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Common Yoruba to Bemba phrases

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

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Looking for practical Yoruba to Bemba phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Yoruba 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: read the Bemba line out loud three times, then cover the Yoruba 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 Yoruba 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. Bawo

    Shani (bawoh)

  2. O seun

    Natotela (oh shayoon)

  3. E kaaro

    Muli shani (eh kah-roh)

  4. E kaasan

    Muli shani (eh kah-sahn)

  5. E kuurole

    Muli shani (eh koo-roh-leh)

  6. O daaro

    Shalenipo bwino (oh dah-roh)

  7. A ri e laipe

    Tukakutana (ah ree eh lie-peh)

  8. O dabọ

    Twalumba (oh dah-boh)

  9. Kí ni orukọ rẹ?

    Iwe ulishani? (kee nee oh-roo-koh reh)

  10. Orukọ mi ni John

    Ndefwaya John (oh-roo-koh mee nee John)

  11. Bawo ni?

    Uli bwanji? (bawoh nee)

  12. Inu mi dun lati pade e

    Nashitasha kukumona (ee-noo mee doon lah-tee pah-deh eh)

Useful phrases for travellers

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

  1. Ṣe o n sọ Gẹ́gẹ́?

    Ulyashi ulukanda mu Chingereza? (Sheh oh n saw Geh-geh)

  2. Mi ò sọ Hindi dáadáa

    Ndefwaya ukulanda Hindi bwino (Mee oh saw Hindi dah-dah)

  3. Mi ò ye mi

    Ndefwaya kumfwa (Mee oh yeh mee)

  4. Jọwọ sọ ní kíkankíkan

    Nimwandi ulukanda buteko (Joh-wah saw nee keen-kay-kahn)

  5. Ṣe o le sọ é lẹ́ẹ̀kan síi?

    Ningaloleleko? (Sheh oh leh saw eh leh-eh-kahn see)

  6. Nibo ni baluwe wa?

    Ili kuti ikalamba? (Nee-boh nee bah-loo-weh wah)

  7. Báwo ni mo ṣe lọ sí àárín ìlú?

    Ningalileka shani ku city center? (Bah-woh nee moh sheh law see ah-ree-nee loo)

  8. Yí si apa osi

    Fumya kumwendo (Yee see ah-pah oh-shee)

  9. Yí si apa otun

    Fumya kumwendo (Yee see ah-pah oh-toon)

  10. Lọ taara

    Enda pamo (Law tah-rah)

  11. Elo ni owo ọkọ?

    Kuli shani ifyabukata? (Eh-loh nee oh-woh oh-koh)

  12. Ticket kan, jọwọ

    Ticket imwe, nomba (Tee-ket kahn, joh-wah)

  13. Ṣe ó jìnà síbí?

    Kuli lishilu ukulya? (Sheh oh jee-nah see-bee)

  14. Mo ti sọnù

    Ndi lost (Moh tee sohn-oo)

  15. Nibo ni mo ti le ra kaadi SIM?

    Ili kuti nindeke SIM card? (Nee-boh nee moh tee leh rah kah-dee SIM)

Everyday conversation

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

  1. Bẹẹni

    Eya

  2. Rara

    Awe

  3. Bóyá

    Panga

  4. Mo gba

    Ndi bwino

  5. Mo kọ

    Ndi bwino na

  6. Iyẹn dára

    Ilyo lishibukile

  7. Kí ni ìrònú rẹ?

    Uchite shani?

  8. Ṣé o lè ràn mí lọ́wọ́?

    Ushakufwa?

  9. Mo nílò ìrànlọ́wọ́

    Ndefwaya ifyakufwa

  10. Dákẹ́ díẹ̀

    Leka ifi

  11. Mo bínú

    Nshakufwa

  12. Kò sí ìṣòro

    Takwaba shani

  13. Ẹ kú àṣeyọrí

    Nshakufwa bwino

  14. Ẹ kú ọjọ́ ibi

    Nashala bwino mu mwaka

  15. Ṣe ìrìn àjò tó ààbò

    Ube na mulimo wabwino

Directions and getting around

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

  1. Nibo ni ibudo ọkọ oju-irin wa?

    Uli kuti ikalamba ya chitima? (Nibo ni ibudo ọkọ oju-irin wa?)

  2. Nibo ni ibudo bosi wa?

    Uli kuti icikalo ca bisi? (Nibo ni ibudo bosi wa?)

  3. Ibo ni pẹpẹ naa?

    Ninshi ni platform iyi? (Ibo ni pẹpẹ naa?)

