Bemba

20 Bemba phrases for greetings and everyday courtesy, from Hello (Shani) to Nice to meet you (Nasangalala ukumona imwe).

Hello

Shani, pronounced SHA-ni

Good morning

Mwapoleni, pronounced mwa-po-LE-ni

Good afternoon

Mwapoleni, pronounced mwa-po-LE-ni

Good evening

Mwapoleni, pronounced mwa-po-LE-ni

Good night

Muletasuke, pronounced mu-le-ta-SU-ke

Goodbye

Shalenipo, pronounced sha-le-NI-po

See you later

Tuzamonana, pronounced tu-za-mo-NA-na

Please

Mwandi, pronounced MWAN-di

Thank you

Natotela, pronounced na-to-TE-la

Thank you very much

Natotela sana, pronounced na-to-TE-la SA-na

You're welcome

Tafwa, pronounced TAF-wa

Yes

Ee, pronounced ee

No

Awe, pronounced A-we

Excuse me

Mpokeleni, pronounced m-po-ke-LE-ni

Sorry

Nkuomba, pronounced nku-OM-ba

How are you?

Muli shani?, pronounced MU-li SHA-ni

I'm fine

Ndi bwino, pronounced ndi BWI-no

What is your name?

Ishina lenu ni ndi?, pronounced i-SHI-na LE-nu ni NDI

My name is...

Ishina lyandi ni..., pronounced i-SHI-na LYAN-di ni

Nice to meet you

Nasangalala ukumona imwe, pronounced na-san-ga-LA-la u-ku-MO-na IM-we

20 Bemba phrases for getting around, from Where is...? (...kuli nkwi?) to Exit (Pakufumina).

Where is...?

...kuli nkwi?, pronounced KU-li NKWI

Airport

Epakufumina indeke, pronounced e-pa-ku-FU-mi-na in-DE-ke

Hotel

Hotelo, pronounced ho-TE-lo

Hospital

Chipatala, pronounced chi-pa-TA-la

Pharmacy

Eshopu ya mankhwala, pronounced e-SHO-pu ya man-KHwa-la

Police station

Pulishi, pronounced pu-LI-shi

Bus station

Epakufikila basi, pronounced e-pa-ku-fi-KI-la BA-si

Taxi

Tekisi, pronounced te-KI-si

How much does it cost?

Ifintu ifi fyali amaifumo nga?, pronounced i-FIN-tu i-FI fya-LI a-ma-I-fu-mo NGA

Ticket

Tikiti, pronounced ti-KI-ti

Passport

Pasipoti, pronounced pa-si-PO-ti

I am lost

Napotoka inshila, pronounced na-po-TO-ka in-SHI-la

Help me please

Mwandi mpokeleni, pronounced MWAN-di m-po-ke-LE-ni

Left

Kumoso, pronounced ku-MO-so

Right

Ku lwiji, pronounced ku LWI-ji

Straight ahead

Patalala, pronounced pa-ta-LA-la

Open

Fumya, pronounced FUM-ya

Closed

Cishibe, pronounced chi-SHI-be

Entrance

Pakuingila, pronounced pa-ku-in-GI-la

Exit

Pakufumina, pronounced pa-ku-fu-MI-na

20 Bemba phrases for eating and drinking, from Restaurant (Eshopu ya chakurya) to Beans (Impwa).

Restaurant

Eshopu ya chakurya, pronounced e-SHO-pu ya cha-KUR-ya

I'm hungry

Nsalile, pronounced nsa-LI-le

I'm thirsty

Nfwaya amenshi, pronounced nfwa-YA a-MEN-shi

Water

Amenshi, pronounced a-MEN-shi

Food

Chakurya, pronounced cha-KUR-ya

Nshima (porridge)

