Looking for practical Afar to Kanuri phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Afar phrase first, then the Kanuri translation (Kanuri) — 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 Kanuri.
Tip: when a Kanuri phrase looks unfamiliar, compare it with the Afar wording — noticing word order differences helps you understand grammar naturally.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Afar to Kanuri 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.
Nagaad
Sannu(nagaad)
Galatooma
Nagode(galatooma)
Bariis
Ina kwana(bariis)
Galab
Ina yamma(galab)
Haal
Ina dare(haal)
Haalka habeen
Sai da safe(haalka habeen)
Ilaa mar kale
Zan ganka(ilaa mar kale)
Nagaad
Sai anjima(nagaad)
Maa magacaa?
Menene sunanka?(maa magacaa)
Magacaygu waa John
Sunana John(magacaygu waa John)
Iska waran?
Lafiya lau?(iska waran)
Aad baan ku faraxsanahay
Na ji dadin haduwa da kai(aad baan ku faraxsanahay)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Inni ingiriisi maahaa?
Kuna magana da Turanci?(Inni ingiriisi maahaa?)
Hindi maahaa hinjiru
Ba na magana da Hindi sosai.(Hindi maahaa hinjiru)
Ani hinfahmi
Ba na fahimta.(Ani hinfahmi)
Fadlan si maahaa siib
Don Allah, ku yi magana a hankali.(Fadlan si maahaa siib)
Maahaa inna marra?
Za ku iya faɗin hakan sake?(Maahaa inna marra?)
Maalin baadhu?
Ina wanka?(Maalin baadhu?)
Akkam an magaalatti gahu?
Ta yaya zan isa tsakiyar birni?(Akkam an magaalatti gahu?)
Boodha kaaf
Juya hagu.(Boodha kaaf)
Boodha mirga
Juya dama.(Boodha mirga)
Si qodhi
Tafiya kai tsaye.(Si qodhi)
Maalin abaal?
Nawa ne farashin?(Maalin abaal?)
Tiket tokkon, fadlan
Tiket ɗaya, don Allah.(Tiket tokkon, fadlan)
Maalin faga?
Shin yana da nisa daga nan?(Maalin faga?)
Ani dhumtu
Na ɓace.(Ani dhumtu)
Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?
Ina zan iya sayen kati na SIM?(Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Eeyy
Eey(ee-y)
Maya
A'a(ah-ah)
Gara
Wata(wah-tah)
Anigu waaq
Na amu(nah ah-moo)
Anigu ma waaq
Na a'a amu(nah ah-ah ah-moo)
Tani waa'ee
Iya na(ee-yah nah)
Ilaa ma waaq?
Kaya ka yi tunani?(kah-yah kah yee too-nah-nee)
Ilaa naxar?
Za ka iya taimaka min?(zah kah ee-yah tie-mah-kah meen)
Naxar aniga
Na bukaci taimako(nah boo-kah-chee tie-mah-koh)
Soo'aa
Duba dan lokaci(doo-bah dahn loh-kah-chee)
Waa'ee aniga
Na yi hakuri(nah yee hah-koo-ree)
Maya dhib
Babu matsala(bah-boo maht-sah-lah)
Hambalyo
Taya murna(tah-yah moor-nah)
Bariis gadhay
Barka da haihuwa(bar-kah dah hai-hoo-wah)
Safar amni
Ka yi tafiya lafiya(kah yee tah-fee-yah lah-fee-yah)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Eeyyoo taayka daab?
Nye boko na gari?(eyyoo taayka daab)
Eeyyoo gaari daab?
Nye boko na bas?(eyyoo gaari daab)
Keenya kaafaa?
Wane boko na?(keenya kaafaa)
Waqti maayti?
Wane lokaci ya tafi?(waqti maayti)
Maayta kaan?
Shin wannan hanya ce?(maayta kaan)
Ittaa hara
Yana kusa da nan(ittaa hara)
Ittaa faar
Yana nesa da nan(ittaa faar)
Maafaa naafaa?
Za ka iya nuna mini a taswirar?(maafaa naafaa)
Hara dhaaf, fadlan
Tsaida nan, don Allah(hara dhaaf, fadlan)
Waqti mee?
Yaya tsawon lokaci?(waqti mee)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Iyayka mi'aa?
Nayi na kudi?(Nayi na kudi?)
Iyayka xayl
Wannan ya yi tsada sosai.(iyayka xayl)
Ma'ayka hara gabbir?
Shin kuna da wani abu mai rahusa?(ma'ayka hara gabbir)
Karta ka'ayka?
Zan iya biyan kudi da kati?(karta ka'ayka)
Mi'ayka mi'ida laba
Ina so tebur don biyu.(mi'ayka mi'ida laba)
Xisaab, fadlan
Lissafi, don Allah.(xisaab, fadlan)
Adeegku ma ku jira?
Shin sabis ya haɗa?(adeegku ma ku jira)
Anigu waxaan ahay khudradeed
Ni mai ganyayyaki ne.(anigu waxaan ahay khudradeed)
Cunto kulul ma jirto, fadlan
Ba tare da zaki ba, don Allah.(cunto kulul ma jirto)
Tani waa macaan
Wannan yana da dadi.(tani waa macaan)
Mi'ayka liiska?
Zan iya samun menu?(mi'ayka liiska)
Dharbaaxda biyo, fadlan
Kofin ruwa, don Allah.(dharbaaxda biyo)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Waaqa booliisi
Dawari janga(Dawari janga)
Waaqa ambulaansii
Dawari ambulan(Dawari ambulan)
Dooktar naaf barbaachisa
Ni na doctor(Ni na doctor)
Naanu dhukkuba qaba
Ni na jaga(Ni na jaga)
Qoricha fooniif dhukkuba qaba
Ni na haji goro(Ni na haji goro)
Hospitaala dhihoo eessa?
Ina asibiti na kusa?(Ina asibiti na kusa?)
Asitti dhukkuba qaba
Yana ciwo a nan(Yana ciwo a nan)
Paaspoortii koo dhabe
Ni na rasa passport na(Ni na rasa passport na)
Hoteela koo waaqa?
Za ka iya dawari otel na?(Za ka iya dawari otel na?)
Gargaarsa!
Taimako!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Nagaad waayi
Nde gaishe(nde gaishe)
Nagaad kaabirna waayi
Mu gaishe taro(mu gaishe taro)
Waqti mee waayi?
Wai gaishe lokaci?(wai gaishe lokaci)
Warqad kaan diraya harra
Zan tura rahoto yau(zan tura rahoto yau)
Maanta waayi hadalnaa?
Zamu iya magana gobe?(zamu iya magana gobe)
Faylka ku lifaaqan fadlan
Don Allah ka sami fayil din da aka makala(don Allah ka sami fayil din da aka makala)
Mahadsanid waqtigaaga
Na gode da lokacinka(na gode da lokacinka)
Waxaan rajeynayaa inaan la shaqeeyo
Ina fatan aiki tare da kai(ina fatan aiki tare da kai)
Ma cadayn kartaa dhibicdaas?
Za ka iya fayyace wannan batu?(za ka iya fayyace wannan batu)