Looking for practical Sango to Bemba phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Sango 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: read the Bemba line out loud three times, then cover the Sango side and try to recall the meaning — repetition builds memory faster than silent reading.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Sango 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.
Mbote
Shani
Mokolo
Natotela
Mbote na nganga
Muli shani
Mbote na nganga ya zanga
Muli shani
Mbote na nganga ya sika
Muli shani
Ndeko na nganga
Shalenipo bwino
Tango na yo
Tukakutana
Ayo
Twalumba
Nani na yo?
Iwe ulishani?
Nani na nga John
Ndefwaya John
Oza malamu?
Uli bwanji?
Mokili na yo
Nashitasha kukumona
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
O yo na nganga English?
Ulyashi ulukanda mu Chingereza?
O na yo na nganga Hindi na mboka.
Ndefwaya ukulanda Hindi bwino
O na yo na mboka.
Ndefwaya kumfwa
Sokou, yo na nganga na mboka.
Nimwandi ulukanda buteko
O tanga na mboka?
Ningaloleleko?
Banga na yo na ndako?
Ili kuti ikalamba?
Nde na yo na banga na mboka?
Ningalileka shani ku city center?
Kanga na mboko.
Fumya kumwendo
Kanga na nganga.
Fumya kumwendo
Kende na mboka.
Enda pamo
Nde na yo na mboka?
Kuli shani ifyabukata?
Mokolo na ticket, sokou.
Ticket imwe, nomba
O na mboka na mboka?
Kuli lishilu ukulya?
O na yo na mboka.
Ndi lost
Banga na yo na tanga SIM card?
Ili kuti nindeke SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
O
Eya
Té
Awe
Sâ
Panga
Ngâ tî
Ndi bwino
Ngâ té tî
Ndi bwino na
O bô
Ilyo lishibukile
Nâ tî yé?
Uchite shani?
O kâ yé tî?
Ushakufwa?
Ngâ kâ tî
Ndefwaya ifyakufwa
Bê na
Leka ifi
Ngâ tî na
Nshakufwa
Té bô
Takwaba shani
Mâ tî
Nshakufwa bwino
Mâ na mbâ
Nashala bwino mu mwaka
O kâ na mbê
Ube na mulimo wabwino
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
O na wâ na gare?
Uli kuti ikalamba ya chitima?
O na wâ na station de taxi?
Uli kuti icikalo ca bisi?
O na wâ na plateforme?
Ninshi ni platform iyi?
O na tî na mbô?
Ninshi ikalamba?
O na wâ na yâ?
Ninshi iyi ni njira shabwino?
O na bô na kâ.
Ili pamo na pano.
O na fâ na kâ.
Ili lishilu na pano.
O kâ tî na mappa?
Ushibukishe pa mape?
Kâ na kâ, s'il vous plaît.
Leka pano, chonde.
O na tî na mbô?
Kuli shani?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.