Looking for practical Afar to Swahili phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Afar phrase first, then the Swahili translation (Swahili) — 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 Swahili.
Tip: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Swahili-speaking trip in a few weeks.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Afar to Swahili 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
Habari(nagaad)
Galatooma
Asante(galatooma)
Bariis
Habari ya asubuhi(bariis)
Galab
Habari ya mchana(galab)
Haal
Habari ya jioni(haal)
Haalka habeen
Usiku mwema(haalka habeen)
Ilaa mar kale
Tutaonana baadaye(ilaa mar kale)
Nagaad
Kwaheri(nagaad)
Maa magacaa?
Jina lako nani?(maa magacaa)
Magacaygu waa John
Jina langu ni John(magacaygu waa John)
Iska waran?
Habari gani?(iska waran)
Aad baan ku faraxsanahay
Nafurahi kukutana na wewe(aad baan ku faraxsanahay)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Inni ingiriisi maahaa?
Unazungumza Kiingereza?(Inni ingiriisi maahaa?)
Hindi maahaa hinjiru
Sizungumza Hindi vizuri.(Hindi maahaa hinjiru)
Ani hinfahmi
Sielewi.(Ani hinfahmi)
Fadlan si maahaa siib
Tafadhali ongea polepole.(Fadlan si maahaa siib)
Maahaa inna marra?
Unaweza kusema tena?(Maahaa inna marra?)
Maalin baadhu?
Choo kiko wapi?(Maalin baadhu?)
Akkam an magaalatti gahu?
Ninafika vipi katikati ya jiji?(Akkam an magaalatti gahu?)
Boodha kaaf
Geuka kushoto.(Boodha kaaf)
Boodha mirga
Geuka kulia.(Boodha mirga)
Si qodhi
Nenda moja kwa moja.(Si qodhi)
Maalin abaal?
Nauli ni kiasi gani?(Maalin abaal?)
Tiket tokkon, fadlan
Tiketi moja, tafadhali.(Tiket tokkon, fadlan)
Maalin faga?
Je, ni mbali na hapa?(Maalin faga?)
Ani dhumtu
Nimepotea.(Ani dhumtu)
Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?
Ninaweza kununua kadi ya SIM wapi?(Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Eeyy
Ndio(ee-yee)
Maya
Hapana(mah-yah)
Gara
Pengine(gah-rah)
Anigu waaq
Ninakubaliana(ah-nee-goo wahk)
Anigu ma waaq
Sikubaliani(ah-nee-goo mah wahk)
Tani waa'ee
Inasikika vizuri(tah-nee wah-ee)
Ilaa ma waaq?
Unafikiriaje?(ee-lah mah wahk)
Ilaa naxar?
Unaweza kunisaidia?(ee-lah nah-khar)
Naxar aniga
Nahitaji msaada(nah-khar ah-nee-gah)
Soo'aa
Subiri kidogo(soo-ah)
Waa'ee aniga
Ninasikitika(wah-ee ah-nee-gah)
Maya dhib
Hakuna shida(mah-yah dheeb)
Hambalyo
Hongera(ham-bahl-yo)
Bariis gadhay
Siku ya kuzaliwa njema(bah-rees gah-thai)
Safar amni
Safari njema(sah-far am-nee)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Eeyyoo taayka daab?
Kituo cha treni kiko wapi?(eyyoo taayka daab)
Eeyyoo gaari daab?
Kituo cha basi kiko wapi?(eyyoo gaari daab)
Keenya kaafaa?
Ni jukwaa gani?(keenya kaafaa)
Waqti maayti?
Inatoka saa ngapi?(waqti maayti)
Maayta kaan?
Je, hii ndiyo njia sahihi?(maayta kaan)
Ittaa hara
Iko karibu hapa(ittaa hara)
Ittaa faar
Iko mbali na hapa(ittaa faar)
Maafaa naafaa?
Unaweza kunionesha kwenye ramani?(maafaa naafaa)
Hara dhaaf, fadlan
Simama hapa, tafadhali(hara dhaaf, fadlan)
Waqti mee?
Inachukua muda gani?(waqti mee)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Iyayka mi'aa?
Hii inagharimu kiasi gani?(iyayka mi'aa)
Iyayka xayl
Hiyo ni ghali sana(iyayka xayl)
Ma'ayka hara gabbir?
Je, una kitu chochote cha bei nafuu?(ma'ayka hara gabbir)
Karta ka'ayka?
Naweza kulipa kwa kadi?(karta ka'ayka)
Mi'ayka mi'ida laba
Ningependa meza ya watu wawili(mi'ayka mi'ida laba)
Xisaab, fadlan
Tafadhali, bili(xisaab, fadlan)
Adeegku ma ku jira?
Je, huduma imejumuishwa?(adeegku ma ku jira)
Anigu waxaan ahay khudradeed
Mimi ni mboga(anigu waxaan ahay khudradeed)
Cunto kulul ma jirto, fadlan
Tafadhali, sina chakula chenye pilipili(cunto kulul ma jirto)
Tani waa macaan
Hii ni tamu(tani waa macaan)
Mi'ayka liiska?
Naweza kupata menyu?(mi'ayka liiska)
Dharbaaxda biyo, fadlan
Tafadhali, glasi ya maji(dharbaaxda biyo)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Waaqa booliisi
Piga simu polisi(Call the police)
Waaqa ambulaansii
Piga simu ya wagonjwa(Call an ambulance)
Dooktar naaf barbaachisa
Nahitaji daktari
Naanu dhukkuba qaba
Ninajisikia mgonjwa
Qoricha fooniif dhukkuba qaba
Nina mzio wa karanga
Hospitaala dhihoo eessa?
Hospitali iliyo karibu iko wapi?
Asitti dhukkuba qaba
Inaniuma hapa
Paaspoortii koo dhabe
Nimepoteza pasipoti yangu
Hoteela koo waaqa?
Unaweza kupiga simu hoteli yangu?
Gargaarsa!
Nisaidie!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.