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Common Fon to Bambara phrases

100 practical Fon to Bambara phrases for travel, study, work, and daily conversation.

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Looking for practical Fon to Bambara phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Fon phrase first, then the Bambara translation (Bambara) — 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 Bambara.

Tip: pick five Bambara phrases from the greetings section and use them in a real message today. Small daily practice beats cramming before a trip.

Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Fon to Bambara 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.

  1. Nɔ́

    I ni ce (nɔ́)

  2. Mèdɔ́

    I ni sogoma (mèdɔ́)

  3. Mèdɔ́ agblɔ

    I ni bɔ (mèdɔ́ agblɔ)

  4. Mèdɔ́ ɖe

    I ni kɛ (mèdɔ́ ɖe)

  5. Mèdɔ́ ɖeɖe

    I ni sɔgɔ (mèdɔ́ ɖeɖe)

  6. Mèdɔ́ xɔxɔ

    I ni tulu (mèdɔ́ xɔxɔ)

  7. Nɔ́ wɛ

    N bɛ se ka (nɔ́ wɛ)

  8. Nɔ́ wɛ ɖe

    A bɛ se ka (nɔ́ wɛ ɖe)

  9. Nɔ́ wɛ nɔ́?

    Nɛnɛ kɛ i tɛ? (nɔ́ wɛ nɔ́?)

  10. Mè nɔ́ John

    N bɛ tɔgɔ John (mè nɔ́ John)

  11. Nɔ́ wɛ nɔ́?

    I ni fɛ? (nɔ́ wɛ nɔ́?)

  12. Mèdɔ́ nɔ́

    N bɛ se ka i fɛ (mèdɔ́ nɔ́)

Useful phrases for travellers

Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.

  1. I gbè yé èdè Gẹ̀ẹ́sì?

    I ni ce English? (ee nee che English)

  2. Mè n'gbè yé Èdè Hindi kè.

    N mɔgɔ bɛ Hindi kɛ (N mo-go beh Hindi keh)

  3. Mè n'kó nù.

    N mɔgɔ bɛ (N mo-go beh)

  4. S'il vous plaît, gbè yé kè.

    Sɛbɛn, kɛlɛ kɛ (Sebene, keh-leh keh)

  5. Mè s'kà yé nù?

    I ka fɔ a la? (Ee kah fo ah lah)

  6. Èwé n'kà dɔ́?

    Bamanakan kɛn na? (Bah-mah-nah-kahn keh nah)

  7. Mè n'kà yé nù àlà nà?

    N bɛ fɔ kɔrɔbɔ? (N beh fo koh-roh-boh)

  8. Tò n'kà kè.

    Kɛlɛn bɔ (Keh-lehn boh)

  9. Tò n'kà pɔ́.

    Kɛlɛn bɔ kɔrɔ (Keh-lehn boh koh-roh)

  10. Lè n'kà kè.

    Fɔ kɛlɛn (Fo keh-lehn)

  11. Kí n'kà dɔ́?

    Fɛ kɛ? (Feh keh)

  12. Mè s'kà àyé, s'il vous plaît.

    Kɛnɛ ticket, please (Ken-eh ticket, please)

  13. Èwé n'kà mɛ́?

    I kɛ fɔ kɛnɛ? (Ee keh fo keh-neh)

  14. Mè n'kà nɔ́.

    N tɛ bɔ (N teh boh)

  15. Èwé n'kà nɔ́ SIM?

    N bɛ fɔ SIM card kɛn? (N beh fo SIM card ken)

Everyday conversation

Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.

  1. Ɛ

    Aye (e)

  2. Ayi

    Ala (ayi)

  3. Mɛ

    Bara (me)

  4. Mè yé

    N bɛ bɔ (me ye)

  5. Mè n'yi

    N bɛ fɔ (me n'yi)

  6. N'kɔ nɔ

    I bɛ sɛbɛn (n'ko no)

  7. N'kɔ a kɔ?

    I ka fɛ kɛ? (n'ko a ko)

  8. I n'kɔ mɛ?

    I bɛ ma n bɔ? (i n'ko me)

  9. Mè n'kɔ mɛ

    N bɛ fɔ n bɔ (me n'ko me)

  10. Tɔ́ nɔ

    Sira kɛ (to no)

  11. Mè nɔ n'kɔ

    N tɛgɛ (me no n'ko)

  12. Ayi n'kɔ

    Ala ka fɔ (ayi n'ko)

  13. Mè nɔ wé

    I ni kɛ (me no we)

  14. Mè nɔ tɔ́

    I ni tɔgɔ kɛ (me no to)

  15. N'kɔ a wé dɔ

    I bɛ tɔgɔ kɛ (n'ko a we do)

Directions and getting around

Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.

  1. N'ye wé train station?

    Fôlô kôkô tîgê? (N'ye wé train station?)

  2. N'ye wé bus stop?

    Fôlô bôgô tîgê? (N'ye wé bus stop?)

  3. Ké platform na?

    I ni tîgê kô? (Ké platform na?)

  4. Ké sa a yé?

    Kô tîgê bô? (Ké sa a yé?)

  5. N'ye wé yé na?

    I ni tîgê bô? (N'ye wé yé na?)

  6. Yé na hɛn

    I tîgê kâ. (Yé na hɛn)

  7. Yé na hɛn gbo

    I tîgê kâ fô. (Yé na hɛn gbo)

  8. Mè wé hɛn n'ye map?

    I bô kô tîgê fô? (Mè wé hɛn n'ye map?)

