Click on a letter of the alphabet to get to the appropriate section of the English to Bemba dictionary:

A , B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M

N, Ng'   ,O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z

(For Free English to Bemba Translation Service click here) 

One of the three consonants sounds for which there is no equivalent in English is the Ng' sound. It sounds like a soft, nasal  "g" sound in  "…nger" in the English word "Singer". In Bemba this velar nasal sound can occur at the beginning of a word, unlike in English.

It is also represented as "ɧ" , as in "iɧanda" (House)

Here are some common occurrences in Bemba:

Bemba   –    English

Ng'ana                  Ring or crown (eg. of grass) placed on head to cushion heavy loads

Ng'anda                House: Home; Hut

Ng'andu                The Crocodile totem

Ng'anga                Witchdoctor; Medicine man

Ng'anse                Crab

Ng'anu                   Wheat

Ng'oma                  Drum

Ng'ombe                Cow; Cattle; Bull

Ng'onta                  Groan

Ng'umba                Infertile woman

Ng'wena                Crocodile

Ng'wing'winsa     Mumble

Ng'wing'winta      Grumble

_________________________________________

Click on a letter of the alphabet to get to the appropriate section of the English to Bemba dictionary:

A , B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M

N, Ng', O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z

 _____________________________________