Looking for practical Afar to NKo phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Afar phrase first, then the NKo translation (NKo) — 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 NKo.
Tip: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a NKo-speaking trip in a few weeks.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Afar to NKo 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
ᎣᏍᏆ(Oscha)
Galatooma
ᎠᏍᏆᏙᏗ(Ascadodi)
Bariis
ᎣᏍᏆ ᎡᏚᏙᏗ(Oscha Edodhi)
Galab
ᎣᏍᏆ ᎠᏧᏍᏆᏗ(Oscha Atsachadi)
Haal
ᎣᏍᏆ ᏓᎦᏚᏗ(Oscha Dagadudi)
Haalka habeen
ᎣᏍᏆ ᏓᏥᏍᏆ(Oscha Datsicha)
Ilaa mar kale
ᎣᏍᏆ ᏓᎦᏙᏗ(Oscha Dagadodi)
Nagaad
ᎣᏍᏆ ᏓᏁᏙᏗ(Oscha Danodi)
Maa magacaa?
ᎯᏍᏆ ᎠᏍᏆᏙᏗ ᎢᏳᏍᏆ?(Hisch Ascadodi Iyuscha?)
Magacaygu waa John
ᎠᏓ ᎠᏍᏆᏙᏗ ᎠᏍᏆ ᏥᏍᏆ(Ada Ascadodi Ascha Tischa)
Iska waran?
ᎯᏍᏆ ᎯᏍᏆ?(Hisch Hisch?)
Aad baan ku faraxsanahay
ᎠᏍᏆᏙᏗ ᏓᏥᏍᏆ(Ascadodi Tischa)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Inni ingiriisi maahaa?
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߡߊ߬ߟߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬?(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
Hindi maahaa hinjiru
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߡߊ߬ߟߊ߬ ߗߊ߬ߓߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
Ani hinfahmi
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߡߊ߬ߟߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߓߊ߬(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
Fadlan si maahaa siib
ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߗߊ߬ߓߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
Maahaa inna marra?
ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬?(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
Maalin baadhu?
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬?(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
Akkam an magaalatti gahu?
ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬?(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
Boodha kaaf
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
Boodha mirga
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
Si qodhi
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
Maalin abaal?
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬?(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
Tiket tokkon, fadlan
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
Maalin faga?
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬?(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
Ani dhumtu
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬?(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Eeyy
𞤈𞤢𞤣𞤢(ee-yee)
Maya
𞤈𞤢𞤣(mah-yah)
Gara
𞤈𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤈𞤢𞤣𞤢(gah-rah)
Anigu waaq
𞤉𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢𞤲𞤢(ah-nee-goo wahk)
Anigu ma waaq
𞤉𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢𞤲𞤢 𞤈𞤢𞤣(ah-nee-goo mah wahk)
Tani waa'ee
𞤈𞤢𞤣 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤈𞤢𞤣(tah-nee wah-ee)
Ilaa ma waaq?
𞤈𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤈𞤢𞤣(ee-lah mah wahk)
Ilaa naxar?
𞤈𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤉𞤢𞤣𞤢(ee-lah nah-khar)
Naxar aniga
𞤉𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢(nah-khar ah-nee-gah)
Soo'aa
𞤈𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤈𞤢𞤣(soo-ah)
Waa'ee aniga
𞤉𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢(wah-ee ah-nee-gah)
Maya dhib
𞤈𞤢𞤣 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢(mah-yah dheeb)
Hambalyo
𞤈𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢(ham-bahl-yo)
Bariis gadhay
𞤈𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢(bah-rees gah-thai)
Safar amni
𞤈𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢(sah-far am-nee)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Eeyyoo taayka daab?
ߓߍ߬ߓߊ߬ ߓߍ߬ ߛߌ߬ߟߊ߬ߙߌ߬(bɛrɛ ɲaŋa)
Eeyyoo gaari daab?
