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Common Shona to Bemba phrases

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

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

    Shani

  2. Ndatenda

    Natotela

  3. Mangwanani akanaka

    Muli shani

  4. Masikati akanaka

    Muli shani

  5. Manheru akanaka

    Muli shani

  6. Usiku hwakanaka

    Shalenipo bwino

  7. Tichasangana gare gare

    Tukakutana

  8. Sara zvakanaka

    Twalumba

  9. Zita rako ndiani?

    Iwe ulishani?

  10. Zita rangu ndiri John

    Ndefwaya John

  11. Uri sei?

    Uli bwanji?

  12. Ndinofara kukuziva

    Nashitasha kukumona

Useful phrases for travellers

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

  1. Unotaura Chirungu here?

    Ulyashi ulukanda mu Chingereza? (unotaura chirungu here)

  2. Handitauri Hindi zvakanaka

    Ndefwaya ukulanda Hindi bwino (handitauri hindi zvakanaka)

  3. Handinzwisisi

    Ndefwaya kumfwa (handinzwisisi)

  4. Ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma

    Nimwandi ulukanda buteko (ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma)

  5. Ungazvitaura zvakare here?

    Ningaloleleko? (ungazvitaura zvakare here)

  6. Chimbuzi chiripi?

    Ili kuti ikalamba? (chimbuzi chiripi)

  7. Ndingasvika sei kumusoro kwemaguta?

    Ningalileka shani ku city center? (ndingasvika sei kumusoro kwemaguta)

  8. Tendeuka kuruboshwe

    Fumya kumwendo (tendeuka kuruboshwe)

  9. Tendeuka kurudyi

    Fumya kumwendo (tendeuka kurudyi)

  10. Enda mberi

    Enda pamo (enda mberi)

  11. Mari yechikwereti ingani?

    Kuli shani ifyabukata? (mari yechikwereti ingani)

  12. Tikiti imwe, ndapota

    Ticket imwe, nomba (tikiti imwe, ndapota)

  13. Iko kure here kubva pano?

    Kuli lishilu ukulya? (iko kure here kubva pano)

  14. Ndakakanganiswa

    Ndi lost (ndakakanganiswa)

  15. Ndingatenga kupi kadhi reSIM?

    Ili kuti nindeke SIM card? (ndingatenga kupi kadhi reSIM)

Everyday conversation

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

  1. Ehe

    Eya

  2. Kwete

    Awe

  3. Pangove

    Panga

  4. Ndinobvumirana

    Ndi bwino

  5. Handibvumirane

    Ndi bwino na

  6. Izvozvo zvinonzwika zvakanaka

    Ilyo lishibukile

  7. Unofungei?

    Uchite shani?

  8. Unogona kundibatsira here?

    Ushakufwa?

  9. Ndiri kuda rubatsiro

    Ndefwaya ifyakufwa

  10. Mirira kwechinguva

    Leka ifi

  11. Ndine urombo

    Nshakufwa

  12. Hapana chakaipa

    Takwaba shani

  13. Makorokoto

    Nshakufwa bwino

  14. Makorokoto ezuva rekuzvarwa

    Nashala bwino mu mwaka

  15. Iva nerwendo rwakanaka

    Ube na mulimo wabwino

Directions and getting around

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

  1. Kupi kune chiteshi chechitima?

    Uli kuti ikalamba ya chitima? (Kupi kune chiteshi chechitima?)

  2. Kupi kune chiteshi chebhazi?

    Uli kuti icikalo ca bisi? (Kupi kune chiteshi chebhazi?)

  3. Ndeipi puratifomu?

    Ninshi ni platform iyi? (Ndeipi puratifomu?)

  4. Inobva nenguva ipi?

    Ninshi ikalamba? (Inobva nenguva ipi?)

  5. Iyi ndiyo nzira chaiyo here?

    Ninshi iyi ni njira shabwino? (Iyi ndiyo nzira chaiyo here?)

