Looking for practical Afrikaans to Afar phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Afrikaans phrase first, then the Afar translation (Afar) — 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 Afar.
Tip: read the Afar line out loud three times, then cover the Afrikaans side and try to recall the meaning — repetition builds memory faster than silent reading.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Afrikaans to Afar 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.
Hallo
Nagaad(nagaad)
Dankie
Galatooma(galatooma)
Goeie more
Bariis(bariis)
Goeie middag
Galab(galab)
Goeie naand
Haal(haal)
Goeie nag
Haalka habeen(haalka habeen)
Sien jou later
Ilaa mar kale(ilaa mar kale)
Totsiens
Nagaad(nagaad)
Wat is jou naam?
Maa magacaa?(maa magacaa)
My naam is John
Magacaygu waa John(magacaygu waa John)
Hoe gaan dit?
Iska waran?(iska waran)
Lekker om jou te ontmoet
Aad baan ku faraxsanahay(aad baan ku faraxsanahay)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Praat jy Engels?
Inni ingiriisi maahaa?(Inni ingiriisi maahaa?)
Ek praat nie goed Hindi nie.
Hindi maahaa hinjiru(Hindi maahaa hinjiru)
Ek verstaan nie.
Ani hinfahmi(Ani hinfahmi)
Praat asseblief stadig.
Fadlan si maahaa siib(Fadlan si maahaa siib)
Kan jy dit weer sê?
Maahaa inna marra?(Maahaa inna marra?)
Waar is die badkamer?
Maalin baadhu?(Maalin baadhu?)
Hoe kom ek by die stadsentrum?
Akkam an magaalatti gahu?(Akkam an magaalatti gahu?)
Draai links.
Boodha kaaf(Boodha kaaf)
Draai regs.
Boodha mirga(Boodha mirga)
Gaan reguit.
Si qodhi(Si qodhi)
Hoeveel is die tarief?
Maalin abaal?(Maalin abaal?)
Een kaartjie, asseblief.
Tiket tokkon, fadlan(Tiket tokkon, fadlan)
Is dit ver van hier?
Maalin faga?(Maalin faga?)
Ek is verlore.
Ani dhumtu(Ani dhumtu)
Waar kan ek 'n SIM-kaart koop?
Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?(Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ja
Eeyy(ee-yee)
Nee
Maya(mah-yah)
Miskien
Gara(gah-rah)
Ek stem saam
Anigu waaq(ah-nee-goo wahk)
Ek stem nie saam nie
Anigu ma waaq(ah-nee-goo mah wahk)
Dit klink goed
Tani waa'ee(tah-nee wah-ee)
Wat dink jy?
Ilaa ma waaq?(ee-lah mah wahk)
Kan jy my help?
Ilaa naxar?(ee-lah nah-khar)
Ek het hulp nodig
Naxar aniga(nah-khar ah-nee-gah)
Wag 'n oomblik
Soo'aa(soo-ah)
Ek is jammer
Waa'ee aniga(wah-ee ah-nee-gah)
Geen probleem
Maya dhib(mah-yah dheeb)
Geluk
Hambalyo(ham-bahl-yo)
Gelukkige verjaarsdag
Bariis gadhay(bah-rees gah-thai)
Veilige reis
Safar amni(sah-far am-nee)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Waar is die treinstasie?
Eeyyoo taayka daab?(eyyoo taayka daab)
Waar is die busstop?
Eeyyoo gaari daab?(eyyoo gaari daab)
Watter platform is dit?
Keenya kaafaa?(keenya kaafaa)
Watter tyd vertrek dit?
Waqti maayti?(waqti maayti)
Is dit die regte pad?
Maayta kaan?(maayta kaan)
Dit is naby hier.
Ittaa hara(ittaa hara)
Dit is ver van hier.
Ittaa faar(ittaa faar)
Kan jy dit op die kaart wys?
Maafaa naafaa?(maafaa naafaa)
Stop hier, asseblief.
Hara dhaaf, fadlan(hara dhaaf, fadlan)
Hoe lank neem dit?
Waqti mee?(waqti mee)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.