Kitwe Online

Kitwe, Zambia forum for info, news, business and discussions

Bemba Lessons

LIST OF BEMBA LESSONS AVAILABLE:

Click on a choice to open the lesson.

  1. Giving Instructions in Bemba – Bemba Lesson 1
  2. Common Verbs – Bemba Lesson 2
  3. Learn How To Count In Bemba – Bemba Lesson 3
  4. Visiting A Friend – Bemba Lesson 4
  5. Learn To Speak Bemba Online Using The Bible – Bemba Lesson 5
  6. Greetings – Bemba Lesson 6
  7. Asking Questions – Bemba Lesson 7
  8. Pronounciation & Reading – Bemba Lesson 8
  9. At the Restaurant – Bemba Lesson 9
  10. At the Hospital – Bemba Lesson 10
  11. Visiting Grandma – Bemba Lesson 11
  12. Introducing Yourself – Bemba Lesson 12
  13. Days, Weeks, Months and Seasons in Bemba – Bemba Lesson 13
  14. Personal Pronouns – I, Me, My. – Bemba Lesson 14
  15. How to Ask a Question:
    1. What? – To Want – Bemba Lesson 15a
    2. What? – To Do – Bemba Lesson 15b
    3. What? – To Eat – Bemba Lesson 15c
    4. What? – To Drink – Bemba Lesson 15d
  16. Small Talk – Bemba Lesson 16
  17. At the Hotel – Bemba Lesson 17
  18. Around the House – Bemba Lesson 18
  19. Basics of iciBemba: Vowels, Consonants and Syllables – Bemba Lesson 19
  20. Romance – Bemba Lesson 20
  21. At the Market Place – Bemba Lesson 21
  22. Nouns and Adjectives – Bemba Lesson 22
  23. At the Market Place (Video) – Bemba Lesson 23
  24. Nouns and Adjectives (Video) – Bemba Lesson 24
  25. Describing Places and Space – Bemba Lesson 25
  26. Human Anatomy – Bemba Lesson 26
  27. Emergencies – Bemba Lesson 27
  28. Living Room Conversation – Bemba Lesson 28
  29. “How Is …?” – Bemba Lesson 29
  30. On The Phone In Bemba – Bemba Lesson 30
  31. Welcoming The In-laws – Bemba Lesson 31
  32. Use Bemba Bible Audio To Learn Bemba Language Online – Bemba Lesson 32
  33. The Head – Umutwe – Bemba Lesson 33
  34. 73 Ways To Say Hello – Bemba Lesson 34
  35. Cooking Verbs – Bemba Lesson 35
Student cartoon
Student cartoon

Learning a new language can be a lot of fun. A visitor who makes an effort to learn the local language comes across as being genuinely interested in getting along with local people.

While it is true that Zambians are a very welcoming people who will receive visitors with open arms regardless of the language they speak, it is still a good idea to learn a local language. It is more fun and enables you to communicate with those who do not understand your language.

There are several options you can look at when learning a new language:

  • A native language speaker who is willing to teach you in your own time
  • A phrase book
  • Foreign language eBooks that you can carry along on your eBook reader or your mobile phone
  • A dictionary
  • Smart phone Apps that translate from your language into a foreign language of your choice. These are not currently available for Zambian languages
  • Manuals

Zambian languages currently only have some of these resources.

Kitwe Online is compiling common phrases and simple sentences that you are likely to use in common day to day situations. We are depending on you to send in suggestions about the words you would like to see translated into English.

Starting with Bemba, we eventually aim to cover other Zambian languages.

DO YOU SPEAK A ZAMBIAN LANGUAGE?

WE ARE LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS TO HELP WITH OUR LANGUAGE PROJECTS.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH US, LEAVE YOUR MOBILE No. and/or EMAIL ADDRESS BELOW.

40 Thoughts on Bemba Lessons
    patrick salasini
    19 Jun 2013
    2:00pm

    nde fwaya ukubomba naimwe mukwai

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      JS
      21 Jun 2013
      6:24am

      Ba Salasini,
      We are always looking for people who are keen to work with us.
      We have sent you a Personal Message by email. Please check your Junk folder if you have not yet seen it.
      Thanks.

      1
      0
        Andrew-Knox
        21 Jun 2013
        3:25pm

        awesome, I just emailed you a few minutes ago and just realised you have made this post. Cool looks like I just came here at the right time 🙂

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          JS
          1 Jul 2013
          9:34am

          Andrew,
          Thanks for your email response. I will Skype you.

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    Caoimhín Ó Donnaíle
    31 Aug 2013
    8:30pm

    Hello John,

    I have a few ideas about things which could be done with dictionaries – your own English-Bemba dictionary, and also some old Nyanja dictionaries on the Web Archive, if you would like to send me an e-mail.

    Best wishes,
    Caoimhín Ó Donnaíle

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      JS
      8 Sep 2013
      10:36pm

      Hi Caoimhín,
      Thanks for your message.
      I have sent you a Private Message.

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    Will
    15 Sep 2013
    3:01am

    Hello JS I would love to learn the Bemba language for i would like to visit Zambia as well soon so i know what i am saying when i go if you can please email me would be great thanks.

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      JS
      15 Sep 2013
      6:05pm

      Hi Will,
      I sent you a message as you requested.

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    Sus J Heden
    26 Oct 2013
    12:08pm

    Hello! I have a question about a zambian proverb I’ve heard, but sadly forgotten about. What is the origin and the meaning of “Icikwanka bacimwena kumampalanya” in your opinion? Love your site and best regards, Sus.

