Looking for practical Rundi to Bambara phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Rundi 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 Rundi 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.
Naki
I ni ce(na-kee)
Urakoze
I ni sogoma(oo-rah-koh-zeh)
Mwaramutse
I ni bɔ(mwa-rah-moot-seh)
Mwiriwe
I ni kɛ(mwee-ree-weh)
Mwiriwe
I ni sɔgɔ(mwee-ree-weh)
Ijoro ryiza
I ni tulu(ee-jo-roh ree-zah)
Nzakubona
N bɛ se ka(nza-koo-boh-nah)
Nuhagurane
A bɛ se ka(nuh-ha-goo-rah-neh)
Icyo witwa n'iki?
Nɛnɛ kɛ i tɛ?(ee-cho wee-twah n'ee-kee)
Nitwa John
N bɛ tɔgɔ John(nee-twah John)
Umeze gute?
I ni fɛ?(oo-meh-zeh goo-teh)
Nishimiye kukumenya
N bɛ se ka i fɛ(nee-shee-mee-yeh koo-koo-meh-nya)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Uravuga Icyongereza?
I ni ce English?(ee nee che English)
Sinavuga Hindi neza.
N mɔgɔ bɛ Hindi kɛ(N mo-go beh Hindi keh)
Sinumva.
N mɔgɔ bɛ(N mo-go beh)
Ndagusaba uvuge buhoro.
Sɛbɛn, kɛlɛ kɛ(Sebene, keh-leh keh)
Woshobora kubivuga ukundi?
I ka fɔ a la?(Ee kah fo ah lah)
Ihantu h'ubwiherero ni hehe?
Bamanakan kɛn na?(Bah-mah-nah-kahn keh nah)
Nkoze nte ngo ngerere mu mugi?
N bɛ fɔ kɔrɔbɔ?(N beh fo koh-roh-boh)
Hindukira ibumoso.
Kɛlɛn bɔ(Keh-lehn boh)
Hindukira iburyo.
Kɛlɛn bɔ kɔrɔ(Keh-lehn boh koh-roh)
Genda imbere.
Fɔ kɛlɛn(Fo keh-lehn)
Igiciro ni igiki?
Fɛ kɛ?(Feh keh)
Tike imwe, ndakwinginze.
Kɛnɛ ticket, please(Ken-eh ticket, please)
Birakomeye kuva hano?
I kɛ fɔ kɛnɛ?(Ee keh fo keh-neh)
Ndi mu kaga.
N tɛ bɔ(N teh boh)
Nshobora kugura ikarita ya SIM hehe?
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.
Yego
Aye
Oya
Ala
Birashoboka
Bara
Ndemera
N bɛ bɔ
Ntidemera
N bɛ fɔ
Ivyo birashimishije
I bɛ sɛbɛn
Utekereza iki?
I ka fɛ kɛ?
Urashobora kumfasha?
I bɛ ma n bɔ?
Nkeneye gufasha
N bɛ fɔ n bɔ
Teza akanya
Sira kɛ
Ndi umwiyahuzi
N tɛgɛ
Nta kibazo
Ala ka fɔ
Ishimwe
I ni kɛ
Isabukuru nziza
I ni tɔgɔ kɛ
Urugendo rwiza
I bɛ tɔgɔ kɛ
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Aho hantu y'igari?
Fôlô kôkô tîgê?(Aho hantu y'igari?)
Aho hantu y'ibisohoka?
Fôlô bôgô tîgê?(Aho hantu y'ibisohoka?)
Ihagararo ni irihe?
I ni tîgê kô?(Ihagararo ni irihe?)
Igihe ni igiki gishika?
Kô tîgê bô?(Igihe ni igiki gishika?)
Ubu ni bwo buryo?
I ni tîgê bô?(Ubu ni bwo buryo?)
Birahari hafi
I tîgê kâ.(Birahari hafi)
Birahari kure
I tîgê kâ fô.(Birahari kure)
Urashobora kumfasha ku ikarita?
I bô kô tîgê fô?(Urashobora kumfasha ku ikarita?)
Hagarara hano, nyabuna
Tîgê kâ, s'il vous plaît.(Hagarara hano, nyabuna)
Bifata igihe kingana iki?
Kô tîgê kô?(Bifata igihe kingana iki?)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Iyi irahenda angahe?
I ni ce?
Iyo irahenda cane
O ye fɛɛrɛ.
Ufise ikintu ciza cane?
I ni ka fɛɛrɛ?
Noshobora kwishyura n'ikarita?
N bɛ tɔgɔ ka kɛ?
Nkeneye ameza y'abantu babiri
N bɛ fɔlɔ kɛlɛ kɔrɔ.
Ibarura, ndakwinginze
Kɔrɔbaw, s'il vous plaît.
Serivisi irarimwo?
Sɛbɛ ka fo?
Ndi umworozi w'ibihingwa
N bɛ sɔgɔma.
Ntimukore ibiryo biryoshye, ndakwinginze
Kɔrɔ fɛɛrɛ, s'il vous plaît.
Iyi iraryoshye
I ye sɔgɔ.
Noshobora kubona urutonde rw'ibiryo?
N bɛ fɔlɔ kɔrɔbaw?
Igikombe c'amazi, ndakwinginze
N bɛ fɔlɔ jɔrɔ.
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Terefona polisi
Nɔgɔ fɔlɔ(nogo folo)
Terefona ambulance
Nɔgɔ kɔrɔ(nogo koro)
Ndakeneye umuganga
N bɛ sɔrɔ(n be soro)
Ndumva ndarwaye
N bɛ tɛgɛn(n be tegen)
Ndi umunyabwoba ku mbuto z'ibihaza
N bɛ fɔlɔ kɛlɛ(n be folokele)
Ihoteri yegereye iri hehe?
N bɛ kɔrɔ fɔlɔ?(n be koro folo)
Birandya hano
I tɛgɛ fɛ(i tege fe)
Nabuze pasiporo yanje
N bɛ kɛlɛ fɔlɔ(n be kele folo)
Woshobora guterefona ihoteli yanje?
I bɛ nɔgɔ kɔrɔ fɔlɔ?(i be nogo koro folo)
Mfasha!
Tɛgɛ!(tege)
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Nishimiye kukumenya
N bɛ se ka kɛnɛ(N bɛ se ka kɛnɛ)
Tugire inama
Ala ka yɛlɛ kɛnɛ(Ala ka yɛlɛ kɛnɛ)
Igihe kiwukora?
I ni bɔ a la?(I ni bɔ a la?)
Nzohereza raporo uyu munsi
N bɛ fɔ report la tɛgɛ(N bɛ fɔ report la tɛgɛ)
Dushobora kuganira ejo?
N bɛ fɔ tɛgɛ?(N bɛ fɔ tɛgɛ?)
Nyabuna, reba dosiye iri hamwe
Sɔgɔma, fɔ file la a bɛ(Sɔgɔma, fɔ file la a bɛ)
Urakoze ku mwanya wawe
I ni ce, a bɛ sɔrɔ(I ni ce, a bɛ sɔrɔ)
Ntegereje gukorana nawe
N bɛ fɔ a la ka yɛlɛ(N bɛ fɔ a la ka yɛlɛ)
Woshobora gusobanura ico?
I bɛ fɔ a la fɛ?(I bɛ fɔ a la fɛ?)
Ndemeye kubandanya
N bɛ fɔ a la kɛ(N bɛ fɔ a la kɛ)
Igihe ntarengwa ni ku wa gatanu
Dɔgɔni tɛgɛ Friday(Dɔgɔni tɛgɛ Friday)
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.