🇲🇱Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso
To learn Bambara, there's no secret: you have to practice.
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Live classes
Learn Bambara live with a native teacher
Regular live classes in small groups. Ask questions, practice conversation, progress fast.
Live classes
You speak Bambara every week, with a native teacher
You book whichever slot suits you. The joining link arrives by email, and the session is recorded.
- 4 slots this week, across all three levels
- 2 to 5 students per class, all at your level
- Replay available the same evening, with no time limit
Live classes
Bambara live classes
Live classes every week, in small groups, at all three levels. The second beginner slot repeats the theme of the first: miss one, you still have the other.
BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced
Week of
Aug 31 – Sep 6, 2026
Mon31
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Tue1
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Thu3
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Fri4
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Sat5
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Sun6
The platform
Progress in Bambara between classes, at your own pace
Interactive lessons with native audio, vocabulary, dialogues and quizzes. Everything you need to reinforce your skills between live sessions.
The platform
Between classes, you move forward twenty minutes a day
Lessons follow one another in order, with no evening to set aside. Every word is recorded by a native speaker.
- 273 lessons across 43 modules, from beginner to advanced
- Native audio on every word, with a slow-down button
- Your progress is kept, on phone and on computer alike
Audio
You hear the language as it is actually spoken
The recordings are made by native speakers, not by a synthetic voice. The slow-down button separates the sounds when it goes too fast.
- Every sentence can be played and slowed down
- The transcription and translation sit under the audio
- You replay it as many times as you need, with no limit
Quizzes
Every module ends with a quiz, not with a ticked box
You are corrected on the spot, with the explanation. A failed quiz can be retaken, with no penalty and no record.
- Immediate correction, with the right answer explained
- An end-of-level test opens the next level
- A level certificate at the end of the course
The community
Join Targumi's Bambara community
Dedicated WhatsApp group, exchanges between learners, resource sharing. You're never alone in your learning journey.
Join the support groupFree · Lifetime access · Native speakers present
Full program
Your Bambara curriculum
Exactly what you'll find inside the platform: 43 modules, 273+ structured lessons, quizzes and exercises.
🇲🇱
Bases du bambara
👋Salutations et présentations
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🛒Vie quotidienne et marché
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🍲Nourriture et repas — Dumuni
- Acheter et marchander , Ka san, ka tɛrɛmɛ10 min
- Le riz et le mil , Malo ni ɲɔ10 min
- + 2 more
Start this module→
🚌Transports et directions — Sira
- Aller et venir , Ka taa, ka na10 min
- Demander son chemin , Sira ɲinini10 min
- Loin et proche , Ka jan, ka surun10 min
- Les jours et le voyage , Don ni taama10 min
- Voyager au Mali , Bamakɔ ni Segu10 min
- + 2 more
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🩺Corps et sante — Farikolo
- Les parties du corps , Farikolo10 min
- Avoir mal , Ka dimi10 min
- Chez le medecin , Dɔgɔtɔrɔso10 min
- Manger sain , Ka dumu nyuman10 min
- Le sommeil , Ka sunɔgɔ10 min
- + 2 more
Start this module→
☀️Saisons et temps — Waati
- Le jour et la nuit , Tile ni su10 min
- La semaine , Dɔgɔkun10 min
- Les saisons sahéliennes , Saaɲɛw10 min
- L'heure , Lɛri10 min
- Couleurs et nature , Ɲɛw10 min
- + 2 more
Start this module→
🗺️Lieux et voyage — Taama
- A la maison , So la10 min
- Au village , Dugu la10 min
- A la ville , Bamakɔ la10 min
- A l'ecole , Lakɔli la10 min
- Le pays Mali , Mali jamana10 min
- + 2 more
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🎵Loisirs et plaisirs — Nisɔndiya
- Aimer et vouloir , Ka fɛ10 min
- La musique et le griot , Jeli10 min
- Au village , Les enfants jouent10 min
- Cuisiner ensemble , Tobi ɲɔgɔn fɛ10 min
- Jouer aux nombres , Jate dɔnkili10 min
- + 2 more
Start this module→
🥁Culture et traditions — Lada
- Le nom de famille , Jamu10 min
- Le respect des aines , Mɔgɔ kɔrɔw10 min
- Le mariage et les enfants , Furu ni denw10 min
- Les proverbes mande , Kɔrɔdaw10 min
- Les fetes , Salikan ni furu10 min
- + 2 more
Start this module→
📐Grammaire de base — Sariya
- L'ordre des mots , SOV10 min
