Looking for practical Chichewa to Kanuri phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Chichewa phrase first, then the Kanuri translation (Kanuri) — 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 Kanuri.
Tip: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Kanuri-speaking trip in a few weeks.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Chichewa to Kanuri 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
Sannu
Zikomo
Nagode
M'mawa wabwino
Ina kwana
Masana abwino
Ina yamma
Madziwabwino
Ina dare
Usiku wabwino
Sai da safe
Tiwonana
Zan ganka
Tsalani bwino
Sai anjima
Dzina lako ndi ndani?
Menene sunanka?
Dzina langa ndi John
Sunana John
Muli bwanji?
Lafiya lau?
Ndikufuna kukumana nanu
Na ji dadin haduwa da kai
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Mukulankhula Chingerezi?
Kuna magana da Turanci?(Mukulankhula Chingerezi?)
Sindikulankhula Hindi bwino
Ba na magana da Hindi sosai.(Sindikulankhula Hindi bwino)
Sindikumva
Ba na fahimta.(Sindikumva)
Chonde lukani pang'onopang'ono
Don Allah, ku yi magana a hankali.(Chonde lukani pang'onopang'ono)
Mungathe kutero kwachiwiri?
Za ku iya faɗin hakan sake?(Mungathe kutero kwachiwiri?)
Kuti ndi kuti chimbudzi?
Ina wanka?(Kuti ndi kuti chimbudzi?)
Ndingapite bwanji ku mseu wa mzinda?
Ta yaya zan isa tsakiyar birni?(Ndingapite bwanji ku mseu wa mzinda?)
Pangani kumanzere
Juya hagu.(Pangani kumanzere)
Pangani kumanzere
Juya dama.(Pangani kumanzere)
Pitani mwachindunji
Tafiya kai tsaye.(Pitani mwachindunji)
Ndi ndalama zingati?
Nawa ne farashin?(Ndi ndalama zingati?)
Tiket imodzi, chonde
Tiket ɗaya, don Allah.(Tiket imodzi, chonde)
Ndi kutali bwanji kuchokera pano?
Shin yana da nisa daga nan?(Ndi kutali bwanji kuchokera pano?)
Ndakhalapo
Na ɓace.(Ndakhalapo)
Ndingatengere kuti SIM card?
Ina zan iya sayen kati na SIM?(Ndingatengere kuti SIM card?)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Inde
Eey(ee-y)
Ayi
A'a(ah-ah)
Mwina
Wata(wah-tah)
Ndikugwirizana
Na amu(nah ah-moo)
Sindikugwirizana
Na a'a amu(nah ah-ah ah-moo)
Zimakoma
Iya na(ee-yah nah)
Mumaganiza chiyani?
Kaya ka yi tunani?(kah-yah kah yee too-nah-nee)
Mungandithandize?
Za ka iya taimaka min?(zah kah ee-yah tie-mah-kah meen)
Ndikufuna thandizo
Na bukaci taimako(nah boo-kah-chee tie-mah-koh)
Dikirani pang'ono
Duba dan lokaci(doo-bah dahn loh-kah-chee)
Ndikupemphera
Na yi hakuri(nah yee hah-koo-ree)
Palibe vuto
Babu matsala(bah-boo maht-sah-lah)
Zikomo
Taya murna(tah-yah moor-nah)
Tsiku lobadwa labwino
Barka da haihuwa(bar-kah dah hai-hoo-wah)
Pita bwino
Ka yi tafiya lafiya(kah yee tah-fee-yah lah-fee-yah)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Kuti ndi kuti sitima?
Nye boko na gari?
Kuti ndi kuti malo otsetsereka?
Nye boko na bas?
Ndi chigawo chiti?
Wane boko na?
Ndi nthawi iti imatenga?
Wane lokaci ya tafi?
Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera?
Shin wannan hanya ce?
Ili pafupi pano
Yana kusa da nan
Ili kutali pano
Yana nesa da nan
Kodi mungandionetse pa mapu?
Za ka iya nuna mini a taswirar?
Khalani pano, chonde
Tsaida nan, don Allah
Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji?
Yaya tsawon lokaci?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Zimatenga ndalama zingati?
Nayi na kudi?(Nayi na kudi?)
Izi ndizokwera mtengo kwambiri.
Wannan ya yi tsada sosai.
Kodi muli ndi chinthu chotsika mtengo?
Shin kuna da wani abu mai rahusa?
Ndingathe kulipira ndi khadi?
Zan iya biyan kudi da kati?
Ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri.
Ina so tebur don biyu.
Chikonthe, chonde.
Lissafi, don Allah.
Kodi ntchito yakhala mu mtengo?
Shin sabis ya haɗa?
Ndine mvegetarian.
Ni mai ganyayyaki ne.
Osati chakudya chotentha, chonde.
Ba tare da zaki ba, don Allah.
Izi ndizochuluka.
Wannan yana da dadi.
Ndingathe kupeza menyu?
Zan iya samun menu?
Galasi ya madzi, chonde.
Kofin ruwa, don Allah.
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Fufuzani apolisi
Dawari janga(Dawari janga)
Fufuzani ambulansi
Dawari ambulan(Dawari ambulan)
Ndikufuna dokotala
Ni na doctor(Ni na doctor)
Ndikumva kutopa
Ni na jaga(Ni na jaga)
Ndine wosokoneza ndi ma nuts a phala
Ni na haji goro(Ni na haji goro)
Kuti ndi kuti chibadwe chachikondi?
Ina asibiti na kusa?(Ina asibiti na kusa?)
Kukonda apa
Yana ciwo a nan(Yana ciwo a nan)
Ndapeza pasipoti yanga
Ni na rasa passport na(Ni na rasa passport na)
Mungafufuze hotelo yanga?
Za ka iya dawari otel na?(Za ka iya dawari otel na?)
Thandizani!
Taimako!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Ndikuyamikira kukumana nanu
Nde gaishe(nde gaishe)
Tiyeni tikhazikitse meeting
Mu gaishe taro(mu gaishe taro)
Ndi nthawi yanji yomwe ikugwira ntchito kwa inu?
Wai gaishe lokaci?(wai gaishe lokaci)
Ndzatumiza lipoti lero
Zan tura rahoto yau(zan tura rahoto yau)
Tingathe kulankhula mawa?
Zamu iya magana gobe?(zamu iya magana gobe)
Chonde pezani fayilo yowonjezedwa
Don Allah ka sami fayil din da aka makala(don Allah ka sami fayil din da aka makala)
Zikomo chifukwa cha nthawi yanu
Na gode da lokacinka(na gode da lokacinka)
Ndikuyembekezera kugwira ntchito nanu
Ina fatan aiki tare da kai(ina fatan aiki tare da kai)
Mungathe kuthetsa mfundo imeneyo?
Za ka iya fayyace wannan batu?(za ka iya fayyace wannan batu)