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Common Mam to Bambara phrases

100 practical Mam to Bambara phrases for travel, study, work, and daily conversation.

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Looking for practical Mam to Bambara phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Mam 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 Mam 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.

  1. Xo'j

    I ni ce (sho'j)

  2. Tz'ik

    I ni sogoma (tz'ik)

  3. Xo'j nax

    I ni bɔ (sho'j nax)

  4. Xo'j q'ij

    I ni kɛ (sho'j q'ij)

  5. Xo'j k'ux

    I ni sɔgɔ (sho'j k'ux)

  6. Xo'j k'ux nax

    I ni tulu (sho'j k'ux nax)

  7. K'ux q'ij

    N bɛ se ka (k'ux q'ij)

  8. Xo'j k'ux

    A bɛ se ka (sho'j k'ux)

  9. Ja' k'ux nax?

    Nɛnɛ kɛ i tɛ? (ha' k'ux nax?)

  10. Ja' k'ux nax John

    N bɛ tɔgɔ John (ha' k'ux nax John)

  11. Jach' k'ux?

    I ni fɛ? (hach' k'ux?)

  12. Nab' k'ux

    N bɛ se ka i fɛ (nab' k'ux)

Useful phrases for travellers

Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.

  1. ¿K'ax k'utun English?

    I ni ce English? (ee nee che English)

  2. Nek'ux k'utun Hindi k'ax k'utun.

    N mɔgɔ bɛ Hindi kɛ (N mo-go beh Hindi keh)

  3. Nek'ux k'ax k'utun.

    N mɔgɔ bɛ (N mo-go beh)

  4. Por favor, k'utun k'ux.

    Sɛbɛn, kɛlɛ kɛ (Sebene, keh-leh keh)

  5. ¿K'ax k'utun k'ux?

    I ka fɔ a la? (Ee kah fo ah lah)

  6. ¿Jach'och k'ux?

    Bamanakan kɛn na? (Bah-mah-nah-kahn keh nah)

  7. ¿Jach'och k'ux ch'ich'?

    N bɛ fɔ kɔrɔbɔ? (N beh fo koh-roh-boh)

  8. K'utun k'ux.

    Kɛlɛn bɔ (Keh-lehn boh)

  9. K'utun k'ux.

    Kɛlɛn bɔ kɔrɔ (Keh-lehn boh koh-roh)

  10. K'utun k'ux.

    Fɔ kɛlɛn (Fo keh-lehn)

  11. ¿K'ax k'ux ch'ich'?

    Fɛ kɛ? (Feh keh)

  12. K'utun ch'ich', por favor.

    Kɛnɛ ticket, please (Ken-eh ticket, please)

  13. ¿K'ax k'ux jach'och?

    I kɛ fɔ kɛnɛ? (Ee keh fo keh-neh)

  14. Nek'ux k'ax k'ux.

    N tɛ bɔ (N teh boh)

  15. ¿Jach'och k'ux k'utun SIM?

    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.

  1. Juj

    Aye (hoo)

  2. Man

    Ala (mah)

  3. K'ux

    Bara (k'ush)

  4. Juj k'ux

    N bɛ bɔ (hoo k'ush)

  5. Man k'ux

    N bɛ fɔ (mah k'ush)

  6. K'ux juj

    I bɛ sɛbɛn (k'ush hoo)

  7. ¿Juj k'ux k'ut?

    I ka fɛ kɛ? (¿hoo k'ush k'ut?)

  8. ¿Juj k'ux juj k'ux?

    I bɛ ma n bɔ? (¿hoo k'ush hoo k'ush?)

  9. Juj k'ux juj k'ux k'ut

    N bɛ fɔ n bɔ (hoo k'ush hoo k'ut)

  10. K'ux k'ut

    Sira kɛ (k'ush k'ut)

  11. Juj k'ux k'ut

    N tɛgɛ (hoo k'ush k'ut)

  12. Man k'ux k'ut

    Ala ka fɔ (mah k'ush k'ut)

  13. K'ux juj k'ut

    I ni kɛ (k'ush hoo k'ut)

  14. K'ux juj k'ut k'ux

    I ni tɔgɔ kɛ (k'ush hoo k'ut k'ush)

  15. K'ux juj k'ut k'ux

    I bɛ tɔgɔ kɛ (k'ush hoo k'ut k'ush)

Directions and getting around

Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.

  1. ¿Jujuk pa ri tren?

    Fôlô kôkô tîgê?

  2. ¿Jujuk pa ri bus?

    Fôlô bôgô tîgê?

  3. ¿K'ux ri plataforma?

    I ni tîgê kô?

  4. ¿K'ux ri tiempo pa k'ux?

    Kô tîgê bô?

  5. ¿¿K'ux ri camino?

    I ni tîgê bô?

  6. Ri k'ut pa ri.

    I tîgê kâ.

  7. Ri k'ut pa ri k'ul.

    I tîgê kâ fô.

  8. ¿¿K'ux k'ut ri mapa?

    I bô kô tîgê fô?

  9. ¿¿K'ut pa ri, por favor?

    Tîgê kâ, s'il vous plaît.

