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 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

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

• Wikibooks Bambara
• Parlons Bambara, langue et culture Bambara, Ismael Maiga