Looking for practical Bemba to Wolof phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Bemba phrase first, then the Wolof translation (Wolof) — 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 Wolof.
Tip: when a Wolof 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 Wolof 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
Nanga def(nanga def)
Natotela
Jërëjëf(jerejef)
Muli shani
Ba beneen yoon(ba beneen yoon)
Muli shani
Ba pare(ba pare)
Muli shani
Ba suuf(ba suuf)
Shalenipo bwino
Ba ci kanam(ba ci kanam)
Tukakutana
Naka la(naka la)
Twalumba
Ba beneen(ba beneen)
Iwe ulishani?
Naka sa tur?(naka sa tur)
Ndefwaya John
Sa tur mooy John(sa tur mooy John)
Uli bwanji?
Naka nga def?(naka nga def)
Nashitasha kukumona
Nuyoo na la(nuyoo na la)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Ulyashi ulukanda mu Chingereza?
Naka la jàngi anglé?
Ndefwaya ukulanda Hindi bwino
Maanu jàngi Hindi bu baax.
Ndefwaya kumfwa
Dama xamul.
Nimwandi ulukanda buteko
S'il vous plaît, jàngi bu wéy.
Ningaloleleko?
Naka la waxe ko jëkk?
Ili kuti ikalamba?
Fàww la bathroom?
Ningalileka shani ku city center?
Naka la jëm ci centre ville?
Fumya kumwendo
Jàpp ci jàmm.
Fumya kumwendo
Jàpp ci nguur.
Enda pamo
Jëm ci géej.
Kuli shani ifyabukata?
Naka la mbir mi?
Ticket imwe, nomba
Benn ticket, s'il vous plaît.
Kuli lishilu ukulya?
Ndax am na loolu ci biir?
Ndi lost
Dama jàpp.
Ili kuti nindeke SIM card?
Fàww laa jënd SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Eya
Waaw
Awe
Déedéet
Panga
Moom
Ndi bwino
Maa ngi ci kanam
Ndi bwino na
Maa ngi ci biir
Ilyo lishibukile
Loolu dafa am jamm
Uchite shani?
Lu tax nga?
Ushakufwa?
Ndax nga ma jëfandikoo?
Ndefwaya ifyakufwa
Maa ngi bëgg jëfandikoo
Leka ifi
Teg a jàmm
Nshakufwa
Naka la?
Takwaba shani
Dama jàmm
Nshakufwa bwino
Jamm rekk
Nashala bwino mu mwaka
Bés bu nekk yaakaar
Ube na mulimo wabwino
Dama la jàmm ci yoon
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Uli kuti ikalamba ya chitima?
Fekk na ciy tànk?(fekk na chee tânk)
Uli kuti icikalo ca bisi?
Fekk na ciy bus?(fekk na chee boos)
Ninshi ni platform iyi?
Naka platform bi?(naka platform bee)
Ninshi ikalamba?
Naka at la mu jàpp?(naka at la moo jàpp)
Ninshi iyi ni njira shabwino?
Ndax loolu mooy way bi?(ndax loolu mooy wee bi)
Ili pamo na pano.
Dafa jàmm ci biir(dafa jàmm chee beer)
Ili lishilu na pano.
Dafa jàmm ci kaw(dafa jàmm chee kaw)
Ushibukishe pa mape?
Ndax nga ma jox ci carte bi?(ndax nga ma jox chee kart bee)
Leka pano, chonde.
Soppi ci bi, ndax jëf?(soppi chee bee, ndax jëf)
Kuli shani?
Naka waxtaan la?(naka waxtaan la)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Ili shani?
Naka la cost bi?(naka la cost bi)
Ili lya kuli
Loolu am na jafe-jafe(loolu am na jafe-jafe)
Muli na chimo chibulu?
Ndax am nga lu jàpp?(ndax am nga lu jàpp)
Ningakupanga na kadi?
Ndax mën naa jox kaar?(ndax mën naa jox kaar)
Ningakonda itabo lyakupanga abali babili
Maa ngi bëgg table bu jëkk(maa ngi bëgg table bu jëkk)
Icilanga, tapali
Bokk, s'il vous plaît(bokk, s'il vous plaît)
Ubufyashi bwakupanga?
Ndax service bi am na?(ndax service bi am na)
Ndi mvegetarian
Maa ngi vegetarian(maa ngi vegetarian)
Nshikala na fya spicy, tapali
Sama jëfandikoo, s'il vous plaît(sama jëfandikoo, s'il vous plaît)
Ili lya bwino
Loolu am na yomb(loolu am na yomb)
Ningakonda ifyalo?
Ndax mën naa jox menu bi?(ndax mën naa jox menu bi)
Icupa ca mvula, tapali
Bott bu ndox, s'il vous plaît(bott bu ndox, s'il vous plaît)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Tuma abashitisha
Naka police bi(Naka police bee)
Tuma ambulance
Naka ambulance bi(Naka ambulance bee)
Nshikala na doctor
Mangi nekk doctor(Mangi nek doctor)
Nshikala bwino
Mangi xam nekk(Mangi xam nek)
Ndi na allergy ku nsalu
Mangi am allergie ci karité(Mangi am allergie see karité)
Ili kuti hospital ya pafupi?
Fii na hospital bu am solo?(Fii na hospital boo am solo?)
Kuli ububi pano
Moom na fi(Moom na fee)
Nashitile passport yangu
Mangi jàpp passport ma(Mangi japp passport ma)
Nawe tuma hotel yangu?
Ndax nga nanga jàpp hotel ma?(Ndax nga nanga japp hotel ma?)
Chikondi!
Jàmm rekk!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Nashamukeni
Nuyul na ci sa bopp(Nuyul na ci sa bopp)
Tulefwaya ukusanga
Nuyul nañu jàmm ci wàllu(Nuyul nañu jàmm ci wàllu)
Ninshi ifikala bwino kwa iwe?
Naka sa waxtaan?(Naka sa waxtaan?)
Nizakutuma ifishina lelo
Dama sendi rapòrt bi leegi(Dama sendi rapòrt bi leegi)
Twafwaya ukusambilila lero?
Nuyul nañu wax ak sañse?(Nuyul nañu wax ak sañse?)