Looking for practical Krio to Bambara phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Krio 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 Krio 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.
Hello
I ni ce
Tenki
I ni sogoma
Gud mɔnin
I ni bɔ
Gud aftanun
I ni kɛ
Gud ivnin
I ni sɔgɔ
Gud nait
I ni tulu
Si yu leta
N bɛ se ka
Bai
A bɛ se ka
Wetɛn na yu neym?
Nɛnɛ kɛ i tɛ?
Ma neym na John
N bɛ tɔgɔ John
Ow yu de?
I ni fɛ?
Naes fo mit yu
N bɛ se ka i fɛ
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Yu sabi English?
I ni ce English?(ee nee che English)
A no sabi Hindi well.
N mɔgɔ bɛ Hindi kɛ(N mo-go beh Hindi keh)
A no sabi.
N mɔgɔ bɛ(N mo-go beh)
Plis, tok slow.
Sɛbɛn, kɛlɛ kɛ(Sebene, keh-leh keh)
Yu fit tok dat again?
I ka fɔ a la?(Ee kah fo ah lah)
Weh na di toilet?
Bamanakan kɛn na?(Bah-mah-nah-kahn keh nah)
Ow A go fit reach di city center?
N bɛ fɔ kɔrɔbɔ?(N beh fo koh-roh-boh)
Turn left.
Kɛlɛn bɔ(Keh-lehn boh)
Turn right.
Kɛlɛn bɔ kɔrɔ(Keh-lehn boh koh-roh)
Go straight.
Fɔ kɛlɛn(Fo keh-lehn)
Ow much na di fare?
Fɛ kɛ?(Feh keh)
One ticket, plis.
Kɛnɛ ticket, please(Ken-eh ticket, please)
E far from ya?
I kɛ fɔ kɛnɛ?(Ee keh fo keh-neh)
A don lost.
N tɛ bɔ(N teh boh)
Weh A go fit buy SIM card?
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.
Yes
Aye
No
Ala
Maybe
Bara
A mi agree
N bɛ bɔ
A no agree
N bɛ fɔ
Dat na fine
I bɛ sɛbɛn
Wet in you tink?
I ka fɛ kɛ?
You fit help me?
I bɛ ma n bɔ?
A need help
N bɛ fɔ n bɔ
Wait small
Sira kɛ
A sorry
N tɛgɛ
No problem
Ala ka fɔ
Congratulations
I ni kɛ
Happy birthday
I ni tɔgɔ kɛ
Get safe trip
I bɛ tɔgɔ kɛ
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Weh na di train station?
Fôlô kôkô tîgê?
Weh na di bus stop?
Fôlô bôgô tîgê?
Which platform na im?
I ni tîgê kô?
Wetin time e go lef?
Kô tîgê bô?
Dis na di right way?
I ni tîgê bô?
E dey near here
I tîgê kâ.
E far from here
I tîgê kâ fô.
Yu fit show me pan di map?
I bô kô tîgê fô?
Stop here, pliz
Tîgê kâ, s'il vous plaît.
How long e go tek?
Kô tîgê kô?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
How much dis cost?
I ni ce?
Dat too expensive.
O ye fɛɛrɛ.
You get anytin wey cheaper?
I ni ka fɛɛrɛ?
I fit pay by card?
N bɛ tɔgɔ ka kɛ?
I wan table for two.
N bɛ fɔlɔ kɛlɛ kɔrɔ.
Di bill, please.
Kɔrɔbaw, s'il vous plaît.
Service dey include?
Sɛbɛ ka fo?
I na vegetarian.
N bɛ sɔgɔma.
No spicy food, please.
Kɔrɔ fɛɛrɛ, s'il vous plaît.
Dis dey sweet.
I ye sɔgɔ.
I fit get di menu?
N bɛ fɔlɔ kɔrɔbaw?
A glass of water, please.
N bɛ fɔlɔ jɔrɔ.
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Call di police
Nɔgɔ fɔlɔ(nogo folo)
Call ambulance
Nɔgɔ kɔrɔ(nogo koro)
A need doctor
N bɛ sɔrɔ(n be soro)
A dey feel sick
N bɛ tɛgɛn(n be tegen)
A get allergy for peanuts
N bɛ fɔlɔ kɛlɛ(n be folokele)
Weh di nearest hospital de?
N bɛ kɔrɔ fɔlɔ?(n be koro folo)
E dey pain here
I tɛgɛ fɛ(i tege fe)
A don lose mi passport
N bɛ kɛlɛ fɔlɔ(n be kele folo)
You fit call mi hotel?
I bɛ nɔgɔ kɔrɔ fɔlɔ?(i be nogo koro folo)
Help!
Tɛgɛ!(tege)
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Na nice for meet you
N bɛ se ka kɛnɛ(N bɛ se ka kɛnɛ)
Make we plan wan meeting
Ala ka yɛlɛ kɛnɛ(Ala ka yɛlɛ kɛnɛ)
Wetin time go work for you?
I ni bɔ a la?(I ni bɔ a la?)
A go send di report tiday
N bɛ fɔ report la tɛgɛ(N bɛ fɔ report la tɛgɛ)
We go fit talk tomorrow?
N bɛ fɔ tɛgɛ?(N bɛ fɔ tɛgɛ?)
Abeg find di file wey attach
Sɔgɔma, fɔ file la a bɛ(Sɔgɔma, fɔ file la a bɛ)
Tenki for your time
I ni ce, a bɛ sɔrɔ(I ni ce, a bɛ sɔrɔ)
A dey look forward for work with you
N bɛ fɔ a la ka yɛlɛ(N bɛ fɔ a la ka yɛlɛ)
You fit clarify dat point?
I bɛ fɔ a la fɛ?(I bɛ fɔ a la fɛ?)
Make I get back to you
N bɛ fɔ a la kɛ(N bɛ fɔ a la kɛ)
Di deadline na Friday
Dɔgɔni tɛgɛ Friday(Dɔgɔni tɛgɛ Friday)
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.