- Les marqueurs d'aspect , Bɛ, ye, bɛna10 min
- Le possessif , Ka et inalienable10 min
- Le pluriel , Suffixe -w10 min
- Les questions , Wa, mun, jɔn10 min
- + 2 more
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🏠Maison et objets — So la
- Dans la maison , So kɔnɔ10 min
- Les objets quotidiens , Fɛnw10 min
- A la maison , verbes du quotidien10 min
- L'eau et la propre , Ji ni jɛya10 min
- Le travail a la maison , Baara so kɔnɔ10 min
- + 2 more
Start this module→
🔢Nombres et temps — Jate ni waati
- Compter de 1 à 20 , 1 ka 2010 min
- Centaines et milliers , Kɛmɛ ni waa10 min
- Le calendrier , Don ni dɔgɔkun10 min
- Mesurer et compter au marché10 min
- Premier, deuxième... ordinaux10 min
- + 2 more
Start this module→
🤝Vie sociale — Jɛkulu
- Présenter quelqu'un , Mɔgɔ jirali10 min
- Au telephone , Téléphone10 min
- Le travail et l'école , Baara ni lakɔli10 min
- Au village , Vie communautaire10 min
- Inviter, accepter, refuser10 min
- + 2 more
Start this module→
🌳Nature et animaux — Yirikolo
- Les animaux domestiques , Sɔmɔgɔ baganw10 min
- Les animaux sauvages , Foro baganw10 min
- Les arbres et les fruits , Yiriw10 min
- Les couleurs de la nature , Ɲɛw10 min
- Le fleuve Niger , Joliba10 min
- + 2 more
Start this module→
🌟Compléments Tier 1 — Lakana
- La maison et le village , So ni dugu10 min
- Les animaux , Begɛnw10 min
- La nourriture , Dumuni10 min
- Le corps , Farikolo10 min
- Les métiers , Baarakɛlaw10 min
- + 4 more
Start this module→
🇲🇱
Bambara intermédiaire
📖Grammaire — Tons et structure SOV
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🎵Culture, musique et traditions
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🧳Voyages avancés — Taama
- Au restaurant , commander un repas12 min
- + 2 more
Start this module→
🌾Travail et économie — Baara
- L'agriculture au Mali13 min
- Le coton et l'élevage13 min
- Au bureau , vocabulaire moderne12 min
- Argent et négociation12 min
- Les métiers du Mali13 min
- + 2 more
Start this module→
📺Médias maliens — ORTM, presse
- L'ORTM et la radio bambara13 min
- Lire le journal13 min
- La télévision et les séries12 min
- Les journalistes et la liberté de presse13 min
- Internet et réseaux sociaux12 min
- + 2 more
Start this module→
🏛️Politique — Mali et Sahel
- Le système politique malien14 min
- La transition au Mali13 min
- Les régions du Mali12 min
- La sécurité au Sahel13 min
- Démocratie et droits13 min
- + 2 more
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💰Économie — Wari ni jago
- L'économie malienne13 min
- Banque et transferts d'argent12 min
- L'or et les ressources12 min
- Les femmes et l'économie13 min
- Le secteur informel12 min
- + 2 more
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📚Éducation — Kalan
- L'école au Mali13 min
- Apprendre une langue13 min
- Le bilinguisme bambara-français12 min
- Lire et écrire12 min
- Histoire et tradition orale13 min
- + 2 more
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🎵Arts et culture mandé
- La musique mandingue13 min
- Salif Keita et les grandes voix13 min
- Le festival au Désert12 min
- Le cinéma malien12 min
- L'artisanat mandé12 min
- + 2 more
Start this module→
🌍Environnement et Sahel
- Le climat sahélien13 min
- L'eau, ressource précieuse13 min
- La désertification13 min
- Les arbres et la flore12 min
- Les animaux du Sahel12 min
- + 2 more
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🔬Sciences et technologies
- Les nombres et calculs avancés12 min
- Le corps humain12 min
- Médecine traditionnelle13 min
- L'astronomie et le calendrier12 min
- Internet et téléphone mobile12 min
- + 2 more
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🌐Relations internationales
- La diaspora malienne13 min
- Mali et la France13 min
- L'Afrique de l'Ouest unie12 min
- Mali et la Chine12 min
- L'ONU et les organisations12 min
- + 1 more
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🦉Philosophie et proverbes
- Badenya et fadenya14 min
- Maaya, l'humanité13 min
- Les proverbes du quotidien13 min
- L'épopée de Soundjata14 min
- La parole du griot13 min
- + 2 more
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🎯Projet personnel
- Mes objectifs en bambara12 min
- Voyage au Mali , préparation13 min
- Rencontrer une famille bamako13 min
- Une journée à Ségou13 min
- Apprendre par la pratique12 min
- + 1 more
Start this module→
🇲🇱
Bambara Avancé
📜Idiomes et proverbes — Ntalenw
- + 2 more
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🎭Registres bambaras
- Le bambara des médias (ORTM)14 min
- Code-switching bambara-français13 min
- Le bambara régional (Ségou, Kayes, Sikasso)13 min
- + 2 more
Start this module→
📚Littérature orale mandé
- L'épopée de Soundjata Keïta (Sunjata Fasa)15 min