Ubwali, pronounced ub-WA-li

Meat

Inyama, pronounced in-YA-ma

Fish

Isabi, pronounced i-SA-bi

Vegetables

Amafi, pronounced a-MA-fi

Bread

Buledi, pronounced bu-LE-di

Milk

Amafuta ya ngombe, pronounced a-ma-FU-ta ya ngOM-be

Tea

Tiyi, pronounced TI-yi

The check please

Mwandi bili, pronounced MWAN-di BI-li

Delicious

Icakweba, pronounced i-cha-KWE-ba

Spicy

Yamfula, pronounced yam-FU-la

Sweet

Yabwa, pronounced YAB-wa

Menu

Meniyu, pronounced me-NI-yu

Vegetarian

Tanyama, pronounced ta-NYA-ma

Coffee

Kofi, pronounced KO-fi

Beans

Impwa, pronounced IM-pwa

15 Bemba phrases for emergencies and health, from Help! (Nsamwa!) to Lost passport (Pasipoti yapotoka).

Help!

Nsamwa!, pronounced NSAM-wa

Call the police!

Itaneni pulishi!, pronounced i-ta-NE-ni pu-LI-shi

Call a doctor!

Itaneni dokotala!, pronounced i-ta-NE-ni do-ko-TA-la

Call an ambulance!

Itaneni ambulensi!, pronounced i-ta-NE-ni am-bu-LEN-si

Fire!

Umoto!, pronounced u-MO-to

Thief!

Umusebi!, pronounced u-mu-SE-bi

I am sick

Ndwalwa, pronounced ndwal-WA

I am injured

Nkalipwa, pronounced nka-LIP-wa

I need a doctor

Nfwaya dokotala, pronounced nfwa-YA do-ko-TA-la

Hospital

Chipatala, pronounced chi-pa-TA-la

Emergency

Inkatazika, pronounced in-ka-ta-ZI-ka

Pain

Ukabilo, pronounced u-ka-BI-lo

I need help

Nfwaya ukunsamwa, pronounced nfwa-YA u-ku-NSAM-wa

Danger

Inshiku, pronounced in-SHI-ku

Lost passport

Pasipoti yapotoka, pronounced pa-si-PO-ti ya-po-TO-ka

14 Bemba phrases for work and money, from Meeting (Umukutano) to Email (Imeili).

Meeting

Umukutano, pronounced u-mu-ku-TA-no

Office

Ofesi, pronounced o-FE-si

Contract

Cishinka, pronounced chi-SHIN-ka

Company

Kampani, pronounced kam-PA-ni

Manager

Mwine wabasa, pronounced MWI-ne wa-BA-sa

Invoice

Bili, pronounced BI-li

Price

Ifintu, pronounced i-FIN-tu

Payment

Kulipila, pronounced ku-li-PI-la

Bank

Benki, pronounced BEN-ki

Money

Amaifumo, pronounced a-ma-I-fu-mo

Business

Ubucuzi, pronounced u-bu-CU-zi

Partner

Mwine, pronounced MWI-ne

Project

Inchito, pronounced in-CHI-to

Email

Imeili, pronounced i-MEI-li

20 Bemba phrases for numbers, days and time, from Zero (Uwupusukile) to Friday (Pa Filaidi).

Zero

Uwupusukile, pronounced u-wu-pu-su-KI-le

One

Cimo, pronounced CI-mo

Two

Fibili, pronounced fi-BI-li

Three

Fitatu, pronounced fi-TA-tu

Four

Fine, pronounced FI-ne

Five

Fisano, pronounced fi-SA-no

Six

Mutanda, pronounced mu-TAN-da

Seven

Cinelubali, pronounced ci-ne-lu-BA-li

Eight

Cinekonsekonse, pronounced ci-ne-kon-se-KON-se

Nine

Pabula, pronounced pa-BU-la

Ten

Ikumi, pronounced i-KU-mi

Twenty

Makumi yabili, pronounced ma-KU-mi ya-BI-li

Hundred

Umwanda, pronounced u-MWAN-da

Thousand

Ikana, pronounced i-KA-na

What time is it?

Nindi nshita?, pronounced NIN-di NSHI-ta

Today

Lelo, pronounced LE-lo

Tomorrow

Mailo, pronounced MA-i-lo

Yesterday

Mailo aya, pronounced MA-i-lo A-ya

Monday

Pa Mande, pronounced pa MAN-de

Friday

Pa Filaidi, pronounced pa fi-LA-i-di