Useful phrases in Duala

A collection of useful phrases in Duala (Duálá), a Bantu language spoken in the southwest of Cameroon in West Africa.

Note: These phrases come from several different soures which use different spelling systems for Duala.

Jump to phrases

See these phrases in any combination of two languages in the Phrase Finder. If you can provide recordings, corrections or additional translations, please contact me.

Key to abbreviations: frm = formal, inf = informal, sg = singular (said to one person), pl = plural (said to more than one person).

Phrase Duálá (Duala)
Welcome Pô la ɓwâm
Hello (General greeting) Mônè
Idiɓà á ɓwâm ě
Hello (on phone)
How are you? É ma alā nɛ̂?
Njé yé péɲá? (What's new?)
Reply to 'How are you?' É ma ala (I'm fine)
É ma àlā ɓwâm (I'm very well)
Tɔ lambo lá pēɲā (Nothing new)
É ma dímadimanɛ (So so)
Long time no see Na kandanɛ oa ka
What's your name? Dina lôngo na njé?
My name is ... Díná lâm nā ...
Where are you from? O e ndé mun'a we?
I'm from ... N'e nde muna ...
Pleased to meet you
Good morning
(Morning greeting)
Good afternoon
(Afternoon greeting)
Mwese mwa bwam
Good evening
(Evening greeting)
Pô la ɓwâm
Good night Bulu ba bwam
Goodbye
(Parting phrases)
Póndá nípɛ́pɛ̄
Na má àlà
Bāɲū ɓópɛ́pɛ̄
Good luck!
Cheers! Good Health!
(Toasts used when drinking)
Have a nice day
Bon appetit /
Have a nice meal
Bon voyage /
Have a good journey
Yes Ee
No Kɛm
Maybe
I don't know
Do you understand?
I understand
I don't understand
Please speak more slowly
Please say that again
Please write it down
Do you speak English?
Do you speak Duala?
Yes, a little
(reply to 'Do you speak ...?')
Do you speak a language
other than
Duala?
Speak to me in Duala
How do you say ... in Duala?
Excuse me Lakisɛ mba
How much is this?
Sorry Lakise mba
Please Son
Thank you Na sôm
Na som jita
Masoma
Jita la masoma
Reply to thank you É tìtī lambo
Where's the toilet / bathroom?
This gentleman will pay for everything
This lady will pay for everything
Would you like to dance with me?
Do you come here often?
I miss you
I love you
Get well soon
Go away!
Leave me alone! Esele mba musango!
Help! Ongwane mba
Fire!
Stop!
Call the police!
Christmas greetings Ngand'a mbu ña bwam
New Year greetings Mbu ma bwam
Mbu mwa peña mwa bwam
Easter greetings
Birthday greetings
Congratulations!
One language is never enough
My hovercraft is full of eels

Download the audio files

Hear some Duala phrases

If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, or if you can provide recordings, please contact me.

Information about Duala | Phrases | Numbers

Links

Other collections of Duala phrases
http://duala.douala.free.fr/index_uk.htm
https://studentsoftheworld.info/sites/divers/584.php?Page=3
https://mboasawa.com/fr/les-phrases-pratiques-en-duala/

Phrases in Bantu languages

Bemba, Chichewa, Chokwe, Duala, Herero, Ibinda, Kikuyu, Kinyarwanda, Lingala, Lozi, Luganda, Ndebele (Northern - South Africa), Ndebele (Northern - Zimbabwe), Ndebele (Southern) Nkore, Northern Sotho, Oshiwambo, Shona, Southern Sotho (seSotho), Swahili, Swati, Tsonga, Tswana, Tumbuka, Umbundu, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu

Phrases in other languages

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