Looking for practical Afar to Somali phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Afar phrase first, then the Somali translation (Somali) — 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 Somali.
Tip: read the Somali line out loud three times, then cover the Afar side and try to recall the meaning — repetition builds memory faster than silent reading.
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Greetings and pleasantries
Hello, goodbye, please, thank you, and polite introductions for meeting new people.
Nagaad
Salaan(nagaad)
Galatooma
Mahadsanid(galatooma)
Bariis
Subax wanaagsan(bariis)
Galab
Duhur wanaagsan(galab)
Haal
Habeen wanaagsan(haal)
Haalka habeen
Habeen wanaagsan(haalka habeen)
Ilaa mar kale
Ilaa dambe(ilaa mar kale)
Nagaad
Nabad gelyo(nagaad)
Maa magacaa?
Magacaa maxay tahay?(maa magacaa)
Magacaygu waa John
Magacaygu waa John(magacaygu waa John)
Iska waran?
Sidee tahay?(iska waran)
Aad baan ku faraxsanahay
Aad ayaan ugu faraxsanahay in aan ku arko(aad baan ku faraxsanahay)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Inni ingiriisi maahaa?
Ma ku hadashaa Ingiriisi?(Ma ku hadashaa Ingiriisi?)
Hindi maahaa hinjiru
Hindi si fiican uma hadlo(Hindi maahaa hinjiru)
Ani hinfahmi
Ma fahmin(Ani hinfahmi)
Fadlan si maahaa siib
Fadlan si tartiib ah u hadal(Fadlan si maahaa siib)
Maahaa inna marra?
Ma ku celin kartaa?(Maahaa inna marra?)
Maalin baadhu?
Musqusha xaggee buu yaalaa?(Maalin baadhu?)
Akkam an magaalatti gahu?
Sideen ku gaari karaa xarunta magaalada?(Akkam an magaalatti gahu?)
Boodha kaaf
Bidix u leexo(Boodha kaaf)
Boodha mirga
Midig u leexo(Boodha mirga)
Si qodhi
Toos u soco(Si qodhi)
Maalin abaal?
Immisa ayey tahay lacagta?(Maalin abaal?)
Tiket tokkon, fadlan
Hal tigidh, fadlan(Tiket tokkon, fadlan)
Maalin faga?
Ma fog tahay halkan?(Maalin faga?)
Ani dhumtu
Waan lumay(Ani dhumtu)
Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?
Xaggee ka iibsan karaa kaarka SIM?(Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Eeyy
Haa(ee-yee)
Maya
Maya(mah-yah)
Gara
Malaha(gah-rah)
Anigu waaq
Waan ku raacsanahay(ah-nee-goo wahk)
Anigu ma waaq
Waan ku raacsaneyn(ah-nee-goo mah wahk)
Tani waa'ee
Taasi waa wax fiican(tah-nee wah-ee)
Ilaa ma waaq?
Maxaad u malaynaysaa?(ee-lah mah wahk)
Ilaa naxar?
Ma i caawin kartaa?(ee-lah nah-khar)
Naxar aniga
Waxaan u baahanahay caawimaad(nah-khar ah-nee-gah)
Soo'aa
Sug daqiiqad(soo-ah)
Waa'ee aniga
Waan ka xumahay(wah-ee ah-nee-gah)
Maya dhib
Dhib malahan(mah-yah dheeb)
Hambalyo
Hambalyo(ham-bahl-yo)
Bariis gadhay
Dhalasho wacan(bah-rees gah-thai)
Safar amni
Safar wanaagsan(sah-far am-nee)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Eeyyoo taayka daab?
Xagee buu tareenka jooga?(eyyoo taayka daab)
Eeyyoo gaari daab?
Xagee buu basaska jooga?(eyyoo gaari daab)
Keenya kaafaa?
Keenka sidee buu yahay?(keenya kaafaa)
Waqti maayti?
Goormee ayuu baxayaa?(waqti maayti)
Maayta kaan?
Ma tan saxda ah?(maayta kaan)
Ittaa hara
Waa halkan u dhow(ittaa hara)
Ittaa faar
Waa halkan fog(ittaa faar)
Maafaa naafaa?
Ma ii muujin kartaa khariidada?(maafaa naafaa)
Hara dhaaf, fadlan
Halkan joog, fadlan(hara dhaaf, fadlan)
Waqti mee?
Immisa waqti ayey qaadaneysaa?(waqti mee)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Iyayka mi'aa?
Imisa ayuu ku kacayaa?(iyayka mi'aa)
Iyayka xayl
Taasi waa qaali aad u badan.(iyayka xayl)
Ma'ayka hara gabbir?
Ma haysta wax ka jaban?(ma'ayka hara gabbir)
Karta ka'ayka?
Ma bixin karaa kaarka?(karta ka'ayka)
Mi'ayka mi'ida laba
Waxaan jeclaan lahaa miis laba qof ah.(mi'ayka mi'ida laba)