  10. ¿¿K'ux ri tiempo?

    Kô tîgê kô?

Shopping and dining

Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.

  1. K'ux k'ulub' ri'?

    I ni ce? (K'ux k'ulub' ri'?)

  2. K'ux ri' k'ulub'?

    O ye fɛɛrɛ. (K'ux ri' k'ulub'?)

  3. ¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax?

    I ni ka fɛɛrɛ? (¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax?)

  4. ¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax k'oj?

    N bɛ tɔgɔ ka kɛ? (¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax k'oj?)

  5. In k'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax k'oj?

    N bɛ fɔlɔ kɛlɛ kɔrɔ. (In k'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax k'oj?)

  6. Ri' k'ulub', por favor

    Kɔrɔbaw, s'il vous plaît. (Ri' k'ulub', por favor)

  7. ¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax?

    Sɛbɛ ka fo? (¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax?)

  8. In k'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax

    N bɛ sɔgɔma. (In k'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax)

  9. ¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax?

    Kɔrɔ fɛɛrɛ, s'il vous plaît. (¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax?)

  10. K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax

    I ye sɔgɔ. (K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax)

  11. ¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax?

    N bɛ fɔlɔ kɔrɔbaw? (¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax?)

  12. ¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax?

    N bɛ fɔlɔ jɔrɔ. (¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax?)

Emergencies and health

Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.

  1. K'uxik la policía

    Nɔgɔ fɔlɔ (nogo folo)

  2. K'uxik un ambulancia

    Nɔgɔ kɔrɔ (nogo koro)

  3. Nek' a doctor

    N bɛ sɔrɔ (n be soro)

  4. K'utun k'ax

    N bɛ tɛgɛn (n be tegen)

  5. Nek' a k'uxi' ch'ich'

    N bɛ fɔlɔ kɛlɛ (n be folokele)

  6. Jach' k'uxik la hospital?

    N bɛ kɔrɔ fɔlɔ? (n be koro folo)

  7. K'utun k'uxi' aquí

    I tɛgɛ fɛ (i tege fe)

  8. Nek' a k'uxik mi pasaporte

    N bɛ kɛlɛ fɔlɔ (n be kele folo)

  9. ¿K'uxik a k'uxik mi hotel?

    I bɛ nɔgɔ kɔrɔ fɔlɔ? (i be nogo koro folo)

  10. ¡Ayuda!

    Tɛgɛ! (tege)

Work and business

Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.

  1. Chik'oj ch'ab'ej

    N bɛ se ka kɛnɛ (N bɛ se ka kɛnɛ)

  2. K'axik ch'awik ri k'ulb'al

    Ala ka yɛlɛ kɛnɛ (Ala ka yɛlɛ kɛnɛ)

  3. K'ut ri k'utal k'axik?

    I ni bɔ a la? (I ni bɔ a la?)

  4. In k'axik ri k'ik'oj ch'ich'

    N bɛ fɔ report la tɛgɛ (N bɛ fɔ report la tɛgɛ)

  5. K'axik ch'awik ri k'ik'oj k'ay?

    N bɛ fɔ tɛgɛ? (N bɛ fɔ tɛgɛ?)

  6. Ch'awik ri k'ulb'al k'axik

    Sɔgɔma, fɔ file la a bɛ (Sɔgɔma, fɔ file la a bɛ)

  7. Tz'ib'ej ri k'utal

    I ni ce, a bɛ sɔrɔ (I ni ce, a bɛ sɔrɔ)

  8. In k'axik ri k'ulb'al k'axik

    N bɛ fɔ a la ka yɛlɛ (N bɛ fɔ a la ka yɛlɛ)

  9. K'axik ch'awik ri k'utal?

    I bɛ fɔ a la fɛ? (I bɛ fɔ a la fɛ?)

  10. K'axik in k'axik ch'awik

    N bɛ fɔ a la kɛ (N bɛ fɔ a la kɛ)

  11. Ri k'utal k'axik k'ay

    Dɔgɔni tɛgɛ Friday (Dɔgɔni tɛgɛ Friday)

Time, days and numbers

Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.

  1. ¿K'ux ri'?

    Ala ka kɛnɛ? (Ala ka kene)

  2. K'ux ri' k'i'ik'

    I ye kelen kelen. (I ye kelen kelen)

  3. Rij

    N bɔ (N bo)

  4. Rij k'i'ik'

    N bɔ kɛ (N bo ke)

  5. Rij k'ux

    N bɔ fɛ (N bo fe)

  6. Rij k'ux k'ay

    Tɔgɔ (Togo)

  7. Rij k'ux k'ay k'i'

    Tɛgɛ (Tege)

  8. Rij k'ux k'ay k'ax

    Alakɔ (Alako)

  9. Jun

    Kelen (Kelen)

  10. K'ij

    Duo (Duo)

  11. K'i'ik'

    Tati (Tati)

  12. Waq

    Folo (Folo)

  13. Jun b'ix

    Dugukelen (Dugukelen)

  14. K'ux ri' k'ay

    Kelen fɛ (Kelen fe)

  15. K'ux

    Kɛ (Ke)

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