Bambara phrasebook

Bambara or Bamanankan (ߓߡߊߣߊ߲ߞߊ߲) is a language in West Africa, mostly in Mali, where it is mother tongue of the Bambara people (30% of the population), and where 80% of the population can communicate in the language. Bambara will also be useful in Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, and Gambia. Together with Dioulé and Malinké it belongs to the Mandekan dialect family, which itself part of the Mande group, which is a Niger-Congo language subgroup.

The language is heavily influenced by French, and even the slightest knowledge of French will make it easier to remember words. If you don't remember a word you can try to use the French word.

Pronunciation guide

Vowels
a 
like 'a' in "father"
e 
like 'e' in "prey"
ε 
like 'e' in "met"
i 
like 'i' in "police"
o 
like 'o' in "so"
ɔ 
like 'ough' in "bought"
u 
like 'u' in "clue"

There are also long vowels:

  • aa
  • ee
  • εε
  • ii
  • oo
  • ɔɔ
  • uu

and nasal vowels:

  • an
  • en
  • εn
  • in
  • on
  • ɔn
  • un

Consonants
j 
like 'j' in "jay"
ɲ 
like 'ny' in "canyon"
ŋ 
like 'nw'
c 
like 'ch' in "chair"
g 
like 'g' in "get"
h 
like 'h' in "hard"
s 
like 'ss' in "pass" or 'sh' in "shake" (varies by region)

Blends
sh 
like 'sh' in "shore"

Phrase list

Basics
Hello (any time of day) 
i ni ce
How are you? (Are you well?) (to one person) 
i ka kεnε wa?
How are you? (Are you well?) (to more than one person) 
Aw ka kεnε (wa)?
Fine, thank you. 
kεnε, tɔɔrɔ te, ko tε, tana tε
What is your first name? 
i tɔgɔ?
What is your last name? 
i jamu?
My name is ______ . 
ne tɔgɔ ___
Thank you. 
i ni ce
You're welcome. 
basi tε (literally 'no problem')
Yes. 
awɔ
No. 
ayi
Excuse me. (getting attention / begging pardon) 
(aw ye) hakε to!
I'm sorry. 
a yafa n ma
Goodbye 
k'an bεn
Goodbye (informal) 
n taara
I can't speak name of language [well]. 
N te se "name of language" kan na kosεbε. e.g. N te se angilekan na kosεbε
I don't speak Bambara very well, but I understand a little 
Ne tε se bamanankan na kosεbε, nka ne b'a men dɔɔnin dɔɔnin.
Do you speak English? 
i bε angilekan men wa?
Is there someone here who speaks English? 
Mogo do min bε angilekan men be yan, wa?
Help! 
N deme!
Look out! 
I farati!
Good morning. 
aw ni sɔgɔma (several persons around), i ni sɔgɔma (1 person)
Good afternoon 
aw ni tile, i ni tile
Good evening. 
aw ni wula, i ni wula
Good night. 
aw ni su, i ni su
Good night (to sleep) 
ka su hεεrε
I don't understand. 
n m'a faamu
Where is the toilet? 
ɲεgεn bε min?

Problems
Leave me alone. 
N bila sa!
Don't touch me! 
I kana magan n na!
I'll call the police. 
N bε polisiw wele.
Police! 
Police!
Stop! Thief! 
A yi zon (or son) minE)
I need your help. 
N mago bε i ka deme na.
It's an emergency. 
koo teliman do.
I'm lost. 
N tununen don.
I lost my bag. 
N ka saki tununa.
I lost my wallet. 
N ka wari tununa.
I'm sick. 
Bana bε na.
I've been injured. 
N joki na
I need a doctor. 
N mago bε dogotoro la.
Can I use your phone? 
N bε se ka weleli kε ni i ka telephone ye wa?

