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Common Rundi to Bemba phrases

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

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

    Shani (na-kee)

  2. Urakoze

    Natotela (oo-rah-koh-zeh)

  3. Mwaramutse

    Muli shani (mwa-rah-moot-seh)

  4. Mwiriwe

    Muli shani (mwee-ree-weh)

  5. Mwiriwe

    Muli shani (mwee-ree-weh)

  6. Ijoro ryiza

    Shalenipo bwino (ee-jo-roh ree-zah)

  7. Nzakubona

    Tukakutana (nza-koo-boh-nah)

  8. Nuhagurane

    Twalumba (nuh-ha-goo-rah-neh)

  9. Icyo witwa n'iki?

    Iwe ulishani? (ee-cho wee-twah n'ee-kee)

  10. Nitwa John

    Ndefwaya John (nee-twah John)

  11. Umeze gute?

    Uli bwanji? (oo-meh-zeh goo-teh)

  12. Nishimiye kukumenya

    Nashitasha kukumona (nee-shee-mee-yeh koo-koo-meh-nya)

Useful phrases for travellers

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

  1. Uravuga Icyongereza?

    Ulyashi ulukanda mu Chingereza?

  2. Sinavuga Hindi neza.

    Ndefwaya ukulanda Hindi bwino

  3. Sinumva.

    Ndefwaya kumfwa

  4. Ndagusaba uvuge buhoro.

    Nimwandi ulukanda buteko

  5. Woshobora kubivuga ukundi?

    Ningaloleleko?

  6. Ihantu h'ubwiherero ni hehe?

    Ili kuti ikalamba?

  7. Nkoze nte ngo ngerere mu mugi?

    Ningalileka shani ku city center?

  8. Hindukira ibumoso.

    Fumya kumwendo

  9. Hindukira iburyo.

    Fumya kumwendo

  10. Genda imbere.

    Enda pamo

  11. Igiciro ni igiki?

    Kuli shani ifyabukata?

  12. Tike imwe, ndakwinginze.

    Ticket imwe, nomba

  13. Birakomeye kuva hano?

    Kuli lishilu ukulya?

  14. Ndi mu kaga.

    Ndi lost

  15. Nshobora kugura ikarita ya SIM hehe?

    Ili kuti nindeke SIM card?

Everyday conversation

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

  1. Yego

    Eya

  2. Oya

    Awe

  3. Birashoboka

    Panga

  4. Ndemera

    Ndi bwino

  5. Ntidemera

    Ndi bwino na

  6. Ivyo birashimishije

    Ilyo lishibukile

  7. Utekereza iki?

    Uchite shani?

  8. Urashobora kumfasha?

    Ushakufwa?

  9. Nkeneye gufasha

    Ndefwaya ifyakufwa

  10. Teza akanya

    Leka ifi

  11. Ndi umwiyahuzi

    Nshakufwa

  12. Nta kibazo

    Takwaba shani

  13. Ishimwe

    Nshakufwa bwino

  14. Isabukuru nziza

    Nashala bwino mu mwaka

  15. Urugendo rwiza

    Ube na mulimo wabwino

Directions and getting around

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

  1. Aho hantu y'igari?

    Uli kuti ikalamba ya chitima? (Aho hantu y'igari?)

  2. Aho hantu y'ibisohoka?

    Uli kuti icikalo ca bisi? (Aho hantu y'ibisohoka?)

  3. Ihagararo ni irihe?

    Ninshi ni platform iyi? (Ihagararo ni irihe?)

  4. Igihe ni igiki gishika?

    Ninshi ikalamba? (Igihe ni igiki gishika?)

  5. Ubu ni bwo buryo?

    Ninshi iyi ni njira shabwino? (Ubu ni bwo buryo?)

  6. Birahari hafi

    Ili pamo na pano. (Birahari hafi)

  7. Birahari kure

    Ili lishilu na pano. (Birahari kure)

  8. Urashobora kumfasha ku ikarita?

    Ushibukishe pa mape? (Urashobora kumfasha ku ikarita?)

  9. Hagarara hano, nyabuna

    Leka pano, chonde. (Hagarara hano, nyabuna)

  10. Bifata igihe kingana iki?

    Kuli shani? (Bifata igihe kingana iki?)

Shopping and dining

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

  1. Iyi irahenda angahe?

    Ili shani? (Ili shani?)

  2. Iyo irahenda cane

    Ili lya kuli (Ili lya kuli)

  3. Ufise ikintu ciza cane?

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

  4. Noshobora kwishyura n'ikarita?

    Ningakupanga na kadi? (Ningakupanga na kadi?)

  5. Nkeneye ameza y'abantu babiri

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

  6. Ibarura, ndakwinginze

    Icilanga, tapali (Icilanga, tapali)

  7. Serivisi irarimwo?

    Ubufyashi bwakupanga? (Ubufyashi bwakupanga?)

  8. Ndi umworozi w'ibihingwa

    Ndi mvegetarian (Ndi mvegetarian)

  9. Ntimukore ibiryo biryoshye, ndakwinginze

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

  10. Iyi iraryoshye

    Ili lya bwino (Ili lya bwino)

  11. Noshobora kubona urutonde rw'ibiryo?

    Ningakonda ifyalo? (Ningakonda ifyalo?)

  12. Igikombe c'amazi, ndakwinginze

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

Emergencies and health

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

  1. Terefona polisi

    Tuma abashitisha

  2. Terefona ambulance

    Tuma ambulance

  3. Ndakeneye umuganga

    Nshikala na doctor

  4. Ndumva ndarwaye

    Nshikala bwino

  5. Ndi umunyabwoba ku mbuto z'ibihaza

    Ndi na allergy ku nsalu

  6. Ihoteri yegereye iri hehe?

    Ili kuti hospital ya pafupi?

  7. Birandya hano

    Kuli ububi pano

  8. Nabuze pasiporo yanje

    Nashitile passport yangu

  9. Woshobora guterefona ihoteli yanje?

    Nawe tuma hotel yangu?

  10. Mfasha!

    Chikondi!

Work and business

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

  1. Nishimiye kukumenya

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

  2. Tugire inama

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

  3. Igihe kiwukora?

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

  4. Nzohereza raporo uyu munsi

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

  5. Dushobora kuganira ejo?

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

  6. Nyabuna, reba dosiye iri hamwe

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

  7. Urakoze ku mwanya wawe

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

  8. Ntegereje gukorana nawe

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

  9. Woshobora gusobanura ico?

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

  10. Ndemeye kubandanya

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

  11. Igihe ntarengwa ni ku wa gatanu

    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. Igihe ni igiki?

    Ninshi ilya shani? (Ninshi ilya shani?)

  2. Ni saa tatu.

    Kuli nomba itatu. (Kuli nomba itatu.)

  3. Uyu munsi.

    Lelo. (Lelo.)

  4. Ejo hazaza.

    Mwaume. (Mwaume.)

  5. Ejo.

    Kale. (Kale.)

  6. Kuwa mbere.

    Lwandi. (Lwandi.)

  7. Kuwa kabiri.

    Lwakabamba. (Lwakabamba.)

  8. Kuwa gatatu.

    Lwapili. (Lwapili.)

  9. Kimwe.

    Imwe. (Imwe.)

  10. Kabiri.

    Ibili. (Ibili.)

  11. Gatatu.

    Itatu. (Itatu.)

  12. Cumi.

    Icumi. (Icumi.)

  13. Ijana.

    Cikumi. (Cikumi.)

  14. Igice.

    Pafya. (Pafya.)

  15. Ikinshi.

    Ilyo. (Ilyo.)

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