Looking for practical Lingala to Bemba phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Lingala 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 Lingala 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.
Mbote
Shani
Melesi
Natotela
Mbote na ntango ya mokolo
Muli shani
Mbote na ntango ya midi
Muli shani
Mbote na ntango ya soir
Muli shani
Malamu na butu
Shalenipo bwino
Tala yo nsima
Tukakutana
Kende malamu
Twalumba
Nkombo na yo nani?
Iwe ulishani?
Nkombo na ngai ezali John
Ndefwaya John
Ozalaki malamu?
Uli bwanji?
Nayoki malamu na yo
Nashitasha kukumona
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Ozali koloba lingala?
Ulyashi ulukanda mu Chingereza?(ozali koloba lingala)
Nasalaka hindi malamu te
Ndefwaya ukulanda Hindi bwino(nasalaka hindi malamu te)
Nalingi te
Ndefwaya kumfwa(nalingi te)
S'il vous plaît, koloba butu
Nimwandi ulukanda buteko(koloba butu)
Okoki koloba yango lisusu?
Ningaloleleko?(okoki koloba yango lisusu)
Bato ya nzoto ezali wapi?
Ili kuti ikalamba?(bato ya nzoto)
Nakanisi ndenge nini nakokende na centre?
Ningalileka shani ku city center?(nakokende na centre)
Tika na mobali
Fumya kumwendo(tika na mobali)
Tika na mwasi
Fumya kumwendo(tika na mwasi)
Kende na ntango
Enda pamo(kende na ntango)
Mbala nini ezali?
Kuli shani ifyabukata?(mbala nini)
Billet moko, s'il vous plaît
Ticket imwe, nomba(billet moko)
Ezali na esika ya mbali?
Kuli lishilu ukulya?(ezali na esika ya mbali)
Nazali na esika ya mabe
Ndi lost(nazali na esika ya mabe)
Nakanisi wapi nakokota SIM card?
Ili kuti nindeke SIM card?(nakokota SIM card)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Oyo
Eya
Te
Awe
Soki
Panga
Nalingi
Ndi bwino
Nalingi te
Ndi bwino na
Eza malamu
Ilyo lishibukile
Oyo olingi nini?
Uchite shani?
Okoki kosalisa ngai?
Ushakufwa?
Naza na bosenga ya kosalisa
Ndefwaya ifyakufwa
Sunga moke
Leka ifi
Nasalaki mabe
Nshakufwa
Nani azali na problème
Takwaba shani
Mokolo malamu
Nshakufwa bwino
Mokolo ya mbotama malamu
Nashala bwino mu mwaka
Zala na nzela ya malamu
Ube na mulimo wabwino
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Eko zali wapi?
Uli kuti ikalamba ya chitima?(Eko zali wapi?)
Eko zali wapi na bis?
Uli kuti icikalo ca bisi?
Eko zali na esika nini?
Ninshi ni platform iyi?
Ekozanga na ntango nini?
Ninshi ikalamba?
Oyo ezali nzela ya malamu?
Ninshi iyi ni njira shabwino?
Ezali pene awa.
Ili pamo na pano.
Ezali mbali awa.
Ili lishilu na pano.
Okoki kolakisa ngai na kati ya mape?
Ushibukishe pa mape?
Tika awa, s'il vous plaît.
Leka pano, chonde.
Ekozala ntango nini?
Kuli shani?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.