Bambara 101

It was Greek to me. ~William Shakespeare

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.

Speak From Day 1

Click here for more info about Benny's language learning program