Common Afar to Mam phrases

100 practical Afar to Mam phrases for travel, study, work, and daily conversation.

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Looking for practical Afar to Mam phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Afar phrase first, then the Mam translation (Mam) — 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 Mam.

Tip: read the Mam 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 Mam 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.

  1. Nagaad

    Xo'j (sho'j)

  2. Galatooma

    Tz'ik (tz'ik)

  3. Bariis

    Xo'j nax (sho'j nax)

  4. Galab

    Xo'j q'ij (sho'j q'ij)

  5. Haal

    Xo'j k'ux (sho'j k'ux)

  6. Haalka habeen

    Xo'j k'ux nax (sho'j k'ux nax)

  7. Ilaa mar kale

    K'ux q'ij (k'ux q'ij)

  8. Nagaad

    Xo'j k'ux (sho'j k'ux)

  9. Maa magacaa?

    Ja' k'ux nax? (ha' k'ux nax?)

  10. Magacaygu waa John

    Ja' k'ux nax John (ha' k'ux nax John)

  11. Iska waran?

    Jach' k'ux? (hach' k'ux?)

  12. Aad baan ku faraxsanahay

    Nab' k'ux (nab' k'ux)

Useful phrases for travellers

Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.

  1. Inni ingiriisi maahaa?

    ¿K'ax k'utun English? (Inni ingiriisi maahaa?)

  2. Hindi maahaa hinjiru

    Nek'ux k'utun Hindi k'ax k'utun. (Hindi maahaa hinjiru)

  3. Ani hinfahmi

    Nek'ux k'ax k'utun. (Ani hinfahmi)

  4. Fadlan si maahaa siib

    Por favor, k'utun k'ux. (Fadlan si maahaa siib)

  5. Maahaa inna marra?

    ¿K'ax k'utun k'ux? (Maahaa inna marra?)

  6. Maalin baadhu?

    ¿Jach'och k'ux? (Maalin baadhu?)

  7. Akkam an magaalatti gahu?

    ¿Jach'och k'ux ch'ich'? (Akkam an magaalatti gahu?)

  8. Boodha kaaf

    K'utun k'ux. (Boodha kaaf)

  9. Boodha mirga

    K'utun k'ux. (Boodha mirga)

  10. Si qodhi

    K'utun k'ux. (Si qodhi)

  11. Maalin abaal?

    ¿K'ax k'ux ch'ich'? (Maalin abaal?)

  12. Tiket tokkon, fadlan

    K'utun ch'ich', por favor. (Tiket tokkon, fadlan)

  13. Maalin faga?

    ¿K'ax k'ux jach'och? (Maalin faga?)

  14. Ani dhumtu

    Nek'ux k'ax k'ux. (Ani dhumtu)

  15. Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?

    ¿Jach'och k'ux k'utun SIM? (Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?)

Everyday conversation

Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.

  1. Eeyy

    Juj (hoo)

  2. Maya

    Man (mah)

  3. Gara

    K'ux (k'ush)

  4. Anigu waaq

    Juj k'ux (hoo k'ush)

  5. Anigu ma waaq

    Man k'ux (mah k'ush)

  6. Tani waa'ee

    K'ux juj (k'ush hoo)

  7. Ilaa ma waaq?

    ¿Juj k'ux k'ut? (¿hoo k'ush k'ut?)

  8. Ilaa naxar?

    ¿Juj k'ux juj k'ux? (¿hoo k'ush hoo k'ush?)

  9. Naxar aniga

    Juj k'ux juj k'ux k'ut (hoo k'ush hoo k'ut)

  10. Soo'aa

    K'ux k'ut (k'ush k'ut)

  11. Waa'ee aniga

    Juj k'ux k'ut (hoo k'ush k'ut)

  12. Maya dhib

    Man k'ux k'ut (mah k'ush k'ut)

  13. Hambalyo

    K'ux juj k'ut (k'ush hoo k'ut)

  14. Bariis gadhay

    K'ux juj k'ut k'ux (k'ush hoo k'ut k'ush)

  15. Safar amni

    K'ux juj k'ut k'ux (k'ush hoo k'ut k'ush)

Directions and getting around

Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.

  1. Eeyyoo taayka daab?

    ¿Jujuk pa ri tren? (eyyoo taayka daab)

  2. Eeyyoo gaari daab?

    ¿Jujuk pa ri bus? (eyyoo gaari daab)

  3. Keenya kaafaa?

    ¿K'ux ri plataforma? (keenya kaafaa)

  4. Waqti maayti?

    ¿K'ux ri tiempo pa k'ux? (waqti maayti)

  5. Maayta kaan?

    ¿¿K'ux ri camino? (maayta kaan)

  6. Ittaa hara

    Ri k'ut pa ri. (ittaa hara)

  7. Ittaa faar

    Ri k'ut pa ri k'ul. (ittaa faar)

  8. Maafaa naafaa?

    ¿¿K'ux k'ut ri mapa? (maafaa naafaa)

  9. Hara dhaaf, fadlan

    ¿¿K'ut pa ri, por favor? (hara dhaaf, fadlan)

  10. Waqti mee?

    ¿¿K'ux ri tiempo? (waqti mee)

Shopping and dining

Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.