  6. Iri pedyo pano

    Ili pamo na pano. (Iri pedyo pano)

  7. Iri kure nepano

    Ili lishilu na pano. (Iri kure nepano)

  8. Unogona kundiratidza pamepu here?

    Ushibukishe pa mape? (Unogona kundiratidza pamepu here?)

  9. Mira pano, ndapota

    Leka pano, chonde. (Mira pano, ndapota)

  10. Zvinotora nguva yakareba sei?

    Kuli shani? (Zvinotora nguva yakareba sei?)

Shopping and dining

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

  1. Zvinodhura here?

    Ili shani? (Ili shani?)

  2. Izvozvo zvinodhura kwazvo

    Ili lya kuli (Ili lya kuli)

  3. Une chimwe chinhu chiri pamutengo wakaderera here?

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

  4. Ndingabhadhara nekadhi here?

    Ningakupanga na kadi? (Ningakupanga na kadi?)

  5. Ndingada tafura yevaviri

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

  6. Chikwereti, ndapota

    Icilanga, tapali (Icilanga, tapali)

  7. Sevhisi iri mukati here?

    Ubufyashi bwakupanga? (Ubufyashi bwakupanga?)

  8. Ndiri muvegetarian

    Ndi mvegetarian (Ndi mvegetarian)

  9. Hapana chikafu chinopisa, ndapota

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

  10. Izvi zvinonaka

    Ili lya bwino (Ili lya bwino)

  11. Ndingawana menyu here?

    Ningakonda ifyalo? (Ningakonda ifyalo?)

  12. Girazi remvura, ndapota

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

Emergencies and health

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

  1. Fonera mapurisa

    Tuma abashitisha

  2. Fonera amburensi

    Tuma ambulance

  3. Ndiri kuda chiremba

    Nshikala na doctor

  4. Ndiri kunzwa kusuruvara

    Nshikala bwino

  5. Ndine allergic kumapundu

    Ndi na allergy ku nsalu

  6. Chii chiri pedyo nechipatara?

    Ili kuti hospital ya pafupi?

  7. Zvinorwadza pano

    Kuli ububi pano

  8. Ndakakanganwa pasipoti yangu

    Nashitile passport yangu

  9. Unogona here kufonera hotera yangu?

    Nawe tuma hotel yangu?

  10. Rubatsiro!

    Chikondi!

Work and business

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

  1. Ndinofara kukusangana

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

  2. Ngatirongei musangano

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

  3. Ndeipi nguva inokodzera kwauri?

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

  4. Ndichatumira chirevo nhasi

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

  5. Tingataure mangwana here?

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

  6. Ndapota tarisai faira rakabatanidzwa

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

  7. Ndatenda nenguva yako

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

  8. Ndiri kutarisira kushanda newe

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

  9. Ungajekesei iyo pfungwa?

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

  10. Ndichadzoka kwauri

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

  11. Nguva yekupedzisira iChishanu

    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. Ndeipi nguva?

    Ninshi ilya shani? (Ninshi ilya shani?)

  2. Iri pa3

    Kuli nomba itatu. (Kuli nomba itatu.)

  3. Nhasi

    Lelo. (Lelo.)

  4. Mangwana

    Mwaume. (Mwaume.)

  5. Zuro

    Kale. (Kale.)

  6. Muvhuro

    Lwandi. (Lwandi.)

  7. Chipiri

    Lwakabamba. (Lwakabamba.)

  8. Chitatu

    Lwapili. (Lwapili.)

  9. Imwe

    Imwe. (Imwe.)

  10. Piri

    Ibili. (Ibili.)

  11. Tatu

    Itatu. (Itatu.)

  12. Gumi

    Icumi. (Icumi.)

  13. Zana

    Cikumi. (Cikumi.)

  14. Hafu

    Pafya. (Pafya.)

  15. Zvimwe

    Ilyo. (Ilyo.)

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