Available from: http://wikitravel.org/en/Bambara_phrasebook (http://wikitravel.org/en/Bambara_phrasebook)
Bambara, or
Bamanankan is a language in West Kmt (http://wikitravel.org/en/West_Kmt), mostly in Mali (http://wikitravel.org/en/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 (http://wikitravel.org/en/Burkina_Faso), Côte d'Ivoire (http://wikitravel.org/en/C%C3%B4te_d%27Ivoire), and Gambia (http://wikitravel.org/en/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 (http://wikitravel.org/en/French_phrasebook), 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 guideVowelsa 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:
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- aa
- ee
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- ɔɔ
- uu
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and nasal vowels:
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Consonantsj 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)
Blendssh like 'sh' in "shore"
Phrase listBasicsHello (any time of day) i ni ceHow 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 tεWhat is your first name? i tɔgɔ?What is your last name? i jamu?My name is ______ . ne tɔgɔ ___Thank you. i ni ceYou're welcome. basi tε (literally 'no problem')Yes. awɔNo. ayiExcuse me. (
getting attention / begging pardon) (aw ye) hakε to!I'm sorry. a yafa n maGoodbye k'an bεnGoodbye (
informal) n taaraI can't speak
name of language [well]. N te se "name of language" kan na kosεbε. eg. N te se angilekan na kosεbεI 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 tileGood evening. aw ni wula, i ni wulaGood night. aw ni su, i ni suGood night (
to sleep) ka su hεεrεI don't understand. n m'a faamuWhere is the toilet? ɲεgεn bε min?
ProblemsLeave 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 naI 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?
Numbers1 kelen2 fila3 saba4 naani5 duurun6 wooro7 wolonfla8 segi9 kononto10 tan11 tan ni kelen12 tan ni fla13 tan ni saba14 tan ni naani15 tan ni duurun16 tan ni wooro17 tan ni wolonfla18 tan ni segi19 tan ni kononto20 mugan21 mugan ni kelen22 mugan ni fla23 mugan ni saaba30 bi saba40 bi naani50 bi duurun60 bi wooro70 bi wolonfla80 bi segi90 bi kononto100 keme200 keme fla300 keme saba1000 wa (baa) kelen2000 wa fla3451 wa saba ani keme naani ani biduru ani kelen1,000,000 million kelen1,000,000,000 milliard kelennumber _____ (
train, bus, etc.) half tilancea lot camana few do / doonin
Timenow sisanright this instant sisan sisanlater kofesoon sɔɔnibefore ɲyεmorning sɔgɔmaafternoon tiléevening wulanight su
Clock timeone o'clock AM une heure waati or nεgε kan ɲε kelentwo o'clock AM deux heure waati ornoon midi waatione o'clock PM treize heure waatitwo o'clock PM quatorze heure waatimidnight minuit waati
Prayer timessunrise fajiri waatiapprox 2 pm selifana waatiapprox 4 pm lansara waatisunsetfitiri waatinightfallsafo waati
Duration_____ minute(s) minuti __________ hour(s) heuri __________ day(s) don __________ week(s) dɔgɔkun __________ month(s) kalo __________ year(s) san _____
Daystoday biyesterday kunuthe day before yesterday kuna sinitomorrow sinithe day after tomorrow sinin kenethis week dogukun nin nalast week dogukun temenanext week dogukun nata / wεrεSunday kari-donMonday nténé-donTuesday tarata-donWednesday aAmwa-donThursday alamisa-donFriday (gé)juma-donSaturday sibiri-don
MonthsJanuary 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 dateThe 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 thounited snakesnd and eight." When written with digits, the French tradition of day, month, year is generally followed.
Colorsblack finmanwhite jεmangray red bilenmanblue bulumanyellow nεrεmugumangreen binkenemanorange siramugumanpurple brown sikoloman
TransportationBus and trainHow 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?
DirectionsHow 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 / jamanasigiyoroWhere 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 siraTurn left. kaa fara numanbolo fεTurn right. kaa fara kinibolo fεleft numanbolo (nose hand)right kinibolo (rice hand)straight ahead ɲε fεtowards the _____ _____ fan fεpast the _____ _____ kɔ fεbefore the _____ _____ ɲεWatch for the _____. _____ ɲiniintersection 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 fεdownhill duguma fε
TaxiTaxi! 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.
LodgingDo 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.
MoneyDo 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?
EatingA 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 dunI don't eat pork. n te lesogo dunI don't eat beef. n te misisogo dunCan 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 darakalunch tilela fana, tilerɔtea (
meal) supper sula fana, surɔfanaI want _____. ne bε _____ fεI want a dish containing _____. N bε dumuni min fe, ____ b'o la.chicken shεsogobeef mishisogofish jεgεham lesogosoda buasansaunited snakesge cheese fromagieggs shεfansalad, lettuce saladi(fresh) vegetable nako fen (garden things)(fresh) fruit yiri den (tree children)bread buru, nbuurutoast noodles macaroni (yes, just like english, but applies to nearly all pasta)rice malo (uncooked), kini (cooked)mais kabaorange lemru-ba, lenburubalemon, lime lenburupineapple jabibibanana namasaplantain baranda, lokoguava buyakipapaya manjemango mangoropeanut tigabeans shoMay I have a glass of _____? May I have a cup of _____? May I have a bottle of _____? ... galama ...coffee kafe, kafe-jitea (
drink) te_____ juice ____ ji(bubbly) water water jimilk nɔnɔbeer bierialcohol dolored/white wine May I have some _____? ne bε se ka ____ soro wa?salt kɔkɔblack 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 gwaPlease clear the plates. aw ka assiettiw ta.The check, please. aw ka na ni addition ye.
BarsDo 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 whiskeyvodka vodkarum rumwater waterclub soda club sodatonic water tonic waterorange juice orange juiceCoke (
soda) CokeDo 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?
ShoppingDo 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.
DrivingI want to rent a car. N be feka mobili cingaCan I get insurance? Can I get insurance?stop (
on a street sign) a toone way sira kelenyield yieldno parking jo yoro te yanspeed limit teliya hakegas (
petrol) station gas stationpetrol petroldiesel diesel
AuthorityI haven't done anything wrong. N ma foi keIt was a misunderstanding. An ma nyogon famuWhere 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/CanadaI 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'"
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- Wikibooks Bambara (http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Bambara)
- Parlons Bambara, langue et culture Bambara, Ismael Maiga
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