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Bemba Lesson 1 – Learn ici Bemba (Language) – Instructions

Bemba is one of Zambia’s second most widely spoken language. Some would say it was the most widely spoken. It is also spoken in neighbouring countries like the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Angola, Botswana and Tanzania.

As a tourist visiting the Copperbelt you can expect to come across someone who only speaks Bemba. Learning a new language is part of the excitement of traveling to new places and getting to interact and integrate with local people. Bemba is a very respectful language.

Plural forms of pronouns are used to convey respect for peers and for those older than yourself. When used in the singular form, pronouns would be directed at young children. The curious fact is that traditional rappers at the king’s court actually use pronouns in the singular to enhance the veneration of the king. But this is very advanced language! In general any man older than yourself is addressed as “father” – (ba) tata, an older woman is addressed as “mother” – (ba) mayo.

Bemba spoken along the line of rail (Kitwe to Livingstone) contains some English and Nyanja terms. English-Bemba terms:

Singular Plural
Be careful Cenjela Cenjeleni
Call Ita Iteni
Carry Senda Sendeni
Close Isala Isaleni
Come here Isa kuno Iseni kuno
Cut here Putula apa Putuleni apa
Don’t make noise Wipanga icongo Mwipanga icongo
Drop Ponya Ponyeni
Fetch Fwaya Fwayeni
Gently Bwinobwino
Go Away Kabiye Kabiyeni
Go backwards Bwelela kunuma Bweleleni kunuma
Go forward Kabiye kuntanshi Kabiyeni kuntanshi
Go sideways Kabiye kulubali Kabiyeni kulubali
Go there Kabiye kulya Kabiyeni kulya
Go to the left Kabiye kukuso Kabiyeni kukuso
Go to the right Kabiye kukulyo Kabiyeni kukulyo
Hit Uma Umeni
Hurry up Endesha Endesheni
Kneel down Fukama Fukameni
Let’s go Tiye Tiyeni
Lie down Sendama Sendameni
Lift Imya Imyeni
Listen Umfwa Umfweni
Little by little Panono panono
Look here Lolesha kuno Lolesheni kuno
Look there Lolesha kulya Lolesheni kulya
Open Isula Isuleni
Paddle Oba Obeni
Pour Itila Itileni
Pull Tinta Tinteni
Push Sunka Sunkeni
Put down Bika panshi Bikeni panshi
Shout Punda Pundeni
Shut up/Be quiet Ikala tondolo Ikaleni tondolo
Slowly Panono panono
Stop/End Leka Lekeni
Take that Bula cilya Buleni cilya
Take this Bula ichi Buleni ichi
Throw Posa Poseni
Walk(quickly) Endesha Endesheni

Free Bemba Lessons Here
Free Bemba Lessons Here

For a more comprehensive cover of the language, grab yourself an English-Bemba dictionary and enjoy the journey of learning a new language.

37 Thoughts on Bemba Lesson 1 – Learn ici Bemba (Language) – Instructions
    RICHARD KATEBE
    21 Dec 2012
    8:18am

    Hi Christian
    You can vist any of the following bookshops in Kitwe for your books in Icibemba.You can visit Christian Bookshop at Sanlam building and it is next to Zesco Customer Service Centre.You may also visit BooKNook along Obote Street.BookNook is just opposite the Kitwe District Commiszioner’s Office.You may also visit Book World along Kabelenga Street. Book World is on the new building next to the Catholic Church in Kitwe City Centre.You may also go to ESKYATS on Matuka Avenue.ESAYATS is just around where the Mposa Mabwe statue is situated in Kitwe main business Centre.There are selected street vendors who have books in Icibemba.The other place where you can buy your books in Icibemba is at the Copperbelt University Campus.There are a number of bookshops there.The Copperbelt University can be accessed through Nkana East on Chiwala street or on Jambo Drive in Riverside.

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    Peter
    30 Dec 2012
    10:54pm

    “COME HERE” DOES NOT MEAN ISA. IT MEANS ISA KUNO.

    DO NOT MISLEAD LEARNERS.

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      JS
      31 Dec 2012
      9:41pm

      Ba Peter,

      Thank you for your correction. We have changed the script accordingly.
      The aim is to inform and with your help and the help of other readers, we will do that.
      Thank you very much for your contribution.

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      RICHARD KATEBE
      1 Jan 2013
      6:34am

      “COME HERE” in its singular usage indeed means, ISA KUNO.However,it can also be plural.In this case it means ISENI KUNO.

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    Christian Lambillotte
    19 Nov 2012
    5:54pm

    Hi there,
    I’m a Belgian national and just established a new company in Solwezi, together with my Zambian business partner. As I intend to stay in Zambia for a very long time, I thought it would be nice to learn at least the most widely spoken dialect of the Zambian people, being Bemba, if I’m not mistaken. And most of all, I also would like to do so just out of respect for them. Your site is very useful in learning Bemba, and I thank you for that, but I know learning on how to pronounce is equally important as just to learn words. Could you please tell me if there is a way to solve this problem ? And could you also tell me where and how I could find books that could also help me to learn this very beautiful language ? Not in Solwezi, as I found out…
    Thanks so much for your attention and for your quick reply.

    Natotela !