  9. Tó hɛn, s'il vous plaît

    Tîgê kâ, s'il vous plaît. (Tó hɛn, s'il vous plaît)

  10. Ké sa a yé?

    Kô tîgê kô? (Ké sa a yé?)

Shopping and dining

Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.

  1. Mè wé na?

    I ni ce?

  2. Yè wé bɔ́ nɔ́.

    O ye fɛɛrɛ.

  3. A wé nɔ́ dɔ́?

    I ni ka fɛɛrɛ?

  4. Mè wé hɛn nɔ́?

    N bɛ tɔgɔ ka kɛ?

  5. Mè wé dɔ́ nɔ́ fɔ́.

    N bɛ fɔlɔ kɛlɛ kɔrɔ.

  6. A wé nɔ́ bɔ́.

    Kɔrɔbaw, s'il vous plaît.

  7. Sè wé bɔ́?

    Sɛbɛ ka fo?

  8. Mè wé kɔ́ nɔ́.

    N bɛ sɔgɔma.

  9. Mè wé nɔ́ kɔ́ nɔ́.

    Kɔrɔ fɛɛrɛ, s'il vous plaît.

  10. Yè wé sɔ́.

    I ye sɔgɔ.

  11. Mè wé nɔ́ mɛ́ nɔ́?

    N bɛ fɔlɔ kɔrɔbaw?

  12. Mè wé nɔ́ gɔ́ nɔ́.

    N bɛ fɔlɔ jɔrɔ.

Emergencies and health

Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.

  1. Nɔ̀ nɔ́ wɛ́

    Nɔgɔ fɔlɔ (nogo folo)

  2. Nɔ̀ nɔ́ àmblans

    Nɔgɔ kɔrɔ (nogo koro)

  3. Mè hùn wá dɔ́ktɛ́

    N bɛ sɔrɔ (n be soro)

  4. Mè tɔ́ dɔ́

    N bɛ tɛgɛn (n be tegen)

  5. Mè wá nùmɛ́ kɔ́

    N bɛ fɔlɔ kɛlɛ (n be folokele)

  6. Fɔ́ wɛ́ dɔ́kita nɔ́?

    N bɛ kɔrɔ fɔlɔ? (n be koro folo)

  7. A hùn nɔ́

    I tɛgɛ fɛ (i tege fe)

  8. Mè lɔ́ mɔ́ kɔ́tɔ́

    N bɛ kɛlɛ fɔlɔ (n be kele folo)

  9. Kɔ́ nɔ́ nɔ́ wɛ́ mɔ́ hɔ́tɛ́l?

    I bɛ nɔgɔ kɔrɔ fɔlɔ? (i be nogo koro folo)

  10. Sè!

    Tɛgɛ! (tege)

Work and business

Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.

  1. Mè wá nɔ́

    N bɛ se ka kɛnɛ (N bɛ se ka kɛnɛ)

  2. Mè tɔ́ nɔ́ kɔ́ sɔ́

    Ala ka yɛlɛ kɛnɛ (Ala ka yɛlɛ kɛnɛ)

  3. Nɔ́ kɔ́ sɔ́ kó?

    I ni bɔ a la? (I ni bɔ a la?)

  4. Mè yé sɔ́ nɔ́ kɔ́ bɔ́

    N bɛ fɔ report la tɛgɛ (N bɛ fɔ report la tɛgɛ)

  5. Mè tɔ́ nɔ́ kɔ́ bɔ́ kɔ́

    N bɛ fɔ tɛgɛ? (N bɛ fɔ tɛgɛ?)

  6. Mè tɔ́ nɔ́ kɔ́ sɔ́ nɔ́

    Sɔgɔma, fɔ file la a bɛ (Sɔgɔma, fɔ file la a bɛ)

  7. Mè tɔ́ nɔ́ kɔ́ nɔ́

    I ni ce, a bɛ sɔrɔ (I ni ce, a bɛ sɔrɔ)

  8. Mè tɔ́ nɔ́ kɔ́ sɔ́

    N bɛ fɔ a la ka yɛlɛ (N bɛ fɔ a la ka yɛlɛ)

  9. Nɔ́ kɔ́ sɔ́ kó?

    I bɛ fɔ a la fɛ? (I bɛ fɔ a la fɛ?)

  10. Mè tɔ́ nɔ́ kɔ́ sɔ́

    N bɛ fɔ a la kɛ (N bɛ fɔ a la kɛ)

  11. Nɔ́ kɔ́ sɔ́ kó

    Dɔgɔni tɛgɛ Friday (Dɔgɔni tɛgɛ Friday)

Time, days and numbers

Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.

  1. Nukon wé?

    Ala ka kɛnɛ? (Ala ka kene)

  2. Wé hã tã

    I ye kelen kelen. (I ye kelen kelen)

  3. Ayi

    N bɔ (N bo)

  4. Mèbè

    N bɔ kɛ (N bo ke)

  5. Ayi gbo

    N bɔ fɛ (N bo fe)

  6. Lundi

    Tɔgɔ (Togo)

  7. Mardi

    Tɛgɛ (Tege)

  8. Mercredi

    Alakɔ (Alako)

  9. Yin

    Kelen (Kelen)

  10. Hè

    Duo (Duo)

  11. Tã

    Tati (Tati)

  12. Dè

    Folo (Folo)

  13. Yin hã

    Dugukelen (Dugukelen)

  14. Mè

    Kelen fɛ (Kelen fe)

  15. Hè hã

    Kɛ (Ke)

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