Looking for practical Afar to Kokborok phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Afar phrase first, then the Kokborok translation (Kokborok) — 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 Kokborok.
Tip: when a Kokborok 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 Kokborok 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
Nok(Nok)
Galatooma
Nok aijw(Nok aijw)
Bariis
Nok aijw bwn(Nok aijw bwn)
Galab
Nok aijw thang(Nok aijw thang)
Haal
Nok aijw bwnthang(Nok aijw bwnthang)
Haalka habeen
Nok aijw rwi(Nok aijw rwi)
Ilaa mar kale
Nok aijw khang(Nok aijw khang)
Nagaad
Nok aijw khang(Nok aijw khang)
Maa magacaa?
Nok bwn aijw?(Nok bwn aijw?)
Magacaygu waa John
Aijw John(Aijw John)
Iska waran?
Nok bwn aijw?(Nok bwn aijw?)
Aad baan ku faraxsanahay
Nok aijw bwnthang(Nok aijw bwnthang)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Inni ingiriisi maahaa?
Nok English bisi?(Nok English bisi?)
Hindi maahaa hinjiru
Nok Hindi bisi na(Nok Hindi bisi na)
Ani hinfahmi
Nok na bisi(Nok na bisi)
Fadlan si maahaa siib
Bisi khum khum(Bisi khum khum)
Maahaa inna marra?
Nok bisi khum khum?(Nok bisi khum khum?)
Maalin baadhu?
Bathroom naki?(Bathroom naki?)
Akkam an magaalatti gahu?
City center naki khum?(City center naki khum?)
Boodha kaaf
Bokhoma khum(Bokhoma khum)
Boodha mirga
Dakhoma khum(Dakhoma khum)
Si qodhi
Sokhoma khum(Sokhoma khum)
Maalin abaal?
Fare naki?(Fare naki?)
Tiket tokkon, fadlan
Ek ticket, bisi(Ek ticket, bisi)
Maalin faga?
Naki khum na?(Naki khum na?)
Ani dhumtu
Nok khum na(Nok khum na)
Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?
SIM card naki bisi?(SIM card naki bisi?)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Eeyy
Nai(ee-yee)
Maya
Nai na(mah-yah)
Gara
Nai hani(gah-rah)
Anigu waaq
Nai bisi(ah-nee-goo wahk)
Anigu ma waaq
Nai bisi na(ah-nee-goo mah wahk)
Tani waa'ee
Aikhan bisi(tah-nee wah-ee)
Ilaa ma waaq?
Nai hani bisi?(ee-lah mah wahk)
Ilaa naxar?
Nai bisi khang?(ee-lah nah-khar)
Naxar aniga
Nai khang bisi(nah-khar ah-nee-gah)
Soo'aa
Nai khang nai(soo-ah)
Waa'ee aniga
Nai khangna(wah-ee ah-nee-gah)
Maya dhib
Nai na bisi(mah-yah dheeb)
Hambalyo
Nai bisi khang(ham-bahl-yo)
Bariis gadhay
Nai bisi jujuk(bah-rees gah-thai)
Safar amni
Nai bisi khang trip(sah-far am-nee)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Eeyyoo taayka daab?
Train station khangni?(khangni = where)
Eeyyoo gaari daab?
Bus stop khangni?(khangni = where)
Keenya kaafaa?
Platform khangni?(khangni = which)
Waqti maayti?
Kok khangni chuk?(khangni = what)
Maayta kaan?
Nok jani thok?(jani = right)
Ittaa hara
Ami khangni bisi(bisi = near)
Ittaa faar
Ami khangni bisi na(na = far)
Maafaa naafaa?
Map khangni aikhani?(aikhani = show)
Hara dhaaf, fadlan
Ami khangni thok, please(thok = stop)
Waqti mee?
Kok khangni chuk?(khangni = how long)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Iyayka mi'aa?
Nok bisi bisi?(Nok bisi bisi?)
Iyayka xayl
Aikha bisi bisi khang?(Aikha bisi bisi khang?)
Ma'ayka hara gabbir?
Nok bisi bisi khang khum?(Nok bisi bisi khang khum?)
Karta ka'ayka?
Nok card bisi khang?(Nok card bisi khang?)
Mi'ayka mi'ida laba
Nok duijw bisi table(Nok duijw bisi table)
Xisaab, fadlan
Bill bisi, please(Bill bisi, please)
Adeegku ma ku jira?
Service bisi khang?(Service bisi khang?)
Anigu waxaan ahay khudradeed
Nok vegetarian bisi(Nok vegetarian bisi)
Cunto kulul ma jirto, fadlan
No spicy food bisi, please(No spicy food bisi, please)
Tani waa macaan
Aikha bisi khawng(Aikha bisi khawng)
Mi'ayka liiska?
Nok menu bisi khang?(Nok menu bisi khang?)
Dharbaaxda biyo, fadlan
A glass water bisi, please(A glass water bisi, please)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Waaqa booliisi
Police ni bwnai(Police ni bwnai)
Waaqa ambulaansii
Ambulance ni bwnai(Ambulance ni bwnai)
Dooktar naaf barbaachisa
Nok a doctor bwnai(Nok a doctor bwnai)
Naanu dhukkuba qaba
Nok khangni(Nok khangni)
Qoricha fooniif dhukkuba qaba
Nok khawngni bwnai khichwi(Nok khawngni bwnai khichwi)
Hospitaala dhihoo eessa?
Nok a hospital ni bwnai?(Nok a hospital ni bwnai?)
Asitti dhukkuba qaba
Nok a bwnai(Nok a bwnai)
Paaspoortii koo dhabe
Nok passport ni bwnai(Nok passport ni bwnai)
Hoteela koo waaqa?
Nok hotel ni bwnai?(Nok hotel ni bwnai?)
Gargaarsa!
Bwnai!(Bwnai!)
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Nagaad waayi
Nok bisi bisi(Nok bisi bisi)
Nagaad kaabirna waayi
Amak bisi meeting bisi(Amak bisi meeting bisi)
Waqti mee waayi?
Nok bisi khan time?(Nok bisi khan time?)
Warqad kaan diraya harra
Ami report bisi thang(Ami report bisi thang)
Maanta waayi hadalnaa?
Amak bisi kal khan?(Amak bisi kal khan?)
Faylka ku lifaaqan fadlan
Nok bisi file bisi attach(Nok bisi file bisi attach)
Mahadsanid waqtigaaga
Nok bisi thang bisi(Nok bisi thang bisi)
Waxaan rajeynayaa inaan la shaqeeyo
Ami nok bisi thang bisi(Ami nok bisi thang bisi)
Ma cadayn kartaa dhibicdaas?
Nok bisi point bisi khan?(Nok bisi point bisi khan?)
Iga raadi dib
Ami nok bisi thang(Ami nok bisi thang)
Waqtiga kama dambaysta waa Jimco
Deadline bisi Friday(Deadline bisi Friday)
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.