Numbers
1 
kelen
2 
fila
3 
saba
4 
naani
5 
duurun
6 
wooro
7 
wolonfla
8 
segi
9 
kononto
10 
tan
11 
tan ni kelen
12 
tan ni fla
13 
tan ni saba
14 
tan ni naani
15 
tan ni duurun
16 
tan ni wooro
17 
tan ni wolonfla
18 
tan ni segi
19 
tan ni kononto
20 
mugan
21 
mugan ni kelen
22 
mugan ni fla
23 
mugan ni saaba
30 
bi saba
40 
bi naani
50 
bi duurun
60 
bi wooro
70 
bi wolonfla
80 
bi segi
90 
bi kononto
100 
keme
200 
keme fla
300 
keme saba
1000 
wa (baa) kelen
2000 
wa fla
3451 
wa saba ani keme naani ani biduru ani kelen
1,000,000 
million kelen
1,000,000,000 
milliard kelen
number _____ (train, bus, etc.) 
half 
tilance
a lot 
caman
a few 
do / doonin

Time
now 
sisan
right this instant 
sisan sisan
later 
kofe
soon 
sɔɔni
before 
ɲyε
morning 
sɔgɔma
afternoon 
tilé
evening 
wula
night 
su

Clock time
one o'clock AM 
une heure waati or nεgε kan &0626ε kelen
two o'clock AM 
deux heure waati or
noon 
midi waati
one o'clock PM 
treize heure waati
two o'clock PM 
quatorze heure waati
midnight 
minuit waati

Prayer times
sunrise 
fajiri waati
approx 2 pm 
selifana waati
approx 4 pm 
lansara waati
sunset
fitiri waati
nightfall
safo waati

Duration
_____ minute(s) 
minuti _____
_____ hour(s) 
heuri _____
_____ day(s) 
don _____
_____ week(s) 
dɔgɔkun _____
_____ month(s) 
kalo _____
_____ year(s) 
san _____

Days
today 
bi
yesterday 
kunu
the day before yesterday 
kuna sini
tomorrow 
sini
the day after tomorrow 
sinin kene
this week 
dogukun nin na
last week 
dogukun temena
next week 
dogukun nata / wεrε
Sunday 
kari-don
Monday 
nténé-don
Tuesday 
tarata-don
Wednesday 
araba-don
Thursday 
alamisa-don
Friday 
(gé)juma-don
Saturday 
sibiri-don

Months
January 
Zanwuyé (kalo)
February 
Feburuyé (kalo)
March 
Marsi (kalo)
April 
Awirili (kalo)
May 
Mε(kalo)
June 
Zuwen (kalo)
July 
Zuluyé (kalo)
August 
Uti (kalo)
September 
Sεtamburu (kalo)
October 
Oktɔburu (kalo)
November 
Nɔwanburu (kalo)
December 
Desanburu (kalo)

Writing time and date

The month is always stated first in a date, then the day of the month. For example, January 25, 2008 would be "janvier kalo tile mugan ni duru san baa fila ni segi". A literal translation would be "January month day twenty-five year two thousand and eight." When written with digits, the French tradition of day, month, year is generally followed.

Colors
black 
finman
white 
jεman
gray 
red 
bilenman
blue 
buluman
yellow 
nεrεmuguman
green 
binkeneman
orange 
siramuguman
purple 
brown 
sikoloman

Transportation

Bus and train
How much is a ticket to _____? 
Ka taa ____ ye joli ye?
One ticket to _____, please. 
Billetti kelen ka taa ____.
Where does this train/bus go? 
Mobili / train nin bε taa min?
Where is the train/bus to _____? 
Mobili / train min bε taa _____ bε sɔrɔ min?
Does this train/bus stop in _____? 
Mobili /train nin bε jo _____ wa?
When does the train/bus for _____ leave? 
Mobili / train min bε taa _____ waati jumen?
When will this train/bus arrive in _____? 
Mobili / train nin bε se _____ waati jumen?

Directions
How do I get to _____ ? 
____ bε sɔrɔ fan jumεn fε?
...the train station? 
gare de train
...the bus station? 
autogare
...the airport? 
aeroport
...downtown? 
dugukono
...the youth hostel? 
siyɔrɔ / hotel
...the _____ hotel? 
siyɔrɔ / hotel
...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate? 
Ameriki / Canadien / Australien / Anglezi ambassade / jamanasigiyoro
Where are there a lot of... 
_____ caman bε sɔrɔ min?
...hotels? 
hotel
...restaurants? 
dumuniyorow
...bars? 
dɔlɔminyɔrɔw
...sites to see? 
Can you show me on the map? 
I bε se ka jira n na carti la wa?
street 
sira
Turn left. 
kaa fara numanbolo fε
Turn right. 
kaa fara kinibolo fε
left 
numanbolo (nose hand)
right 
kinibolo (rice hand)
straight ahead 
ɲε fε
towards the _____ 
_____ fan fε
past the _____ 
_____ kɔ fε
before the _____ 
_____ ɲε
Watch for the _____. 
_____ ɲini
intersection 
north 
saheli / kokodugu fε (sahel / salt land way)
south 
worodugu fε (kola land way)
east 
seli fε (prayer way)
west 
tilebin fε (sunset way)
uphill 
san fε
downhill 
duguma fε

