Looking for practical Bemba to Afar phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Bemba 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: when a Afar phrase looks unfamiliar, compare it with the Bemba wording — noticing word order differences helps you understand grammar naturally.
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Greetings and pleasantries
Hello, goodbye, please, thank you, and polite introductions for meeting new people.
Shani
Nagaad(nagaad)
Natotela
Galatooma(galatooma)
Muli shani
Bariis(bariis)
Muli shani
Galab(galab)
Muli shani
Haal(haal)
Shalenipo bwino
Haalka habeen(haalka habeen)
Tukakutana
Ilaa mar kale(ilaa mar kale)
Twalumba
Nagaad(nagaad)
Iwe ulishani?
Maa magacaa?(maa magacaa)
Ndefwaya John
Magacaygu waa John(magacaygu waa John)
Uli bwanji?
Iska waran?(iska waran)
Nashitasha kukumona
Aad baan ku faraxsanahay(aad baan ku faraxsanahay)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Ulyashi ulukanda mu Chingereza?
Inni ingiriisi maahaa?(Inni ingiriisi maahaa?)
Ndefwaya ukulanda Hindi bwino
Hindi maahaa hinjiru(Hindi maahaa hinjiru)
Ndefwaya kumfwa
Ani hinfahmi(Ani hinfahmi)
Nimwandi ulukanda buteko
Fadlan si maahaa siib(Fadlan si maahaa siib)
Ningaloleleko?
Maahaa inna marra?(Maahaa inna marra?)
Ili kuti ikalamba?
Maalin baadhu?(Maalin baadhu?)
Ningalileka shani ku city center?
Akkam an magaalatti gahu?(Akkam an magaalatti gahu?)
Fumya kumwendo
Boodha kaaf(Boodha kaaf)
Fumya kumwendo
Boodha mirga(Boodha mirga)
Enda pamo
Si qodhi(Si qodhi)
Kuli shani ifyabukata?
Maalin abaal?(Maalin abaal?)
Ticket imwe, nomba
Tiket tokkon, fadlan(Tiket tokkon, fadlan)
Kuli lishilu ukulya?
Maalin faga?(Maalin faga?)
Ndi lost
Ani dhumtu(Ani dhumtu)
Ili kuti nindeke SIM card?
Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?(Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Eya
Eeyy(ee-yee)
Awe
Maya(mah-yah)
Panga
Gara(gah-rah)
Ndi bwino
Anigu waaq(ah-nee-goo wahk)
Ndi bwino na
Anigu ma waaq(ah-nee-goo mah wahk)
Ilyo lishibukile
Tani waa'ee(tah-nee wah-ee)
Uchite shani?
Ilaa ma waaq?(ee-lah mah wahk)
Ushakufwa?
Ilaa naxar?(ee-lah nah-khar)
Ndefwaya ifyakufwa
Naxar aniga(nah-khar ah-nee-gah)
Leka ifi
Soo'aa(soo-ah)
Nshakufwa
Waa'ee aniga(wah-ee ah-nee-gah)
Takwaba shani
Maya dhib(mah-yah dheeb)
Nshakufwa bwino
Hambalyo(ham-bahl-yo)
Nashala bwino mu mwaka
Bariis gadhay(bah-rees gah-thai)
Ube na mulimo wabwino
Safar amni(sah-far am-nee)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Uli kuti ikalamba ya chitima?
Eeyyoo taayka daab?(eyyoo taayka daab)
Uli kuti icikalo ca bisi?
Eeyyoo gaari daab?(eyyoo gaari daab)
Ninshi ni platform iyi?
Keenya kaafaa?(keenya kaafaa)
Ninshi ikalamba?
Waqti maayti?(waqti maayti)
Ninshi iyi ni njira shabwino?
Maayta kaan?(maayta kaan)
Ili pamo na pano.
Ittaa hara(ittaa hara)
Ili lishilu na pano.
Ittaa faar(ittaa faar)
Ushibukishe pa mape?
Maafaa naafaa?(maafaa naafaa)
Leka pano, chonde.
Hara dhaaf, fadlan(hara dhaaf, fadlan)
Kuli shani?
Waqti mee?(waqti mee)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.