Looking for practical Jamaican Patois to Bemba phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Jamaican Patois 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 Jamaican Patois 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 Jamaican Patois 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.
Wah gwaan
Shani
Tank yuh
Natotela
Gud mawnin
Muli shani
Gud afta noon
Muli shani
Gud evnin
Muli shani
Gud nite
Shalenipo bwino
Likkle more
Tukakutana
Lata
Twalumba
Wah yuh name?
Iwe ulishani?
Mi name a John
Ndefwaya John
Ow yuh do?
Uli bwanji?
Nice fi meet yuh
Nashitasha kukumona
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Yuh speak English?
Ulyashi ulukanda mu Chingereza?
Mi nuh speak Hindi good
Ndefwaya ukulanda Hindi bwino
Mi nuh understand
Ndefwaya kumfwa
Please talk slow
Nimwandi ulukanda buteko
Yuh can seh dat again?
Ningaloleleko?
Whe di bathroom deh?
Ili kuti ikalamba?
How mi fi get to di city center?
Ningalileka shani ku city center?
Turn left
Fumya kumwendo
Turn right
Fumya kumwendo
Go straight
Enda pamo
How much fi di fare?
Kuli shani ifyabukata?
One ticket, please
Ticket imwe, nomba
Is it far from yah?
Kuli lishilu ukulya?
Mi lost
Ndi lost
Whe mi can buy a SIM card?
Ili kuti nindeke SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Yea
Eya
No
Awe
Maybe
Panga
Mi agree
Ndi bwino
Mi nuh agree
Ndi bwino na
Dat sound good
Ilyo lishibukile
Wah yuh tink?
Uchite shani?
Yuh can help mi?
Ushakufwa?
Mi need help
Ndefwaya ifyakufwa
Wait likkle
Leka ifi
Mi sorry
Nshakufwa
No problem
Takwaba shani
Congrats
Nshakufwa bwino
Happy birthday
Nashala bwino mu mwaka
Have a safe trip
Ube na mulimo wabwino
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Whey di train station deh?
Uli kuti ikalamba ya chitima?
Whey di bus stop deh?
Uli kuti icikalo ca bisi?
Wich platform it deh?
Ninshi ni platform iyi?
Wha time it a lef?
Ninshi ikalamba?
Dis a di right way?
Ninshi iyi ni njira shabwino?
It near yah.
Ili pamo na pano.
It far from yah.
Ili lishilu na pano.
Yuh can show mi pon di map?
Ushibukishe pa mape?
Stop yah, please.
Leka pano, chonde.
How long it a tek?
Kuli shani?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.