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Common Nuer to Bemba phrases

100 practical Nuer to Bemba phrases for travel, study, work, and daily conversation.

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

  1. Nhiar

    Shani

  2. Nyaak

    Natotela

  3. Nhiar gɔ̈ɔ̈r

    Muli shani

  4. Nhiar aŋɔ̈r

    Muli shani

  5. Nhiar aŋɔ̈r

    Muli shani

  6. Nhiar kɔ̈c

    Shalenipo bwino

  7. Aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n

    Tukakutana

  8. Kɛ̈n

    Twalumba

  9. Cɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n?

    Iwe ulishani?

  10. Cɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r John

    Ndefwaya John

  11. Cɛ̈l kɛ̈n?

    Uli bwanji?

  12. Kɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n

    Nashitasha kukumona

Useful phrases for travellers

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

  1. Nyaac ke nyin English?

    Ulyashi ulukanda mu Chingereza?

  2. Nyaac ma nyin Hindi ke nyin.

    Ndefwaya ukulanda Hindi bwino

  3. Nyaac ma nyin.

    Ndefwaya kumfwa

  4. Yin ke nyin kɛl.

    Nimwandi ulukanda buteko

  5. Yin ke nyin kɛl a thok?

    Ningaloleleko?

  6. Yin thok a kɛl?

    Ili kuti ikalamba?

  7. Nyaac ke nyin a city center?

    Ningalileka shani ku city center?

  8. Yin ke nyin a laar.

    Fumya kumwendo

  9. Yin ke nyin a jɛŋ.

    Fumya kumwendo

  10. Yin ke nyin a thok.

    Enda pamo

  11. Yin ke nyin a kɛl?

    Kuli shani ifyabukata?

  12. Yin ke nyin a ticket.

    Ticket imwe, nomba

  13. Yin ke nyin a thok?

    Kuli lishilu ukulya?

  14. Nyaac ke nyin.

    Ndi lost

  15. Yin thok a kɛl a SIM card?

    Ili kuti nindeke SIM card?

Everyday conversation

Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.

  1. Aye

    Eya

  2. Naa

    Awe

  3. Nyaak

    Panga

  4. Nyeek a kech

    Ndi bwino

  5. Nyeek a kech naa

    Ndi bwino na

  6. Iye kech kɛl

    Ilyo lishibukile

  7. Nyaak a kech?

    Uchite shani?

  8. Nyaak a kech a jɔɔr?

    Ushakufwa?

  9. Nyeek a jɔɔr kɛl

    Ndefwaya ifyakufwa

  10. Kɛl a jɔɔr

    Leka ifi

  11. Nyeek a kech

    Nshakufwa

  12. Naa a kech kɛl

    Takwaba shani

  13. Aye kɛl

    Nshakufwa bwino

  14. Aye kɛl a wɛr

    Nashala bwino mu mwaka

  15. Kɛl a jɔɔr a jɛɛr

    Ube na mulimo wabwino

Directions and getting around

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

  1. Känyë kɛ́l wɛ́l?

    Uli kuti ikalamba ya chitima? (Känyë kɛl wel)

  2. Känyë kɛ́l bɔ́l?

    Uli kuti icikalo ca bisi? (Känyë kɛl bol)

  3. Kɛ́l bɛ́t kɛ́t?

    Ninshi ni platform iyi? (Kel bet ket)

  4. Kɛ́l wɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́t?

    Ninshi ikalamba? (Kel wel it ket)

  5. Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l wɛ́l?

    Ninshi iyi ni njira shabwino? (Kel it kel wel)

  6. Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l kɛ́l?

    Ili pamo na pano. (Kel it kel kel)

  7. Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l jɔ́l?

    Ili lishilu na pano. (Kel it kel jol)

  8. Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l pɛ́t kɛ́t?

    Ushibukishe pa mape? (Kel it kel pet ket)

  9. Kɛ́l jɛ́l kɛ́l, pɛ́l?

    Leka pano, chonde. (Kel jel kel pel)

  10. Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l jɔ́l kɛ́t?

    Kuli shani? (Kel it kel jol ket)

Shopping and dining

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

  1. Nyaak cɛl?

    Ili shani? (Ili shani?)

  2. Kɛl yic kɛc

    Ili lya kuli (Ili lya kuli)

  3. Yin kɛl nyin cɛl?

    Muli na chimo chibulu? (Muli na chimo chibulu?)

  4. Nyaak tɛr kɛl kɛc?

    Ningakupanga na kadi? (Ningakupanga na kadi?)

  5. Nyaak cɛl kɛl tɛbɛl kɛl nyin

    Ningakonda itabo lyakupanga abali babili (Ningakonda itabo lyakupanga abali babili)

  6. Nyaak cɛl kɛl bɛl

    Icilanga, tapali (Icilanga, tapali)

  7. Yin kɛl cɛl kɛl tɛr?

    Ubufyashi bwakupanga? (Ubufyashi bwakupanga?)

