Looking for practical Afar to Sango phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Afar phrase first, then the Sango translation (Sango) — 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 Sango.
Tip: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Sango-speaking trip in a few weeks.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Afar to Sango 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
Mbote(nagaad)
Galatooma
Mokolo(galatooma)
Bariis
Mbote na nganga(bariis)
Galab
Mbote na nganga ya zanga(galab)
Haal
Mbote na nganga ya sika(haal)
Haalka habeen
Ndeko na nganga(haalka habeen)
Ilaa mar kale
Tango na yo(ilaa mar kale)
Nagaad
Ayo(nagaad)
Maa magacaa?
Nani na yo?(maa magacaa)
Magacaygu waa John
Nani na nga John(magacaygu waa John)
Iska waran?
Oza malamu?(iska waran)
Aad baan ku faraxsanahay
Mokili na yo(aad baan ku faraxsanahay)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Inni ingiriisi maahaa?
O yo na nganga English?(Inni ingiriisi maahaa?)
Hindi maahaa hinjiru
O na yo na nganga Hindi na mboka.(Hindi maahaa hinjiru)
Ani hinfahmi
O na yo na mboka.(Ani hinfahmi)
Fadlan si maahaa siib
Sokou, yo na nganga na mboka.(Fadlan si maahaa siib)
Maahaa inna marra?
O tanga na mboka?(Maahaa inna marra?)
Maalin baadhu?
Banga na yo na ndako?(Maalin baadhu?)
Akkam an magaalatti gahu?
Nde na yo na banga na mboka?(Akkam an magaalatti gahu?)
Boodha kaaf
Kanga na mboko.(Boodha kaaf)
Boodha mirga
Kanga na nganga.(Boodha mirga)
Si qodhi
Kende na mboka.(Si qodhi)
Maalin abaal?
Nde na yo na mboka?(Maalin abaal?)
Tiket tokkon, fadlan
Mokolo na ticket, sokou.(Tiket tokkon, fadlan)
Maalin faga?
O na mboka na mboka?(Maalin faga?)
Ani dhumtu
O na yo na mboka.(Ani dhumtu)
Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?
Banga na yo na tanga SIM card?(Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Eeyy
O(ee-yee)
Maya
Té(mah-yah)
Gara
Sâ(gah-rah)
Anigu waaq
Ngâ tî(ah-nee-goo wahk)
Anigu ma waaq
Ngâ té tî(ah-nee-goo mah wahk)
Tani waa'ee
O bô(tah-nee wah-ee)
Ilaa ma waaq?
Nâ tî yé?(ee-lah mah wahk)
Ilaa naxar?
O kâ yé tî?(ee-lah nah-khar)
Naxar aniga
Ngâ kâ tî(nah-khar ah-nee-gah)
Soo'aa
Bê na(soo-ah)
Waa'ee aniga
Ngâ tî na(wah-ee ah-nee-gah)
Maya dhib
Té bô(mah-yah dheeb)
Hambalyo
Mâ tî(ham-bahl-yo)
Bariis gadhay
Mâ na mbâ(bah-rees gah-thai)
Safar amni
O kâ na mbê(sah-far am-nee)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Eeyyoo taayka daab?
O na wâ na gare?(eyyoo taayka daab)
Eeyyoo gaari daab?
O na wâ na station de taxi?(eyyoo gaari daab)
Keenya kaafaa?
O na wâ na plateforme?(keenya kaafaa)
Waqti maayti?
O na tî na mbô?(waqti maayti)
Maayta kaan?
O na wâ na yâ?(maayta kaan)
Ittaa hara
O na bô na kâ.(ittaa hara)
Ittaa faar
O na fâ na kâ.(ittaa faar)
Maafaa naafaa?
O kâ tî na mappa?(maafaa naafaa)
Hara dhaaf, fadlan
Kâ na kâ, s'il vous plaît.(hara dhaaf, fadlan)
Waqti mee?
O na tî na mbô?(waqti mee)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Iyayka mi'aa?
Mboka na yo?(mboka na yo)
Iyayka xayl
Oko na mboka mingi(oko na mboka mingi)
Ma'ayka hara gabbir?
Ozo na nanga mboka?(o zo na nanga mboka)
Karta ka'ayka?
Naka na yeke na carte?(naka na yeke na carte)
Mi'ayka mi'ida laba
Naka na table ya mibale(naka na table ya mibale)
Xisaab, fadlan
Bilan, s'il vous plaît(bilan, s'il vous plaît)
Adeegku ma ku jira?
Service ezali na yango?(service ezali na yango)
Anigu waxaan ahay khudradeed
Nani na mboka ya nyama(nani na mboka ya nyama)
Cunto kulul ma jirto, fadlan
Te na mabele ya sika, s'il vous plaît(te na mabele ya sika)
Tani waa macaan
Oyo ezali malamu(oyo ezali malamu)
Mi'ayka liiska?
Naka na menu?(naka na menu)
Dharbaaxda biyo, fadlan
Bokoko ya mai, s'il vous plaît(bokoko ya mai)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Waaqa booliisi
Banga nganga(Call the police)
Waaqa ambulaansii
Banga ambulance(Call an ambulance)
Dooktar naaf barbaachisa
Mbi na doctor
Naanu dhukkuba qaba
Mbi na yeke
Qoricha fooniif dhukkuba qaba
Mbi na alerji na kolo
Hospitaala dhihoo eessa?
A na hospital ya mboka?
Asitti dhukkuba qaba
E yeke na mboko
Paaspoortii koo dhabe
Mbi tanga passport na ngai
Hoteela koo waaqa?
O tanga hotel na ngai?
Gargaarsa!
Sango!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Nagaad waayi
Mbi na yo(Mbi na yo)
Nagaad kaabirna waayi
Tala na yeke mboka(na-gaad kaa-bir-na waa-yi)
Waqti mee waayi?
Nani ti na yo?(waq-ti mee waa-yi)
Warqad kaan diraya harra
Nde na yeke report na tî(war-qad kaan di-ra-ya har-ra)
Maanta waayi hadalnaa?
Oka na yeke na lobi?(maan-ta waa-yi ha-dal-naa)
Faylka ku lifaaqan fadlan
S'il vous plaît, tî na file na mî(fayl-ka ku li-faa-qan fad-lan)
Mahadsanid waqtigaaga
Mesi na yo na tî(ma-had-sa-nid waq-ti-ga-a-ga)
Waxaan rajeynayaa inaan la shaqeeyo
Nde na tî na yeke na yo(wax-aan ra-jeen-yaa-in aan la sha-qee-yo)
Ma cadayn kartaa dhibicdaas?
Oka na yeke na sî na tî?(ma ca-dayn kar-taa dhi-bi-cda-as)
Iga raadi dib
Tala na yeke na yo(i-ga raa-di dib)
Waqtiga kama dambaysta waa Jimco
Nani na lobi na vendredi(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.