Looking for practical Luo to Bambara phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Luo 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: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Bambara-speaking trip in a few weeks.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Luo 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.
Naki
I ni ce(Naki)
Asante
I ni sogoma(Asante)
Naki chuo
I ni bɔ(Naki chuo)
Naki ng'ato
I ni kɛ(Naki ng'ato)
Naki owadgi
I ni sɔgɔ(Naki owadgi)
Naki buya
I ni tulu(Naki buya)
Ting' kendo
N bɛ se ka(Ting' kendo)
Naki
A bɛ se ka(Naki)
Ine ng'ama in?
Nɛnɛ kɛ i tɛ?(Ine ng'ama in?)
Inyalo John
N bɛ tɔgɔ John(Inyalo John)
Okwere?
I ni fɛ?(Okwere?)
Naki konyo
N bɛ se ka i fɛ(Naki konyo)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Naki konyo English?
I ni ce English?(ee nee che English)
Naki konyo Hindi mako.
N mɔgɔ bɛ Hindi kɛ(N mo-go beh Hindi keh)
Nyingi.
N mɔgɔ bɛ(N mo-go beh)
Tende konyo chalo.
Sɛbɛn, kɛlɛ kɛ(Sebene, keh-leh keh)
Naki konyo to?
I ka fɔ a la?(Ee kah fo ah lah)
Ith gi toilet?
Bamanakan kɛn na?(Bah-mah-nah-kahn keh nah)
Ning'eyo konyo city center?
N bɛ fɔ kɔrɔbɔ?(N beh fo koh-roh-boh)
Konyo chike.
Kɛlɛn bɔ(Keh-lehn boh)
Konyo duto.
Kɛlɛn bɔ kɔrɔ(Keh-lehn boh koh-roh)
Yie chalo.
Fɔ kɛlɛn(Fo keh-lehn)
Ning'eyo koro?
Fɛ kɛ?(Feh keh)
Ticket moko, ndalo.
Kɛnɛ ticket, please(Ken-eh ticket, please)
Nia ng'ato kendo?
I kɛ fɔ kɛnɛ?(Ee keh fo keh-neh)
Nin gi chalo.
N tɛ bɔ(N teh boh)
Ith gi 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.
Ee
Aye
Ayi
Ala
Kaka
Bara
Akwong'
N bɛ bɔ
Ayi Akwong'
N bɛ fɔ
Ong'eyo
I bɛ sɛbɛn
Ine owuon?
I ka fɛ kɛ?
Naki gi chalo?
I bɛ ma n bɔ?
Nind gi chalo
N bɛ fɔ n bɔ
Chakre
Sira kɛ
Naki
N tɛgɛ
Ayi koro
Ala ka fɔ
Naki chalo
I ni kɛ
Naki buo
I ni tɔgɔ kɛ
Naki chalo gi chalo
I bɛ tɔgɔ kɛ
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Naki yieng' ma train?
Fôlô kôkô tîgê?
Naki yieng' ma bus?
Fôlô bôgô tîgê?
Naki platform ng'eyo?
I ni tîgê kô?
Naki koro ng'ato?
Kô tîgê bô?
Ning'eyo ni ng'ato?
I ni tîgê bô?
Niko neno.
I tîgê kâ.
Niko piny.
I tîgê kâ fô.
Okwong' ni on map?
I bô kô tîgê fô?
Dhi here, please.
Tîgê kâ, s'il vous plaît.
Naki koro ng'ato?
Kô tîgê kô?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Nia ni?
I ni ce?
Owino ni gi chalo.
O ye fɛɛrɛ.
I konyo kanyo?
I ni ka fɛɛrɛ?
Inyalo nind gi kad?
N bɛ tɔgɔ ka kɛ?
Nin gi chula mar duong'.
N bɛ fɔlɔ kɛlɛ kɔrɔ.
Chakruok, plis.
Kɔrɔbaw, s'il vous plaît.
Isango ni gi?
Sɛbɛ ka fo?
Nin gi vegeterian.
N bɛ sɔgɔma.
Naki chalo chalo, plis.
Kɔrɔ fɛɛrɛ, s'il vous plaît.
Owino ni gi dho.
I ye sɔgɔ.
Inyalo nind gi menu?
N bɛ fɔlɔ kɔrɔbaw?
Gik konyo mar maji, plis.
N bɛ fɔlɔ jɔrɔ.
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Nedhi polisi
Nɔgɔ fɔlɔ(nogo folo)
Nedhi ambulance
Nɔgɔ kɔrɔ(nogo koro)
Aneedo daktari
N bɛ sɔrɔ(n be soro)
Akwong' gi chalo
N bɛ tɛgɛn(n be tegen)
An gi allergy kuom peanuts
N bɛ fɔlɔ kɛlɛ(n be folokele)
Naki hospital mar koro?
N bɛ kɔrɔ fɔlɔ?(n be koro folo)
Okwong' mana
I tɛgɛ fɛ(i tege fe)
Nying' my passport
N bɛ kɛlɛ fɔlɔ(n be kele folo)
Inyalo nedhi hotel ang'wen?
I bɛ nɔgɔ kɔrɔ fɔlɔ?(i be nogo koro folo)
Konyo!
Tɛgɛ!(tege)
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Naki konyo
N bɛ se ka kɛnɛ(N bɛ se ka kɛnɛ)
Nying' konyo joma
Ala ka yɛlɛ kɛnɛ(Ala ka yɛlɛ kɛnɛ)
Naki konyo nigi?
I ni bɔ a la?(I ni bɔ a la?)
Ng'ato nind gi report nyaka
N bɛ fɔ report la tɛgɛ(N bɛ fɔ report la tɛgɛ)
Ning'eyo konyo nyaka?
N bɛ fɔ tɛgɛ?(N bɛ fɔ tɛgɛ?)
Chieng' ni file ni
Sɔgɔma, fɔ file la a bɛ(Sɔgɔma, fɔ file la a bɛ)
Asante gi chako
I ni ce, a bɛ sɔrɔ(I ni ce, a bɛ sɔrɔ)
Nying' konyo gi nyaka
N bɛ fɔ a la ka yɛlɛ(N bɛ fɔ a la ka yɛlɛ)
Ning'eyo konyo ni?
I bɛ fɔ a la fɛ?(I bɛ fɔ a la fɛ?)
Ning'eyo konyo nind gi
N bɛ fɔ a la kɛ(N bɛ fɔ a la kɛ)
Dede ni 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.