Bambara phrasebook

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: 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? 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.  awò 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" la kosebe 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'in do bε yan, o bε 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 hεεrε I don't understand.  n m'a faamu Where is the toilet?  nyegan bε min wa? 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 or negue kan nye kelin two o'clock AM  deux heure waatior 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 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  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 credit 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 bε _____ fε I want a dish containing _____.  N be dumuni min fe, ____ b'o la. chicken  shεsogo beef  mishisogo fish  jègè ham  lesogo soda  buasan sausage  cheese  fromagi eggs  shεfan 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?  eska dolo be 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, A ka cha. Do bo a la [cheaper please] Would you take _____?  Would you take _____? expensive  ka galan (literally - too heavy) cheap  ma galan (literally - not heavy) I can't afford it.  wardi ne be n'bolo. (literally - the money is not in my hand) 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?  mahnah be wa? (literally - do you have plastic) Do you ship (overseas)?  Do you ship (overseas)? I need...  ...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 Keesay. (literally head-seed)or Kungaloo furu ...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.  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? External links Wikibooks Bambara Parlons Bambara, langue et culture Bambara, Ismael Maiga This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!