Looking for practical Bemba to Krio phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Bemba phrase first, then the Krio translation (Krio) — 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 Krio.
Tip: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Krio-speaking trip in a few weeks.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Bemba to Krio 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
Hello
Natotela
Tenki
Muli shani
Gud mɔnin
Muli shani
Gud aftanun
Muli shani
Gud ivnin
Shalenipo bwino
Gud nait
Tukakutana
Si yu leta
Twalumba
Bai
Iwe ulishani?
Wetɛn na yu neym?
Ndefwaya John
Ma neym na John
Uli bwanji?
Ow yu de?
Nashitasha kukumona
Naes fo mit yu
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Ulyashi ulukanda mu Chingereza?
Yu sabi English?
Ndefwaya ukulanda Hindi bwino
A no sabi Hindi well.
Ndefwaya kumfwa
A no sabi.
Nimwandi ulukanda buteko
Plis, tok slow.
Ningaloleleko?
Yu fit tok dat again?
Ili kuti ikalamba?
Weh na di toilet?
Ningalileka shani ku city center?
Ow A go fit reach di city center?
Fumya kumwendo
Turn left.
Fumya kumwendo
Turn right.
Enda pamo
Go straight.
Kuli shani ifyabukata?
Ow much na di fare?
Ticket imwe, nomba
One ticket, plis.
Kuli lishilu ukulya?
E far from ya?
Ndi lost
A don lost.
Ili kuti nindeke SIM card?
Weh A go fit buy SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Eya
Yes
Awe
No
Panga
Maybe
Ndi bwino
A mi agree
Ndi bwino na
A no agree
Ilyo lishibukile
Dat na fine
Uchite shani?
Wet in you tink?
Ushakufwa?
You fit help me?
Ndefwaya ifyakufwa
A need help
Leka ifi
Wait small
Nshakufwa
A sorry
Takwaba shani
No problem
Nshakufwa bwino
Congratulations
Nashala bwino mu mwaka
Happy birthday
Ube na mulimo wabwino
Get safe trip
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Uli kuti ikalamba ya chitima?
Weh na di train station?
Uli kuti icikalo ca bisi?
Weh na di bus stop?
Ninshi ni platform iyi?
Which platform na im?
Ninshi ikalamba?
Wetin time e go lef?
Ninshi iyi ni njira shabwino?
Dis na di right way?
Ili pamo na pano.
E dey near here
Ili lishilu na pano.
E far from here
Ushibukishe pa mape?
Yu fit show me pan di map?
Leka pano, chonde.
Stop here, pliz
Kuli shani?
How long e go tek?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Ili shani?
How much dis cost?(Ili shani?)
Ili lya kuli
Dat too expensive.(Ili lya kuli)
Muli na chimo chibulu?
You get anytin wey cheaper?(Muli na chimo chibulu?)
Ningakupanga na kadi?
I fit pay by card?(Ningakupanga na kadi?)
Ningakonda itabo lyakupanga abali babili
I wan table for two.(Ningakonda itabo lyakupanga abali babili)
Icilanga, tapali
Di bill, please.(Icilanga, tapali)
Ubufyashi bwakupanga?
Service dey include?(Ubufyashi bwakupanga?)
Ndi mvegetarian
I na vegetarian.(Ndi mvegetarian)
Nshikala na fya spicy, tapali
No spicy food, please.(Nshikala na fya spicy, tapali)
Ili lya bwino
Dis dey sweet.(Ili lya bwino)
Ningakonda ifyalo?
I fit get di menu?(Ningakonda ifyalo?)
Icupa ca mvula, tapali
A glass of 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 ambulance
Nshikala na doctor
A need doctor
Nshikala bwino
A dey feel sick
Ndi na allergy ku nsalu
A get allergy for peanuts
Ili kuti hospital ya pafupi?
Weh di nearest hospital de?
Kuli ububi pano
E dey pain here
Nashitile passport yangu
A don lose mi passport
Nawe tuma hotel yangu?
You fit call mi hotel?
Chikondi!
Help!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Nashamukeni
Na nice for meet you(na-sha-mu-ke-ni)
Tulefwaya ukusanga
Make we plan wan meeting(tu-le-fwa-ya u-ku-sanga)
Ninshi ifikala bwino kwa iwe?
Wetin time go work for you?(nin-shi i-fi-ka-la bwi-no kwa i-we)
Nizakutuma ifishina lelo
A go send di report tiday(ni-za-ku-tu-ma i-fi-shi-na le-lo)
Twafwaya ukusambilila lero?
We go fit talk tomorrow?(twa-fwa-ya u-ku-sam-bi-li-la le-ro)
Nomba fwebo file iliko
Abeg find di file wey attach(nom-ba fwe-bo fi-le i-li-ko)
Natotela pa nshita
Tenki for your time(na-to-te-la pa nshi-ta)
Nifwaya ukushanda na iwe
A dey look forward for work with you(ni-fwa-ya u-ku-shan-da na i-we)
Wakosa ukufumya icikomo?
You fit clarify dat point?(wa-ko-sa u-ku-fum-ya i-ci-ko-mo)
Nizakukumbusha
Make I get back to you(ni-za-ku-kum-bu-sha)
Ishina lyakupela ni Lwapula
Di deadline na 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.