Looking for practical Chichewa to Afar phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Chichewa 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 Chichewa 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 Chichewa 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.
Moni
Nagaad(nagaad)
Zikomo
Galatooma(galatooma)
M'mawa wabwino
Bariis(bariis)
Masana abwino
Galab(galab)
Madziwabwino
Haal(haal)
Usiku wabwino
Haalka habeen(haalka habeen)
Tiwonana
Ilaa mar kale(ilaa mar kale)
Tsalani bwino
Nagaad(nagaad)
Dzina lako ndi ndani?
Maa magacaa?(maa magacaa)
Dzina langa ndi John
Magacaygu waa John(magacaygu waa John)
Muli bwanji?
Iska waran?(iska waran)
Ndikufuna kukumana nanu
Aad baan ku faraxsanahay(aad baan ku faraxsanahay)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Mukulankhula Chingerezi?
Inni ingiriisi maahaa?(Inni ingiriisi maahaa?)
Sindikulankhula Hindi bwino
Hindi maahaa hinjiru(Hindi maahaa hinjiru)
Sindikumva
Ani hinfahmi(Ani hinfahmi)
Chonde lukani pang'onopang'ono
Fadlan si maahaa siib(Fadlan si maahaa siib)
Mungathe kutero kwachiwiri?
Maahaa inna marra?(Maahaa inna marra?)
Kuti ndi kuti chimbudzi?
Maalin baadhu?(Maalin baadhu?)
Ndingapite bwanji ku mseu wa mzinda?
Akkam an magaalatti gahu?(Akkam an magaalatti gahu?)
Pangani kumanzere
Boodha kaaf(Boodha kaaf)
Pangani kumanzere
Boodha mirga(Boodha mirga)
Pitani mwachindunji
Si qodhi(Si qodhi)
Ndi ndalama zingati?
Maalin abaal?(Maalin abaal?)
Tiket imodzi, chonde
Tiket tokkon, fadlan(Tiket tokkon, fadlan)
Ndi kutali bwanji kuchokera pano?
Maalin faga?(Maalin faga?)
Ndakhalapo
Ani dhumtu(Ani dhumtu)
Ndingatengere kuti SIM card?
Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?(Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Inde
Eeyy(ee-yee)
Ayi
Maya(mah-yah)
Mwina
Gara(gah-rah)
Ndikugwirizana
Anigu waaq(ah-nee-goo wahk)
Sindikugwirizana
Anigu ma waaq(ah-nee-goo mah wahk)
Zimakoma
Tani waa'ee(tah-nee wah-ee)
Mumaganiza chiyani?
Ilaa ma waaq?(ee-lah mah wahk)
Mungandithandize?
Ilaa naxar?(ee-lah nah-khar)
Ndikufuna thandizo
Naxar aniga(nah-khar ah-nee-gah)
Dikirani pang'ono
Soo'aa(soo-ah)
Ndikupemphera
Waa'ee aniga(wah-ee ah-nee-gah)
Palibe vuto
Maya dhib(mah-yah dheeb)
Zikomo
Hambalyo(ham-bahl-yo)
Tsiku lobadwa labwino
Bariis gadhay(bah-rees gah-thai)
Pita bwino
Safar amni(sah-far am-nee)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Kuti ndi kuti sitima?
Eeyyoo taayka daab?(eyyoo taayka daab)
Kuti ndi kuti malo otsetsereka?
Eeyyoo gaari daab?(eyyoo gaari daab)
Ndi chigawo chiti?
Keenya kaafaa?(keenya kaafaa)
Ndi nthawi iti imatenga?
Waqti maayti?(waqti maayti)
Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera?
Maayta kaan?(maayta kaan)
Ili pafupi pano
Ittaa hara(ittaa hara)
Ili kutali pano
Ittaa faar(ittaa faar)
Kodi mungandionetse pa mapu?
Maafaa naafaa?(maafaa naafaa)
Khalani pano, chonde
Hara dhaaf, fadlan(hara dhaaf, fadlan)
Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji?
Waqti mee?(waqti mee)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.