ߓߍ߬ߓߊ߬ ߓߍ߬ ߛߌ߬ߟߊ߬ߙߌ߬ ߓߌ߬ߜߌ߬(bɛrɛ ɲaŋa)
Keenya kaafaa?
ߓߍ߬ߓߊ߬ ߛߌ߬ߟߊ߬ߙߌ߬ ߓߌ߬ߜߌ߬(bɛrɛ ɲaŋa)
Waqti maayti?
ߓߍ߬ߓߊ߬ ߛߌ߬ߟߊ߬ߙߌ߬ ߓߌ߬ߜߌ߬(bɛrɛ ɲaŋa)
Maayta kaan?
ߓߍ߬ߓߊ߬ ߓߌ߬ߜߌ߬ ߓߍ߬ ߞߌ߬ߟߌ߬(bɛrɛ ɲaŋa)
Ittaa hara
ߓߍ߬ߓߊ߬ ߓߌ߬ߜߌ߬ ߓߍ߬ ߞߌ߬ߟߌ߬(bɛrɛ ɲaŋa)
Ittaa faar
ߓߍ߬ߓߊ߬ ߓߌ߬ߜߌ߬ ߓߍ߬ ߞߌ߬ߟߌ߬(bɛrɛ ɲaŋa)
Maafaa naafaa?
ߓߍ߬ߓߊ߬ ߓߌ߬ߜߌ߬ ߓߍ߬ ߞߌ߬ߟߌ߬(bɛrɛ ɲaŋa)
Hara dhaaf, fadlan
ߓߍ߬ߓߊ߬ ߓߌ߬ߜߌ߬ ߓߍ߬ ߞߌ߬ߟߌ߬(bɛrɛ ɲaŋa)
Waqti mee?
ߓߍ߬ߓߊ߬ ߓߌ߬ߜߌ߬ ߓߍ߬ ߞߌ߬ߟߌ߬(bɛrɛ ɲaŋa)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Iyayka mi'aa?
ߊߞߊ ߟߌ߬ߓߊ ߞߊ߬ߙߌߟߌ?(aɡa fɔtɔ?)
Iyayka xayl
߉ߠߊ ߞߊ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߟߌ߬ߓߊ ߞߊ߬ߙߌ(aɡa ɲa fɔtɔ)
Ma'ayka hara gabbir?
ߊߞߊ ߡߊ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߞߊ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߞߌ߬ߙߌ?(aɡa ɲa fɔtɔ?)
Karta ka'ayka?
ߊߞߊ ߡߊ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߡߌ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߞߌ߬ߙߌ?(aɡa ɲa fɔtɔ?)
Mi'ayka mi'ida laba
ߊߞߊ ߡߊ ߞߊ ߞߌ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߡߌ߬ߙߌ(aɡa ɲa fɔtɔ?)
Xisaab, fadlan
ߊߞߊ ߡߊ ߞߌ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߡߌ߬ߙߌ(aɡa ɲa fɔtɔ?)
Adeegku ma ku jira?
ߊߞߊ ߡߊ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߞߊ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߞߌ߬ߙߌ?(aɡa ɲa fɔtɔ?)
Anigu waxaan ahay khudradeed
ߊߞߊ ߡߊ ߞߊ ߞߌ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߡߌ߬ߙߌ(aɡa ɲa fɔtɔ?)
Cunto kulul ma jirto, fadlan
ߊߞߊ ߡߊ ߞߊ ߞߌ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߡߌ߬ߙߌ(aɡa ɲa fɔtɔ?)
Tani waa macaan
ߊߞߊ ߡߊ ߞߊ ߞߌ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߡߌ߬ߙߌ(aɡa ɲa fɔtɔ?)
Mi'ayka liiska?
ߊߞߊ ߡߊ ߞߊ ߞߌ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߡߌ߬ߙߌ?(aɡa ɲa fɔtɔ?)
Dharbaaxda biyo, fadlan
ߊߞߊ ߡߊ ߞߊ ߞߌ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߡߌ߬ߙߌ(aɡa ɲa fɔtɔ?)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.