Looking for practical Marshallese to Bemba phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Marshallese 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 Marshallese 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.
Yokwe
Shani(yoh-kweh)
Komol tata
Natotela(koh-mol tah-tah)
Yokwe in the morning
Muli shani(yoh-kweh in the morning)
Yokwe in the afternoon
Muli shani(yoh-kweh in the afternoon)
Yokwe in the evening
Muli shani(yoh-kweh in the evening)
Yokwe in the night
Shalenipo bwino(yoh-kweh in the night)
Aolep in
Tukakutana(ah-oh-lep in)
Aolep
Twalumba(ah-oh-lep)
Ejjab in name?
Iwe ulishani?(eh-jahb in name)
Ejjab in John
Ndefwaya John(eh-jahb in John)
Iakwe?
Uli bwanji?(ee-ah-kweh)
Ejjab in an
Nashitasha kukumona(eh-jahb in an)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Ijo im jab in English?
Ulyashi ulukanda mu Chingereza?(Ijo im jab in English?)
Ej jab in Hindi bwe enaj
Ndefwaya ukulanda Hindi bwino(Ej jab in Hindi bwe enaj)
Ej jab in jorren
Ndefwaya kumfwa(Ej jab in jorren)
Jab in jorren bwe enaj
Nimwandi ulukanda buteko(Jab in jorren bwe enaj)
Ejjab in jorren an?
Ningaloleleko?(Ejjab in jorren an?)
Ejjab in wōt ian?
Ili kuti ikalamba?(Ejjab in wōt ian?)
Ejjab in jorren eok wōt?
Ningalileka shani ku city center?(Ejjab in jorren eok wōt?)
Jab in jorren jān
Fumya kumwendo(Jab in jorren jān)
Jab in jorren jān
Fumya kumwendo(Jab in jorren jān)
Jab in jorren wōt
Enda pamo(Jab in jorren wōt)
Ejjab in jorren eok?
Kuli shani ifyabukata?(Ejjab in jorren eok?)
Jab in ticket, please
Ticket imwe, nomba(Jab in ticket, please)
Ejjab in jorren eok?
Kuli lishilu ukulya?(Ejjab in jorren eok?)
Ej jab in jorren
Ndi lost(Ej jab in jorren)
Ejjab in wōt in SIM card?
Ili kuti nindeke SIM card?(Ejjab in wōt in SIM card?)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ejjab
Eya
Aolep
Awe
Ejjab im aolep
Panga
Ejjab im an
Ndi bwino
Aolep im an
Ndi bwino na
Ejjab in aolep
Ilyo lishibukile
Nin in ke ejjake?
Uchite shani?
Ien ke eja in?
Ushakufwa?
Enaaj ejjake
Ndefwaya ifyakufwa
Jab in
Leka ifi
Ejjab in jorren
Nshakufwa
Aolep in jorren
Takwaba shani
Bwij in jorren
Nshakufwa bwino
Yokwe in jorren
Nashala bwino mu mwaka
Jab in ad jorren
Ube na mulimo wabwino
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Enaaj im jab in train?
Uli kuti ikalamba ya chitima?(enaaj im jab in train)
Enaaj im jab in bus?
Uli kuti icikalo ca bisi?(enaaj im jab in bus)
Iakwe im jab in platform?
Ninshi ni platform iyi?(iakwe im jab in platform)
Nin in kijen?
Ninshi ikalamba?(nin in kijen)
Enaaj in jiban?
Ninshi iyi ni njira shabwino?(enaaj in jiban)
Enaaj jikin in?
Ili pamo na pano.(enaaj jikin in)
Enaaj jikin in jikin?
Ili lishilu na pano.(enaaj jikin in jikin)
Enaaj im jab in map?
Ushibukishe pa mape?(enaaj im jab in map)
Jab in jikin, please
Leka pano, chonde.(jab in jikin, please)
Enaaj im jab in jikin?
Kuli shani?(enaaj im jab in jikin)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.