Taxi
Taxi! 
Taxi!
Take me to _____, please. 
N b'a fe ka taa _____ (la).
How much does it cost to get to _____? 
Ka taa _____ (la) ye joli ye?
Take me there, please. 
An ka taa yen.

Lodging
Do you have any rooms available? 
Siyɔrɔ bε wa?
How much is a room for one person/two people? 
Siyɔrɔ kelenta / filata ye joli ye?
Does the room come with... 
_____ bε sɔrɔ siyɔrɔ la wa?
...bedsheets? 
...couverture?
...a bathroom? 
...tualet / nyegen?
...a telephone? 
...telephone?
...a TV? 
...television?
May I see the room first? 
N bε se ka Siyɔrɔ laje folo wa?
Do you have anything quieter? 
Siyɔrɔ do bε sɔrɔ min ...hεrε ka ca nin ye wa?
...bigger? 
...ka bon nin ye wa?
...cleaner? 
...ka sani nin ye wa?
...cheaper? 
...da ka nogon nin ye wa?
OK, I'll take it. 
A ka nyi, n b'a ta.
I will stay for _____ night(s). 
N bε na su ____ kε yan.
Can you suggest another hotel? 
Hotel were bε sɔrɔ? I bε se ka n bila o sira la?
Do you have a safe? 
Coffru bε wa?
...lockers? 
...lockers?
Is breakfast/supper included? 
Daraka / surofana b'a la wa?
What time is breakfast/supper? 
Daraka / surofana bε dun waati jumen?
Please clean my room. 
N ka siyoro furan.
Can you wake me at _____? 
I bε se kan n lawuli _____ heuri la wa?
I want to check out. 
N b'a fe ka wari sara ka taa.

Money
Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian/British currency? 
N bε se k'a sara ni Ameriki / Australien / Canadien / Anglezi wari ye wa?
Do you accept credit cards? 
N bε se ka sara ni carti ye wa?
Can you change money for me? 
I bε se ka wari falen n ye wa?
Where can I get money changed? 
Wari bε falen min?
Can you change a traveler's check for me? 
I bε se ka sheki falen wa?
Where can I get a traveler's check changed? 
Sheki nin bε falen min?
What is the exchange rate? 
A falen ye joli ye?
How much for one _____? 
_____ kelen kelen ye joli ye?
Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)? 
Machine d'argent / warimachine bε sɔrɔ? min?

Eating
A table for one person/two people, please. 
Can I look at the menu, please? 
N bε se ka menu laje wa, sa?
Can I look in the kitchen? 
N bε se ka gwa laje wa?
Is there a house specialty? 
Is there a local specialty? 
I'm a vegetarian. 
n te sogo dun
I don't eat pork. 
n te lesogo dun
I don't eat beef. 
n te misisogo dun
Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard) 
aw kana tulu caman k'a la [don't put a lot of oil on it]
fixed-price meal 
à la carte 
breakfast 
daraka
lunch 
tilela fana, tilerɔ
tea (meal) 
supper 
sula fana, surɔfana
I want _____. 
ne bε _____ fε
I want a dish containing _____. 
N bε dumuni min fe, ____ b'o la.
chicken 
shεsogo
beef 
mishisogo
fish 
jεgε
ham 
lesogo
soda 
buasan
sausage 
cheese 
fromagi
eggs 
shεfan
salad, lettuce 
saladi
(fresh) vegetable 
nako fen (garden things)
(fresh) fruit 
yiri den (tree children)
bread 
buru, nbuuru
toast 
noodles 
macaroni (yes, just like English, but applies to nearly all pasta)
rice 
malo (uncooked), kini (cooked)
mais 
kaba
orange 
lemru-ba, lenburuba
lemon, lime 
lenburu
pineapple 
jabibi
banana 
namasa
plantain 
baranda, loko
guava 
buyaki
papaya 
manje
mango 
mangoro
peanut 
tiga
beans 
sho
May I have a glass of _____? 
May I have a cup of _____? 
May I have a bottle of _____? 
... galama ...
coffee 
kafe, kafe-ji
tea (drink) 
te
_____ juice 
____ ji
(bubbly) water 
water 
ji
milk 
nɔnɔ
beer 
bieri
alcohol 
dolo
red/white wine 
May I have some _____? 
ne bε se ka ____ soro wa?
salt 
kɔkɔ
black pepper 
butter 
Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)
terike!
I'm finished. 
n fara (I'm full)
It was delicious. 
a djarra, aw ni gwa
Please clear the plates. 
aw ka assiettiw ta.
The check, please. 
aw ka na ni addition ye.

