Bemba, also ichiBemba, iciBemba, ciBemba and chiBemba is a bantu language spoken primarily in north eastern Zambia and southern parts of both the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Tanzania.
It is one of the eight official languages in Zambia.
Bemba is a tonal language with the high(‘) and low(`) tones.
Vowels
Bemba has 5 vowels. However, double vowels do occur in some words by way of pronunciation.
| Normal vowels | Double vowels |
| a (a) | â (aa) |
| e (e) | ê (ee) |
| i (i) | î (ii) |
| o (o) | ô (oo) |
| u (u) | û (uu) |
The double vowels have a drawn out sound.
Consonants
The letters J , Q, R, V, X and Z does not exist in Bemba words.
In proper nouns, letter ‘c’ is written ‘ch’.
Greetings in Bemba
| English | Bemba |
| Good evening. | cungulo mukwai |
| Good morning. | mwashibukeni |
| Good afternoon. | mwapoleni |
| How are you? | muli shani? |
| How are you today? | muli shani lelo? |
| I am fine. | tuli bwino |
| Have a good day. | mwende bwino |
| I am doing great. | tuli bwino sana |
| Hi/Hello. | mwapoleni |
| Nice to meet you. | cawama ukukumana |
| See you soon. | twalamonana |
| See you later. | tukamonana |
Bemba Love Words and Phrases
| English | Bemba |
| I love you. | nalimitemwa |
| I miss you. | ndemifuluka |
| Love you so much | nalimitemwa sana |
| I want to see you. | ndefwaya ukumimona |
| I love you with all my heart. | nalimitemwa na umutima wandi onse |
| I love you too. | naine nalimitemwa |
| I want to see you. | ndefwaya ukumimona |
| I like you. | naine nalimitemwa |
| You are beautiful. | muli basuma |
| My love. | mutemwiko wandi |
| You look beautiful. | mulemoneka bwino |
| My beautiful wife. | abakashi bandi abasuma |
| I miss you so much, darling. | ndemifuluka sana |
| I need you. | ndemikabila |
| You will miss me. | mukamfuluka |
| Goodbye, my love. | shalenipo we mutemwiko wandi |
| See you tomorrow. | tukamonana mailo |
| I will marry you. | nkamyupa |
| I want some space. | |
| I need your love. | ndekabila icitemwiko cenu |
| You are mine. | uli wandi |
Directions in Bemba
| English | Bemba |
| Where are you? | Muli kwisa? |
| Where did you go? | mwaciya kwisa? |
| Where do you live? | mwikala kwisa? |
| Where are you going? | muleya kwisa? |
| Where were you? | mwaciba kwisa? |
Common Questions in Conversations in Bemba
| English | Bemba |
| How much? | shinga? |
| How are you feeling? | muleumfwa shani |
| How have you been? | mulishani? |
| What is your name? | nimwebo ba nani ishina? |
| What are you doing? | ninshi mulecita? |
| What are you cooking/eating? | ninshi muleipika/mulelya? |
| Are you okay, dear? | muli fye bwino? |
| When are you coming? | muleisa lisa? |
| How was your night/day? | mwacilala shani?/mwachiisha shani? |
| How are you doing? | mulishani? |
| How is your family? | balishani ku nganda? |
| How was your day? | mwachiisha shani? |
| What is wrong? | cinshi cilecitika? |
| What do you mean? | mulepilibula shani? |
| Have you gone to church? | namuya ku cilonganino? |
| What is this? | ni cinshi? |
| What's going on? | finshi filecitika? |
| Are you listening? | mulekutika |
| Have you heard? | namumfwa? |
| Can I go home? | kuti naya ku nganda? |
| Can I ask something? | njipusheko? |
| How is everything? | filishani? |
| What’s your phone number? | namba yenu nixxxxxx |
Everyday Conversations in Bemba
| English | Bemba |
| Happy birthday | mwafyalweni |
| Thank you | Twatotela |
| I am sorry | ndelomba ubwelelo |
| You are welcome. | eya mukwai |
| Me too! | naine wine |
| God bless you. | Lesa amipale |
| May god protect you. | lesa amisunge |
| She is happy. | batemwa |
| Please help me. | ngafweniko |
| I don't know. | shishibe |
| I will come tomorrow. | nkesa mailo |
| Come here! | iseni kuno |
| Feel at home. | |
| Be blessed. | lesa amipale |
| I am coming soon. | ndeisa nomba line |
| Excuse me. | |
| Leave me alone. | ndekeni nemwine |
| It is okay. | cilifye bwino |
| I am going home. | ndeya ku nganda |
| I don't want. | shilefwaya |
| Love is a beautiful thing. | ukutemwa cintu icisuma |
| Let me try. | lekeni njeshe |
| Welcome home. | Mwaiseni |
| I reached home safely. | nacifika bwino ku nganda |
| God is good. | lesa musuma |
| I don't understand. | shi umfwile |
| We are happy to see you. | Twaumfwa bwino pakumimona |
| I have it. | ninkwata |
| Rest in peace. | mulale mucibote |
| I don't have money. | shikwete indalama |
| I am done. | napwisha |
| I am going to the shop. | ndeya ku shopu |
| Happy new year. | caka cipya |
| Bad manners. | imisango ishibi |
| Stop using your phone. | lekeni ukubomfya foni |
| I need a favour, please. | ndefwayako ubwafwilisho |
| Haven’t seen you for ages. | kale namimwene |
| Great to see you again. | cawama ukumonana nakabili |
| I really appreciate it. | natotela sana |
| You made my day. | mwampangila ubushiku bwalelo |
| No problem. | Tapali umulandu |
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