Looking for practical Tumbuka to Bambara phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Tumbuka 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: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Bambara-speaking trip in a few weeks.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Tumbuka 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.
Moni
I ni ce
Zikomo
I ni sogoma
Muli bwanji
I ni bɔ
Muli bwanji
I ni kɛ
Muli bwanji
I ni sɔgɔ
Usiku wabwino
I ni tulu
Tiwonana
N bɛ se ka
Tsalani bwino
A bɛ se ka
Dzina lanu ndi ndani?
Nɛnɛ kɛ i tɛ?
Dzina langa ndi John
N bɛ tɔgɔ John
Muli bwanji?
I ni fɛ?
Ndine wokondwa kukumana nanu
N bɛ se ka i fɛ
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Muli ndi Chingerezi?
I ni ce English?(ee nee che English)
Sikuyankhula Hindi bwino
N mɔgɔ bɛ Hindi kɛ(N mo-go beh Hindi keh)
Sindikumva
N mɔgɔ bɛ(N mo-go beh)
Chonde yankhulani pang'ono
Sɛbɛn, kɛlɛ kɛ(Sebene, keh-leh keh)
Mungandiyankhulepo?
I ka fɔ a la?(Ee kah fo ah lah)
Kuti ndi kuti?
Bamanakan kɛn na?(Bah-mah-nah-kahn keh nah)
Ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu?
N bɛ fɔ kɔrɔbɔ?(N beh fo koh-roh-boh)
Pita kumanzere
Kɛlɛn bɔ(Keh-lehn boh)
Pita kumanja
Kɛlɛn bɔ kɔrɔ(Keh-lehn boh koh-roh)
Pita mwendo
Fɔ kɛlɛn(Fo keh-lehn)
Ndi ndalama zingati?
Fɛ kɛ?(Feh keh)
Tiketi imodzi, chonde
Kɛnɛ ticket, please(Ken-eh ticket, please)
Ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano?
I kɛ fɔ kɛnɛ?(Ee keh fo keh-neh)
Ndakhalapo
N tɛ bɔ(N teh boh)
Ndingatengere kuti kuti SIM card?
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.
Iye
Aye
Ayi
Ala
Pang'ono
Bara
Ndikugwirizana
N bɛ bɔ
Sindikugwirizana
N bɛ fɔ
Ichi chimaoneka bwino
I bɛ sɛbɛn
Muli ndi chiyani choti mumaganize?
I ka fɛ kɛ?
Mungandithandize?
I bɛ ma n bɔ?
Ndikufuna thandizo
N bɛ fɔ n bɔ
Dikirani pang’ono
Sira kɛ
Ndikupemphera
N tɛgɛ
Palibe vutoli
Ala ka fɔ
Zikomo
I ni kɛ
Tsiku lobadwa labwino
I ni tɔgɔ kɛ
Pita bwino pa ulendo
I bɛ tɔgɔ kɛ
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Kukakhala kuti chiteshi cha njinga?
Fôlô kôkô tîgê?
Kukakhala kuti malo otchinga basi?
Fôlô bôgô tîgê?
Ndi chigawo chiti?
I ni tîgê kô?
Nanga nthawi itangopita?
Kô tîgê bô?
Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera?
I ni tîgê bô?
Iyi ndi pafupi apa
I tîgê kâ.
Iyi ndi kutali ndi apa
I tîgê kâ fô.
Mungandionetse pa chithunzi?
I bô kô tîgê fô?
Chimitsa apa, chonde
Tîgê kâ, s'il vous plaît.
Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji?
Kô tîgê kô?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Iyi ikuguliradi chingwe?
I ni ce?(iyi ikuguliradi chingwe)
Iyi ndi mtengo wopusa
O ye fɛɛrɛ.(iyi ndi mtengo wopusa)
Muli ndi chinthu chochepa mtengo?
I ni ka fɛɛrɛ?(muli ndi chinthu chochepa mtengo)
Ningathe kulipira ndi khadi?
N bɛ tɔgɔ ka kɛ?(ningathe kulipira ndi khadi)
Ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri
N bɛ fɔlɔ kɛlɛ kɔrɔ.(ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri)