Lamba phrasebook

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

Pronunciation guide

Vowels

A,a,E,e,I,I,O,o,U,u

Consonants

B: as a 'wv' sound C: as a CH sound as in the word church ND: as in 'standard' F: as in 'far' NG: as in 'Bingo' NJ: as in 'range' K: as in 'kick' L: as in 'long' M: as in 'moon' N: as in 'net' NG': as in 'singing' P: as in 'pig' S: as in 'single' SY/SH: as in 'shipping' T: as in 'tan' W: as in 'wood' Y: as in 'yo-yo'

Phrase list

Laamba:Balukwisa mailo

Eng: They are coming tomorrow

Lamba:Ndukwipika insumbi syenu/shenu

Eng: I am cooking your chickens

Lamba:Kamuya munsitileko/munshitileko tomatosi

Eng:Go and buy me some tomatoes

Lamba:Balya abanakasyi/abanakashi balukusitisya/balukushitisha ifyakufwala.

Eng: Those women are selling clothes

Lamba:Nsyilukulyako/nshilukulyako

Eng:I am not eating

Lamba:Webo, kowisa ulye nsyima/nshima

Eng:You, come and eat maize meal mush

Basics

Common signs OPEN UKWISULA CLOSED UKWISALA ENTRANCE UKWINJILA 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 ______ .

______ . ( NINEBO....)

Nice to meet you.

. (CHIWEME )

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

( Uluchelo)

afternoon

(Ichungulo/ichingulo)

evening

( ichungulo bushiku)

night

(ubushiku)

Clock time

one o'clock AM

(1 koloko kumacha/1koloko yabushiku)

two o'clock AM

(2 koloko kumacha /2 koloko yabushiku)

noon

( )

one o'clock PM

(1 koloko yachungulo)

two o'clock PM

( 2 koloko yachungulo)

midnight

(Pakati pabushiku)

Duration

_____ minute(s)

( )

_____ hour(s)

( )

_____ day(s)

( )

_____ week(s)

( )

_____ month(s)

( )

_____ year(s)

( )

Days

today

(Lelo )

yesterday

( mailo)

tomorrow

( mailo)

this week

( uno mulungu)

last week

( uyumulungu uwafumineko)

next week

( Uyumulungu ulukwisa)

Sunday

(Pamulungu )

Monday

( palichimo)

Tuesday

( palichibili)

Wednesday

( palichitatu)

Thursday

( palichine)

Friday

( pachisanu)

Saturday

(Pachibelushi )

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

(mulasumina/mulapoka)

American/Australian/Canadian dollars?

(Ama dola aku amerika/ ama dola aku osutulelia/ ama dola aku kanada)

Do you accept British pounds?

(Mulasuma ama paunshi yaku ingalande?/mulapoka ama paunshi? )

Do you accept Euros?

(Mulasumina indalama shama yuro?)

Do you accept credit cards?

(Mulasumina ama kirediti kadi?/mulasumina ukulipila nema kirediti kadi?)

Can you change money for me?

(Inchinjisheniko ndalama)

Where can I get money changed?

(Nikulipi uku ningachinja indalama?)

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)?

(Nikwisa ukuli kimachini iki funya ikifunya indalama? )

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