Looking for practical Malagasy to Bemba phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Malagasy 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: when a Bemba phrase looks unfamiliar, compare it with the Malagasy wording — noticing word order differences helps you understand grammar naturally.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Malagasy 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.
Salama
Shani
Misaotra
Natotela
Salama maraina
Muli shani
Salama tolakandro
Muli shani
Salama hariva
Muli shani
Alina tsara
Shalenipo bwino
Hizara indray
Tukakutana
Veloma
Twalumba
Inona no anaranao?
Iwe ulishani?
Ny anarako dia John
Ndefwaya John
Inona ny vaovao?
Uli bwanji?
Faly mihaona aminao
Nashitasha kukumona
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Miteny anglisy ve ianao?
Ulyashi ulukanda mu Chingereza?(Miteny anglisy ve ianao?)
Tsy mahay tsara Hindi aho
Ndefwaya ukulanda Hindi bwino(Tsy mahay tsara Hindi aho)
Tsy azoko
Ndefwaya kumfwa(Tsy azoko)
Azafady, miteny moramora
Nimwandi ulukanda buteko
Azonao averina ve izany?
Ningaloleleko?
Aiza ny trano fidiovana?
Ili kuti ikalamba?
Ahoana no ahatongavako any amin'ny foibe?
Ningalileka shani ku city center?
Mivadika ankavia
Fumya kumwendo
Mivadika ankavanana
Fumya kumwendo
Mandehana mivantana
Enda pamo
Ohatrinona ny saran-dalana?
Kuli shani ifyabukata?
Tapakila iray, azafady
Ticket imwe, nomba
Lavitra ve izany avy eto?
Kuli lishilu ukulya?
Very very
Ndi lost
Aiza no ahafahako mividy SIM card?
Ili kuti nindeke SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Eny
Eya
Tsia
Awe
Angamba
Panga
Manaiky aho
Ndi bwino
Tsy manaiky aho
Ndi bwino na
Tsara izany
Ilyo lishibukile
Inona ny hevitrao?
Uchite shani?
Afaka manampy ahy ve ianao?
Ushakufwa?
Mila fanampiana aho
Ndefwaya ifyakufwa
Miandrasa kely
Leka ifi
Miala tsiny aho
Nshakufwa
Tsy olana
Takwaba shani
Arahabaina
Nshakufwa bwino
Tratry ny tsingerintaona nahaterahana
Nashala bwino mu mwaka
Mandehana soa aman-tsara
Ube na mulimo wabwino
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Aiza ny gara?
Uli kuti ikalamba ya chitima?
Aiza ny fiantsonan'ny bus?
Uli kuti icikalo ca bisi?
Iza ny sehatra?
Ninshi ni platform iyi?
Amin'ny firy no miala izy?
Ninshi ikalamba?
Ity ve ny làlana marina?
Ninshi iyi ni njira shabwino?
Eto akaiky izy.
Ili pamo na pano.
Lavitra eto izy.
Ili lishilu na pano.
Afaka mampiseho ahy ve ianao amin'ny sarintany?
Ushibukishe pa mape?
Mijanona eto, azafady.
Leka pano, chonde.
Mandra-pahoviana no maharitra?
Kuli shani?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.