Looking for practical Shona to Bambara phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Shona 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: pick five Bambara phrases from the greetings section and use them in a real message today. Small daily practice beats cramming before a trip.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Shona 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.
Mhoro
I ni ce
Ndatenda
I ni sogoma
Mangwanani akanaka
I ni bɔ
Masikati akanaka
I ni kɛ
Manheru akanaka
I ni sɔgɔ
Usiku hwakanaka
I ni tulu
Tichasangana gare gare
N bɛ se ka
Sara zvakanaka
A bɛ se ka
Zita rako ndiani?
Nɛnɛ kɛ i tɛ?
Zita rangu ndiri John
N bɛ tɔgɔ John
Uri sei?
I ni fɛ?
Ndinofara kukuziva
N bɛ se ka i fɛ
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Unotaura Chirungu here?
I ni ce English?(ee nee che English)
Handitauri Hindi zvakanaka
N mɔgɔ bɛ Hindi kɛ(N mo-go beh Hindi keh)
Handinzwisisi
N mɔgɔ bɛ(N mo-go beh)
Ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma
Sɛbɛn, kɛlɛ kɛ(Sebene, keh-leh keh)
Ungazvitaura zvakare here?
I ka fɔ a la?(Ee kah fo ah lah)
Chimbuzi chiripi?
Bamanakan kɛn na?(Bah-mah-nah-kahn keh nah)
Ndingasvika sei kumusoro kwemaguta?
N bɛ fɔ kɔrɔbɔ?(N beh fo koh-roh-boh)
Tendeuka kuruboshwe
Kɛlɛn bɔ(Keh-lehn boh)
Tendeuka kurudyi
Kɛlɛn bɔ kɔrɔ(Keh-lehn boh koh-roh)
Enda mberi
Fɔ kɛlɛn(Fo keh-lehn)
Mari yechikwereti ingani?
Fɛ kɛ?(Feh keh)
Tikiti imwe, ndapota
Kɛnɛ ticket, please(Ken-eh ticket, please)
Iko kure here kubva pano?
I kɛ fɔ kɛnɛ?(Ee keh fo keh-neh)
Ndakakanganiswa
N tɛ bɔ(N teh boh)
Ndingatenga kupi kadhi reSIM?
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.
Ehe
Aye
Kwete
Ala
Pangove
Bara
Ndinobvumirana
N bɛ bɔ
Handibvumirane
N bɛ fɔ
Izvozvo zvinonzwika zvakanaka
I bɛ sɛbɛn
Unofungei?
I ka fɛ kɛ?
Unogona kundibatsira here?
I bɛ ma n bɔ?
Ndiri kuda rubatsiro
N bɛ fɔ n bɔ
Mirira kwechinguva
Sira kɛ
Ndine urombo
N tɛgɛ
Hapana chakaipa
Ala ka fɔ
Makorokoto
I ni kɛ
Makorokoto ezuva rekuzvarwa
I ni tɔgɔ kɛ
Iva nerwendo rwakanaka
I bɛ tɔgɔ kɛ
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Kupi kune chiteshi chechitima?
Fôlô kôkô tîgê?(Kupi kune chiteshi chechitima?)
Kupi kune chiteshi chebhazi?
Fôlô bôgô tîgê?(Kupi kune chiteshi chebhazi?)
Ndeipi puratifomu?
I ni tîgê kô?(Ndeipi puratifomu?)
Inobva nenguva ipi?
Kô tîgê bô?(Inobva nenguva ipi?)
Iyi ndiyo nzira chaiyo here?
I ni tîgê bô?(Iyi ndiyo nzira chaiyo here?)
Iri pedyo pano
I tîgê kâ.(Iri pedyo pano)
Iri kure nepano
I tîgê kâ fô.(Iri kure nepano)
Unogona kundiratidza pamepu here?
I bô kô tîgê fô?(Unogona kundiratidza pamepu here?)
Mira pano, ndapota
Tîgê kâ, s'il vous plaît.(Mira pano, ndapota)
Zvinotora nguva yakareba sei?
Kô tîgê kô?(Zvinotora nguva yakareba sei?)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Zvinodhura here?
I ni ce?(Zvinodhura here?)
Izvozvo zvinodhura kwazvo
O ye fɛɛrɛ.
Une chimwe chinhu chiri pamutengo wakaderera here?
I ni ka fɛɛrɛ?
Ndingabhadhara nekadhi here?
N bɛ tɔgɔ ka kɛ?
Ndingada tafura yevaviri
N bɛ fɔlɔ kɛlɛ kɔrɔ.
Chikwereti, ndapota
Kɔrɔbaw, s'il vous plaît.
Sevhisi iri mukati here?
Sɛbɛ ka fo?
Ndiri muvegetarian
N bɛ sɔgɔma.
Hapana chikafu chinopisa, ndapota
Kɔrɔ fɛɛrɛ, s'il vous plaît.
Izvi zvinonaka
I ye sɔgɔ.
Ndingawana menyu here?
N bɛ fɔlɔ kɔrɔbaw?
Girazi remvura, ndapota
N bɛ fɔlɔ jɔrɔ.
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Fonera mapurisa
Nɔgɔ fɔlɔ(nogo folo)
Fonera amburensi
Nɔgɔ kɔrɔ(nogo koro)
Ndiri kuda chiremba
N bɛ sɔrɔ(n be soro)
Ndiri kunzwa kusuruvara
N bɛ tɛgɛn(n be tegen)
Ndine allergic kumapundu
N bɛ fɔlɔ kɛlɛ(n be folokele)
Chii chiri pedyo nechipatara?
N bɛ kɔrɔ fɔlɔ?(n be koro folo)
Zvinorwadza pano
I tɛgɛ fɛ(i tege fe)
Ndakakanganwa pasipoti yangu
N bɛ kɛlɛ fɔlɔ(n be kele folo)
Unogona here kufonera hotera yangu?
I bɛ nɔgɔ kɔrɔ fɔlɔ?(i be nogo koro folo)
Rubatsiro!
Tɛgɛ!(tege)
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Ndinofara kukusangana
N bɛ se ka kɛnɛ(N bɛ se ka kɛnɛ)
Ngatirongei musangano
Ala ka yɛlɛ kɛnɛ(Ala ka yɛlɛ kɛnɛ)
Ndeipi nguva inokodzera kwauri?
I ni bɔ a la?(I ni bɔ a la?)
Ndichatumira chirevo nhasi
N bɛ fɔ report la tɛgɛ(N bɛ fɔ report la tɛgɛ)
Tingataure mangwana here?
N bɛ fɔ tɛgɛ?(N bɛ fɔ tɛgɛ?)
Ndapota tarisai faira rakabatanidzwa
Sɔgɔma, fɔ file la a bɛ(Sɔgɔma, fɔ file la a bɛ)
Ndatenda nenguva yako
I ni ce, a bɛ sɔrɔ(I ni ce, a bɛ sɔrɔ)
Ndiri kutarisira kushanda newe
N bɛ fɔ a la ka yɛlɛ(N bɛ fɔ a la ka yɛlɛ)
Ungajekesei iyo pfungwa?
I bɛ fɔ a la fɛ?(I bɛ fɔ a la fɛ?)
Ndichadzoka kwauri
N bɛ fɔ a la kɛ(N bɛ fɔ a la kɛ)
Nguva yekupedzisira iChishanu
Dɔgɔni tɛgɛ Friday(Dɔgɔni tɛgɛ Friday)
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.