Bambara phrasebook

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Bambara, or Bamanankan 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, and 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:

Consonants

j: like 'j' in "jay"
ɲ: like 'ny' in "canyon"
?: 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)

Diphthongs

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 k?n? wa?
How are you? (Are you well?) (to more than one person): Aw ka k?n??
Fine, thank you.: k?n?, tɔɔrɔ te, ko t?, tana t?
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 t? (literally 'no problem')
Yes.: awò
No.: ayi
Excuse me. (getting attention / begging pardon): (aw ye) hak? to!
I'm sorry.: a yafa n ma
Goodbye: k'an b?n
Goodbye (informal): n taara
I can't speak name of language well.: N te se "name of language" la kosebe
I don't speak Bambara very well, but I understand a little: Ne t? se bamanankan na kos?b?, nka ne b'a men dɔɔnin dɔɔnin.
Do you speak English?: i b? angilekan men wa?
Is there someone here who speaks English?: Mogo'in do b? yan, o b? angilekan men?
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 h??r?
I don't understand.: n m'a faamu
Where is the toilet?: tuwaleti b? min?

Problems

Leave me alone.: N bila sa!
Don't touch me!: I kana magan n na!
I'll call the police.: N be na gendarme wele.
Police!: Police!
Stop! Thief!: A mine! Zon don!
I need your help.: N mago be i ka deme na.
It's an emergency.: It's an emergency.
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 be na.
I've been injured.: I've been injured.
I need a doctor.: N mago be dogotoro la.
Can I use your phone?: N be be se ka welelike ni i ka telephone ye wa?

Numbers

1: kelen
2: fla
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
later: kofe
before: nyè
morning: sògòma
afternoon: tilé
evening: wula
night: su

Clock time

one o'clock AM: une heure waati
two o'clock AM: deux heure waati
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: lansera waati
approx 4 pm
sunset: fitiri waati
nightfall: safo waati

Duration

_____ minute(s): minuti _____
_____ hour(s): heuri _____
_____ day(s): don _____
_____ week(s): dògòkun _____
_____ month(s): kalo _____
_____ year(s): san _____

Days

today: bi
yesterday: kunu
tomorrow: sini
this week: dogukun in na
last week: dogukun temena
next week: dogukun nata / wèrè

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: Mè (kalo)
June: Zuwen (kalo)
July: Zuluyé (kalo)
August: Uti (kalo)
September: Sètamburu (kalo)
October: Oktòburu (kalo)
November: Nòwanburu (kalo)
December: Desanburu (kalo)

Writing time and date

Give some examples how to write clock times and dates if it differs from English.

Colors

black: finman
white: jèman
gray
red: bilenman
blue: buluman
yellow: nèrèmugunan
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 be taa min?
Where is the train/bus to _____?: Mobili / train min be taa _____ be soro min?
Does this train/bus stop in _____?: Mobili /train nin be jo _____ wa?
When does the train/bus for _____ leave?: Mobili / train min be taa _____ be taa waati jumen?
When will this train/bus arrive in _____?: Mobili / train nin be se _____ waati jumen?

Directions

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

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?: Siyoro be wa?
How much is a room for one person/two people?: Siyoro kelenta / filata ye joli ye?
Does the room come with...: _____ be soro siyoro la wa?
...bedsheets?: ...couverture?
...a bathroom?: ...tualet / nyegen?
...a telephone?: ...telephone?
...a TV?: ...television?
May I see the room first?: N be se ka siyoro laje folo wa?
Do you have anything quieter?: Siyoro do be soro min ...here 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 be na su ____ ke yan.
Can you suggest another hotel?: Hotel were be soro? I be se ka n bila o sira la?
Do you have a safe?: Coffru be wa?
...lockers?: ...lockers?
Is breakfast/supper included?: Daraka / surofana b'a la wa?
What time is breakfast/supper?: Daraka / surofana be dun waati jumen?
Please clean my room.: N ka siyoro furan.
Can you wake me at _____?: I be 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 be se k'a sara ni Ameriki / Australien / Canadien / Anglezi wari ye wa?
Do you accept cr cards?: N be se ka sara ni carti ye wa?
Can you change money for me?: I be se ka wari falen n ye wa?
Where can I get money changed?: Wari be falen min?
Can you change a traveler's check for me?: I be se ka sheki falen wa?
Where can I get a traveler's check changed?: Sheki nin be 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 be soro min?

Eating

A table for one person/two people, please.
Can I look at the menu, please?: N be se ka menu laje wa, sa?
Can I look in the kitchen?: N be 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 b? _____ f?
I want a dish containing _____.: N be dumuni min fe, ____ b'o la.
chicken: sh?sogo
beef: mishisogo
fish: jègè
ham: lesogo
sausage
cheese: fromagi
eggs: sh?fan
salad, lettuce: salati
(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
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 be 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?: Do you serve alcohol?
Is there table service?: Is there table service?
A beer/two beers, please.: A beer/two beers, please.
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.: A ka cha. Do bo a la cheaper please
Would you take _____?: Would you take _____?
expensive: expensive
cheap: cheap
I can't afford it.: I can't afford it.
I don't want it.: N t'a fe. note: once you have made an offer you are obligated to purchase
You're cheating me.: Namara ka cha.
I'm not interested.: I'm not interested. (..)
OK, I'll take it.: Ayiwa, n be fe k'a san.
Can I have a bag?: Can I have a bag?
Do you ship (overseas)?: Do you ship (overseas)?
I need...: I need...
...toothpaste.: ...toothpaste.
...a toothbrush.: ...a toothbrush.
...tampons.: ...tampons.
...soap.: ...safine.
...shampoo.: ...shampoo.
...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen): ...pain reliever.
...cold medicine.: ...moora fooroo.
...stomach medicine.: ...kono baara fooroo.
...a razor.: ...a razor.
...an umbrella.: ...an umbrella.
...sunblock lotion.: ...sunblock lotion.
...a postcard.: ...a postcard.
...postage stamps.: ...postage stamps.
...batteries.: ...pilew.
...writing paper.: ...writing paper.
...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.: ...an English-English dictionary.

Driving

I want to rent a car.: I want to rent a car.
Can I get insurance?: Can I get insurance?
stop (on a street sign): stop
one way: one way
yield: yield
no parking: no parking
speed limit: speed limit
gas (petrol) station: gas station
petrol: petrol
diesel: diesel

Authority

I haven't done anything wrong.: I haven't done anything wrong.
It was a misunderstanding.: It was a misunderstanding.
Where are you taking me?: Where are you taking me?
Am I under arrest?: Am I under arrest?
I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen.: I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen.
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

Wikibooks Bambara (http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Bambara)
Parlons Bambara, langue et culture Bambara, Ismael Maiga

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