Looking for practical Ilocano to Bemba phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Ilocano 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: when a Bemba phrase looks unfamiliar, compare it with the Ilocano 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 Ilocano 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.
Kumusta
Shani(kumusta)
Agyamanak
Natotela(agyamanak)
Naimbag a bigat
Muli shani(naimbag a bigat)
Naimbag a malem
Muli shani(naimbag a malem)
Naimbag a rabii
Muli shani(naimbag a rabii)
Naimbag a rabii
Shalenipo bwino(naimbag a rabii)
Kitaen tayon
Tukakutana(kitaen tayon)
Pakada
Twalumba(pakada)
Ania ti nagan mo?
Iwe ulishani?(ania ti nagan mo)
Ti nagan ko ket John
Ndefwaya John(ti nagan ko ket John)
Kumusta ka?
Uli bwanji?(kumusta ka)
Naragsakak nga makilala ka
Nashitasha kukumona(naragsakak nga makilala ka)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Agsasaoka ti English?
Ulyashi ulukanda mu Chingereza?
Saanak a nasayaat ti agsasaon ti Hindi.
Ndefwaya ukulanda Hindi bwino
Saanak a maawatan.
Ndefwaya kumfwa
Maidawat, agsasaoka nga nalaka.
Nimwandi ulukanda buteko
Mabalinmo kadi nga ibaga manen?
Ningaloleleko?
Ayanna ti banyo?
Ili kuti ikalamba?
Kasanoak a makapanka iti sentro ti ciudad?
Ningalileka shani ku city center?
Lumiko ka nga agtawid.
Fumya kumwendo
Lumiko ka nga agtawid.
Fumya kumwendo
Agpada ka.
Enda pamo
Mano ti bayad?
Kuli shani ifyabukata?
Maysa nga tiket, maidawat.
Ticket imwe, nomba
Nalaing kadi dayta manipud ditoy?
Kuli lishilu ukulya?
Nawawagak.
Ndi lost
Ayanna ti mabalin paggatangan ti SIM card?
Ili kuti nindeke SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Wen
Eya
Saan
Awe
Mabalin
Panga
Agkakabsatak
Ndi bwino
Saanak a makikabsat
Ndi bwino na
Nasayaat dayta
Ilyo lishibukile
Ania ti panunot mo?
Uchite shani?
Makatulong ka kanyak?
Ushakufwa?
Masapulak ti tulong
Ndefwaya ifyakufwa
Ur-urayen ti maysa a minuto
Leka ifi
Pakawanen
Nshakufwa
Awan ti problema
Takwaba shani
Kudos
Nshakufwa bwino
Naragsak a kasangay
Nashala bwino mu mwaka
Agturongka a nasayaat
Ube na mulimo wabwino
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Ayanna ti estasyon ti tren?
Uli kuti ikalamba ya chitima?(Ayanna ti estasyon ti tren?)
Ayanna ti pagur-urayan ti bus?
Uli kuti icikalo ca bisi?(Ayanna ti pagur-urayan ti bus?)
Ania ti plataporma?
Ninshi ni platform iyi?(Ania ti plataporma?)
Ania nga oras ti panagpapanaw na?
Ninshi ikalamba?(Ania nga oras ti panagpapanaw na?)
Tama ba daytoy nga dalan?
Ninshi iyi ni njira shabwino?(Tama ba daytoy nga dalan?)
Adu ti asideg ditoy.
Ili pamo na pano.(Adu ti asideg ditoy.)
Nabayag ti distansia manipud ditoy.
Ili lishilu na pano.(Nabayag ti distansia manipud ditoy.)
Mabalin mo ba nga ipakitak iti mapa?
Ushibukishe pa mape?(Mabalin mo ba nga ipakitak iti mapa?)
Umayka ditoy, please.
Leka pano, chonde.(Umayka ditoy, please.)
Kaano ti agdama?
Kuli shani?(Kaano ti agdama?)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.