Here is a collection of verbs commonly used in everyday speech:
ENGLISH
SINGULAR
PLURAL
Add
Lunda
Lundeni
Agree
Sumina
Sumineni
Answer
Asuka
Asukeni
Ask
Ipusha
Ipusheni
Bathe
Samba
Sambeni
Beat
Uma
Umeni
Bite
Suma
Sumeni
Bring
Leta
Leteni
Buy
Shita
Shiteni
Call
Ita
Iteni
Catch
Ikata
Ikateni
Clean
Wamya
Wamyeni
Cut
Putula
Putuleni
Damage
Onaula
Onauleni
Deceive
Bepa
Bepeni
Desire
Fwaya
Fwayeni
Divide
Akanya
Akanyeni
Do
Cita
Citeni
Dress
Fwala
Fwaleni
Dress
Fwika
Fwikeni
Drink
Nwa
Nweni
Explain
Londolola
Londololeni
Fear
Tina
Tineni
Fetch
Fwaya
Fwayeni
Find
Sanga
Sangeni
Fry
Salula
Saluleni
Get
Poka
Pokeni
Hear
Umfwa
Umfweni
Help
Afwa
Afweni
Imitate
Esha
Esheni
Jump
Toloka
Tolokeni
Keep
Sunga
Sungeni
Know
Ishiba
Ishibeni
Laugh
Seka
Sekeni
Lift
Imya
Imyeni
Make
Panga
Pangeni
Measure
Pima
Pimeni
Mix
Sankanya
Sankanyeni
Move
Enshya
Ensheni
Name
Lumbula
Lumbuleni
Oil
Suba
Subeni
Open
Isula
Isuleni
Pass
Pita
Piteni
Pay
Lipila
Lipileni
Pierce
Tunga
Tungeni
Play
Angala
Angaleni
Point
Sonta
Sonteni
Pull
Tinta
Tinteni
Pursue
Pepeka
Pepekeni
Put
Bika
Bikeni
Quench
Shimya
Shimyeni
Raise
Imya
Imyeni
Receive
Poka
Pokeni
Refuse
Kana
Kaneni
Remain
Shala
Shaleni
Return
Bwela
Bweleni
Rinse
Sukulula
Sukululeni
Roast
Salula
Saluleni
Roast
Ocha
Ocheni
Roast
Kanga
Kangeni
Run
Butuka
Butukeni
Say
Eba
Ebeni
Scream
Punda
Pundeni
Search
Fwaya
Fwayeni
See
Mona
Moneni
Sell
Shitisha
Shitisheni
Send
Tuma
Tumeni
Shake
Pukunya
Pukunyeni
Shout
Punda
Pundeni
Shut
Isala
Isaleni
Stop/Cease
Leka
Lekeni
Stop/Halt
Iminina
Iminineni
Sweep
Pyanga
Pyangeni
Swell
Fimba
Fimbeni
Swim
Samba
Sambeni
Take
Bula
Buleni
Taste
Sonda/Umfwa
Sondeni/Umfweni
Tell
Eba
Ebeni
Think
Tontonkanya
Tontonkanyeni
Undress
Fula
Fuleni
Vomit
Luka
Lukeni
Wait
Pembela
Pembeleni
Wake
Shibuka
Shibukeni
Walk
Enda
Endeni
Want
Fwaya
Fwayeni
Wash
Samfya
Samfyeni
Watch
Tamba
Tambeni
Wipe
Pukuta
Pukuteni
Work
Bomba
Bombeni
Worry
Sakamana
Sakamaneni
Write
Lemba
Lembeni
Yawn
Aula
Auleni
11 Thoughts on Bemba Lesson 2 – Common Verbs
RICHARD KATEBE
17 Dec 2012
5:14pm
I would like to add on to the word agree. It may have the meaning of umfwaneni (as in contract).
1
0
RICHARD KATEBE
17 Dec 2012
5:16pm
The word vomit can also mean amalushi
2
0
Peter
31 Dec 2012
9:24am
ROAST IS NOT SALULA. IT’S KANGA OR OCHA.
1
1
JS
31 Dec 2012
10:11pm
Ba Peter,
I think this is an example of words that can mean different things. Roasting peanuts, roasting meat over an open fire, frying chicken in cooking oil, burning grass, etc. will all be covered by these words.
Which ones would you use?
1
0
Jacob
10 Mar 2013
10:25am
Can any of you help me with the Bemba word for Wood and/or Tree?
0
0
JS
10 Mar 2013
1:08pm
Hi Jacob, Tree = Muti Trees = Miti Firewood = Nkuni Tree stump = Cishiki
0
0
Mpepa
11 Oct 2018
7:43pm
I can’t see what is posted. It’s as if someone removed the lesson… It’s just a huge blank space with comments at the bottom. Please upload what you posted back up. The lessons r very helpful. Thank you.
0
0
JS
11 Oct 2018
8:14pm
Hi Mpepa. Thanks for bringing this to our attention. We’ll rectify it soon.
0
0
Emmanuel musenge
11 Feb 2020
4:47pm
I would like to comment on the word oil. Oil does not mean suba no. Oil means amafuta
1
0
JS
11 Feb 2020
11:07pm
Hi Emmanuel. In this example, “oil” is being used to describe an action, state, or occurrence(i.e. as a verb) – as in “I will oil my skin.”
When used as a noun, “amafuta” would be correct – as in “I’ve got a new oil.”
1
0
Donald
11 Apr 2020
7:46am
Provide me with most common and useful sentences involving those common verbs………
Grammar lessons are also important if you don’t mind to share
I would like to add on to the word agree. It may have the meaning of umfwaneni (as in contract).
The word vomit can also mean amalushi
ROAST IS NOT SALULA. IT’S KANGA OR OCHA.
Ba Peter,
I think this is an example of words that can mean different things. Roasting peanuts, roasting meat over an open fire, frying chicken in cooking oil, burning grass, etc. will all be covered by these words.
Which ones would you use?
Can any of you help me with the Bemba word for Wood and/or Tree?
Hi Jacob,
Tree = Muti
Trees = Miti
Firewood = Nkuni
Tree stump = Cishiki
I can’t see what is posted. It’s as if someone removed the lesson… It’s just a huge blank space with comments at the bottom. Please upload what you posted back up. The lessons r very helpful. Thank you.
Hi Mpepa. Thanks for bringing this to our attention. We’ll rectify it soon.
I would like to comment on the word oil. Oil does not mean suba no. Oil means amafuta
Hi Emmanuel. In this example, “oil” is being used to describe an action, state, or occurrence(i.e. as a verb) – as in “I will oil my skin.”
When used as a noun, “amafuta” would be correct – as in “I’ve got a new oil.”
Provide me with most common and useful sentences involving those common verbs………
Grammar lessons are also important if you don’t mind to share