  1. Iyayka mi'aa?

    K'ux k'ulub' ri'? (K'ux k'ulub' ri'?)

  2. Iyayka xayl

    K'ux ri' k'ulub'? (K'ux ri' k'ulub'?)

  3. Ma'ayka hara gabbir?

    ¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax? (¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax?)

  4. Karta ka'ayka?

    ¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax k'oj? (¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax k'oj?)

  5. Mi'ayka mi'ida laba

    In k'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax k'oj? (In k'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax k'oj?)

  6. Xisaab, fadlan

    Ri' k'ulub', por favor (Ri' k'ulub', por favor)

  7. Adeegku ma ku jira?

    ¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax? (¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax?)

  8. Anigu waxaan ahay khudradeed

    In k'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax (In k'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax)

  9. Cunto kulul ma jirto, fadlan

    ¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax? (¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax?)

  10. Tani waa macaan

    K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax (K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax)

  11. Mi'ayka liiska?

    ¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax? (¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax?)

  12. Dharbaaxda biyo, fadlan

    ¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax? (¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax?)

Emergencies and health

Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.

  1. Waaqa booliisi

    K'uxik la policía (Call the police)

  2. Waaqa ambulaansii

    K'uxik un ambulancia (Call an ambulance)

  3. Dooktar naaf barbaachisa

    Nek' a doctor

  4. Naanu dhukkuba qaba

    K'utun k'ax

  5. Qoricha fooniif dhukkuba qaba

    Nek' a k'uxi' ch'ich'

  6. Hospitaala dhihoo eessa?

    Jach' k'uxik la hospital?

  7. Asitti dhukkuba qaba

    K'utun k'uxi' aquí

  8. Paaspoortii koo dhabe

    Nek' a k'uxik mi pasaporte

  9. Hoteela koo waaqa?

    ¿K'uxik a k'uxik mi hotel?

  10. Gargaarsa!

    ¡Ayuda!

Work and business

Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.

  1. Nagaad waayi

    Chik'oj ch'ab'ej (chee-k'oh chahb'eh)

  2. Nagaad kaabirna waayi

    K'axik ch'awik ri k'ulb'al (kah-hee k'ah-wik ree kool-bahl)

  3. Waqti mee waayi?

    K'ut ri k'utal k'axik? (k'oot ree k'oo-tahl kah-hee)

  4. Warqad kaan diraya harra

    In k'axik ri k'ik'oj ch'ich' (een kah-hee ree kee-k'oh ch'eech')

  5. Maanta waayi hadalnaa?

    K'axik ch'awik ri k'ik'oj k'ay? (kah-hee ch'ah-wik ree kee-k'oh kahy)

  6. Faylka ku lifaaqan fadlan

    Ch'awik ri k'ulb'al k'axik (ch'ah-wik ree kool-bahl kah-hee)

  7. Mahadsanid waqtigaaga

    Tz'ib'ej ri k'utal (tzee-beh-eh ree k'oo-tahl)

  8. Waxaan rajeynayaa inaan la shaqeeyo

    In k'axik ri k'ulb'al k'axik (een kah-hee ree kool-bahl kah-hee)

  9. Ma cadayn kartaa dhibicdaas?

    K'axik ch'awik ri k'utal? (kah-hee ch'ah-wik ree k'oo-tahl)

  10. Iga raadi dib

    K'axik in k'axik ch'awik (kah-hee een kah-hee ch'ah-wik)

  11. Waqtiga kama dambaysta waa Jimco

    Ri k'utal k'axik k'ay (ree k'oo-tahl kah-hee kahy)

Time, days and numbers

Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.

  1. Sa'a mee?

    ¿K'ux ri'? (k'ux ri')

  2. Saa seddah

    K'ux ri' k'i'ik' (k'ux ri' k'i'ik')

  3. Maanta

    Rij (rij)

  4. Berra

    Rij k'i'ik' (rij k'i'ik')

  5. Dhiif

    Rij k'ux (rij k'ux)

  6. Isniin

    Rij k'ux k'ay (rij k'ux k'ay)

  7. Salasa

    Rij k'ux k'ay k'i' (rij k'ux k'ay k'i')

  8. Arba'a

    Rij k'ux k'ay k'ax (rij k'ux k'ay k'ax)

  9. Keen

    Jun (jun)

  10. Laba

    K'ij (k'ij)

  11. Seddah

    K'i'ik' (k'i'ik')

  12. Toban

    Waq (waq)

  13. Keen boqol

    Jun b'ix (jun b'ix)

  14. Baar

    K'ux ri' k'ay (k'ux ri' k'ay)

  15. Ka badan

    K'ux (k'ux)