Looking for practical Malagasy to Bambara phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Malagasy 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 Malagasy 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 Malagasy 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.
Salama
I ni ce
Misaotra
I ni sogoma
Salama maraina
I ni bɔ
Salama tolakandro
I ni kɛ
Salama hariva
I ni sɔgɔ
Alina tsara
I ni tulu
Hizara indray
N bɛ se ka
Veloma
A bɛ se ka
Inona no anaranao?
Nɛnɛ kɛ i tɛ?
Ny anarako dia John
N bɛ tɔgɔ John
Inona ny vaovao?
I ni fɛ?
Faly mihaona aminao
N bɛ se ka i fɛ
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Miteny anglisy ve ianao?
I ni ce English?(ee nee che English)
Tsy mahay tsara Hindi aho
N mɔgɔ bɛ Hindi kɛ(N mo-go beh Hindi keh)
Tsy azoko
N mɔgɔ bɛ(N mo-go beh)
Azafady, miteny moramora
Sɛbɛn, kɛlɛ kɛ(Sebene, keh-leh keh)
Azonao averina ve izany?
I ka fɔ a la?(Ee kah fo ah lah)
Aiza ny trano fidiovana?
Bamanakan kɛn na?(Bah-mah-nah-kahn keh nah)
Ahoana no ahatongavako any amin'ny foibe?
N bɛ fɔ kɔrɔbɔ?(N beh fo koh-roh-boh)
Mivadika ankavia
Kɛlɛn bɔ(Keh-lehn boh)
Mivadika ankavanana
Kɛlɛn bɔ kɔrɔ(Keh-lehn boh koh-roh)
Mandehana mivantana
Fɔ kɛlɛn(Fo keh-lehn)
Ohatrinona ny saran-dalana?
Fɛ kɛ?(Feh keh)
Tapakila iray, azafady
Kɛnɛ ticket, please(Ken-eh ticket, please)
Lavitra ve izany avy eto?
I kɛ fɔ kɛnɛ?(Ee keh fo keh-neh)
Very very
N tɛ bɔ(N teh boh)
Aiza no ahafahako mividy 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.
Eny
Aye
Tsia
Ala
Angamba
Bara
Manaiky aho
N bɛ bɔ
Tsy manaiky aho
N bɛ fɔ
Tsara izany
I bɛ sɛbɛn
Inona ny hevitrao?
I ka fɛ kɛ?
Afaka manampy ahy ve ianao?
I bɛ ma n bɔ?
Mila fanampiana aho
N bɛ fɔ n bɔ
Miandrasa kely
Sira kɛ
Miala tsiny aho
N tɛgɛ
Tsy olana
Ala ka fɔ
Arahabaina
I ni kɛ
Tratry ny tsingerintaona nahaterahana
I ni tɔgɔ kɛ
Mandehana soa aman-tsara
I bɛ tɔgɔ kɛ
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Aiza ny gara?
Fôlô kôkô tîgê?
Aiza ny fiantsonan'ny bus?
Fôlô bôgô tîgê?
Iza ny sehatra?
I ni tîgê kô?
Amin'ny firy no miala izy?
Kô tîgê bô?
Ity ve ny làlana marina?
I ni tîgê bô?
Eto akaiky izy.
I tîgê kâ.
Lavitra eto izy.
I tîgê kâ fô.
Afaka mampiseho ahy ve ianao amin'ny sarintany?
I bô kô tîgê fô?
Mijanona eto, azafady.
Tîgê kâ, s'il vous plaît.
Mandra-pahoviana no maharitra?
Kô tîgê kô?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Ohatrinona ity?
I ni ce?(ohatrinona ity)
Maharitra be loatra izany
O ye fɛɛrɛ.(maharitra be loatra izany)
Manana zavatra mora ve ianao?
I ni ka fɛɛrɛ?(manana zavatra mora ve ianao)
Afaka mandoa amin'ny karatra ve aho?
N bɛ tɔgɔ ka kɛ?(afaka mandoa amin'ny karatra ve aho)
Te-hanana latabatra ho an'ny roa aho
N bɛ fɔlɔ kɛlɛ kɔrɔ.(te-hanana latabatra ho an'ny roa aho)