  4. Iwo wo ni o fi n lọ?

    Ninshi ikalamba? (Iwo wo ni o fi n lọ?)

  5. Ṣe eyi ni ọna to tọ?

    Ninshi iyi ni njira shabwino? (Ṣe eyi ni ọna to tọ?)

  6. O sunmọ ibi yi

    Ili pamo na pano.

  7. O jinna si ibi yi

    Ili lishilu na pano.

  8. Ṣe o le fihan mi lori maapu?

    Ushibukishe pa mape? (Ṣe o le fihan mi lori maapu?)

  9. Duro nibi, jọwọ

    Leka pano, chonde.

  10. Bawo ni igba wo ni o gba?

    Kuli shani?

Shopping and dining

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

  1. Elo ni eyi?

    Ili shani? (Ili shani?)

  2. Eyi jẹ́ gbowó púpọ̀

    Ili lya kuli (Ili lya kuli)

  3. Ṣe o ni nkan tó rọrùn?

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

  4. Ṣe mo le sanwo pẹ̀lú kaadi?

    Ningakupanga na kadi? (Ningakupanga na kadi?)

  5. Mo fẹ́ tábìlì fún méjì

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

  6. Iwe isanwo, jọwọ

    Icilanga, tapali (Icilanga, tapali)

  7. Ṣe iṣẹ́ wa nínú?

    Ubufyashi bwakupanga? (Ubufyashi bwakupanga?)

  8. Mo jẹ́ onjẹ ẹfọ

    Ndi mvegetarian (Ndi mvegetarian)

  9. Kò sí onjẹ tó ní ìkà, jọwọ

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

  10. Eyi dára

    Ili lya bwino (Ili lya bwino)

  11. Ṣe mo le ní àtòjọ onjẹ?

    Ningakonda ifyalo? (Ningakonda ifyalo?)

  12. Gilaasi omi, jọwọ

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

Emergencies and health

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

  1. Pe iroyin ọlọpa

    Tuma abashitisha (pe iroyin olopa)

  2. Pe ambulance

    Tuma ambulance (pe ambulance)

  3. Mo nilo dokita

    Nshikala na doctor (mo nilo dokita)

  4. Mo n ni irora

    Nshikala bwino (mo n ni irora)

  5. Mo ni àkúnya sí ẹ̀fọ́

    Ndi na allergy ku nsalu (mo ni akunya si efo)

  6. Nibo ni ile-iwosan to sunmo?

    Ili kuti hospital ya pafupi? (nibo ni ile-iwosan to sunmo)

  7. O n dun nibi

    Kuli ububi pano (o n dun nibi)

  8. Mo padanu iwe irinna mi

    Nashitile passport yangu (mo padanu iwe irinna mi)

  9. Se o le pe hotẹẹli mi?

    Nawe tuma hotel yangu? (se o le pe hoteeli mi)

  10. I ranlọwọ!

    Chikondi! (i ranlọwọ)

Work and business

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

  1. Inu mi dun lati pade e

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

  2. Jẹ ki a ṣe ipade

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

  3. Iwo, wo ni akoko ti o ba mu?

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

  4. Mo maa fi iroyin ranṣẹ loni

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

  5. Se a le ba ara wa sọrọ ni ọla?

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

  6. Jọwọ ri faili ti a so mọ́

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

  7. O seun fun akoko rẹ

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

  8. Mo n reti lati ṣiṣẹ pẹlu rẹ

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

  9. Se o le ṣalaye aaye yẹn?

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

  10. Jẹ ki n pada sọrọ si ọ

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

  11. Akoko ipari ni Friday

    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. Kini akoko to wa?

    Ninshi ilya shani? (Ninshi ilya shani?)

  2. O ti di mẹta

    Kuli nomba itatu. (Kuli nomba itatu.)

  3. Loni

    Lelo. (Lelo.)

  4. Ọla

    Mwaume. (Mwaume.)

  5. Ana

    Kale. (Kale.)

  6. Ọjọ́ Ajé

    Lwandi. (Lwandi.)

  7. Ọjọ́ Iṣẹ́gun

    Lwakabamba. (Lwakabamba.)

  8. Ọjọ́ Rú

    Lwapili. (Lwapili.)

  9. Ọkan

    Imwe. (Imwe.)

  10. Meji

    Ibili. (Ibili.)

  11. Mẹta

    Itatu. (Itatu.)

  12. Mẹwa

    Icumi. (Icumi.)

  13. Ọgọ́rùn-ún

    Cikumi. (Cikumi.)

  14. Idaji

    Pafya. (Pafya.)

  15. Diẹ sii

    Ilyo. (Ilyo.)

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