Looking for practical Fon to Bemba phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Fon phrase first, then the Bemba translation (Bemba) — 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 Bemba.
Tip: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Bemba-speaking trip in a few weeks.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Fon to Bemba 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.
Nɔ́
Shani(nɔ́)
Mèdɔ́
Natotela(mèdɔ́)
Mèdɔ́ agblɔ
Muli shani(mèdɔ́ agblɔ)
Mèdɔ́ ɖe
Muli shani(mèdɔ́ ɖe)
Mèdɔ́ ɖeɖe
Muli shani(mèdɔ́ ɖeɖe)
Mèdɔ́ xɔxɔ
Shalenipo bwino(mèdɔ́ xɔxɔ)
Nɔ́ wɛ
Tukakutana(nɔ́ wɛ)
Nɔ́ wɛ ɖe
Twalumba(nɔ́ wɛ ɖe)
Nɔ́ wɛ nɔ́?
Iwe ulishani?(nɔ́ wɛ nɔ́?)
Mè nɔ́ John
Ndefwaya John(mè nɔ́ John)
Nɔ́ wɛ nɔ́?
Uli bwanji?(nɔ́ wɛ nɔ́?)
Mèdɔ́ nɔ́
Nashitasha kukumona(mèdɔ́ nɔ́)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
I gbè yé èdè Gẹ̀ẹ́sì?
Ulyashi ulukanda mu Chingereza?
Mè n'gbè yé Èdè Hindi kè.
Ndefwaya ukulanda Hindi bwino
Mè n'kó nù.
Ndefwaya kumfwa
S'il vous plaît, gbè yé kè.
Nimwandi ulukanda buteko
Mè s'kà yé nù?
Ningaloleleko?
Èwé n'kà dɔ́?
Ili kuti ikalamba?
Mè n'kà yé nù àlà nà?
Ningalileka shani ku city center?
Tò n'kà kè.
Fumya kumwendo
Tò n'kà pɔ́.
Fumya kumwendo
Lè n'kà kè.
Enda pamo
Kí n'kà dɔ́?
Kuli shani ifyabukata?
Mè s'kà àyé, s'il vous plaît.
Ticket imwe, nomba
Èwé n'kà mɛ́?
Kuli lishilu ukulya?
Mè n'kà nɔ́.
Ndi lost
Èwé n'kà nɔ́ SIM?
Ili kuti nindeke SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ɛ
Eya(e)
Ayi
Awe(ayi)
Mɛ
Panga(me)
Mè yé
Ndi bwino(me ye)
Mè n'yi
Ndi bwino na(me n'yi)
N'kɔ nɔ
Ilyo lishibukile(n'ko no)
N'kɔ a kɔ?
Uchite shani?(n'ko a ko)
I n'kɔ mɛ?
Ushakufwa?(i n'ko me)
Mè n'kɔ mɛ
Ndefwaya ifyakufwa(me n'ko me)
Tɔ́ nɔ
Leka ifi(to no)
Mè nɔ n'kɔ
Nshakufwa(me no n'ko)
Ayi n'kɔ
Takwaba shani(ayi n'ko)
Mè nɔ wé
Nshakufwa bwino(me no we)
Mè nɔ tɔ́
Nashala bwino mu mwaka(me no to)
N'kɔ a wé dɔ
Ube na mulimo wabwino(n'ko a we do)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
N'ye wé train station?
Uli kuti ikalamba ya chitima?(N'ye wé train station?)
N'ye wé bus stop?
Uli kuti icikalo ca bisi?(N'ye wé bus stop?)
Ké platform na?
Ninshi ni platform iyi?(Ké platform na?)
Ké sa a yé?
Ninshi ikalamba?(Ké sa a yé?)
N'ye wé yé na?
Ninshi iyi ni njira shabwino?(N'ye wé yé na?)
Yé na hɛn
Ili pamo na pano.(Yé na hɛn)
Yé na hɛn gbo
Ili lishilu na pano.(Yé na hɛn gbo)
Mè wé hɛn n'ye map?
Ushibukishe pa mape?(Mè wé hɛn n'ye map?)
Tó hɛn, s'il vous plaît
Leka pano, chonde.(Tó hɛn, s'il vous plaît)
Ké sa a yé?
Kuli shani?(Ké sa a yé?)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.