A collection of useful phrases in Bemba (Chibemba), a Bantu language spoken in Zambia, Congo and Tanzania.
See these phrases in any combination of two languages in the Phrase Finder. If you can provide recordings, corrections or additional translations, please contact me.
Key to abbreviations: frm = formal, inf = informal, sg = singular (said to one person), pl = plural (said to more than one person).
| Phrase | Chibemba (Bemba) |
|---|---|
| Welcome | Mwaiseni |
| Hello (General greeting) | Shani Ulishani (inf) Mulishani (frm) Mwapoleni mukwai Eya mukwai (reply) |
| Hello (on phone) | |
| How are you? | Ulishani? (inf) Mulishani? (frm) Ifintu filishani? (How are things?) Mwashibukashaani? (How did you sleep?) Mwabombashaani? (How has work been?) |
| Reply to 'How are you?' | Ndi bwino, ngaiwe? Bwino, ngaiwe? |
| Long time no see | Mwa monekeni mukwai |
| What's your name? | Niwe nani? Nimwe bani ishina? |
| My name is ... | Nine ... Ishina lyandi ni ... |
| Where are you from? | Wafumakwisa? |
| I'm from ... | Nafuma ku ... |
| Pleased to meet you | Natemwa paku kwishiba |
| Good morning (Morning greeting) |
Mwaikaleni 'Mwaombeni Mwashibukeni Eya mukwai (reply) |
| Good afternoon (Afternoon greeting) |
Cungulo mukwai Mwaikaleni 'Mwaombeni Mwashibukeni Eya mukwai (reply) |
| Good evening (Evening greeting) |
Chungulopo mukwai Eya mukwai (reply) |
| Good night | Sendamenipo |
| Goodbye (Parting phrases) |
Shaleenipo Twalamonana (See you later) Tukamonana mailo (See you tomorrow) |
| Good luck! | |
| Cheers! Good Health! (Toasts used when drinking) |
Chileshe! |
| Have a nice day | Tandalenipo umutende Bombenipo umutende |
| Bon appetit / Have a nice meal |
|
| Bon voyage / Have a good journey |
Mwende bwino! |
| Yes | Ee |
| No | Awe |
| Maybe | Limbi |
| I don't know | Nshishibe |
| I understand | Na mona Na umfwa |
| I don't understand | Nshumfwile |
| Please speak more slowly | Landa panono panono |
| Please say that again | Bwekeshapo |
| Please write it down | Lemba mukwai (sg/inf) Lembeni mukwai (pl/frm) |
| Do you speak English? | Bushe Mwalishiba uku landa Icisungu? |
| Do you speak Bemba? | Bushe Mwalishiba uku landa Icibemba? |
| Yes, a little (reply to 'Do you speak ...?') |
Ee, panono |
| Speak to me in Bemba | Landa mu Cibemba Ndandisha mu Cibemba |
| How do you say ... in Bemba? | Mulanda shaani ... mu Cibemba? |
| Excuse me | Mpiteko? (to get past sb) Panono, njipusheko (to get attention) |
| How much is this? | Lunga? Shinga? |
| Sorry | Njeleleniko Mbelelako uluse |
| Please | Mukwai |
| Thank you | Natotela (sg/inf) Twatotela (pl/frm) |
| Reply to thank you | Awe tapali ifyakutasha ("there's nothing to be thankful for") |
| Where's the toilet / bathroom? | Ukuwakusaukila nikwisa? Icimbusu cilikwisa, mukwai? |
| This gentleman will pay for everything | Umu lumendo uyu ala lipila fyonse Uyu umu lumendo ewule lipila fyonse |
| This lady will pay for everything | Umu kashana uyu, ewule lipila fyonse Uyu umu kashana ala lipila fyonse |
| Would you like to dance with me? | Bushe ule fwaya uku shanako nayine? Kuti watemwa uku shanako nayine? |
| Do you come here often? | Mula isa isa kuno ilingi? Bushe mu la tandalako sana kuno? |
| I miss you | Nkakufuluka |
| I love you | Niwe natemwa Nalikutemwa (sg) Nalimutemwa (pl) |
| Get well soon | Mu pole bwangu Poleni bwangu |
| Go away! | Kabiye! Kabiyeni! Fumeni apa! |
| Leave me alone! | Ndekeni nemwine! |
| Help! | Njafweniko! |
| Fire! | |
| Stop! | Kabolala uyo! Iminineni! |
| Call the police! | Iteni ba kapokola! Iteni ba Police! |
| Christmas greetings | Kristu abe nenu muli ino nshiku nkulu ya Mwezi |
| New Year greetings | |
| Easter greetings | |
| Birthday greetings | Sefya ubushiku wafyelwe (sg) Sefyeni ubushiku mwafyelwe (pl) |
| One language is never enough | |
| My hovercraft is full of eels |
Some phrases and corrections provided by Mwenya Mutale
If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, or if you can provide recordings, please contact me.
Information about Bemba | Phrases | Numbers | Tower of Babel
Bemba language resources on Amazon
Other collections of Bemba phrases
https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Chibemba_phrasebook
http://kitweonline.com/languages/bemba-lessons
https://books.google.co.uk/books
http://kitweonline.com/languages/english-bemba-translations
Bemba, Chichewa, Chokwe, Duala, Herero, Ibinda, Kikuyu, Kinyarwanda, Lingala, Lozi, Luganda, Ndebele (Northern - South Africa), Ndebele (Northern - Zimbabwe), Ndebele (Southern) Nkore, Northern Sotho, Oshiwambo, Shona, Southern Sotho (seSotho), Swahili, Swati, Tsonga, Tswana, Tumbuka, Umbundu, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu
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