Learn Bambara with Jeff Frazee

Phrases Our Kids Asked to LearnGet off the wall. Jigi koko kan. Literally: Jigi koko kan. Decend wall on.Do you have a bike? I be negeso bolo Literally: I be negeso bolo? You are bike arm? (Maybe like, "Have you got a bike on you? Possession is strongly emphasized over ownership.)Pet a chicken. Shaé momo. Literally: Shaé   momo. Chicken pet.It is done. A bana. Literally: A bana. It done (finished).

A common conversation that can be used to learn many things in Bambara.What's your name?I togo be di?                                                            My name is Jacob.                                                            Ne togo ye Yacouba.What's this (that)?Ni yé mun yé?                                                            A chair.                                                            Sigilan.A chair?Sigilan wa?                                                            Yes.                                                            Awo.What's a chair?Sigilan ye mun yé?                                                            People sit on it.                                                             Mogo be sigi a kan.What's he doing?A bé mun kera?                                                            He's planting corn.                                                             A be kaba dan.Why?Mun koson?                                                            The rain is coming and he is a cultivator.                                                             Sanji nana ani a le ye senekéla ye.Thanks. I ni cé.                                                            You're welcome. Where are you going?                                                            M'ba.                           I be ta min?I'm going home.Ne be ta so.                                                            Greet your people.                                                            K'an b'u fo.They'll here it.U na men.                                                            See you later.                                                            K'an ben kofé. Okay.M'ba.

Typical morning greetingsGood morning.            I ni sogoma.                                                                        Hey, did you have a peaceful night?                                                            M'ba (male response to a greeting.) Here sira wa?Peace only.Here doron.                                                            How's your family?                                                            Somogo dun?No trouble.Torro té.                                                            Is your wife healthy?                                                            Muso ka kené?She's healthy.A ka kené.                                                            How are your children?                                                            Denmiewsen don?U be di. They're good.                                                             Good. God give you a peaceful day.                                                            M'ba. Ala ka tilé heré.Amen (I agree)Amina

I am from the United States.Ne bora États Unis.Now, I live in Kadiolo Koko.Sisan, ne be Kadiolo Koko.I want to learn your language and your culture.Ne b'a fe ka aw ka kan ani aw ka ladalako kalan.I left here in the year 2000.Ne bora ya san ba fila.I really like Malians, so I decided to spend some time here.Mali mogow djiara ne ye, o koson ne ya mirri ka na watti ke ya.Break down:Ne bora États Unis.I came from USA (derived from french)('bo' to go out)('ra' puts the action in the past)Sisan, ne be Kadiolo Koko.Now, I am (city) (neighborhood)Ne b'a        fe ka aw ka kan ani aw ka ladalako kalan.I would like to you-r language and your          culture learn.                  (plural)('ka' shows posession)Ne bora yan san ba fila. ('yan' = here;  'yen' = there)I left here year 1000 2Mali mogow djiara ne ye, o koson ne Mali people please me to, that because I ya         mirri ka na         watti ke ya.(past) decided to come time         do here.

I want to learn Bambara.Ne b'a fe ka Bamanakan kalan.I don't understand Bambara yet.Ne te Bamanakan men folo.Give me the road. (Meaning: I would like to go now.)Sira di.I want to be going.Ne be fe ka taga.See you later.K'an ben kofé. (kofé also means behind)God give you a peaceful day.Ala ka tilé heréI agree. (Response to a blessing) Amina.May God answer your request. (Blessing in response to a blessing)Ala kaw ke.