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    Corrie
    16 Nov 2013
    6:17pm

    Ba Editor,

    What does mwandi chalishupa mean?

    Natotela

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      JS
      23 Jan 2014
      9:03am

      Hi Corie,
      “Mwandi chalishupa” means “It is difficult”

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    melanie_moots@icloud.com
    4 Dec 2013
    10:36am

    hi can you please translate the following words for me?

    hour

    couple (man & woman)

    Cement Concrete

    Cloth/Shoes/Accessories

    Colonial

    Composition

    concrete

    deposit

    minute

    second

    natasha
    mutale

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    Catherine
    4 Dec 2013
    3:36pm

    Hello!
    I always thought Kia Mena meant my house. Is that correct?

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    Gideon
    9 Feb 2014
    8:13pm

    I have a friend who is originally from Kitwe. I’ve been successful in translating some words using this site. My friend has no idea how I am translating. He responded to me with “Iyo Gideon mune uli munandi wachishinka. Mfwile fye nakusenda Ku Zambia Ku vacation”. What did he say to me?

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      JS
      9 Feb 2014
      9:22pm

      Hi Gideon,
      “Iyo Gideon mune” = “Well, Gideon my friend”
      “uli munandi wachishinka” = “You are a true friend”
      “Mfwile fye nakusenda” = “I should just take you with me”
      “ku Zambia ku vacation” = “to Zambia on vacation.”

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    obnurse1245
    5 Jan 2014
    12:35pm

    Ba Editor,
    What does kangala in English?

    Natotela,
    Corrie

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      JS
      10 Jan 2014
      1:20am

      Hi,
      Kangala could be a noun or it could mean “Player.” Not sure.

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        Kunda Londa
        2 Sep 2018
        9:46am

        Kangala is also a name for a type of local beer made from sorghum or millet.

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    mac
    28 May 2014
    2:21am

    Hi Can you please help me translate boma ya fika to english?

    Thank you

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      JS
      30 May 2014
      2:01am

      Hi Mac,
      Boma yafika = The government is here.

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        mac
        30 May 2014
        4:32am

        Thank you for your reply. If this was said to someone, would this be an insult?

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    Crystal83
    19 Jan 2014
    4:35am

    How do u say Crystal in bemba thak u

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    atupala
    27 Nov 2015
    5:44am

    Hi could you do a segment on farm life.
    Asking how much of a certain crop is grown.
    What kind of animals do they own.
    How many of these animals are there.
    The income of the person you’re talking to.
    With any such additions deemed necessary
    Before next week ends would be so fantastic
    Thank you very much.

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      JS
      28 Nov 2015
      4:45pm

      Atupala, That sounds like a topic we could cover. Whether we could do it in a week is doubtful.

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    Laura
    15 Dec 2015
    11:15pm

    What does walisa nolubuli mean in English

    0
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      Natasha
      12 Jan 2017
      10:45am

      It means you have come with trouble or you’ve just come to annoy me.

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      1
    ntombifuthi
    26 Jan 2016
    1:41pm

    What does “awe kwena twatandala mukwai ” means

    0
    1
    Tarisai Nyamayaro
    10 Mar 2017
    10:44pm

    can someone translate to me in english jk’s song nafikilisha meaning

    0
    1
    Laura
    7 Jun 2018
    2:10pm

    Hi,
    What does this mean in English please?

    Iwe Befalo I sent u a birthday wish n nalikutumina fon,ifimynfu!

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    here
    5 Apr 2019
    3:39pm

    This is really useful, thanks.

    0
    1
    Mwenya
    1 Jul 2017
    11:48pm

    I love that I stumbled upon this site!!! I’m a Half Bemba (Batata) half ngoni (bamayo) living in Hawaii. Not much opportunity to speak Bemba for my children to learn. I will use this site to strengthen my own language and incorporate it in our homeschool lessons. So excited, mahalo!!!

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      JS
      17 Aug 2017
      5:02pm

      Hi Mwenya,
      Thanks for your feedback. It’s great to know you find the content useful.

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    Chengo
    19 Aug 2019
    12:11pm

    Thank you! I’m a British born Zambian with a Bemba speaking family and I really appreciate the lessons!

    0
    1
      JS
      19 Aug 2019
      1:22pm

      Chengo, it’s great to get your feedback.

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    Edwin
    9 Oct 2018
    10:42am

    Dear people,

    I’m fascinated but unsure about the difference between the following two words:

    Efichichika
    Filachichika

    Could anybody help me clarify this, please?

    Twatasha sana,
    Edwin

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      JS
      9 Oct 2018
      10:49am

      Hi Edwin,
      “Efichitika” = “That’s what happens. ”
      “Filachitika” = “That actually happens” and also as in “That’s life.”

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    MORONGOE KHAMA
    4 Feb 2019
    7:43am

    Looking for a tutor, can you please assist.

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    Harriet Comley
    19 Dec 2020
    1:22pm

    I’m looking for a Bemba teacher! Do you have any suggestions!

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    1
    James Holliday
    21 Jul 2023
    1:07am

    I married a woman born in Zambia her Moms side and moved to Zimbobue as a teen to her Dads side. She speaks some of about 11 languages fluent in Bemba and Lala which were her Moms languages and Shona from her Dads side. I am going to try to learn Bemba so I can talk to her Mom when we go. She is in Luanshya. She gets tickled on the phone when I stumble through a phrase or two my wife taught me. Thank you for the site. If you need more volunteers my wife is fantastic with languages.

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      JS
      29 Jul 2023
      1:05am

      Learning another language is a good way of reaching other people. We would love volunteers to help us with languages. Your wife can reach us on the Contact page. Thanks.

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