English→Bambara

Translate English to Bambara like a local.

Bamako-standard Bambara sounds like itself in its respectful aw address and its i ni ce greetings that change with the time of day.

Going the other way? Bambara to English

474 local dialects

What locals actually say

Good morning, Mom.

Aw ni sɔgɔma, n ba.

Aw is the respectful singular used for an elder, while n ba addresses one’s mother with warmth.

Good afternoon, where is the market?

Aw ni tile, sugu bɛ min?

Tile is the daytime greeting, and bɛ min asks where something is in everyday Bambara.

Good evening, everyone.

Aw ni wula, aw bɛɛ.

Wula marks the evening greeting, while aw bɛɛ addresses the whole group rather than one person.

I don't have any money.

Wari tɛ ne fɛ.

The construction tɛ ... fɛ expresses negated possession, and wari means money.

I am hungry.

Kɔngɔ bɛ n na.

Kɔngɔ means hunger, while bɛ ... na marks the state as affecting the speaker.

My child is sleeping.

N den bɛ sunɔgɔ la.

Den means child, and bɛ ... la marks an ongoing activity or state.

I am going to work now.

Sisan, n bɛ taa baara la.

Sisan means now, and baara la means at work or to work using the Bambara locative construction.

It is raining.

San bɛ na.

San means rain, and bɛ na signals that the rain is coming or currently falling.

Notes like these come with every AIRTranslate translation, so you learn why locals phrase it that way as you go.

Bambara (Bamako standard); i ni ce greetings by time of day.

Every one of 474 dialects, with voice, camera, a keyboard for any app, and offline packs.