Basic Words

1. Ee

   Yes

   Usage

   Plain affirmative; also used to agree with what someone has said

   Grammar Note

   An invariable word; add the polite word "mukwai" ("Ee mukwai") to sound more respectful

2. Awe

   No

   Usage

   Plain negative; also used to correct someone ("no, rather ...")

   Grammar Note

   An invariable word, often followed by the correction

3. Twapapata mukwai

   Please

   Usage

   A polite phrase added before or after a request; suitable for elders and officials

   Grammar Note

   "mukwai" is a respectful address for men and women and makes the request polite; put the request itself before or after this phrase

4. Ndemutootela.

   Thank you.

   Usage

   The basic way to say thanks, using the respectful plural "you"

   Grammar Note

   "nde-" = I am (doing), "-mu-" = you (polite), stem "-tootela" = thank. Everyday speech may use other thanks formulas as well; native review recommended

5. Ndelomba ubwelelo.

   I am sorry.

   Usage

   The way to apologise; literally "I ask for forgiveness"

   Grammar Note

   The first-person progressive of "ukulomba ubwelelo" (to ask forgiveness). Add "mukwai" at the end to be more polite. This is for apologising, not for calling someone's attention

6. Tapali ubwafya.

   No problem.

   Usage

   A reply when someone apologises or when you accept a request

   Grammar Note

   "tapali" is the negative "there is none". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

7. Nshishibe.

   I do not know.

   Usage

   A reply when you cannot answer or do not know a place or fact

   Grammar Note

   The first-person negative of "-shiba" (to know); the thing not known can follow, as in "Nshishibe uko mufumine" ("I do not know where you are from")

8. Ngafweni, mukwai.

   Please help me.

   Usage

   A polite way to ask people nearby for help

   Grammar Note

   "-eni" is the polite/plural command ending; the stem "-afwa" means "help" and "-n-" is "me"

9. Landeni panono panono, mukwai.

   Please speak slowly.

   Usage

   What to say when someone speaks too fast to follow

   Grammar Note

   The verb "-landa" (speak) with the polite/plural command ending "-eni"; doubling "panono" gives "slowly, bit by bit". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

10. Ndelanda Icibemba panono.

    I speak a little Bemba.

    Usage

    A short line to say you speak some Bemba

    Grammar Note

    Language names start with the prefix "ici-". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

11. Bushe mulanda Icisungu?

    Do you speak English?

    Usage

    Ask whether someone speaks English when you need help in a shared language

    Grammar Note

    "Bushe" at the start makes a yes/no question; "mu-" is the polite "you". English is also often written "Cisungu" without the initial i. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

12. Ici

    This one

    Usage

    Point at something near you and say "this one"

    Grammar Note

    "ici" points to things of the "ici-" class; the form changes with the kind of noun being pointed at

13. Ico

    That one

    Usage

    Refers to something near the listener or already mentioned

    Grammar Note

    "ico" is the "that" for the "ici-" class of nouns, used for things further away than "ici"

14. Pano

    Here

    Usage

    Says "here" for where you are now

    Grammar Note

    Put after a verb, as in "Ikaleni pano" ("please stay here")

15. Kulya

    Over there

    Usage

    Points to a place at some distance; use with a gesture

    Grammar Note

    The place prefix "ku-" plus the distant marker "-lya"

16. Ine

    I / me

    Usage

    Used to emphasise "I"; ordinary sentences leave it out because the verb already contains it

    Grammar Note

    The independent pronoun "I"; as in "Ine ndi ..." ("I am ...")

17. Imwe

    You (polite)

    Usage

    The respectful "you", for elders and people you have just met

    Grammar Note

    Originally the plural "you"; used for one person it shows respect. Friends use the singular "Iwe"

18. Pamo

    Together

    Usage

    Means "together"; handy for asking to do things as a group

    Grammar Note

    "pa-" (place) + "-mo" (one), i.e. "in one place", hence "together"; put after the verb

19. Umuntu umo

    One person

    Usage

    For stating a number of people, e.g. when booking transport or a room

    Grammar Note

    Numbers follow the noun and agree with its class; "umo" goes with the singular person class

20. Abantu babili

    Two people

    Usage

    To say there are two of you

    Grammar Note

    Numbers for plural people begin with "ba-" (babili, batatu)

21. Abantu batatu

    Three people

    Usage

    To say there are three of you

    Grammar Note

    Numbers for plural people begin with "ba-" (babili, batatu)

Browse all TravelPhrases languages