Looking for practical Afar to Tuvan phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Afar phrase first, then the Tuvan translation (Tuvan) — 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 Tuvan.
Tip: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Tuvan-speaking trip in a few weeks.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Afar to Tuvan 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
Салам(Salam)
Galatooma
Рахмат(Rakhmat)
Bariis
Эртең менен(Erteŋ menen)
Galab
Кечи менен(Kechi menen)
Haal
Кечи менен(Kechi menen)
Haalka habeen
Түнү менен(Tünü menen)
Ilaa mar kale
Кийин көрүшөбүз(Kiin körişöbüz)
Nagaad
Хош(Khosh)
Maa magacaa?
Сенин атың ким?(Senin atyŋ kim?)
Magacaygu waa John
Менин атым Жон(Menin atyŋ Jon)
Iska waran?
Сен кандайсың?(Sen kandaysıŋ?)
Aad baan ku faraxsanahay
Сен менен таанышканыма кубанычтамын(Sen menen tañışqanıma kubanıçtamın)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Inni ingiriisi maahaa?
Сиз инглиз тилинде сүйлөйсүзбү?(Siz ingliz tilinde süylöysüzbü?)
Hindi maahaa hinjiru
Мен хинди тилин жакшы сүйлөй албайм(Men khindi tilin zhakshy süylöy albaym)
Ani hinfahmi
Мен түшүнбөйм(Men tüshünböym)
Fadlan si maahaa siib
Суранам, жай сүйлөңүз(Suranym, zhay süylöngüz)
Maahaa inna marra?
Сиз аны кайра айта аласызбы?(Siz any qayra ayta alasyzbı?)
Maalin baadhu?
Арык кайда?(Aryk kayda?)
Akkam an magaalatti gahu?
Мен шаар борборуна кантип барам?(Men shaar borboruna kantip baram?)
Boodha kaaf
Солго буруңуз(Solgo buruñuz)
Boodha mirga
Оңго буруңуз(Ongo buruñuz)
Si qodhi
Түз барат(Tüz barat)
Maalin abaal?
Такси акысы канча?(Taksi akysy kancha?)
Tiket tokkon, fadlan
Бир билет, суранам(Bir bilet, suranym)
Maalin faga?
Бул жерден алыспы?(Bul zherden alyspı?)
Ani dhumtu
Мен жоголдум(Men joholdum)
Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?
Мен SIM карта кайдан сатып алам?(Men SIM karta kaydan satyp alam?)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Eeyy
Ээ(ee)
Maya
Юк(yuk)
Gara
Бәлки(bälki)
Anigu waaq
Мин риза(min riza)
Anigu ma waaq
Мин риза эмес(min riza emes)
Tani waa'ee
Бу жакшы угулду(bu jakshy ugyldu)
Ilaa ma waaq?
Сен эмне ойлойсуң?(sen emne oyloysung?)
Ilaa naxar?
Сен мага жардам берерсиңби?(sen maga zardam berersingbi?)
Naxar aniga
Маңа жардам керек(maŋa zardam kereq)
Soo'aa
Бир аз күт(bir az küt)
Waa'ee aniga
Кечир(kechir)
Maya dhib
Маселе жок(masele jok)
Hambalyo
Куттуктайм(kuttuktaym)
Bariis gadhay
Туулган күнүң менен!(tuulghan kününg menen!)
Safar amni
Коопсуз саякат кыл(koopsooz sayakat qıl)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.