- Le rôle du jeli (griot)14 min
- Les autres épopées mandé14 min
- La poésie orale et les chants de louange13 min
- La Charte de Kurukan Fuga (1236)15 min
- + 2 more
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⚔️Épopée de Soundjata approfondie
- Soundjata enfant , l'infirme qui marche14 min
- L'exil de Soundjata14 min
- Soumaoro Kanté, le roi sorcier14 min
- La bataille de Kirina (1235)14 min
- Les jeliw maîtres de l'épopée13 min
- + 2 more
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📻Médias bambaras modernes
- L'ORTM : la voix nationale14 min
- Radio Klédu et la révolution privée14 min
- La presse écrite bambara13 min
- Le bambara des réseaux sociaux13 min
- Les chroniques radio à Bamako13 min
- + 2 more
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💍Jeunesse, rites et mariage
- L'initiation des garçons (kamalen kunbɔ)14 min
- L'excision et le débat (npogotigi)14 min
- Les fiançailles (ka furu ɲini)13 min
- La dot (furu nafolow)14 min
- Le mariage civil et coutumier13 min
- + 2 more
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⚖️Droit et Code du Mali
- La Constitution malienne14 min
- Le Code pénal13 min
- La justice locale (tribunaux coutumiers)13 min
- Le droit des femmes13 min
- Le droit foncier (faraban ko)14 min
- + 2 more
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👑Empire du Mali et Kankou Moussa
- L'empire du Mali aux XIIIe-XVe siècles14 min
- Kankou Moussa : l'homme le plus riche14 min
- Le pèlerinage à La Mecque (1324)14 min
- Tombouctou et le commerce trans-saharien14 min
- La Charte de Kurukan Fuga, droits humains précoces13 min
- + 2 more
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🕌Animisme bambara et islam tijani
- L'animisme bambara : les sociétés initiatiques14 min
- L'islamisation du Mandé14 min
- Le soufisme : Tijaniyya et Qadiriya14 min
- Les cinq piliers et la pratique malienne13 min
- Les fêtes religieuses au Mali13 min
- + 2 more
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🌍Diaspora bambara mondiale
- La diaspora malienne dans le monde14 min
- Bambaras en France : Paris, Montreuil, Bagnolet14 min
- Côte d'Ivoire : 1,5 million de Maliens13 min
- Sénégal et Gambie : voisins sahéliens13 min
- Transferts d'argent : Western Union, Orange Money13 min
- + 2 more
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💰Économie moderne du Mali
- Le coton, "l'or blanc" du Mali14 min
- L'or moderne : 3e producteur d'Afrique14 min
- Élevage et pastoralisme13 min
- Pêche fluviale et Office du Niger13 min
- Industries et manufactures à Bamako13 min
- + 2 more
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🎬Arts visuels et cinéma malien
- Le bogolan, étoffe identitaire14 min
- Sculpture bambara : statues, masques13 min
- Cinéma malien : Souleymane Cissé14 min
- Photographe Malick Sidibé13 min
- Architecture banco : Djenné, Tombouctou13 min
- + 2 more
Start this module→
🎤Conversation C2 : débats et argumentation
- Argumenter et contre-argumenter15 min
- Dissertation : structure et exemples15 min
- Entretien d'embauche en bambara14 min
Start this module→
🪘Culture et sagesse mandé
- Proverbes mandé et philosophie bambara12 min
- Connecteurs et discours élaboré10 min
Start this module→
They talk about us
Learners talk about their journey on Targumi.
The curriculum
What you'll learn in Bambara
A curriculum designed to get you speaking Bambara in the situations that actually matter to you.
Start for free- 01Conversational Bambara from Bamako and the surrounding region
- 02Bambara tones: high, low and falling tones explained clearly
- 03Bambara as a lingua franca to communicate across West Africa
- 04Mandingo culture: griots, kora, djembe and the Mali Empire
- 05Bambara for humanitarian workers and NGO staff in the Sahel
- 06Connections between Bambara, Dyula and Mandingo (Mande language family)
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about learning Bambara
Bambara is tonal but uses only 3 tones (high, low and falling), making it less complex than Thai (5 tones) or Mandarin (4 tones). Tones do change the meaning of words, but within the context of a sentence, misunderstandings are rare. Our native teachers introduce tones naturally from the very first lesson by having you repeat full sentences rather than isolated sounds.
Yes. Bambara is the standard form of the Mande language family, closely related to Dyula (Côte d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso) and Mandingo (Guinea, Senegal). A Bambara speaker can communicate with Dyula and Mandingo speakers with a bit of adaptation, mutual intelligibility reaches 70-80%. For humanitarian workers, travellers or professionals operating in the Sahel, Bambara is the most efficient gateway to the region.
