Looking for practical Sami North to Bemba phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Sami North 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 Sami North 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.
Bures
Shani(bures)
Giitu
Natotela(giitu)
Buorre eahket
Muli shani(buorre eahket)
Buorre beaivi
Muli shani(buorre beaivi)
Buorre iđit
Muli shani(buorre iđit)
Buorre natti
Shalenipo bwino(buorre natti)
Bures boahtin
Tukakutana(bures boahtin)
Ráhkisvuohta
Twalumba(ráhkisvuohta)
Mii du namma lea?
Iwe ulishani?(mii du namma lea)
Mun namma lea John
Ndefwaya John(mun namma lea John)
Gii du lea?
Uli bwanji?(gii du lea)
Bures boahtin
Nashitasha kukumona(bures boahtin)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Don leat englalaš?
Ulyashi ulukanda mu Chingereza?(Don leat englalaš?)
Mun in lea hindi gohčodaga
Ndefwaya ukulanda Hindi bwino(Mun in lea hindi gohčodaga)
Mun in boahtte
Ndefwaya kumfwa(Mun in boahtte)
Váldde čáhkkáldat
Nimwandi ulukanda buteko(Váldde čáhkkáldat)
Várra gohččat dán again?
Ningaloleleko?(Várra gohččat dán again?)
Gii lea báhkkis?
Ili kuti ikalamba?(Gii lea báhkkis?)
Mii lea muohta gávdno?
Ningalileka shani ku city center?(Mii lea muohta gávdno?)
Váldde oassal
Fumya kumwendo(Váldde oassal)
Váldde dehálaš
Fumya kumwendo(Váldde dehálaš)
Geahččat suohkan
Enda pamo(Geahččat suohkan)
Mii lea gávdno?
Kuli shani ifyabukata?(Mii lea gávdno?)
Okta billeta, please
Ticket imwe, nomba(Okta billeta, please)
Lea dat láhka da?
Kuli lishilu ukulya?(Lea dat láhka da?)
Mun lean bohtos
Ndi lost(Mun lean bohtos)
Gii lea muohta SIM-kortta?
Ili kuti nindeke SIM card?(Gii lea muohta SIM-kortta?)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ja
Eya
Ii
Awe
Mii
Panga
Mun ođđa
Ndi bwino
Mun ii ođđa
Ndi bwino na
Dasa lea buorre
Ilyo lishibukile
Mii du váldde?
Uchite shani?
Sii mii geahččat mu?
Ushakufwa?
Mun háliid geahččat
Ndefwaya ifyakufwa
Váldde ieš
Leka ifi
Mun lea áibbas
Nshakufwa
Ii proplema
Takwaba shani
Báhkkus
Nshakufwa bwino
Buorre álbmotbeivvi
Nashala bwino mu mwaka
Váldde beaivvi buorre
Ube na mulimo wabwino
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Mii lea raššabáikkit?
Uli kuti ikalamba ya chitima?(Mii lea raššabáikkit?)
Mii lea bussibaikkit?
Uli kuti icikalo ca bisi?(Mii lea bussibaikkit?)
Mii platforma lea?
Ninshi ni platform iyi?(Mii platforma lea?)
Mii dihte lea?
Ninshi ikalamba?(Mii dihte lea?)
Lea dehálaš vejola?
Ninshi iyi ni njira shabwino?(Lea dehálaš vejola?)
Dat lea njuolga
Ili pamo na pano.(Dat lea njuolga)
Dat lea muohta
Ili lishilu na pano.(Dat lea muohta)
Sii máhcá muohta?
Ushibukishe pa mape?(Sii máhcá muohta?)
Dán, please
Leka pano, chonde.(Dán, please)
Mii lea áibbas?
Kuli shani?(Mii lea áibbas?)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.