    Christian

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      Jonathan McNally (Wupe wa kwa Lesa)
      24 Jan 2013
      5:37am

      Hi Christian, I only know a few words but it seems that a c is pronounced ‘ch’ (with K and S being the same as in English). Also good look with pronouncing the Bemba letter “ng” ;). Lesa Mupalu, Jonathan

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    Denise
    5 Aug 2013
    10:32pm

    Thank you for this helpful site. I’m hoping to learn Bemba so that I can teach my (adult) friend to read. She lives in Cape Town and speaks English. I’m hoping that she will be able to read if she learns to read in her mother tongue. That would be my greatest joy!

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      JS
      5 Aug 2013
      11:07pm

      Hi Denise,
      It sounds like you have an interesting goal. I hope you will find our lessons helpful.

      Let me know if there are particular topics you would like us to cover.

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    MsP
    20 Jan 2014
    11:16pm

    Exciting time for me on a journey to learn Bemba

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    Randoll Rex
    2 Jul 2015
    9:52am

    How do you say “I’ve never been there in Bemba….Natotela in advance.

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      JS
      2 Jul 2015
      5:01pm

      Hi Rex,
      “I’ve never been there” = “Nshayako. ”
      To go = Ukuya
      I’ve never = Nsha …
      There = Kulya (contracted to “ko”)

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    Njabulo Ndlovu
    21 Aug 2015
    6:07am

    Ho do you say this in bemba. “I’ve been away for a long time”

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    Kim Taylor
    9 Sep 2015
    9:53pm

    Would you please help with this translation: ” Mwalamba mwani muchikope” and what does it mean.

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      JS
      17 Sep 2015
      8:08pm

      Hi Kim. I’m reliably informed that “Mwalamba mwane muchikope.” (note spelling of “mwane” – used as a sign of respect) is a Kaonde compliment meaning “You have a beautiful image.”

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    Pascal chishimba
    2 Dec 2015
    4:50pm

    I like icibemba icinecine because iam bemba by tribe.

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    Laura
    15 Dec 2015
    10:54pm

    What does this Bemba walisa nolubuli mean in English?

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    Peter Chileshe Mukosela
    17 May 2016
    12:16pm

    Let’s go in bemba can be translated as “tuleya and in plural in tuleyeni” and the pronunciation tuleya will differentiate it from sounding like its a question

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      Laura Ingwe
      2 Jun 2016
      5:26pm

      translate “naiwe kali lowesha” to english.

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        JS
        7 Jun 2016
        5:39am

        Hi Laura,
        “kalilowesha” means “It is very sweet.”
        “Naiwe” is equivalent to “you” as in “I am telling you ….”

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    John Sungura
    3 Aug 2016
    8:22am

    thanks for good lesson

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      JS
      9 Aug 2016
      11:56am

      Hi John. Thanks for your feedback.

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    Usman Houston
    21 Aug 2016
    10:05pm

    i love bemba language,but am a Nigerian

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      JS
      24 Aug 2016
      7:21am

      Hi Usman,
      I think a language is like a song in a different language. You can enjoy it even before you understand a word.

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        Alicia Mwewa
        2 Jul 2020
        1:48pm

        Is there videos I can learn from

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          JS
          2 Jul 2020
          1:56pm

          Hi Alicia. Kitweonline has a few videos on YouTube, and there are some more from other sources that you can watch there.

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    Elaine Jere
    15 Apr 2017
    1:11pm

    Hello, i think this is a great website. Is there anywhere i can learn with a real person, someone willing to tutor me. I think that will help so much with my spoken bemba. Thank you so much .

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      JS
      2 May 2017
      6:34am

      Hi Elaine.
      Kitwe Online has no current program but one place you could try is Alliance Française of Lusaka. Plot 22725 Alick Nkhata Avenue, Long acres. Tel: +260 211 253 467. Email: secretaryaflusaka@gmail .

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      Robert Muthui
      23 Oct 2021
      8:22am

      I’d like to learn to speak Bemba.

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    Peter
    24 Jul 2020
    8:14am

    Thank you very much for this great work.
    Could you please tell me what Nakulalolela means?

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      JS
      24 Jul 2020
      11:56am

      Hi Peter.
      “Nakulalolela” = “I will be waiting.”

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    Rony
    9 Aug 2022
    11:30am

    How to say ( I love you) in bemba language?

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    Norah
    12 Nov 2021
    7:18pm

    Hi,you stopped to teach bemba?because the line is become very quiet,what happened?

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      JS
      12 Nov 2021
      8:15pm

      Hi Norah, life got in the way.
      We hope to do a few more in the coming year.

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    Tony
    10 Jul 2021
    11:56am

    Correction: I am not a bemba, but l love bemba language and bemba women.
    What is contracted in ‘Nshayako’ is ‘uko’ which becomes ‘ko’ and not ‘Kulya’ as stated.

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      JS
      15 Jul 2021
      7:40am

      Tony, you have a point.
      Nshayako = “I’ve never been.”
      Kulya = “there”
      You could also consider “I’ve never been” as a shortened form of “I’ve never been there.”
      Similarly, “Nshayako kulya” (or “Nshayako uko”) can be used interchangeably as the full term.

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    Daniel Niemi
    27 Dec 2023
    3:09am

    Thank you for a great lesson. I will do them all. I am from Sweden but hope to learn Bemba.

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      JS
      27 Dec 2023
      6:22am

      Hi Daniel. You’re most welcome to the lessons. Thank you for your feedback.

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