Looking for practical Acholi to Afar phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Acholi phrase first, then the Afar translation (Afar) — so you can scan quickly before a trip, class, or video call.
The phrases are grouped into eight topics: greetings and pleasantries, useful phrases for travellers, everyday conversation, directions and getting around, shopping and dining, emergencies and health, work and business, and time, days and numbers. Use the table of contents to jump straight to greetings, directions, dining, emergencies, or numbers. You do not need perfect grammar to start — short, clear sentences often work better than silence when you are learning Afar.
Tip: read the Afar line out loud three times, then cover the Acholi side and try to recall the meaning — repetition builds memory faster than silent reading.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Acholi to Afar translator to paste your own messages and get an instant translation.
Greetings and pleasantries
Hello, goodbye, please, thank you, and polite introductions for meeting new people.
Ayo
Nagaad(nagaad)
Naki
Galatooma(galatooma)
Bok moti
Bariis(bariis)
Bok nongo
Galab(galab)
Bok obedo
Haal(haal)
Bok ngat
Haalka habeen(haalka habeen)
Tye kany
Ilaa mar kale(ilaa mar kale)
Itye
Nagaad(nagaad)
Iti ma ineno?
Maa magacaa?(maa magacaa)
Ineno John
Magacaygu waa John(magacaygu waa John)
Iti ma inyo?
Iska waran?(iska waran)
Gat ma inyo
Aad baan ku faraxsanahay(aad baan ku faraxsanahay)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Itye konyo English?
Inni ingiriisi maahaa?(Inni ingiriisi maahaa?)
Nye konyo Hindi kanyim.
Hindi maahaa hinjiru(Hindi maahaa hinjiru)
Nye neno.
Ani hinfahmi(Ani hinfahmi)
Nye konyo tye kanyim.
Fadlan si maahaa siib(Fadlan si maahaa siib)
Itye konyo tye kanyim?
Maahaa inna marra?(Maahaa inna marra?)
Iti kanyim ngat?
Maalin baadhu?(Maalin baadhu?)
Nye konyo kanyim ku city center?
Akkam an magaalatti gahu?(Akkam an magaalatti gahu?)
Konyo kuc.
Boodha kaaf(Boodha kaaf)
Konyo kuc.
Boodha mirga(Boodha mirga)
Tye kanyim.
Si qodhi(Si qodhi)
Iti kanyim ngat?
Maalin abaal?(Maalin abaal?)
One ticket, please.
Tiket tokkon, fadlan(Tiket tokkon, fadlan)
Iti kanyim kanyim?
Maalin faga?(Maalin faga?)
Nye konyo.
Ani dhumtu(Ani dhumtu)
Iti kanyim ngat SIM card?
Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?(Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Aye
Eeyy(ee-yee)
Bila
Maya(mah-yah)
Kweyo
Gara(gah-rah)
Ng'ato konyo
Anigu waaq(ah-nee-goo wahk)
Ng'ato konyo ni
Anigu ma waaq(ah-nee-goo mah wahk)
Okwero kany
Tani waa'ee(tah-nee wah-ee)
Ika kany?
Ilaa ma waaq?(ee-lah mah wahk)
Ikwok kany?
Ilaa naxar?(ee-lah nah-khar)
Ng'ato konyo kany
Naxar aniga(nah-khar ah-nee-gah)
Tye kany
Soo'aa(soo-ah)
Ng'ato konyo
Waa'ee aniga(wah-ee ah-nee-gah)
Bila kany
Maya dhib(mah-yah dheeb)
Tye kany
Hambalyo(ham-bahl-yo)
Aye konyo
Bariis gadhay(bah-rees gah-thai)
Tye kany ma ng'ato
Safar amni(sah-far am-nee)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Atye kany kwo?
Eeyyoo taayka daab?(eyyoo taayka daab)
Atye kany bura?
Eeyyoo gaari daab?(eyyoo gaari daab)
Kati onyo kwo?
Keenya kaafaa?(keenya kaafaa)
Nye kwo nongo?
Waqti maayti?(waqti maayti)
Kik kwo gwen?
Maayta kaan?(maayta kaan)
Okwang kany ici
Ittaa hara(ittaa hara)
Okwang kany piny
Ittaa faar(ittaa faar)
Nye konyo i map?
Maafaa naafaa?(maafaa naafaa)
Doko ici, pe?
Hara dhaaf, fadlan(hara dhaaf, fadlan)
Nye kwo ngat?
Waqti mee?(waqti mee)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.