Looking for practical Kanuri to Bambara phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Kanuri 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: read the Bambara line out loud three times, then cover the Kanuri side and try to recall the meaning — repetition builds memory faster than silent reading.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Kanuri 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.
Sannu
I ni ce
Nagode
I ni sogoma
Ina kwana
I ni bɔ
Ina yamma
I ni kɛ
Ina dare
I ni sɔgɔ
Sai da safe
I ni tulu
Zan ganka
N bɛ se ka
Sai anjima
A bɛ se ka
Menene sunanka?
Nɛnɛ kɛ i tɛ?
Sunana John
N bɛ tɔgɔ John
Lafiya lau?
I ni fɛ?
Na ji dadin haduwa da kai
N bɛ se ka i fɛ
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Kuna magana da Turanci?
I ni ce English?(ee nee che English)
Ba na magana da Hindi sosai.
N mɔgɔ bɛ Hindi kɛ(N mo-go beh Hindi keh)
Ba na fahimta.
N mɔgɔ bɛ(N mo-go beh)
Don Allah, ku yi magana a hankali.
Sɛbɛn, kɛlɛ kɛ(Sebene, keh-leh keh)
Za ku iya faɗin hakan sake?
I ka fɔ a la?(Ee kah fo ah lah)
Ina wanka?
Bamanakan kɛn na?(Bah-mah-nah-kahn keh nah)
Ta yaya zan isa tsakiyar birni?
N bɛ fɔ kɔrɔbɔ?(N beh fo koh-roh-boh)
Juya hagu.
Kɛlɛn bɔ(Keh-lehn boh)
Juya dama.
Kɛlɛn bɔ kɔrɔ(Keh-lehn boh koh-roh)
Tafiya kai tsaye.
Fɔ kɛlɛn(Fo keh-lehn)
Nawa ne farashin?
Fɛ kɛ?(Feh keh)
Tiket ɗaya, don Allah.
Kɛnɛ ticket, please(Ken-eh ticket, please)
Shin yana da nisa daga nan?
I kɛ fɔ kɛnɛ?(Ee keh fo keh-neh)
Na ɓace.
N tɛ bɔ(N teh boh)
Ina zan iya sayen kati na 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.
Eey
Aye(ee-y)
A'a
Ala(ah-ah)
Wata
Bara(wah-tah)
Na amu
N bɛ bɔ(nah ah-moo)
Na a'a amu
N bɛ fɔ(nah ah-ah ah-moo)
Iya na
I bɛ sɛbɛn(ee-yah nah)
Kaya ka yi tunani?
I ka fɛ kɛ?(kah-yah kah yee too-nah-nee)
Za ka iya taimaka min?
I bɛ ma n bɔ?(zah kah ee-yah tie-mah-kah meen)
Na bukaci taimako
N bɛ fɔ n bɔ(nah boo-kah-chee tie-mah-koh)
Duba dan lokaci
Sira kɛ(doo-bah dahn loh-kah-chee)
Na yi hakuri
N tɛgɛ(nah yee hah-koo-ree)
Babu matsala
Ala ka fɔ(bah-boo maht-sah-lah)
Taya murna
I ni kɛ(tah-yah moor-nah)
Barka da haihuwa
I ni tɔgɔ kɛ(bar-kah dah hai-hoo-wah)
Ka yi tafiya lafiya
I bɛ tɔgɔ kɛ(kah yee tah-fee-yah lah-fee-yah)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Nye boko na gari?
Fôlô kôkô tîgê?
Nye boko na bas?
Fôlô bôgô tîgê?
Wane boko na?
I ni tîgê kô?
Wane lokaci ya tafi?
Kô tîgê bô?
Shin wannan hanya ce?
I ni tîgê bô?
Yana kusa da nan
I tîgê kâ.
Yana nesa da nan
I tîgê kâ fô.
Za ka iya nuna mini a taswirar?
I bô kô tîgê fô?
Tsaida nan, don Allah
Tîgê kâ, s'il vous plaît.
Yaya tsawon lokaci?
Kô tîgê kô?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Nayi na kudi?
I ni ce?(Nayi na kudi?)
Wannan ya yi tsada sosai.
O ye fɛɛrɛ.
Shin kuna da wani abu mai rahusa?
I ni ka fɛɛrɛ?
Zan iya biyan kudi da kati?
N bɛ tɔgɔ ka kɛ?
Ina so tebur don biyu.
N bɛ fɔlɔ kɛlɛ kɔrɔ.
Lissafi, don Allah.
Kɔrɔbaw, s'il vous plaît.
Shin sabis ya haɗa?
Sɛbɛ ka fo?
Ni mai ganyayyaki ne.
N bɛ sɔgɔma.
Ba tare da zaki ba, don Allah.
Kɔrɔ fɛɛrɛ, s'il vous plaît.
Wannan yana da dadi.
I ye sɔgɔ.
Zan iya samun menu?
N bɛ fɔlɔ kɔrɔbaw?
Kofin ruwa, don Allah.
N bɛ fɔlɔ jɔrɔ.
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Dawari janga
Nɔgɔ fɔlɔ(nogo folo)
Dawari ambulan
Nɔgɔ kɔrɔ(nogo koro)
Ni na doctor
N bɛ sɔrɔ(n be soro)
Ni na jaga
N bɛ tɛgɛn(n be tegen)
Ni na haji goro
N bɛ fɔlɔ kɛlɛ(n be folokele)
Ina asibiti na kusa?
N bɛ kɔrɔ fɔlɔ?(n be koro folo)
Yana ciwo a nan
I tɛgɛ fɛ(i tege fe)
Ni na rasa passport na
N bɛ kɛlɛ fɔlɔ(n be kele folo)
Za ka iya dawari otel na?
I bɛ nɔgɔ kɔrɔ fɔlɔ?(i be nogo koro folo)
Taimako!
Tɛgɛ!(tege)
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Nde gaishe
N bɛ se ka kɛnɛ(N bɛ se ka kɛnɛ)
Mu gaishe taro
Ala ka yɛlɛ kɛnɛ(Ala ka yɛlɛ kɛnɛ)
Wai gaishe lokaci?
I ni bɔ a la?(I ni bɔ a la?)
Zan tura rahoto yau
N bɛ fɔ report la tɛgɛ(N bɛ fɔ report la tɛgɛ)
Zamu iya magana gobe?
N bɛ fɔ tɛgɛ?(N bɛ fɔ tɛgɛ?)
Don Allah ka sami fayil din da aka makala
Sɔgɔma, fɔ file la a bɛ(Sɔgɔma, fɔ file la a bɛ)
Na gode da lokacinka
I ni ce, a bɛ sɔrɔ(I ni ce, a bɛ sɔrɔ)
Ina fatan aiki tare da kai
N bɛ fɔ a la ka yɛlɛ(N bɛ fɔ a la ka yɛlɛ)
Za ka iya fayyace wannan batu?
I bɛ fɔ a la fɛ?(I bɛ fɔ a la fɛ?)
Bari in dawo gare ka
N bɛ fɔ a la kɛ(N bɛ fɔ a la kɛ)
Kwanan karshe ranar Jumma'a
Dɔgɔni tɛgɛ Friday(Dɔgɔni tɛgɛ Friday)
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.