Looking for practical Bemba to Sango phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Bemba phrase first, then the Sango translation (Sango) — 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 Sango.
Tip: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Sango-speaking trip in a few weeks.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Bemba to Sango 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
Mbote
Natotela
Mokolo
Muli shani
Mbote na nganga
Muli shani
Mbote na nganga ya zanga
Muli shani
Mbote na nganga ya sika
Shalenipo bwino
Ndeko na nganga
Tukakutana
Tango na yo
Twalumba
Ayo
Iwe ulishani?
Nani na yo?
Ndefwaya John
Nani na nga John
Uli bwanji?
Oza malamu?
Nashitasha kukumona
Mokili na yo
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Ulyashi ulukanda mu Chingereza?
O yo na nganga English?
Ndefwaya ukulanda Hindi bwino
O na yo na nganga Hindi na mboka.
Ndefwaya kumfwa
O na yo na mboka.
Nimwandi ulukanda buteko
Sokou, yo na nganga na mboka.
Ningaloleleko?
O tanga na mboka?
Ili kuti ikalamba?
Banga na yo na ndako?
Ningalileka shani ku city center?
Nde na yo na banga na mboka?
Fumya kumwendo
Kanga na mboko.
Fumya kumwendo
Kanga na nganga.
Enda pamo
Kende na mboka.
Kuli shani ifyabukata?
Nde na yo na mboka?
Ticket imwe, nomba
Mokolo na ticket, sokou.
Kuli lishilu ukulya?
O na mboka na mboka?
Ndi lost
O na yo na mboka.
Ili kuti nindeke SIM card?
Banga na yo na tanga SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Eya
O
Awe
Té
Panga
Sâ
Ndi bwino
Ngâ tî
Ndi bwino na
Ngâ té tî
Ilyo lishibukile
O bô
Uchite shani?
Nâ tî yé?
Ushakufwa?
O kâ yé tî?
Ndefwaya ifyakufwa
Ngâ kâ tî
Leka ifi
Bê na
Nshakufwa
Ngâ tî na
Takwaba shani
Té bô
Nshakufwa bwino
Mâ tî
Nashala bwino mu mwaka
Mâ na mbâ
Ube na mulimo wabwino
O kâ na mbê
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Uli kuti ikalamba ya chitima?
O na wâ na gare?
Uli kuti icikalo ca bisi?
O na wâ na station de taxi?
Ninshi ni platform iyi?
O na wâ na plateforme?
Ninshi ikalamba?
O na tî na mbô?
Ninshi iyi ni njira shabwino?
O na wâ na yâ?
Ili pamo na pano.
O na bô na kâ.
Ili lishilu na pano.
O na fâ na kâ.
Ushibukishe pa mape?
O kâ tî na mappa?
Leka pano, chonde.
Kâ na kâ, s'il vous plaît.
Kuli shani?
O na tî na mbô?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Ili shani?
Mboka na yo?(mboka na yo)
Ili lya kuli
Oko na mboka mingi(oko na mboka mingi)
Muli na chimo chibulu?
Ozo na nanga mboka?(o zo na nanga mboka)
Ningakupanga na kadi?
Naka na yeke na carte?(naka na yeke na carte)
Ningakonda itabo lyakupanga abali babili
Naka na table ya mibale(naka na table ya mibale)
Icilanga, tapali
Bilan, s'il vous plaît(bilan, s'il vous plaît)
Ubufyashi bwakupanga?
Service ezali na yango?(service ezali na yango)
Ndi mvegetarian
Nani na mboka ya nyama(nani na mboka ya nyama)
Nshikala na fya spicy, tapali
Te na mabele ya sika, s'il vous plaît(te na mabele ya sika)
Ili lya bwino
Oyo ezali malamu(oyo ezali malamu)
Ningakonda ifyalo?
Naka na menu?(naka na menu)
Icupa ca mvula, tapali
Bokoko ya mai, s'il vous plaît(bokoko ya mai)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Tuma abashitisha
Banga nganga
Tuma ambulance
Banga ambulance
Nshikala na doctor
Mbi na doctor
Nshikala bwino
Mbi na yeke
Ndi na allergy ku nsalu
Mbi na alerji na kolo
Ili kuti hospital ya pafupi?
A na hospital ya mboka?
Kuli ububi pano
E yeke na mboko
Nashitile passport yangu
Mbi tanga passport na ngai
Nawe tuma hotel yangu?
O tanga hotel na ngai?
Chikondi!
Sango!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Nashamukeni
Mbi na yo(Mbi na yo)
Tulefwaya ukusanga
Tala na yeke mboka(tu-le-fwa-ya u-ku-sanga)
Ninshi ifikala bwino kwa iwe?
Nani ti na yo?(nin-shi i-fi-ka-la bwi-no kwa i-we)
Nizakutuma ifishina lelo
Nde na yeke report na tî(ni-za-ku-tu-ma i-fi-shi-na le-lo)
Twafwaya ukusambilila lero?
Oka na yeke na lobi?(twa-fwa-ya u-ku-sam-bi-li-la le-ro)
Nomba fwebo file iliko
S'il vous plaît, tî na file na mî(nom-ba fwe-bo fi-le i-li-ko)
Natotela pa nshita
Mesi na yo na tî(na-to-te-la pa nshi-ta)
Nifwaya ukushanda na iwe
Nde na tî na yeke na yo(ni-fwa-ya u-ku-shan-da na i-we)
Wakosa ukufumya icikomo?
Oka na yeke na sî na tî?(wa-ko-sa u-ku-fum-ya i-ci-ko-mo)
Nizakukumbusha
Tala na yeke na yo(ni-za-ku-kum-bu-sha)
Ishina lyakupela ni Lwapula
Nani na lobi na vendredi(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.