Looking for practical Somali to Bambara phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Somali 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: read the Bambara line out loud three times, then cover the Somali 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 Somali 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.
Salaan
I ni ce
Mahadsanid
I ni sogoma
Subax wanaagsan
I ni bɔ
Duhur wanaagsan
I ni kɛ
Habeen wanaagsan
I ni sɔgɔ
Habeen wanaagsan
I ni tulu
Ilaa dambe
N bɛ se ka
Nabad gelyo
A bɛ se ka
Magacaa maxay tahay?
Nɛnɛ kɛ i tɛ?
Magacaygu waa John
N bɛ tɔgɔ John
Sidee tahay?
I ni fɛ?
Aad ayaan ugu faraxsanahay in aan ku arko
N bɛ se ka i fɛ
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Ma ku hadashaa Ingiriisi?
I ni ce English?(ee nee che English)
Hindi si fiican uma hadlo
N mɔgɔ bɛ Hindi kɛ(N mo-go beh Hindi keh)
Ma fahmin
N mɔgɔ bɛ(N mo-go beh)
Fadlan si tartiib ah u hadal
Sɛbɛn, kɛlɛ kɛ(Sebene, keh-leh keh)
Ma ku celin kartaa?
I ka fɔ a la?(Ee kah fo ah lah)
Musqusha xaggee buu yaalaa?
Bamanakan kɛn na?(Bah-mah-nah-kahn keh nah)
Sideen ku gaari karaa xarunta magaalada?
N bɛ fɔ kɔrɔbɔ?(N beh fo koh-roh-boh)
Bidix u leexo
Kɛlɛn bɔ(Keh-lehn boh)
Midig u leexo
Kɛlɛn bɔ kɔrɔ(Keh-lehn boh koh-roh)
Toos u soco
Fɔ kɛlɛn(Fo keh-lehn)
Immisa ayey tahay lacagta?
Fɛ kɛ?(Feh keh)
Hal tigidh, fadlan
Kɛnɛ ticket, please(Ken-eh ticket, please)
Ma fog tahay halkan?
I kɛ fɔ kɛnɛ?(Ee keh fo keh-neh)
Waan lumay
N tɛ bɔ(N teh boh)
Xaggee ka iibsan karaa kaarka SIM?
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.
Haa
Aye
Maya
Ala
Malaha
Bara
Waan ku raacsanahay
N bɛ bɔ
Waan ku raacsaneyn
N bɛ fɔ
Taasi waa wax fiican
I bɛ sɛbɛn
Maxaad u malaynaysaa?
I ka fɛ kɛ?
Ma i caawin kartaa?
I bɛ ma n bɔ?
Waxaan u baahanahay caawimaad
N bɛ fɔ n bɔ
Sug daqiiqad
Sira kɛ
Waan ka xumahay
N tɛgɛ
Dhib malahan
Ala ka fɔ
Hambalyo
I ni kɛ
Dhalasho wacan
I ni tɔgɔ kɛ
Safar wanaagsan
I bɛ tɔgɔ kɛ
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Xagee buu tareenka jooga?
Fôlô kôkô tîgê?
Xagee buu basaska jooga?
Fôlô bôgô tîgê?
Keenka sidee buu yahay?
I ni tîgê kô?
Goormee ayuu baxayaa?
Kô tîgê bô?
Ma tan saxda ah?
I ni tîgê bô?
Waa halkan u dhow
I tîgê kâ.
Waa halkan fog
I tîgê kâ fô.
Ma ii muujin kartaa khariidada?
I bô kô tîgê fô?
Halkan joog, fadlan
Tîgê kâ, s'il vous plaît.
Immisa waqti ayey qaadaneysaa?
Kô tîgê kô?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Imisa ayuu ku kacayaa?
I ni ce?
Taasi waa qaali aad u badan.
O ye fɛɛrɛ.
Ma haysta wax ka jaban?
I ni ka fɛɛrɛ?
Ma bixin karaa kaarka?
N bɛ tɔgɔ ka kɛ?
Waxaan jeclaan lahaa miis laba qof ah.
N bɛ fɔlɔ kɛlɛ kɔrɔ.
Fadlan, biilka.
Kɔrɔbaw, s'il vous plaît.
Ma ku jirtaa adeegga?
Sɛbɛ ka fo?
Anigu waxaan ahay khudradeed.
N bɛ sɔgɔma.
Fadlan, cunto aan xawaash lahayn.
Kɔrɔ fɛɛrɛ, s'il vous plaît.
Tani waa macaan.
I ye sɔgɔ.
Ma heli karaa menu?
N bɛ fɔlɔ kɔrɔbaw?
Fadlan, koob biyo ah.
N bɛ fɔlɔ jɔrɔ.
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Wac booliiska
Nɔgɔ fɔlɔ(nogo folo)
Wac ambalaas
Nɔgɔ kɔrɔ(nogo koro)
Waxaan u baahanahay dhakhtar
N bɛ sɔrɔ(n be soro)
Waxaan dareemayaa xanuun
N bɛ tɛgɛn(n be tegen)
Waxaan leeyahay xasaasiyad lowska
N bɛ fɔlɔ kɛlɛ(n be folokele)
Isbitaalka ugu dhow xagee buu yaalaa?
N bɛ kɔrɔ fɔlɔ?(n be koro folo)
Halkaan ayaa i xanuunaya
I tɛgɛ fɛ(i tege fe)
Dukumeentigayga safarka ayaan lumiyay
N bɛ kɛlɛ fɔlɔ(n be kele folo)
Ma wici kartaa hoteelkeyga?
I bɛ nɔgɔ kɔrɔ fɔlɔ?(i be nogo koro folo)
Caawimaad!
Tɛgɛ!(tege)
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Aad baan ugu faraxsanahay in aan ku arko
N bɛ se ka kɛnɛ(N bɛ se ka kɛnɛ)
Aan qorshayno kulan
Ala ka yɛlɛ kɛnɛ(Ala ka yɛlɛ kɛnɛ)
Waa maxay waqtiga ku habboon adiga?
I ni bɔ a la?(I ni bɔ a la?)
Waxaan maanta soo diri doonaa warbixinta
N bɛ fɔ report la tɛgɛ(N bɛ fɔ report la tɛgɛ)
Ma ka hadli karnaa berri?
N bɛ fɔ tɛgɛ?(N bɛ fɔ tɛgɛ?)
Fadlan eeg faylka ku lifaaqan
Sɔgɔma, fɔ file la a bɛ(Sɔgɔma, fɔ file la a bɛ)
Waad ku mahadsan tahay waqtigaaga
I ni ce, a bɛ sɔrɔ(I ni ce, a bɛ sɔrɔ)
Waxaan rajeynayaa in aan kula shaqeeyo
N bɛ fɔ a la ka yɛlɛ(N bɛ fɔ a la ka yɛlɛ)
Ma faahfaahin kartaa dhibicdaas?
I bɛ fɔ a la fɛ?(I bɛ fɔ a la fɛ?)
Aan ku soo laabto
N bɛ fɔ a la kɛ(N bɛ fɔ a la kɛ)
Waqtiga kama dambaysta ah waa Jimcaha
Dɔgɔni tɛgɛ Friday(Dɔgɔni tɛgɛ Friday)
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.