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
[edit]Vowels
[edit]- 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
[edit]- 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
[edit]- sh
- like 'sh' in "shore"
Phrase list
[edit]Basics
[edit]- 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 Bambara very well.
- Ne tε se bamanankan 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
[edit]- 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
[edit]- 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
[edit]- now
- sisan
- right this instant
- sisan sisan
- later
- kofe
- soon
- sɔɔni
- before
- ɲyε
- morning
- sɔgɔma
- afternoon
- tilé
- evening
- wula
- night
- su
Clock time
[edit]- 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
[edit]- sunrise
- fajiri waati
- approx 2 pm
- selifana waati
- approx 4 pm
- lansara waati
- sunset
- fitiri waati
- nightfall
- safo waati
Duration
[edit]- _____ minute(s)
- minuti _____
- _____ hour(s)
- heuri _____
- _____ day(s)
- don _____
- _____ week(s)
- dɔgɔkun _____
- _____ month(s)
- kalo _____
- _____ year(s)
- san _____
Days
[edit]- 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
[edit]- 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
[edit]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
[edit]- black
- finman
- white
- jεman
- gray
- red
- bilenman
- blue
- buluman
- yellow
- nεrεmuguman
- green
- binkeneman
- orange
- siramuguman
- purple
- brown
- sikoloman
Transportation
[edit]Bus and train
[edit]- 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
[edit]- 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 / Kanada / Ostrali / 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
[edit]- 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
[edit]- 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
[edit]- 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
[edit]- 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
[edit]- 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
[edit]- 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
[edit]- 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
[edit]- 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
[edit]- Wikibooks Bambara
- Parlons Bambara, langue et culture Bambara, Ismael Maiga