This Bambara course was developed by the U.S. Peace Corps for its volunteers going to Mali. It can be useful as a primer for learning the basics of the Bambara language. You can listen and follow along to each lesson or download the whole course directly.
Download Full Course (PDF and Audio Files)
Lesson 1 – The Alphabet
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| Letter/Sound | As in |
|---|---|
| a | Ah-ha |
| b | Book |
| c | Chair |
| d | Door |
| e | Day |
| ε | Met |
| f | Foot |
| g | Game |
| Ŋ | Sing |
| h | Hair |
| i | Tea |
| j | Jail |
| k | Kit |
| l | Lock |
| m | Meat |
| n | Net |
| ɲ | Onion |
| o | Soda |
| ɔ | Long |
| p | Put |
| r | River |
| s | See |
| Sh | Shame |
| t | Termite |
| u | Shoe |
| w | War |
| y | Year |
| z | Zebra |
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Lesson 2 – Vocabulary 1
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| Bambara | English |
|---|---|
| n | I |
| i | You (singular) |
| a | He or she |
| an | We |
| aw | You (plural) |
| u | They |
| Sɔgɔma | The morning |
| Sɔgɔma/Sɔgɔmadafε | In the morning |
| Tile | Noon |
| Tilefε | At noon |
| Wula | The afternoon |
| Wulafε | In the afternoon |
| Su | The night |
| Sufε | At night |
| Daraka | Breakfast |
| Tilelafana | Lunch |
| Surɔfana | Dinner |
| Denbaya | Family |
| Somɔgɔw | Family (lit people of the house) |
| Muso | Woman or wife |
| Musow | Women |
| Cε | Man or husband |
| Cεw | Men |
| Den | Child |
| Denw | Children |
| Ba | Mother |
| Fa | Father |
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Lesson 3 – Greetings
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| Bambara | English |
|---|---|
| Nba | Reply to a greeting (used only by men) |
| Nse | Reply to a greeting (used only by women) |
| I ni sɔgɔma | Good morning |
| Nba, i ni sɔgɔma | Good morning (males reply) |
| Nse, i ni sɔgɔma | Good morning (females reply) |
| I ni wula | Good afternoon |
| I ni su | Good evening |
| I ni tile(n) | Good afternoon (from noon until 2 PM) |
| I ka kεnε? | Are you fine? |
| Tɔɔro tε | No problems/trouble |
| Tɔɔro si tε | No problems at all |
| I fa ka kεnε? | Is your father fine? |
| Tɔɔrɔ t’a la | He is fine |
| I ba ka kεnε? | Is your mother fine? |
| Tɔɔrɔ t’a la | She is fine |
| I denw ka kεnε? | Are your children fine? |
| Tɔɔrɔ t’u la | They are fine |
| Somɔgɔw ka kεnε? | Is your family fine? |
| Tɔɔrɔ t’u la | They are fine |
| Hεrε sira? | Was the night peaceful? |
| Hεrε dɔrɔn | Peace only |
| Hεrε tilenna? | Was the day peaceful? |
| Hεrε dɔrɔn | Peace only |
| Bob ka kεnε? | Is Bob fine? |
| Tɔɔrɔ t’a la | He is fine |
| Jennifer ni Mark ka kεnε? | Are Jennifer and Mark fine? |
| Tɔɔrɔ t’u la | They are fine |
| I bε di? | How are you? |
| Somɔgɔw bε di? | How is your family? |
| I bisimila! | Welcome! (Singular) |
| Aw bisimila! | Welcome! (Plural) |
| Saha! | Thanks! (a reply to bisimila) |
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Lesson 4 – Numbers 1 to 20
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| Bambara | English |
|---|---|
| Kelen | One |
| Fila | Two |
| Saba | Three |
| Naani | Four |
| Duuru | Five |
| Wɔɔrɔ | Six |
| Wolonfila | Seven |
| Segin | Eight |
| Kɔnɔntɔn | Nine |
| Tan | Ten |
| Tan ni kelen | Eleven |
| Tan ni fila | Twelve |
| Tan ni saba | Thirteen |
| Tan ni naani | Fourteen |
| Tan ni duuru | Fifteen |
| Tan ni wɔɔrɔ | Sixteen |
| Tan ni wolonfila | Seventeen |
| Tan ni segin | Eighteen |
| Tan ni kɔnɔntɔn | Nineteen |
| Mugan | Twenty |
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Lesson 5 – Introductions
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| Bambara | English |
|---|---|
| N tɔgɔ Bubakar | My name is Bubakar |
| N jamu Jalo | My last name is Jalo |
| I tɔgɔ? | What’s your name? |
| I jamu? | What’s your last name? |
| N bε bɔ Mali la | I am from Mali |
| N muso bε bɔ Mauritanie | My wife is from Mauritania |
| I bε bɔ min? | Where are you from? |
| I muso bε bɔ min? | Where is your wife from? |
