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Bemba Lesson 11 – Visiting Grandma

GREETINGS

Grandma's house = Ing’anda yakwa mama

Grand dad’s house = Ing’anda yakwa shikulu

Hello Grandma = Mwapoleni mama

Hello Grandad = Mwapoleni shikulu

How are you? = Muli shani?

I am fine = Ndifye bwino

We are fine = Tulifye bwino

They are fine = Balifye bwino

How's the family? = Ulupwa luli shani?

My name is (John) = Nine (John)

 

COOKING

What are you doing? = Finshi mulecita?

I’m pounding maize = Ndetwa mataba

What are you cooking? = Finshi muleipika?

What can I cook for you? = Finshi ningamwipikila?

What would you like to eat? = Finshi mulefwayo kulya?

What would you like to drink? = Finshi mwalanwa?

Where is the salt? = Umucele ulikwi?

Where is the sugar? = Shuga ilikwi?

I am looking for … = Ndefwaya …

I am looking for another …(mango) = Ndefwaya …(mango) na imbi

 

Please wash your hands grandma = Sambeni kuminwe, mama

Your bath water is ready (I have prepared your bath) = Amenshi yakowa nimpekanya


a saucepan = Mupika

plate = Mbale

cup = Nkomaki ("Kapu")

glass = ("Gilasi")

Wooden pallet = Mwiko

Cooking oil = Saladi

Safety matches = Macisa

Charcoal = Malasha

Lamp = Lampi

Candle = Nyali

Maize meal = Bunga

Vegetables = Musalu

Meat = Nama

Salt = Mucele

Sugar = "Shuga"

Dish = Mbale yafongomana

Firewood = Nkuni

 

Water gourd = Inongo yamenshi

Gourd containing "Munkoyo" = Inongo ya munkoyo

The fire is burning well = Umulilo wayaka

The fire is ready = Umulilo wapya

I'm thirsty = Ndi necilaka

Cover the pot = Kupikeni pa mupika

 

Put away = Bikeni

Put on the shelf = Bikeni pa lwino

Put on top = Bikeni pamuulu

I am full, thanks = Naikuta, natotela

 

Put in … = Bikeni mu …

Put on … = Bikeni pa …


GENERAL

(Answering when you are called by name) = Mukwai

They want … = Balefwaya …

Is this … = Bushe ici… (singular)/ Bushe ifi … (plural)

Drinking water = Amenshi yakunwa

Bathing water = Amenshi yakusamba


They have gone to … = Bele ku …

the fields = mabala

the bush = mpanga

the market = Cisankano

the river = mumana

the roadside = musebo

the post office = "Poshiti ofishi"

the shops = matuka


Would you like … = Bushe mulefwaya …

I love you very much = Nalimutemwa sana

I missed you a lot = Nalemufuluka

Would you like help with that? = Mulefwaya mwafwilisheko?

Are you ok? = Muli bwino?

What will you cook? = Finshi mwala ipika?

We have come to visit you = Twishile mukumumona

Have a safe trip = Mwende umutende

Be safe = Mwikale umutende

Travel well = Mwende  bwino

You are all grown up  = Namukula


Are you hungry? = Muli nensala?

How is school? = Amasambililo yali shani?

How are your young brothers? = Abaice benu bali shani?

How are your young sisters? = Abaice benu bali shani?

How are your sisters? = Bankashi shenu balishani?

Come and visit us again = Mukese tutandalila nakabili

Come and visit me again = Mukese monako nakabili

We want you to come and visit us soon = tulefwaya mukese tandala nakabili bwangu bwangu

When are you coming to visit me again? = Nililali mukesa monako nakabili?

Welcome back = Mwabweleni

I've missed you = Namufuluka


PRESENTS (GIFTS)

I brought you this (little present) = Namuletelako aka

I brought you some photos = Namuletelako ifikope


You are looking well = Mulemoneka bwino

How was your day?  = Mwatandala shani?

That's nice = Cawama


Let's pray = Tulombe/Natupepe/Tusalike

Can you lead us in prayer? = Lombeni


Where is … = … li kwi?

the toilet? = cimbusu

under the big tree = mwisamba lya cimuti

tree branch = umusambo wakamuti

Over there = Palya

Behind = Kunuma ya …

Underneath = Mwisamba lya …

Between = Pakati ka …

I want to … = Ndefwaya uku …

Learn = Sambilila

Take a photo of you = Ukumukope cikope

Work = Ncito

Do some work = Ukubomba

Clean (verb) = Wamya

Wash (verb) = Samfya

Sweep = Pyanga

Dry (verb) = Anika

Pound/Grind = Twa

Boil (verb) = Ipika

Cook  (verb) = Ipika

I want to sleep now = Ndefwayo kusendama nomba

I'm going to my bedroom = Naya kucipinda catulo


TAKING PHOTOS

Please stand here = Iminineni apa

Please come here = Nabese kuno (Iseni kuno)

Can you all squeeze in together? = Mwiseko capamo bonse

There are some visitors for you = Kwaisa beni

I've had a lot of fun = Nayangala bwino sana

I ate well = Naliila


FAREWELL

We are leaving = Twaya

We are going home = Twaya kung’anda

We are coming back (in the near future) = Twalabwela

We are coming back (in the distant future) = Tukabwela 

 

We will be back to see you = Tukesa mumona

I am ready, let's start off = Ninjipekanya, kuti twaima

Let's go = Natuleya

Bye bye = Shalenipo mukwai

I'm going away = Naya

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8 Thoughts on Bemba Lesson 11 – Visiting Grandma
    Bwalya
    31 Jul 2012
    4:11am

    Can you please put these statements in audio form please? I'm trying to learn my family's language and culture and it would be very helpful if you put it in audio.
                                                  Thank you and God Bless.

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      Editor
      1 Aug 2012
      10:34pm

      Bwalya,
      Thank you for your interest. We are working on your request and will have the first part of Visiting Grandma posted soon.

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    Luansia
    31 Oct 2012
    3:13pm

    Just discovered your Bemba lessons – wonderful! I have been learning on my own, using an old White Fathers grammar which was meant for classroom teaching, so it has been a struggle. Thank you for making it clear and easy.
    Would it be possible for you to provide an example of one commonly used verb with all of its tenses? Or at least the most commonly used tenses? Tense is where Bemba becomes one of the most complex and interesting languages, like higher calculus!

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      Editor
      3 Nov 2012
      10:51pm

      Hi Luansia,
      Thank you for your feedback.
      We will prepare a lesson along the lines you suggested in the near future.
      Tenses in Bemba are quite interesting.

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    Austin
    10 Sep 2015
    7:15pm

    Hi, am a Zambia born Malawian, I left Zambia when I was a little kid and I want to learn bemba. I like your posts if possible post some more English-Bemba phrases.

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      JS
      11 Sep 2015
      11:26am

      Hi Austin, Thanks for your comments. I will post another lesson soon. Let me know if there are any particular phrases you would like us to cover.

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    Paul changwe monso
    15 Nov 2020
    2:39am

    Good lessons keep it up

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      JS
      15 Nov 2020
      7:51am

      👍

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