Looking for practical Bemba to Kanuri phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Bemba phrase first, then the Kanuri translation (Kanuri) — 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 Kanuri.
Tip: when a Kanuri phrase looks unfamiliar, compare it with the Bemba 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 Bemba to Kanuri 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
Sannu
Natotela
Nagode
Muli shani
Ina kwana
Muli shani
Ina yamma
Muli shani
Ina dare
Shalenipo bwino
Sai da safe
Tukakutana
Zan ganka
Twalumba
Sai anjima
Iwe ulishani?
Menene sunanka?
Ndefwaya John
Sunana John
Uli bwanji?
Lafiya lau?
Nashitasha kukumona
Na ji dadin haduwa da kai
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Ulyashi ulukanda mu Chingereza?
Kuna magana da Turanci?
Ndefwaya ukulanda Hindi bwino
Ba na magana da Hindi sosai.
Ndefwaya kumfwa
Ba na fahimta.
Nimwandi ulukanda buteko
Don Allah, ku yi magana a hankali.
Ningaloleleko?
Za ku iya faɗin hakan sake?
Ili kuti ikalamba?
Ina wanka?
Ningalileka shani ku city center?
Ta yaya zan isa tsakiyar birni?
Fumya kumwendo
Juya hagu.
Fumya kumwendo
Juya dama.
Enda pamo
Tafiya kai tsaye.
Kuli shani ifyabukata?
Nawa ne farashin?
Ticket imwe, nomba
Tiket ɗaya, don Allah.
Kuli lishilu ukulya?
Shin yana da nisa daga nan?
Ndi lost
Na ɓace.
Ili kuti nindeke SIM card?
Ina zan iya sayen kati na SIM?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Eya
Eey(ee-y)
Awe
A'a(ah-ah)
Panga
Wata(wah-tah)
Ndi bwino
Na amu(nah ah-moo)
Ndi bwino na
Na a'a amu(nah ah-ah ah-moo)
Ilyo lishibukile
Iya na(ee-yah nah)
Uchite shani?
Kaya ka yi tunani?(kah-yah kah yee too-nah-nee)
Ushakufwa?
Za ka iya taimaka min?(zah kah ee-yah tie-mah-kah meen)
Ndefwaya ifyakufwa
Na bukaci taimako(nah boo-kah-chee tie-mah-koh)
Leka ifi
Duba dan lokaci(doo-bah dahn loh-kah-chee)
Nshakufwa
Na yi hakuri(nah yee hah-koo-ree)
Takwaba shani
Babu matsala(bah-boo maht-sah-lah)
Nshakufwa bwino
Taya murna(tah-yah moor-nah)
Nashala bwino mu mwaka
Barka da haihuwa(bar-kah dah hai-hoo-wah)
Ube na mulimo wabwino
Ka yi tafiya lafiya(kah yee tah-fee-yah lah-fee-yah)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Uli kuti ikalamba ya chitima?
Nye boko na gari?
Uli kuti icikalo ca bisi?
Nye boko na bas?
Ninshi ni platform iyi?
Wane boko na?
Ninshi ikalamba?
Wane lokaci ya tafi?
Ninshi iyi ni njira shabwino?
Shin wannan hanya ce?
Ili pamo na pano.
Yana kusa da nan
Ili lishilu na pano.
Yana nesa da nan
Ushibukishe pa mape?
Za ka iya nuna mini a taswirar?
Leka pano, chonde.
Tsaida nan, don Allah
Kuli shani?
Yaya tsawon lokaci?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Ili shani?
Nayi na kudi?(Nayi na kudi?)
Ili lya kuli
Wannan ya yi tsada sosai.(Ili lya kuli)
Muli na chimo chibulu?
Shin kuna da wani abu mai rahusa?(Muli na chimo chibulu?)
Ningakupanga na kadi?
Zan iya biyan kudi da kati?(Ningakupanga na kadi?)
Ningakonda itabo lyakupanga abali babili
Ina so tebur don biyu.(Ningakonda itabo lyakupanga abali babili)
Icilanga, tapali
Lissafi, don Allah.(Icilanga, tapali)
Ubufyashi bwakupanga?
Shin sabis ya haɗa?(Ubufyashi bwakupanga?)
Ndi mvegetarian
Ni mai ganyayyaki ne.(Ndi mvegetarian)
Nshikala na fya spicy, tapali
Ba tare da zaki ba, don Allah.(Nshikala na fya spicy, tapali)
Ili lya bwino
Wannan yana da dadi.(Ili lya bwino)
Ningakonda ifyalo?
Zan iya samun menu?(Ningakonda ifyalo?)
Icupa ca mvula, tapali
Kofin ruwa, don Allah.(Icupa ca mvula, tapali)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Tuma abashitisha
Dawari janga(Dawari janga)
Tuma ambulance
Dawari ambulan(Dawari ambulan)
Nshikala na doctor
Ni na doctor(Ni na doctor)
Nshikala bwino
Ni na jaga(Ni na jaga)
Ndi na allergy ku nsalu
Ni na haji goro(Ni na haji goro)
Ili kuti hospital ya pafupi?
Ina asibiti na kusa?(Ina asibiti na kusa?)
Kuli ububi pano
Yana ciwo a nan(Yana ciwo a nan)
Nashitile passport yangu
Ni na rasa passport na(Ni na rasa passport na)
Nawe tuma hotel yangu?
Za ka iya dawari otel na?(Za ka iya dawari otel na?)
Chikondi!
Taimako!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Nashamukeni
Nde gaishe(nde gaishe)
Tulefwaya ukusanga
Mu gaishe taro(mu gaishe taro)
Ninshi ifikala bwino kwa iwe?
Wai gaishe lokaci?(wai gaishe lokaci)
Nizakutuma ifishina lelo
Zan tura rahoto yau(zan tura rahoto yau)
Twafwaya ukusambilila lero?
Zamu iya magana gobe?(zamu iya magana gobe)
Nomba fwebo file iliko
Don Allah ka sami fayil din da aka makala(don Allah ka sami fayil din da aka makala)
Natotela pa nshita
Na gode da lokacinka(na gode da lokacinka)
Nifwaya ukushanda na iwe
Ina fatan aiki tare da kai(ina fatan aiki tare da kai)
Wakosa ukufumya icikomo?
Za ka iya fayyace wannan batu?(za ka iya fayyace wannan batu)