Looking for practical Afar to Xhosa phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Afar phrase first, then the Xhosa translation (Xhosa) — 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 Xhosa.
Tip: pick five Xhosa phrases from the greetings section and use them in a real message today. Small daily practice beats cramming before a trip.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Afar to Xhosa 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
Molo(nagaad)
Galatooma
Enkosi(galatooma)
Bariis
Ubusuku obuhle(bariis)
Galab
Ubusuku obuhle(galab)
Haal
Ubusuku obuhle(haal)
Haalka habeen
Lala ngoxolo(haalka habeen)
Ilaa mar kale
Ndiza kubonana kamva(ilaa mar kale)
Nagaad
Hamba kakuhle(nagaad)
Maa magacaa?
Ngubani igama lakho?(maa magacaa)
Magacaygu waa John
Igama lam nguJohn(magacaygu waa John)
Iska waran?
Unjani?(iska waran)
Aad baan ku faraxsanahay
Kuhle ukukwazi(aad baan ku faraxsanahay)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Inni ingiriisi maahaa?
Uthetha isiNgesi?(Inni ingiriisi maahaa?)
Hindi maahaa hinjiru
Andithethi isiHindi kakuhle(Hindi maahaa hinjiru)
Ani hinfahmi
Andiqondi(Ani hinfahmi)
Fadlan si maahaa siib
Nceda thethe kancinci(Fadlan si maahaa siib)
Maahaa inna marra?
Ungakuphinda lokho?(Maahaa inna marra?)
Maalin baadhu?
Iphi ibhafu?(Maalin baadhu?)
Akkam an magaalatti gahu?
Ndingafika njani kwi mveliso ye dolophu?(Akkam an magaalatti gahu?)
Boodha kaaf
Jolisa kwesokunxele(Boodha kaaf)
Boodha mirga
Jolisa kwesokudla(Boodha mirga)
Si qodhi
Hamba ngqo(Si qodhi)
Maalin abaal?
Iholo ingakanani?(Maalin abaal?)
Tiket tokkon, fadlan
Ithikithi elinye, nceda(Tiket tokkon, fadlan)
Maalin faga?
Ingakanani ukusuka apha?(Maalin faga?)
Ani dhumtu
Ndilahlekile(Ani dhumtu)
Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?
Nphi endinokuthenga khona iSIM card?(Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Eeyy
Ewe(ee-yee)
Maya
Hayi(mah-yah)
Gara
Mhlawumbi(gah-rah)
Anigu waaq
Ndiyavuma(ah-nee-goo wahk)
Anigu ma waaq
Andivumi(ah-nee-goo mah wahk)
Tani waa'ee
Okuhle(tah-nee wah-ee)
Ilaa ma waaq?
Ucinga ntoni?(ee-lah mah wahk)
Ilaa naxar?
Ungandinceda?(ee-lah nah-khar)
Naxar aniga
Ndidinga uncedo(nah-khar ah-nee-gah)
Soo'aa
Linda umzuzu(soo-ah)
Waa'ee aniga
Ndicela uxolo(wah-ee ah-nee-gah)
Maya dhib
Akukho ngxaki(mah-yah dheeb)
Hambalyo
Wamkelekile(ham-bahl-yo)
Bariis gadhay
Usuku olumnandi lokuzalwa(bah-rees gah-thai)
Safar amni
Uhambo olukhuselekileyo(sah-far am-nee)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.