Looking for practical Xhosa to Bambara phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Xhosa 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: when a Bambara phrase looks unfamiliar, compare it with the Xhosa wording — noticing word order differences helps you understand grammar naturally.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Xhosa 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.
Molo
I ni ce
Enkosi
I ni sogoma
Ubusuku obuhle
I ni bɔ
Ubusuku obuhle
I ni kɛ
Ubusuku obuhle
I ni sɔgɔ
Lala ngoxolo
I ni tulu
Ndiza kubonana kamva
N bɛ se ka
Hamba kakuhle
A bɛ se ka
Ngubani igama lakho?
Nɛnɛ kɛ i tɛ?
Igama lam nguJohn
N bɛ tɔgɔ John
Unjani?
I ni fɛ?
Kuhle ukukwazi
N bɛ se ka i fɛ
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Uthetha isiNgesi?
I ni ce English?(ee nee che English)
Andithethi isiHindi kakuhle
N mɔgɔ bɛ Hindi kɛ(N mo-go beh Hindi keh)
Andiqondi
N mɔgɔ bɛ(N mo-go beh)
Nceda thethe kancinci
Sɛbɛn, kɛlɛ kɛ(Sebene, keh-leh keh)
Ungakuphinda lokho?
I ka fɔ a la?(Ee kah fo ah lah)
Iphi ibhafu?
Bamanakan kɛn na?(Bah-mah-nah-kahn keh nah)
Ndingafika njani kwi mveliso ye dolophu?
N bɛ fɔ kɔrɔbɔ?(N beh fo koh-roh-boh)
Jolisa kwesokunxele
Kɛlɛn bɔ(Keh-lehn boh)
Jolisa kwesokudla
Kɛlɛn bɔ kɔrɔ(Keh-lehn boh koh-roh)
Hamba ngqo
Fɔ kɛlɛn(Fo keh-lehn)
Iholo ingakanani?
Fɛ kɛ?(Feh keh)
Ithikithi elinye, nceda
Kɛnɛ ticket, please(Ken-eh ticket, please)
Ingakanani ukusuka apha?
I kɛ fɔ kɛnɛ?(Ee keh fo keh-neh)
Ndilahlekile
N tɛ bɔ(N teh boh)
Nphi endinokuthenga khona iSIM 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.
Ewe
Aye
Hayi
Ala
Mhlawumbi
Bara
Ndiyavuma
N bɛ bɔ
Andivumi
N bɛ fɔ
Okuhle
I bɛ sɛbɛn
Ucinga ntoni?
I ka fɛ kɛ?
Ungandinceda?
I bɛ ma n bɔ?
Ndidinga uncedo
N bɛ fɔ n bɔ
Linda umzuzu
Sira kɛ
Ndicela uxolo
N tɛgɛ
Akukho ngxaki
Ala ka fɔ
Wamkelekile
I ni kɛ
Usuku olumnandi lokuzalwa
I ni tɔgɔ kɛ
Uhambo olukhuselekileyo
I bɛ tɔgɔ kɛ
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Uphi umphakathi wemithwalo?
Fôlô kôkô tîgê?(uphi umphakathi wemithwalo)
Uphi umphakathi weebhasi?
Fôlô bôgô tîgê?(uphi umphakathi weebhasi)
Yeyiphi iphondo?
I ni tîgê kô?(yeyiphi iphondo)
Ihamba ngexesha elingakanani?
Kô tîgê bô?(ihamba ngexesha elingakanani)
Ngaba le yindlela efanelekileyo?
I ni tîgê bô?(ngaba le yindlela efanelekileyo)
Ikho kufutshane apha
I tîgê kâ.
Ikude apha
I tîgê kâ fô.
Ungandibonisa kwiimeko?
I bô kô tîgê fô?(ungandibonisa kwiimeko)
Misa apha, nceda
Tîgê kâ, s'il vous plaît.
Ithatha ixesha elingakanani?
Kô tîgê kô?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Ithini le mali?
I ni ce?
Le mali ibiza kakhulu.
O ye fɛɛrɛ.
Unayo into engabizi?
I ni ka fɛɛrɛ?
Ndingakhokha ngekhadi?
N bɛ tɔgɔ ka kɛ?
Ndicela itafula lempahla ezimbini.
N bɛ fɔlɔ kɛlɛ kɔrɔ.
Ibhili, nceda.
Kɔrɔbaw, s'il vous plaît.
Ingaba inkonzo ibandakanyekile?
Sɛbɛ ka fo?
Ndiyavegetarian.
N bɛ sɔgɔma.
Akukho ukutya okunobhotolo, nceda.
Kɔrɔ fɛɛrɛ, s'il vous plaît.
Oku kumnandi.
I ye sɔgɔ.
Ndingafumana imenyu?
N bɛ fɔlɔ kɔrɔbaw?
Ingxube ye water, nceda.
N bɛ fɔlɔ jɔrɔ.
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Biza uphondo
Nɔgɔ fɔlɔ(nogo folo)
Biza i-ambulensi
Nɔgɔ kɔrɔ(nogo koro)
Ndifuna ugqirha
N bɛ sɔrɔ(n be soro)
Ndiziva ndingalunganga
N bɛ tɛgɛn(n be tegen)
Ndine-allergy kwi-peanuts
N bɛ fɔlɔ kɛlɛ(n be folokele)
Uphi umphakathi oseduze?
N bɛ kɔrɔ fɔlɔ?(n be koro folo)
Kubuhlungu apha
I tɛgɛ fɛ(i tege fe)
Ndilahlekelwe yi passport yam
N bɛ kɛlɛ fɔlɔ(n be kele folo)
Ungabiza ihotele yam?
I bɛ nɔgɔ kɔrɔ fɔlɔ?(i be nogo koro folo)
Uncedo!
Tɛgɛ!(tege)
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Kuhle ukukwazi
N bɛ se ka kɛnɛ(N bɛ se ka kɛnɛ)
Masihlele umhlangano
Ala ka yɛlɛ kɛnɛ(Ala ka yɛlɛ kɛnɛ)
Yiphi ixesha elikufaneleyo?
I ni bɔ a la?(I ni bɔ a la?)
Ndiza kuthumela ingxelo namhlanje
N bɛ fɔ report la tɛgɛ(N bɛ fɔ report la tɛgɛ)
Singathetha ngomso?
N bɛ fɔ tɛgɛ?(N bɛ fɔ tɛgɛ?)
Nceda ufumane ifayile ehlanganisiweyo
Sɔgɔma, fɔ file la a bɛ(Sɔgɔma, fɔ file la a bɛ)
Enkosi ngexesha lakho
I ni ce, a bɛ sɔrɔ(I ni ce, a bɛ sɔrɔ)
Ndijonge phambili ekusebenzeni nawe
N bɛ fɔ a la ka yɛlɛ(N bɛ fɔ a la ka yɛlɛ)
Ungacacisa le ndawo?
I bɛ fɔ a la fɛ?(I bɛ fɔ a la fɛ?)
Mna ndiza kubuyela kuwe
N bɛ fɔ a la kɛ(N bɛ fɔ a la kɛ)
Umhla wokugqibela nguLwesihlanu
Dɔgɔni tɛgɛ Friday(Dɔgɔni tɛgɛ Friday)
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.