  8. Nyaak cɛl wɛr

    Ndi mvegetarian (Ndi mvegetarian)

  9. Nyaak cɛl kɛl wɛr kɛc

    Nshikala na fya spicy, tapali (Nshikala na fya spicy, tapali)

  10. Kɛl cɛl kɛl nyin

    Ili lya bwino (Ili lya bwino)

  11. Nyaak cɛl kɛl mɛn?

    Ningakonda ifyalo? (Ningakonda ifyalo?)

  12. Nyaak cɛl kɛl gɛl wɛt

    Icupa ca mvula, tapali (Icupa ca mvula, tapali)

Emergencies and health

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

  1. Cïl wïr

    Tuma abashitisha (cil wir)

  2. Cïl an ambulance

    Tuma ambulance (cil an ambulance)

  3. Aŋ thïr a doctor

    Nshikala na doctor (ang thir a doctor)

  4. Aŋ kɔc

    Nshikala bwino (ang koc)

  5. Aŋ kɔc a pïyït

    Ndi na allergy ku nsalu (ang koc a piyit)

  6. Cït kɛ̈n hospital?

    Ili kuti hospital ya pafupi? (cit ken hospital)

  7. Cïk bɛ̈t

    Kuli ububi pano (cik bet)

  8. Aŋ kɛ̈n passport

    Nashitile passport yangu (ang ken passport)

  9. Aŋ kɛ̈n cïl my hotel?

    Nawe tuma hotel yangu? (ang ken cil my hotel)

  10. Kɛ̈n!

    Chikondi! (ken)

Work and business

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

  1. Nyeu ke nyin

    Nashamukeni (na-sha-mu-ke-ni)

  2. Nyeu ke jɔɔr ke nyin

    Tulefwaya ukusanga (tu-le-fwa-ya u-ku-sanga)

  3. Kɛ kɛth jɔɔr a ke?

    Ninshi ifikala bwino kwa iwe? (nin-shi i-fi-ka-la bwi-no kwa i-we)

  4. Nyeu ke kɛc report kɛ jɔɔl

    Nizakutuma ifishina lelo (ni-za-ku-tu-ma i-fi-shi-na le-lo)

  5. Nyeu ke jɔɔr kɛ bɛt?

    Twafwaya ukusambilila lero? (twa-fwa-ya u-ku-sam-bi-li-la le-ro)

  6. Nyeu kɛ jɔɔr file kɛ kɛth

    Nomba fwebo file iliko (nom-ba fwe-bo fi-le i-li-ko)

  7. Nyeu kɛ jɔɔr a ke kɛth

    Natotela pa nshita (na-to-te-la pa nshi-ta)

  8. Nyeu ke jɔɔr kɛ bɛt a ke

    Nifwaya ukushanda na iwe (ni-fwa-ya u-ku-shan-da na i-we)

  9. A ke jɔɔr kɛ kɛth a?

    Wakosa ukufumya icikomo? (wa-ko-sa u-ku-fum-ya i-ci-ko-mo)

  10. Nyeu ke jɔɔr kɛ a ke

    Nizakukumbusha (ni-za-ku-kum-bu-sha)

  11. Kɛ deadline kɛ Friday

    Ishina lyakupela ni Lwapula (i-shi-na lya-ku-pe-la ni Lwa-pu-la)

Time, days and numbers

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

  1. Nii rɛ̈ŋa?

    Ninshi ilya shani? (Ninshi ilya shani?)

  2. Nii kɛ̈l lɔk thɛ̈n.

    Kuli nomba itatu. (Kuli nomba itatu.)

  3. Nii rɛ̈ŋa

    Lelo. (Lelo.)

  4. Nii rɛ̈ŋa kɛ̈l

    Mwaume. (Mwaume.)

  5. Nii rɛ̈ŋa kɛ̈l lɔk

    Kale. (Kale.)

  6. Dɛ̈n tɛ̈n

    Lwandi. (Lwandi.)

  7. Dɛ̈n kɛ̈l

    Lwakabamba. (Lwakabamba.)

  8. Dɛ̈n lɔk

    Lwapili. (Lwapili.)

  9. Kɛ̈l

    Imwe. (Imwe.)

  10. Lɔk

    Ibili. (Ibili.)

  11. Thɛ̈n

    Itatu. (Itatu.)

  12. Jɛ̈n

    Icumi. (Icumi.)

  13. Kɛ̈l jɛ̈n

    Cikumi. (Cikumi.)

  14. Nɛ̈ŋ

    Pafya. (Pafya.)

  15. Kɛ̈l lɔk

    Ilyo. (Ilyo.)

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