Lamba phrasebook

Lamba is one of the languages spoken in the Copperbelt Province in Zambia.

Pronunciation guide

Phrase list

Basics

Common signs OPEN UKWISULA CLOSED UKWISALA ENTRANCE UKWINGILA EXIT UKUFUMA PUSH UKUSUNKA PULL UKUTINTA TOILET ICHIMBUSU MEN ABALALUME WOMEN ABANAKASHI FORBIDDEN AIKONA

Hello.

. ( 'MULISHANI' )

Hello. (informal)

. (SHANI )

How are you?

? ( SHANI?)

Fine, how about you .

. (BWINO, KANI NA MWEBO )

What is your name?

? ( NI MWE BANANI OR ISHINA LYENU NI SHANI?)

My name is ______ .

______ . ( NINE....)

Nice to meet you.

. (CHAWAMA )

Please.

. (NA PAPATA )

Thank you.

. ( NA TOTA)

You're welcome.

. ( NA TOTA)

Yes.

. (EH EH )

No.

. (AIKONA )

Excuse me. (getting attention)

. (MWANE )

Excuse me. (begging pardon)

. ( NA SASA )

I'm sorry.

. ( NA SASA)

see you soon

. (TUKA BONANA BUKUMO )

Goodbye (informal)

. ( )

I can't speak name of language [well].

[ ]. ( NsHISHIPO UKU LABILA ISHINA LYA MULAKA UYO])

Do you speak English?

? ( MULA LABILA ICHISUNGU?)

Is there someone here who speaks English?

? ( LOMBI PALI ABESHI ICHISUNGU?)

Help!

! ( NGOFWENIKO!)

Look out!

! ( ICHO !)

Good morning.

. ( MWA BUKA SHANI)

Good night.

. ( MULALE BWINO)

Good night (to sleep)

. ( 'MULALE BWINO' )

I don't understand.

. ( NSHISHIPO IFYO )

Where is the toilet?

? (CHILI KWISA ICHIMBUSU ?)

Problems

Leave me alone.

. ( NDEKENI NENKA.)

Don't touch me!

! ( AIKONA UKUNJIKATA/AIKONA UKUNJIKATAMO)

I'll call the police.

. (NDUKWITA BAKAPOKOLA .)

Police!

! ( BAKAPOKOLA!)

Stop! Thief!

! ! (IMAKANA! KABWALALA!)

I need your help.

. (NDUKUFWAYA MUNGOFWEKO/ NGOFWENIKO.)

It's an emergency.

. ( .)

I'm lost.

. ( .NALUBA)

I lost my bag.

. ( NALUFYA ICHOLA CHANJI.)

I lost my wallet.

. ( NALUFYA ICHIKWAMA CHANJI.)

I'm sick.

. ( NSHILEUNFWAPO BWINO NALWALA.)

I've been injured.

. (NACHENEKWA.)

I need a doctor.

. ( NDEFWAIKWA BA DOKUTA.)

Can I use your phone?

? (MBONFYEKO FONI YENU?)

Numbers

1

( CIMO)

2

(FIBILI )

3

( FOTATU)

4

(FINE )

5

(FISANU )

6

(FISANU NACIMO )

7

(FISANU NAFIBILI )

8

(FISANU NAFITATU )

9

( FISANU NAFINE)

10

(IKUMI )

11

( IKUMI NA CIMO)

12

(IKUMI NAFIBILI )

13

(IKUMI NAFITATU )

14

( IKUMI NAFINE)

15

(IKUMI NAFISANU )

16

( )

17

( )

18

( )

19

( )

20

( )

21

( )

22

( )

23

( )

30

( )

40

( )

50

( )

60

( )

70

( )

80

( )

90

( )

100

( )

200

( )

300

( )

1,000

( )

2,000

( )

1,000,000

( )

1,000,000,000

( )

1,000,000,000,000

( )

number _____ (train, bus, etc.)