The vast majority of NGOs, development agencies and companies operating in Mali and the Sahel report that locals respond very differently to someone who speaks their language. Speaking Bambara goes beyond mere communication, it is a mark of respect that opens the doors of villages, markets and communities. For aid workers, journalists and field professionals, it is often the difference between surface-level engagement and genuine understanding on the ground.
Yes, the Malian community in France (estimated at 150,000 to 200,000 people, mainly in the Île-de-France region) widely uses Bambara in community interactions, even though first- and second-generation members often speak French. For French citizens of Malian origin, learning Bambara is frequently a strong identity-driven choice to maintain ties with family still in Mali.
Bambara has a simpler grammar than French or English, no complex conjugation, no grammatical gender, and a familiar SVO structure. For a motivated learner, 4 to 6 months with regular lessons is enough to hold basic conversations. Mastering the tones takes longer but does not prevent you from being understood fairly quickly.
Targumi offers 3 plans: monthly, quarterly, and lifetime access. All plans include live small-group classes with native teachers, interactive lessons, and the community. See full pricing on the pricing page.
100% online. Live classes happen in small groups via Google Meet. You can join from anywhere in the world. The mobile and web app stay accessible 24/7 for interactive lessons.
Yes. Targumi offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on all plans. If you are not satisfied, just email [email protected] for a full refund.
You can cancel anytime from your profile (“My subscriptions” section) with no hidden fees. Your access stays active until the end of your paid period.
Resources
All Bambara resources
Explore our free tools to progress outside of class.
Bambara level test
Assess your CEFR level in 5 minutes. 30-day learning plan included.
Discover →Bambara survival kit
A hundred words and thirty key phrases as a printable PDF, free.
Discover →Bambara cultural quiz
How well do you know Bambara culture? Films, music, traditions.
Discover →Bambara articles
Guides and articles to learn Bambara.
Discover →Bambara vocabulary
Essential words and phrases organized by theme.
Discover →Cultural resources
Podcasts, movies, TV shows and music to progress through immersion.
Discover →Guides & articles
Guides to learn Bambara
Dictionary
Bambara Dictionary: 50 Essential Words with Pronunciation
Discover the 50 most important Bambara words with their English translation and pronunciation. Essential basic vocabulary to start speaking Bambara in Mali.
8 min read→Language GuideHow to Say Hello in Bambara: Complete Guide
Master the art of greeting in Bambara! Learn i ni sogoma, i ni che, and essential Manding expressions to connect authentically with Mali's rich cultural heritage.
5 min read→GuideLearn Bambara: Complete Beginner's Guide to Mali's Language
Complete guide to learning Bambara (Bamanankan): grammar basics, essential vocabulary, learning method, and resources. Mali's most spoken language explained step by step.
12 min read→Complete GuideLearn Bambara: A Complete Beginner's Guide
Discover how to learn Bambara easily. Vocabulary, grammar, expressions, Malian culture and interactive learning with Targumi.
15 min read→Reviews
They are learning Bambara with Targumi
Verified learner testimonials.
NM
“Writing in Bambara was my weak point. Writing exercises helped me progress enormously.”
Nadia MorelVerified purchase
KL
“After 8 months of Bambara, I read poems in the original and feel the rhythm. I notice it every day.”
Kojo LiuVerified purchase
ES
“After 5 months of Bambara, I participate in online discussion groups. I didn't think it would be possible this fast.”
Elena SchmidtVerified purchase
PB
“My Bambara let me bargain at the market like a local. Incredible prices and smiles as a bonus.”
Pilar B.Verified purchase
BB
“Good Bambara video classes. One connection hiccup, but well handled by the teacher.”
Benjamin B.Verified purchase
SC
“When I understood a movie in Bambara without subtitles, I took a screenshot to remember the moment.”
Sofia C.Verified purchase
MO
“Two friends joined me for Bambara. We almost form a private group now, it's great.”
Manon O.Verified purchase
AE
“Pharmacist, Bambara changed my life: I translate our user manuals and it pays more than expected.”
Alexandre E.Verified purchase
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- WhatsApp community with other learners and teachers: practice writing, chat every day, immerse yourself in the language.
30-day money-back guarantee, no questions asked — email [email protected]
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One-time payment · lifetime access
- A complete learning platform: learn to build sentences, listen to audio to pronounce correctly, practice with exercises.
- Regular live small-group classes: real practice. Schedule on the platform, everything on replay so you never miss out. Join in or not, no obligation.
- WhatsApp community with other learners and teachers: practice writing, chat every day, immerse yourself in the language.
- Shareable account. Share your login with the person of your choice, they can sign in and attend classes in your place.
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