Chibemba or Bemba is a Bantu language spoken in Zambia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and southern Tanzania. It is the biggest ethnic grouping in Zambia, accounting for over 50% of the Zambian population. Bemba people (Ababemba) trace their origin from "KOLA" in Angola. There were other people who learnt Bemba when they were working in the copper mines of Zambia (then Northern Rhodesia) during the colonial period. The writing system is very phonetic and Spanish speakers would find it very easy to learn. Many Bemba words can also be found in Swahili. a e i o u b c/ch d f g j k l m n ng' ny p s sh t w y Hello. . (Muli shani ) Hello. (informal) . (Uli shani ) How are you? Muli shani ? Ndi fye bwino, natolela What is your name? Niwe nani ishina? ______ . (Ishina lyandi ni ne _____ .) Nice to meet you. . (chawama ukukumona) Please. Napapata,ndekulomba Thank you. Natotela You're welcome. . (Eya mukwai ) Yes. (Eee ) No. . Awe / Iyoo Excuse me. Njelelako(getting attention) Oti, Otini Excuse me. (mukwai ) I'm sorry. . (Mbelelako uluse; mukwai Goodbye . (Shalenipo; Kafikenio Goodbye (informal) . (shalapo ) I can't speak Chibemba [well]. [ ]. (Nshaishiba iciBemba sana) Do you speak English? ? (Walishiba ukulanda icisungu ?) (bushe pali uwaishiba ukulanda ichisungu pano ?) Help! ! (ngafweniko !) Look out! ! (moneni uko !) Good morning (afternoon). . Mwashibukeni, 'mwabombeni ( when the person is busy') Good evening. . (chungulopo mukwai ) Good night. . (sendamenipo ) Good night (to sleep) . (sendamenipo naya mukutuusha ) I don't understand. . (nshumfwikishe bwino ) Where is the toilet? ? ( ku chimbusu nikwisa?) Please speak slowly (landa panono panono) Welcome mwaiseni (mukwai). (Mukwai added when it's more formal or welcoming people you hold in reverence) Leave me alone. . ( ndeka fye.) (wilanjikatamo !) Winjikatamo I'll call the police. . (nalaita ba kapokola .) Police! ! (Ba kapokola !) Stop! Thief! ! ! (kabolala uyo ! mwikateni!) I need your help. . (njafweniko .) It's an emergency. . ( ndi mu bwafya.) I'm lost. . ( ni nduba.) I lost my bag. . (ni ndufya icola .) I lost my wallet. . (ni ndufya walleti . ): (ni dufya icikwama) I am sick . ( nindwala.) . (ni njichena .) . (ndefwaikwa shinganga/ dokota .) (kuti nabomfyako lamya/ foni yenu ?) 1 (kamo or cimo ) 2 (fibili or tubili ) 3 (tutatu or fitatu ) 4 (cine ) 5 (fisano ) 6 ( mutanda) 7 (cine lubali ) 8 (cine konse konse ) 9 (pabula ) 10 ( ikumi) 11 ( ikumi na kamo) 12 (ikumi na tubili ) 13 (ikumi na tutatu ) 14 (ikumi na tune ) 15 (ikumi na tusano ) 16 (ikumi na mutanda ) 17 ( ikumi na cine lubali) 18 (ikumi na cine konse konse ) 19 (ikumi na pabula ) 20 (ama kumi yabili ) 21 (ama kumi yabili na kamo ) 22 ( ama kumi yabili na tutatu) 23 (ama kumi yabili na tutatu ) 30 ( ama kumi yatatu) 40 (amakumi cine ) 50 (amakumi yasano ) 60 (amakumi mutanda ) 70 (amakumi pabula ) 80 (Amakumi cine konse konse) 90 (Amakumi pabula) 100 (Umwanda umo) 200 (Imyanda ibili) 300 (Imyanda itatu) 1,000 (Ikana limo) 2,000 (Amakana yabili) 1,000,000 (Amakana ikana limo) 1,000,000,000 (Iminshipendwa) 1,000,000,000,000 ( ) number _____ (train, bus, etc.) ( ) half (pakati, citika) less (ukucepako) more (ukucilapo, lundenipo ) now ( nombaline) later ( limbi ) before (taulati ) morning (ulucelo ) afternoon (akasuba ) evening (icungulo ) night ( ubushiku) one o'clock AM ( ) two o'clock AM ( ) noon ( ) one o'clock PM ( ) two o'clock PM ( ) midnight (pakati kabushiku ) _____ minute(s) ( ) _____ hour(s) ( insa) _____ day(s) (ubushiku ) _____ week(s) (umulungu ) _____ month(s) (umweshi ) _____ year(s) (umwaka ) today (lelo ) yesterday (mailo ) tomorrow (mailo ) this week (uno mulungu ) last week (uyu mulungu wapwile ) next week (uyu mulungu uleisa ) Sunday (pa Sondo ): (pa mulungu) Monday (pali cimo ) Tuesday (pali cibili ) Wednesday (pali citatu ) Thursday (pali cine ) Friday (pali cisano ) Saturday (pa cibelushi ) January (Akabengele kanono) February (Akabengele kakalamba) March (Kutumpu) April (Shinde ) May (Akapepo Kanono) June (Akapepo Kakalamba) July (Cikungulu pepo) August (Kasakantobo) September (Ulusuba lunono) October (Lusuba lukalamba (Langashe) November (Chinshikubili) December (Mupundu-milimo) black (ukufita ) white ( ukubuta) gray (ukufitulukila) red ( ukukashika) blue (makumbi makumbi ) yellow (mutuntula ) green (katapa katapa ) orange ( ) purple ( kolokondwe) brown ( ) How much is a ticket to _____? ( tiketi ku Mpika ni shinga?) ( Mpeniko tiketi imo) Where does this train/bus go? (Saca ileya kwi? ) (bushe iyi train/bus ile minina mu_________? ) (bushe ni nshita nshi yala ima train/bus? ) (bushe ni nshita nshi yala fika train/bus ) How do I get to _____ ? ( Bushe kuti naenda shani pakuya ku......) ...the train station? (Ichitesheni ce shitima) ...the bus station? (Citesheni ca saca) ...the airport? (Cibansa ca ndeke) ...downtown? (Kwisamba lya musumba) ...the youth hostel? (My ng'anda ya beni imisepela) ...the _____ hotel? ( ) Where are there a lot of... (Bushe kwalibako ...) ...hotels? (Amayanda ya beni?) (Amayanda ya kulilamo?) ...bars? (Ifikulwa fya bwalwa?) (Incende sha kumona?) (Nangako pali mapu wa calo) street (Mumusebo) Turn left. (Pilibukila ku kuso ) Turn right. (Pilibukila ku kulyo ) left (ukuso ) right ( ukulyo) straight ahead (Ukuya fye ukwabula ukupilibukila kukulyo nelyo kukuso) towards the _____ (Ukupalamina mupepi na ...) past the _____ (Ukucilako pa ...) before the _____ (pantanshi ya ...) Watch for the _____. (Lolesha kuli ...) intersection (Amakumanino) north (Akabanga) south (Amasamba) east (Akapinda ka kukulyo) west (Akapinda ka kukuso) uphill (ku mulundu ) downhill (ku mukunkuluko ) Taxi! (Ntawaloko ku............,Napapata ) How much does it cost to get to _____? (Nishinga ukuya ku.............. ) Take me there, please. (Ntwaleniko uko, Napapata ) Do you have any rooms available? (Namu Kwatako ama Room ya free? ) ( ) ...a TV? (Ichitunsha tusha ) May I see the room first? (Mukwai mbale mbona kukaki) Do you have anything quieter? (Bushe namukwata ichiliko tondolo? ) ...bigger? (Ichikulilepo? ) ...cleaner? (kabomba ) ...cheaper? (Ichachipa ) OK, I'll take it. (Ok, Nalasenda ) I will stay for _____ night(s). (Nkekala inshiku........... ) Can you suggest another hotel? (Bushe Mwalikwata umwakusungila indala? ) ...lockers? (umwakusungila ifipe? ) (Bushe mulapela ifyakula iluchelo? ) (nishita nshi yakulilapo breakfast elo na supper? ) (Mukwai kuti mwapyanga kukati. ) (Bushe kuti wakwanisha uku nshibusha............? ) (Na ambako mukwai ) Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars? (Bushe mulasumina dollar? ) (Bushe mulasumina pound ) Do you accept euros? (Bushe mulasumina Euro ) Do you accept credit cards? (Bushe kuti nabomfye Bank card ukulipila? ) (Mukwai nchingisheni ko impiya/indalama ) Where can I get money changed? (Itebulo lya muntu umo/Itebulo lya bantu babili. ) (Tulefwaya ka menu ) Can I look in the kitchen? ( Nga ma Specal?) (Nshilya inama ) I don't eat pork. (Nshilya Inkumba ) I don't eat beef. (Nshilya inama ya ng'ombe ) I only eat kosher food. (Ndya fye inama epela ) Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard) (Mwifusha sana amafuta elyo mukala ipika ) fixed-price meal ( ) a la carte ( ) breakfast ( ) lunch ( ) tea (meal) ( ) supper ( ) I want _____. (Ndefwaya ) I want a dish containing _____. (Ndefywa ichakula ichalakwata...... ) chicken ( inkoko) beef ( inama ya ng'ombe) fish ( Isabi) ham (inama ya nkumba ) sausage ( soseji) cheese (Chezi ) eggs (Amani ) salad (Saladi ) (fresh) vegetables ( Umusalu) (fresh) fruit ( ) bread (Umukate ) toast (Umukate waku shinga butter elyo ukocha ) noodles () rice (umupunga) beans (cilemba) pronounced "Chilemba" as 'C' in Bemba is pronounced 'Ch" May I have a glass of _____? (Ndefwaya.................? )The recipient will know what is meant based on context May I have a cup of _____? (Ndefwaya..........? ) The recipient will know what is meant based on context May I have a bottle of _____? (Ndefwaya...................? ) coffee ( kofi) tea (drink) Milk (Umukaka) juice (Jusi) (bubbly) water ( ) (still) water (Amenshi ) beer ( Ubwalwa) red/white wine (Umushanga ) May I have some _____? (Ndefwaya..........? ) salt (Umucele ) black pepper ( ) butter ( ) Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server) ( Batata (Man), Ba Mayo (if woman)) I'm finished. ( Napwisha) It was delicious. (Fwachiwama ) Please clear the plates. ( Kuti mwa teula) The check, please. (Mulashitisha ubwalwa? ) (Bushe mulapekanisha? ) (Ubwalwa bumo/bubili ) suffix 'b' A glass of red/white wine, please. (Ndefwaya wine ) A pint, please. (Ibotolo limo) ...................(hard liquor) and.......................(mixer), please. (Ubwalwa ubwakila sana nefyaku chefeshako ubukali ) whiskey ( ) vodka ( ) rum ( ) water (Amenshi ) club soda ( ) tonic water ( ) orange juice ( ) Coke (soda) (Coca Cola ) Do you have any bar snacks? (Mpela nakabili/nafuti ) Another round, please. (Mpelako nabumbi. ) (Ni nshita nshi mwisala? ) Cheers! (Chileshe! ) (Namukwata iyi in'gandinga? ) (Ni shinga ici ) That's too expensive. ( wakula sana mutengo) Would you take _____? (Bushe Kutimwafwaya...........?) expensive (umutengo ) cheap (ukuchipa ) I can't afford it. (teti nkwanishe ukulipila ) I don't want it. (Nshilefwaya ici) You're cheating me. (Ulemfwenga? ) (Nalasenda ) Can I have a bag? (Bushe Mulatuma Kubulaya ) I need... (ndefwaya.......... ) ...toothpaste. (Umuswaki ) ...tampons. . ( ) ...soap. ( sopo) ...shampoo. (Sopo ya kusambila umushishi ) ...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen) (ka panadol ) ...cold medicine. (umuti wa chifuba ) ...stomach medicine. ... (umuti wa mumala ) ...a razor. (amafuta ya kuchingililwa kukasuba ) ...a postcard. (Inkalata ) ...postage stamps. (Stampu yankalata ) ...batteries. (Ichitpepala Chakulembelapo ) ...a pen. ( ) stop (on a street sign) (STOP ) one way ( ) yield ( ) no parking ( ) speed limit ( ) gas (petrol) station ( ) petrol ( ) diesel ( ) I haven't done anything wrong. (Takuli echo ndufyenye ) It was a misunderstanding. (Mulentwala kwisa? ) (Mule nkaka? ) (Ndefwaya ukulansha/ukulanda no Mwina America/British/Canadian ) I want to talk to a lawyer. (Ndefwaya ukulanda naba lawyer ) Can I just pay a fine now? (Bushe teti ndipile echo mupinguile apapene? )
{'wiki_source': 'wikivoyage', 'other_info': "{'content_model': 'wikitext', 'language': 'en', 'title': 'Chibemba phrasebook', 'type': 'text'}"}