( )

half

( )

less

( )

more

( )

Time

now

( )

later

( )

before

( )

morning

( )

afternoon

( )

evening

( )

night

( )

Clock time

one o'clock AM

( )

two o'clock AM

( )

noon

( )

one o'clock PM

( )

two o'clock PM

( )

midnight

( )

Duration

_____ minute(s)

( )

_____ hour(s)

( )

_____ day(s)

( )

_____ week(s)

( )

_____ month(s)

( )

_____ year(s)

( )

Days

today

( )

yesterday

( )

tomorrow

( )

this week

( )

last week

( )

next week

( )

Sunday

( )

Monday

( )

Tuesday

( )

Wednesday

( )

Thursday

( )

Friday

( )

Saturday

( )

Months

January

( )

February

( )

March

( )

April

( )

May

( )

June

( )

July

( )

August

( )

September

( )

October

( )

November

( )

December

( )

Colors

black

( )

white

( )

gray

( )

red

( )

blue

( )

yellow

( )

green

( )

orange

( )

purple

( )

brown

( )

Transportation

Bus and train

How much is a ticket to _____?

( )

One ticket to _____, please.

( )

Where does this train/bus go?

( )

Where is the train/bus to _____?

( )

Does this train/bus stop in _____?

( )

When does the train/bus for _____ leave?

( )

When will this train/bus arrive in _____?

( )

Directions

How do I get to _____ ?

( )

...the train station?

( )

...the bus station?

( )

...the airport?

( )

...downtown?

( )

...the youth hostel?

( )

...the _____ hotel?

( )

...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate?

( )

Where are there a lot of...

( )

...hotels?

( )

...restaurants?

( )

...bars?

( )

...sites to see?

( )

Can you show me on the map?

( )

street

( )

Turn left.

( )

Turn right.

( )

left

( )

right

( )

straight ahead

( )

towards the _____

( )

past the _____

( )

before the _____

( )

Watch for the _____.

( )

intersection

( )

north

( )

south

( )

east

( )

west

( )

uphill

( )

downhill

( )

Taxi

Taxi!

( )

Take me to _____, please.

( )

How much does it cost to get to _____?

( )

Take me there, please.

( )

Lodging

Do you have any rooms available?

( )

How much is a room for one person/two people?

( )

Does the room come with...

( )

...bedsheets?

( )

...a bathroom?

( )

...a telephone?

( )

...a TV?

( )

May I see the room first?

( )

Do you have anything quieter?

( )

...bigger?

( )

...cleaner?

( )

...cheaper?

( )

OK, I'll take it.

( )

I will stay for _____ night(s).

( )

Can you suggest another hotel?

( )

Do you have a safe?

( )

...lockers?

( )

Is breakfast/supper included?

( )

What time is breakfast/supper?

( )

Please clean my room.

( )

Can you wake me at _____?

( )

I want to check out.

( )

Money

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?

( )

Do you accept British pounds?

( )

Do you accept Euros?

( )

Do you accept credit cards?

( )

Can you change money for me?

( )

Where can I get money changed?

( )

Can you change a traveler's check for me?

( )

Where can I get a traveler's check changed?

( )

What is the exchange rate?

( )

Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)?

( )

Eating

A table for one person/two people, please.

( )

Can I look at the menu, please?

( )

Can I look in the kitchen?

( )

Is there a house specialty?

( )

Is there a local specialty?

( )

I'm a vegetarian.

( )

I don't eat pork.

( )

I don't eat beef.

( )

I only eat kosher food.

( )

Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard)

( )

fixed-price meal

( )

a la carte

( )

breakfast

( )

lunch

( )

tea (meal)

( )

supper

( )

I want _____.

( )

I want a dish containing _____.

( )

chicken

( )

beef

( )

fish

( )

ham

( )

sausage

( )

cheese

( )

eggs

( )

salad

( )

(fresh) vegetables

( )

(fresh) fruit

( )

bread

( )

toast

( )

noodles

( )

rice

( )

beans

( )

May I have a glass of _____?

( )

May I have a cup of _____?

( )

May I have a bottle of _____?

( )

coffee

( )

tea (drink)

( )

juice

( )

(bubbly) water

( )

(still) water

( )

beer

( )

red/white wine

( )

May I have some _____?

( )

salt

( )

black pepper

( )

butter

( )

Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)

( )

I'm finished.

( )

It was delicious.

( )

Please clear the plates.

( )

The check, please.

( )

Bars

Do you serve alcohol?

( )

Is there table service?

( )

A beer/two beers, please.

( )

A glass of red/white wine, please.

( )

A pint, please.

( )

A bottle, please.

( )

_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please.

( )

whiskey

( )

vodka

( )

rum

( )

water

( )

club soda

( )

tonic water

( )

orange juice

( )

Coke (soda)

( )

Do you have any bar snacks?

( )

One more, please.

( )

Another round, please.

( )

When is closing time?

( )

Cheers!

( )

Shopping

Do you have this in my size?

( )

How much is this?

( )

That's too expensive.

( )

Would you take _____?

( )

expensive

( )

cheap

( )

I can't afford it.

( )

I don't want it.

( )

You're cheating me.

( )

I'm not interested.

(..)

OK, I'll take it.

( )

Can I have a bag?

( )

Do you ship (overseas)?

( )

I need...

( )

...toothpaste.

( )

...a toothbrush.

( )

...tampons.

. ( )

...soap.

( )

...shampoo.

( )

...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen)

( )

...cold medicine.

( )

...stomach medicine.

... ( )

...a razor.

( )

...an umbrella.

( )

...sunblock lotion.

( )

...a postcard.

( )

...postage stamps.

( )

...batteries.

( )

...writing paper.

( )

...a pen.

( )

...English-language books.

( )

...English-language magazines.

( )

...an English-language newspaper.

( )

...an English-English dictionary.

( )

Driving

I want to rent a car.

( )

Can I get insurance?

( )

stop (on a street sign)

( )

one way

( )

yield

( )

no parking

( )

speed limit

( )

gas (petrol) station

( )

petrol

( )

diesel

( )

Authority

Amaka

I haven't done anything wrong.

( nshi pangile umulandu nebo)

It was a misunderstanding.

( )

Where are you taking me?

(ulentwala pii )

Am I under arrest?

(mulentwala kujele )

I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen.

(ndi mu tubile )

I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate.

( )

I want to talk to a lawyer.

(ndukufwaya uwa ku njimininako )

Can I just pay a fine now?

(ndipile ulupiya )

Other words

Sun = Akasuba

Moon = Umwenshi

Stars = Utubangabanga

Clouds = Amakumbi

Rain = Imfula

River = Inika

Tree = Ichiti

Grass = Ichani

Sky = Kwiulu

Person = Umuntu

Man = Umwalalume

Woman = Umukashana

Child = Umwaniche

Older person = Abakulu

Old person = Abakote

Head = Ichitwi

Arm/ Hand = Ukuboko

Elbow = Imboyo

Leg = Ukulu

Foot = Ulukasa

Hair = Imishishi

Beard = Imyemfu

Belly = Akapafu

Buttock = Amatako

Back = Inuma

Chest = Intibi

Eyes= Amenso

Ears = Amatwi

Nose = Umona

Mouth = Akanwa

Teeth = Ameno

If older than you, preface each with 'ba'

Father = Tata

Mother = Mayo

Son = Mwanalume

Daughter = Mwanankashi

Brother = Indume

Sister = Inkashi

Uncle = Mwisho

Aunt = Mukamwisho

Grandfather = Shikulu

Grandmother = Mama

Drink = Ukunwa

Eat = Ukulya

Walk = Ukwenda

Talk = Ukulabila

Cry = Ukulila

Sing = Ukwimba

Wash = Ukusamba

See = Ukubona

Hear = Ukumfwa

Die = Ukufwa

Look for = Ukufwaya

Run = Ukubutuka

Cut = Ukuputula

Take = Ukupinta

Bring = Ukuleta

Count = Ukupenda