Looking for practical Afar to Krio phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Afar phrase first, then the Krio translation (Krio) — 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 Krio.
Tip: read the Krio 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 Krio 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
Hello(nagaad)
Galatooma
Tenki(galatooma)
Bariis
Gud mɔnin(bariis)
Galab
Gud aftanun(galab)
Haal
Gud ivnin(haal)
Haalka habeen
Gud nait(haalka habeen)
Ilaa mar kale
Si yu leta(ilaa mar kale)
Nagaad
Bai(nagaad)
Maa magacaa?
Wetɛn na yu neym?(maa magacaa)
Magacaygu waa John
Ma neym na John(magacaygu waa John)
Iska waran?
Ow yu de?(iska waran)
Aad baan ku faraxsanahay
Naes fo mit yu(aad baan ku faraxsanahay)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Inni ingiriisi maahaa?
Yu sabi English?(Inni ingiriisi maahaa?)
Hindi maahaa hinjiru
A no sabi Hindi well.(Hindi maahaa hinjiru)
Ani hinfahmi
A no sabi.(Ani hinfahmi)
Fadlan si maahaa siib
Plis, tok slow.(Fadlan si maahaa siib)
Maahaa inna marra?
Yu fit tok dat again?(Maahaa inna marra?)
Maalin baadhu?
Weh na di toilet?(Maalin baadhu?)
Akkam an magaalatti gahu?
Ow A go fit reach di city center?(Akkam an magaalatti gahu?)
Boodha kaaf
Turn left.(Boodha kaaf)
Boodha mirga
Turn right.(Boodha mirga)
Si qodhi
Go straight.(Si qodhi)
Maalin abaal?
Ow much na di fare?(Maalin abaal?)
Tiket tokkon, fadlan
One ticket, plis.(Tiket tokkon, fadlan)
Maalin faga?
E far from ya?(Maalin faga?)
Ani dhumtu
A don lost.(Ani dhumtu)
Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?
Weh A go fit buy SIM card?(Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Eeyy
Yes(ee-yee)
Maya
No(mah-yah)
Gara
Maybe(gah-rah)
Anigu waaq
A mi agree(ah-nee-goo wahk)
Anigu ma waaq
A no agree(ah-nee-goo mah wahk)
Tani waa'ee
Dat na fine(tah-nee wah-ee)
Ilaa ma waaq?
Wet in you tink?(ee-lah mah wahk)
Ilaa naxar?
You fit help me?(ee-lah nah-khar)
Naxar aniga
A need help(nah-khar ah-nee-gah)
Soo'aa
Wait small(soo-ah)
Waa'ee aniga
A sorry(wah-ee ah-nee-gah)
Maya dhib
No problem(mah-yah dheeb)
Hambalyo
Congratulations(ham-bahl-yo)
Bariis gadhay
Happy birthday(bah-rees gah-thai)
Safar amni
Get safe trip(sah-far am-nee)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Eeyyoo taayka daab?
Weh na di train station?(eyyoo taayka daab)
Eeyyoo gaari daab?
Weh na di bus stop?(eyyoo gaari daab)
Keenya kaafaa?
Which platform na im?(keenya kaafaa)
Waqti maayti?
Wetin time e go lef?(waqti maayti)
Maayta kaan?
Dis na di right way?(maayta kaan)
Ittaa hara
E dey near here(ittaa hara)
Ittaa faar
E far from here(ittaa faar)
Maafaa naafaa?
Yu fit show me pan di map?(maafaa naafaa)
Hara dhaaf, fadlan
Stop here, pliz(hara dhaaf, fadlan)
Waqti mee?
How long e go tek?(waqti mee)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Iyayka mi'aa?
How much dis cost?(iyayka mi'aa)
Iyayka xayl
Dat too expensive.(iyayka xayl)
Ma'ayka hara gabbir?
You get anytin wey cheaper?(ma'ayka hara gabbir)
Karta ka'ayka?
I fit pay by card?(karta ka'ayka)
Mi'ayka mi'ida laba
I wan table for two.(mi'ayka mi'ida laba)
Xisaab, fadlan
Di bill, please.(xisaab, fadlan)
Adeegku ma ku jira?
Service dey include?(adeegku ma ku jira)
Anigu waxaan ahay khudradeed
I na vegetarian.(anigu waxaan ahay khudradeed)
Cunto kulul ma jirto, fadlan
No spicy food, please.(cunto kulul ma jirto)
Tani waa macaan
Dis dey sweet.(tani waa macaan)
Mi'ayka liiska?
I fit get di menu?(mi'ayka liiska)
Dharbaaxda biyo, fadlan
A glass of water, please.(dharbaaxda biyo)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Waaqa booliisi
Call di police(Call the police)
Waaqa ambulaansii
Call ambulance(Call an ambulance)
Dooktar naaf barbaachisa
A need doctor
Naanu dhukkuba qaba
A dey feel sick
Qoricha fooniif dhukkuba qaba
A get allergy for peanuts
Hospitaala dhihoo eessa?
Weh di nearest hospital de?
Asitti dhukkuba qaba
E dey pain here
Paaspoortii koo dhabe
A don lose mi passport
Hoteela koo waaqa?
You fit call mi hotel?
Gargaarsa!
Help!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Nagaad waayi
Na nice for meet you(na-gaad waa-yi)
Nagaad kaabirna waayi
Make we plan wan meeting(na-gaad kaa-bir-na waa-yi)
Waqti mee waayi?
Wetin time go work for you?(waq-ti mee waa-yi)
Warqad kaan diraya harra
A go send di report tiday(war-qad kaan di-ra-ya har-ra)
Maanta waayi hadalnaa?
We go fit talk tomorrow?(maan-ta waa-yi ha-dal-naa)
Faylka ku lifaaqan fadlan
Abeg find di file wey attach(fayl-ka ku li-faa-qan fad-lan)
Mahadsanid waqtigaaga
Tenki for your time(ma-had-sa-nid waq-ti-ga-a-ga)
Waxaan rajeynayaa inaan la shaqeeyo
A dey look forward for work with you(wax-aan ra-jeen-yaa-in aan la sha-qee-yo)
Ma cadayn kartaa dhibicdaas?
You fit clarify dat point?(ma ca-dayn kar-taa dhi-bi-cda-as)
Iga raadi dib
Make I get back to you(i-ga raa-di dib)
Waqtiga kama dambaysta waa Jimco
Di deadline na Friday(waq-ti-ga ka-ma dam-bay-sta waa jim-co)
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.