Looking for practical Afar to Kiga phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Afar phrase first, then the Kiga translation (Kiga) — 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 Kiga.
Tip: read the Kiga line out loud three times, then cover the Afar 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 Afar to Kiga 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
Okwagala(nagaad)
Galatooma
Webale(galatooma)
Bariis
Osiibye bulungi(bariis)
Galab
Osiibye bulungi(galab)
Haal
Osiibye bulungi(haal)
Haalka habeen
Osiibye bulungi(haalka habeen)
Ilaa mar kale
Tugenda okukutana(ilaa mar kale)
Nagaad
Nkwagala(nagaad)
Maa magacaa?
Erinnya lyo ani?(maa magacaa)
Magacaygu waa John
Erinnya lyange nze John(magacaygu waa John)
Iska waran?
Oli otya?(iska waran)
Aad baan ku faraxsanahay
Nneebwanga okukuyita(aad baan ku faraxsanahay)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Inni ingiriisi maahaa?
Oli muwandiika kiingereza?(Inni ingiriisi maahaa?)
Hindi maahaa hinjiru
Sikuwandiika Hindi bulungi.(Hindi maahaa hinjiru)
Ani hinfahmi
Sikuganya.(Ani hinfahmi)
Fadlan si maahaa siib
Nkwenda okwandiika bulungi.(Fadlan si maahaa siib)
Maahaa inna marra?
Osobola okuwandiika ekyo na?(Maahaa inna marra?)
Maalin baadhu?
Ekitanda kiki?(Maalin baadhu?)
Akkam an magaalatti gahu?
Nkwenda otya mu kiti?(Akkam an magaalatti gahu?)
Boodha kaaf
Genda ku kkono.(Boodha kaaf)
Boodha mirga
Genda ku ddyo.(Boodha mirga)
Si qodhi
Genda mu maaso.(Si qodhi)
Maalin abaal?
Ekitundu kiki?(Maalin abaal?)
Tiket tokkon, fadlan
Ekitanda emu, nyamba.(Tiket tokkon, fadlan)
Maalin faga?
Kiki ekitundu okuva wano?(Maalin faga?)
Ani dhumtu
Ndi mu kwegendereza.(Ani dhumtu)
Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?
Nkwenda kutuuka wa SIM card?(Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Eeyy
Eee(ee-yee)
Maya
Oya(mah-yah)
Gara
Wali(gah-rah)
Anigu waaq
Ndiinze(ah-nee-goo wahk)
Anigu ma waaq
Sindiinze(ah-nee-goo mah wahk)
Tani waa'ee
Ekitanga kiza(tah-nee wah-ee)
Ilaa ma waaq?
Oteka ki?(ee-lah mah wahk)
Ilaa naxar?
Okwetegera?(ee-lah nah-khar)
Naxar aniga
Nfuna okwetegera(nah-khar ah-nee-gah)
Soo'aa
Leka akaseke(soo-ah)
Waa'ee aniga
Ndi mwefwe(wah-ee ah-nee-gah)
Maya dhib
Tera kintu(mah-yah dheeb)
Hambalyo
Nkwagala(ham-bahl-yo)
Bariis gadhay
Okwagala omwaka omukya(bah-rees gah-thai)
Safar amni
Okwetegera mu nsi(sah-far am-nee)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Eeyyoo taayka daab?
Eri heza y'ekitabo?(Eri heza y'ekitabo?)
Eeyyoo gaari daab?
Eri heza y'ekibuga?(Eri heza y'ekibuga?)
Keenya kaafaa?
Ekiyungiriro ki?(Ekiyungiriro ki?)
Waqti maayti?
Ekitonde ki?(Ekitonde ki?)
Maayta kaan?
Oni omukono ogw'ekirungi?(Oni omukono ogw'ekirungi?)
Ittaa hara
Eri wansi wano(Eri wansi wano)
Ittaa faar
Eri kure wano(Eri kure wano)
Maafaa naafaa?
Oyinza okundabira ku karita?(Oyinza okundabira ku karita?)
Hara dhaaf, fadlan
Mugume wano, nyabo(Mugume wano, nyabo)
Waqti mee?
Ekitanga ki?(Ekitanga ki?)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Iyayka mi'aa?
Ekitanga ki?(ekitanga ki)
Iyayka xayl
Ekitanga ky'ekikula(ekitanga ky'ekikula)
Ma'ayka hara gabbir?
Oli n'ekintu ekirungi?(oli n'ekintu ekirungi)
Karta ka'ayka?
Nkwenda okwekwasa ku kadi?(nkwenda okwekwasa ku kadi)
Mi'ayka mi'ida laba
Nkwenda akatabo ku b'abiri(nkwenda akatabo ku b'abiri)