| A bε bɔ min? | Where is she or he from? |
| A tɔgɔ Mark | His name is Mark |
| A jamu Humphrey | His last name is Humphrey |
| Mark tε bɔ Mali la, a bε bɔ Ameriki | Mark is not from Mali. He is from America |
| I bε bɔ Ameriki wa? | Are you from the America? |
| Ayi, n tε bɔ Ameriki | No, I am not from the States. |
| I bε bɔ Mali la wa? | Are you from Mali? |
| ɔwɔ, n bε bɔ Mali la | Yes, I am from Mali |
| N ye karamɔgɔ ye | I am a teacher |
| N muso tε karamɔgɔ ye | My wife is not a teacher |
| Mark ye wolɔntεri ye | Mark is a volunteer |
| A muso tε wolɔntεri ye | His wife is not a volunteer |
| Mark muso ye kalanden ye | Mark’s wife is a student |
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Lesson 6 – Goodbyes
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| Bambara | English |
|---|---|
| K’an b’u fo! | Good-bye! (Lit we greet them) |
| U n’a mεn | They will hear your greetings |
| K’an bεn! | See you! |
| Ka tile hεrε caya | Have a good day |
| Ka su hεrε caya | Have a good night |
| Ka dugu ɲuman jε | May we have a good night |
| K’an kelen kelen wuli | May we have a good night |
| Amiina! | Amen! |
| K’an bεn sɔgɔma | See you in the morning |
| K’an bεn wulafε | See you in the afternoon |
| K’an bεn tilefε | See you around noon |
| K’an bεn sufε | See you in the evening |
| K’an bεn sinin | See you tomorrow |
| K’an bεn sɔɔni | See you soon |
| K’an bεn kɔfε | See you later |
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Lesson 7 – Basic Phrases
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| Bambara | English |
|---|---|
| A: I ni sɔgɔma | Good morning! |
| B: Nse, I ni sɔgɔma | Good morning! |
| A: I ka kεnε? | Are you fine? |
| B: Tɔɔrɔ si tε | No problems at all |
| A: Somɔgɔw bε di? | How is your family? |
| B: Tɔɔrɔ t’u la | They are fine |
| A: I bisimila! | Welcome! |
| B: Saha! | Thanks! |
| A: I tɔgɔ? | What’s your name? |
| B: N tɔgɔ Mariam. E dun? | My name is Mariam. And you? |
| A: N tɔgɔ Mamadu | My name is Mamadu |
| B: I ye karamɔgɔ ye wa? | Are you a teacher? |
| A: ɔwɔ, n ye “Corps de la Paix” karamɔgɔ ye | Yes, I am a Peace Corps teacher |
| B: Foli don. N bε taa so | I was just greeting. I am going home. |
| A: Ayiwa, k’an b’u fo | Ok! Good-bye! (we greet them) |
| B: U n’a mεn | They will hear your greetings |
| A: Ka tile hεrε caya | May we have a good day |
| B: Amiina | Amen |
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Lesson 8 – Vocabulary 2
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| Bambara | English |
|---|---|
| Tabali | A table |
| Sεsi | A chair |
| Sigilan | A stool |
| Biki | A pen |
| Kiriyon | A pencil |
| Kaye | A notebook |
| Liburu | A book |
| Saki | A bag |
| Lakεrε | Chalk |
| Tabulo | Chalk board |
| Asεti | A plate |
| Kutu | A spoon |
| Muru | A knife |
| Furalan | A broom |
| Dilan | A bed |
| Birifini | A blanket |
| Dara | A bed sheet |
| Dεbεn | A mat |
| Fini | Clothes |
| Doloki | A shirt |
| Kulusi | Pants |
| Sabara | Shoes |
| Nεgεso | Bike |
| Nunεti | Eye glasses |
| Ji | Water |
| Kafe | Coffee |
| Nɔnɔ | Milk |
| Sukaro | Sugar |
| Kɔkɔ | Salt |
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Lesson 9 – Vocabulary 3
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| Bambara | English |
|---|---|
| So | House |
| Kalanso | Classroom |
| ɲεgεn | Toilet |
| Gwabugu | Kitchen |
| Dumunikεyɔrɔ | Eating area/place |
| Gwa | Straw roof that you sit under |
| Lakɔli | School |
| Dɔgɔtɔrɔso | Hospital |
| Sugu | Market |
| Butiki | Shop |
| Biro | Office |
| Baji | River |
| Kɔlɔn | A well |
| Ponpu | Pump |
| Nakɔ | Garden |
| Foro | Field |
| Baarakεyɔrɔ | Working place |
| Misiri | Mosque |
| Egilisi | Church |
| Banki | Bank |
| Tεrεn gari | Train station |
| Abiyon jigin kεnε | Airport |
| Oto gari | Bus station |
| Posu | Post office |
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Lesson 10 – Numbers 20 to 2,000
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| Bambara | English |
|---|---|
| Mugan | Twenty |