Bars
Do you serve alcohol? 
eska dolo bε wa?
Is there table service? 
Is there table service?
A beer/two beers, please. 
castel bilibili ba, castel bilibiliba fila, sil vous plais.
A glass of red/white wine, please. 
A glass of red/white wine, please.
A pint, please. 
A pint, please.
A bottle, please. 
A bottle, please.
_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please. 
_____ and _____, please.
whiskey 
whiskey
vodka 
vodka
rum 
rum
water 
water
club soda 
club soda
tonic water 
tonic water
orange juice 
orange juice
Coke (soda) 
Coke
Do you have any bar snacks? 
Do you have any bar snacks?
One more, please. 
One more, please.
Another round, please. 
Another round, please.
When is closing time? 
When is closing time?

Shopping
Do you have this in my size? 
Do you have this in my size?
How much is this? 
Nin ye joli ye?
That's too expensive. 
abadika, O ka cha. Do bo a la [cheaper please]
Would you take _____? 
Would you take _____?
expensive 
ka gelen (literally - too hard)
cheap 
ma gelen (literally - not hard)
I can't afford it. 
wardi tε n'bolo. (literally - the money is not in my hand)
I don't want it. 
N t'a fε. [note: once you have made an offer you are obligated to purchase]
You're cheating me. 
Namara ka cha.
I'm not interested. 
N ma se a ma.
OK, I'll take it. 
Awo, n ba taa. or Awo, n bε fε k'a san. (literally - I want to buy it)
Can I have a bag? 
mahnah bε wa? (literally - do you have plastic)
Do you ship (overseas)? 
Do you ship (overseas)?
I need... 
N'mago be ______ la
...toothpaste. 
...pahtay de dent. (French)
...a toothbrush. 
...brassay de dent (French)
...tampons. 
...tampons.
...soap. 
...safine.
...shampoo. 
...shampoo.
...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen) 
...Kungaloo fura Keesay. (literally head-seed)or Kungaloo fura
...cold medicine. 
...moora fooroo.
...stomach medicine. 
...kono baara fooroo.
...a razor. 
...lamu. (French)
...an umbrella. 
...para pluie. (French)
...sunblock lotion. 
...sunblock lotion.
...a postcard. 
...a postcard.
...postage stamps. 
...tambaru. (French)
...batteries. 
...pilew.
...writing paper. 
...papieri ka seben.
...a pen. 
...biki.
...English-language books. 
...anglakan livuru.
...English-language magazines. 
...English-language magazines.
...an English-language newspaper. 
...an English-language newspaper.
...an English-English dictionary. 
...anglikan dickshow.

Driving
I want to rent a car. 
N be feka mobili cinga
Can I get insurance? 
Can I get insurance?
stop (on a street sign) 
a to
one way 
sira kelen
yield 
yield
no parking 
jo yoro te yan
speed limit 
teliya hake
gas (petrol) station 
gas station
petrol 
petrol
diesel 
diesel

Authority
I haven't done anything wrong. 
N ma foi ke
It was a misunderstanding. 
An ma nyogon famu
Where are you taking me? 
Aw be n taa fo min?
Am I under arrest? 
Aw bena n mina wa?
I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen. 
Ne be bo Ameriki/Australi/Angaleter/Canada
I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate. 
I need to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate.
I want to talk to a lawyer. 
I want to talk to a lawyer.
Can I just pay a fine now? 
Can I just pay a fine now?

Learning more
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