Looking for practical Afar to Zapotec phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Afar phrase first, then the Zapotec translation (Zapotec) — 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 Zapotec.
Tip: pick five Zapotec 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 Zapotec 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
Díí(di'i)
Galatooma
Güi(güi)
Bariis
Bëëna(bëëna)
Galab
Bëëna xhí(bëëna xhi)
Haal
Bëëna xhí(bëëna xhi)
Haalka habeen
Bëëna dzaa(bëëna dzaa)
Ilaa mar kale
Dáa xhí(daa xhi)
Nagaad
Díí xhí(di'i xhi)
Maa magacaa?
¿Náá xhí nè?(naa xhi ne)
Magacaygu waa John
Náá nè John(naa ne John)
Iska waran?
¿Náá xhí?(naa xhi)
Aad baan ku faraxsanahay
Náá nè xhí(naa ne xhi)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Inni ingiriisi maahaa?
¿Ndi xquidxi inglés?(Inni ingiriisi maahaa?)
Hindi maahaa hinjiru
Ndi xquidxi hindi nisa(Hindi maahaa hinjiru)
Ani hinfahmi
Ndi xquidxi nisa(Ani hinfahmi)
Fadlan si maahaa siib
Ndi xquidxi xhíí xquidxi(Fadlan si maahaa siib)
Maahaa inna marra?
¿Ndi xquidxi nisa xquidxi?(Maahaa inna marra?)
Maalin baadhu?
¿Díí xquidxi xhíí?(Maalin baadhu?)
Akkam an magaalatti gahu?
¿Díí xquidxi xhíí nisa?(Akkam an magaalatti gahu?)