi lost
Mi lost
Ili kuti nindeke SIM card?
Whe mi can buy a SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Eya
Yea
Awe
No
Panga
Maybe
Ndi bwino
Mi agree
Ndi bwino na
Mi nuh agree
Ilyo lishibukile
Dat sound good
Uchite shani?
Wah yuh tink?
Ushakufwa?
Yuh can help mi?
Ndefwaya ifyakufwa
Mi need help
Leka ifi
Wait likkle
Nshakufwa
Mi sorry
Takwaba shani
No problem
Nshakufwa bwino
Congrats
Nashala bwino mu mwaka
Happy birthday
Ube na mulimo wabwino
Have a safe trip
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Uli kuti ikalamba ya chitima?
Whey di train station deh?
Uli kuti icikalo ca bisi?
Whey di bus stop deh?
Ninshi ni platform iyi?
Wich platform it deh?
Ninshi ikalamba?
Wha time it a lef?
Ninshi iyi ni njira shabwino?
Dis a di right way?
Ili pamo na pano.
It near yah.
Ili lishilu na pano.
It far from yah.
Ushibukishe pa mape?
Yuh can show mi pon di map?
Leka pano, chonde.
Stop yah, please.
Kuli shani?
How long it a tek?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Ili shani?
How much dis a cost?(Ili shani?)
Ili lya kuli
Dat too expensive(Ili lya kuli)
Muli na chimo chibulu?
Yuh have anyting cheaper?(Muli na chimo chibulu?)
Ningakupanga na kadi?
Mi can pay wid card?(Ningakupanga na kadi?)
Ningakonda itabo lyakupanga abali babili
Mi would like a table fi two(Ningakonda itabo lyakupanga abali babili)
Icilanga, tapali
Di bill, please(Icilanga, tapali)
Ubufyashi bwakupanga?
Service include?(Ubufyashi bwakupanga?)
Ndi mvegetarian
Mi a vegetarian(Ndi mvegetarian)
Nshikala na fya spicy, tapali
No spicy food, please(Nshikala na fya spicy, tapali)
Ili lya bwino
Dis nice(Ili lya bwino)
Ningakonda ifyalo?
Mi can get di menu?(Ningakonda ifyalo?)
Icupa ca mvula, tapali
A glass a water, please(Icupa ca mvula, tapali)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Tuma abashitisha
Call di police
Tuma ambulance
Call a ambulance
Nshikala na doctor
Mi need a doctor
Nshikala bwino
Mi feel sick
Ndi na allergy ku nsalu
Mi allergic to peanuts
Ili kuti hospital ya pafupi?
Whe di nearest hospital deh?
Kuli ububi pano
It hurt yah
Nashitile passport yangu
Mi lose mi passport
Nawe tuma hotel yangu?
Yuh can call mi hotel?
Chikondi!
Help!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Nashamukeni
Nice fi meet yuh(na-sha-mu-ke-ni)
Tulefwaya ukusanga
Mek wi set up a meeting(tu-le-fwa-ya u-ku-sanga)
Ninshi ifikala bwino kwa iwe?
Wha time work fi yuh?(nin-shi i-fi-ka-la bwi-no kwa i-we)
Nizakutuma ifishina lelo
Mi a go send di report today(ni-za-ku-tu-ma i-fi-shi-na le-lo)
Twafwaya ukusambilila lero?
Can wi chat tomorrow?(twa-fwa-ya u-ku-sam-bi-li-la le-ro)
Nomba fwebo file iliko
Please find di file attached(nom-ba fwe-bo fi-le i-li-ko)
Natotela pa nshita
Tank yuh fi yuh time(na-to-te-la pa nshi-ta)
Nifwaya ukushanda na iwe
Mi a look forward fi work wid yuh(ni-fwa-ya u-ku-shan-da na i-we)
Wakosa ukufumya icikomo?
Yuh can clarify dat point?(wa-ko-sa u-ku-fum-ya i-ci-ko-mo)
Nizakukumbusha
Mek mi get back to yuh(ni-za-ku-kum-bu-sha)
Ishina lyakupela ni Lwapula
Di deadline a Friday(i-shi-na lya-ku-pe-la ni Lwa-pu-la)
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.