Looking for practical Wolof to Bemba phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Wolof 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: pick five Bemba 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 Wolof 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.
Nanga def
Shani(nanga def)
Jërëjëf
Natotela(jerejef)
Ba beneen yoon
Muli shani(ba beneen yoon)
Ba pare
Muli shani(ba pare)
Ba suuf
Muli shani(ba suuf)
Ba ci kanam
Shalenipo bwino(ba ci kanam)
Naka la
Tukakutana(naka la)
Ba beneen
Twalumba(ba beneen)
Naka sa tur?
Iwe ulishani?(naka sa tur)
Sa tur mooy John
Ndefwaya John(sa tur mooy John)
Naka nga def?
Uli bwanji?(naka nga def)
Nuyoo na la
Nashitasha kukumona(nuyoo na la)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Naka la jàngi anglé?
Ulyashi ulukanda mu Chingereza?
Maanu jàngi Hindi bu baax.
Ndefwaya ukulanda Hindi bwino
Dama xamul.
Ndefwaya kumfwa
S'il vous plaît, jàngi bu wéy.
Nimwandi ulukanda buteko
Naka la waxe ko jëkk?
Ningaloleleko?
Fàww la bathroom?
Ili kuti ikalamba?
Naka la jëm ci centre ville?
Ningalileka shani ku city center?
Jàpp ci jàmm.
Fumya kumwendo
Jàpp ci nguur.
Fumya kumwendo
Jëm ci géej.
Enda pamo
Naka la mbir mi?
Kuli shani ifyabukata?
Benn ticket, s'il vous plaît.
Ticket imwe, nomba
Ndax am na loolu ci biir?
Kuli lishilu ukulya?
Dama jàpp.
Ndi lost
Fàww laa jënd SIM card?
Ili kuti nindeke SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Waaw
Eya
Déedéet
Awe
Moom
Panga
Maa ngi ci kanam
Ndi bwino
Maa ngi ci biir
Ndi bwino na
Loolu dafa am jamm
Ilyo lishibukile
Lu tax nga?
Uchite shani?
Ndax nga ma jëfandikoo?
Ushakufwa?
Maa ngi bëgg jëfandikoo
Ndefwaya ifyakufwa
Teg a jàmm
Leka ifi
Naka la?
Nshakufwa
Dama jàmm
Takwaba shani
Jamm rekk
Nshakufwa bwino
Bés bu nekk yaakaar
Nashala bwino mu mwaka
Dama la jàmm ci yoon
Ube na mulimo wabwino
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Fekk na ciy tànk?
Uli kuti ikalamba ya chitima?(fekk na chee tânk)
Fekk na ciy bus?
Uli kuti icikalo ca bisi?(fekk na chee boos)
Naka platform bi?
Ninshi ni platform iyi?(naka platform bee)
Naka at la mu jàpp?
Ninshi ikalamba?(naka at la moo jàpp)
Ndax loolu mooy way bi?
Ninshi iyi ni njira shabwino?(ndax loolu mooy wee bi)
Dafa jàmm ci biir
Ili pamo na pano.(dafa jàmm chee beer)
Dafa jàmm ci kaw
Ili lishilu na pano.(dafa jàmm chee kaw)
Ndax nga ma jox ci carte bi?
Ushibukishe pa mape?(ndax nga ma jox chee kart bee)
Soppi ci bi, ndax jëf?
Leka pano, chonde.(soppi chee bee, ndax jëf)
Naka waxtaan la?
Kuli shani?(naka waxtaan la)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.