Looking for practical Bambara to Afar phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Bambara 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: pick five Afar 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 Bambara 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.
I ni ce
Nagaad(nagaad)
I ni sogoma
Galatooma(galatooma)
I ni bɔ
Bariis(bariis)
I ni kɛ
Galab(galab)
I ni sɔgɔ
Haal(haal)
I ni tulu
Haalka habeen(haalka habeen)
N bɛ se ka
Ilaa mar kale(ilaa mar kale)
A bɛ se ka
Nagaad(nagaad)
Nɛnɛ kɛ i tɛ?
Maa magacaa?(maa magacaa)
N bɛ tɔgɔ John
Magacaygu waa John(magacaygu waa John)
I ni fɛ?
Iska waran?(iska waran)
N bɛ se ka i fɛ
Aad baan ku faraxsanahay(aad baan ku faraxsanahay)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
I ni ce English?
Inni ingiriisi maahaa?(Inni ingiriisi maahaa?)
N mɔgɔ bɛ Hindi kɛ
Hindi maahaa hinjiru(Hindi maahaa hinjiru)
N mɔgɔ bɛ
Ani hinfahmi(Ani hinfahmi)
Sɛbɛn, kɛlɛ kɛ
Fadlan si maahaa siib(Fadlan si maahaa siib)
I ka fɔ a la?
Maahaa inna marra?(Maahaa inna marra?)
Bamanakan kɛn na?
Maalin baadhu?(Maalin baadhu?)
N bɛ fɔ kɔrɔbɔ?
Akkam an magaalatti gahu?(Akkam an magaalatti gahu?)
Kɛlɛn bɔ
Boodha kaaf(Boodha kaaf)
Kɛlɛn bɔ kɔrɔ
Boodha mirga(Boodha mirga)
Fɔ kɛlɛn
Si qodhi(Si qodhi)
Fɛ kɛ?
Maalin abaal?(Maalin abaal?)
Kɛnɛ ticket, please
Tiket tokkon, fadlan(Tiket tokkon, fadlan)
I kɛ fɔ kɛnɛ?
Maalin faga?(Maalin faga?)
N tɛ bɔ
Ani dhumtu(Ani dhumtu)
N bɛ fɔ SIM card kɛn?
Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?(Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Aye
Eeyy(ee-yee)
Ala
Maya(mah-yah)
Bara
Gara(gah-rah)
N bɛ bɔ
Anigu waaq(ah-nee-goo wahk)
N bɛ fɔ
Anigu ma waaq(ah-nee-goo mah wahk)
I bɛ sɛbɛn
Tani waa'ee(tah-nee wah-ee)
I ka fɛ kɛ?
Ilaa ma waaq?(ee-lah mah wahk)
I bɛ ma n bɔ?
Ilaa naxar?(ee-lah nah-khar)
N bɛ fɔ n bɔ
Naxar aniga(nah-khar ah-nee-gah)
Sira kɛ
Soo'aa(soo-ah)
N tɛgɛ
Waa'ee aniga(wah-ee ah-nee-gah)
Ala ka fɔ
Maya dhib(mah-yah dheeb)
I ni kɛ
Hambalyo(ham-bahl-yo)
I ni tɔgɔ kɛ
Bariis gadhay(bah-rees gah-thai)
I bɛ tɔgɔ kɛ
Safar amni(sah-far am-nee)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Fôlô kôkô tîgê?
Eeyyoo taayka daab?(eyyoo taayka daab)
Fôlô bôgô tîgê?
Eeyyoo gaari daab?(eyyoo gaari daab)
I ni tîgê kô?
Keenya kaafaa?(keenya kaafaa)
Kô tîgê bô?
Waqti maayti?(waqti maayti)
I ni tîgê bô?
Maayta kaan?(maayta kaan)
I tîgê kâ.
Ittaa hara(ittaa hara)
I tîgê kâ fô.
Ittaa faar(ittaa faar)
I bô kô tîgê fô?
Maafaa naafaa?(maafaa naafaa)
Tîgê kâ, s'il vous plaît.
Hara dhaaf, fadlan(hara dhaaf, fadlan)
Kô tîgê kô?
Waqti mee?(waqti mee)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.