| Mugan ni kelen | Twenty-one |
| Mugan ni fila | Twenty-two |
| Mugan ni saba | Twenty-three |
| Mugan ni naani | Twenty-four |
| Mugan ni duuru | Twenty-five |
| Mugan ni wɔɔrɔ | Twenty-six |
| Mugan ni wolonfila | Twenty-seven |
| Mugan ni segin | Twenty-eight |
| Mugan ni kɔnɔntɔn | Twenty-nine |
| Bi saba | Thirty |
| Bi saba ni kelen | Thirty-one |
| Bi naani | Forty |
| Bi duuru | Fifty |
| Bi wɔɔrɔ | Sixty |
| Bi wolonfila | Seventy |
| Bi segin | Eighty |
| Bi kɔnɔntɔn | Ninety |
| kεmε | One- hundred |
| Kεmε ni bi saba | One hundred thirty |
| Kεmε ni bi duuru | One hundred fifty |
| Kεmε fila | Two hundred |
| Kεmε saba | Three hundred |
| Kεmε naani | Four hundred |
| Kεmε duuru | Five hundred |
| kεmε wɔɔrɔ | Six hundred |
| Wa kelen | One thousand |
| Wa kelen ni kεmε fila ni bi duuru | One thousand-two hundred and fifty |
| Wa fila | Two thousand |
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Lesson 11 – Useful Expressions
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| Bambara | English |
|---|---|
| N sεgεnnen don | I am tired |
| Sunɔgɔ bε n na | I am sleepy |
| Kɔngɔ bε n na | I am hungry |
| Kɔngɔ tε n na | I am not hungry |
| Minɔgɔ bε n na | I am thirsty |
| Minɔgɔ tε n na | I am not thirsty |
| Funteni bε | It’s hot |
| Funteni tε | It’s not hot |
| Nεnε bε | It’s cold |
| Nεnε tε | It’s not cold |
| Hakεto | Excuse me |
| Hakε t’i la | You are excused |
| I bε taa min? | Where are you going? |
| N bε taa so | I am going home |
| N bε taa lakɔli la | I am going to school |
| Mark bε taa biro la | Mark is going to the office |
| A bε taa ɲεgεn na | He or she is going to the toilet |
| N tε taa biro la | I don’t go to the office |
| I bε Bamanakan fɔ? | Do you speak Bambara? |
| ɔwɔ, n bε Bamanankan fɔ dɔɔni | Yes, I speak Bambara a little bit |
| Mark tε Bamanankoan fɔ | Mark doesn’t speak Bambara |
| N tε tubabukan fε | I don’t like French |
| N tε kafe fε | I don’t like coffee |
| Jennifer bε Bamanankan fε | Jennifer likes Bambara |
| N bε kalankε | I study |
| N bε dumunikε | I eat |
| N bε baarakε | I work |
| A tε kalankε | He doesn’t study |
| A tε dumunikε | He doesn’t eat |
| A tε baarakε | He doesn’t work |
| N bε n ko | I bathe |
| N tε n ko sisan | I don’t bathe now |
| N b’a fε ka n lafiɲε | I want to rest |
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Lesson 12 – Family
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| Bambara | English |
|---|---|
| Fa | Father |
| Ba | Mother |
| Bangebaw | Parents |
| Den | Child |
| Denw | Children |
| Denbaya | Family |
| N ka denbaya | My family |
| Kɔrɔcε | Elder brother |
| Kɔrɔmuso | Elder sister |
| Dɔgɔcε | Younger brother |
| Dɔgɔmuso | Younger sister |
| Benkε | Uncle |
| Tεnεmuso | Aunt |
| Balima | Sibling |
| Mɔkε | Grand father |
| Mɔmuso | Grand mother |
| Mɔden | Grand child |
| Mark ye san mugan ni duuru ye | Mark is twenty-five years old |
| N ye san bi saba ye | I am thirty years old |
| I ye san joli ye? | How old are you? |
| Mark sigilen bε Gao | Mark is living in Gao |
| A sigilen tε New York | He is not living in New York |
| Dɔgɔmuso fila bε n fε | I have two younger sisters |
| Dɔgɔcε tε n fε | I don’t have a younger brother |
| Kɔrɔmuso bε Suzan fε | Suzan has an elder sister |
| Kɔrɔcε t’a fε | She doesn’t have an elder brother |
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Lesson 13 – Days and Time
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| Bambara | English |
|---|---|
| Tεnεn | Monday |
| Tarata | Tuesday |
| Araba | Wednesday |
| Alamisa | Thursday |
| Juma | Friday |
| Sibiri | Saturday |
| Kari | Sunday |
| Don go don | Every day |
| Sɔgɔma o sɔgɔma | Every morning |
| Wula o wula | Every afternoon |
| Su o su | Every night |
| Tεnεn o tεnεn | Every Monday |
| Juma o juma | Every Friday |
| Dɔgɔkun | Week |
| Kalo | Month |
| San | Year |
| Dɔgɔkun o dɔgɔkun | Every week |
| Kalo o kalo | Every month |
| San o san | Every year |
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