Looking for practical Dinka to Afar phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Dinka 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.
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Greetings and pleasantries
Hello, goodbye, please, thank you, and polite introductions for meeting new people.
Yaaŋ
Nagaad(nagaad)
Ajak
Galatooma(galatooma)
Bäny äyö
Bariis(bariis)
Bäny kɛ̈l
Galab(galab)
Bäny nyin
Haal(haal)
Bäny kɛ̈l
Haalka habeen(haalka habeen)
Yin kɛ̈l
Ilaa mar kale(ilaa mar kale)
Yin kɛ̈l
Nagaad(nagaad)
Nin kɛ̈l yïn?
Maa magacaa?(maa magacaa)
Nin yïn John
Magacaygu waa John(magacaygu waa John)
Kɛ̈l yïn?
Iska waran?(iska waran)
Bäny kɛ̈l yïn
Aad baan ku faraxsanahay(aad baan ku faraxsanahay)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Nyaac ke wic ku English?
Inni ingiriisi maahaa?(Inni ingiriisi maahaa?)
Aye nyin wic Hindi kɔc.
Hindi maahaa hinjiru(Hindi maahaa hinjiru)
Aye nyin kɔc.
Ani hinfahmi(Ani hinfahmi)
Yin kɔc ke nyin.
Fadlan si maahaa siib(Fadlan si maahaa siib)
Yin wic ke nyin?
Maahaa inna marra?(Maahaa inna marra?)
Cɔl kɛ thon?
Maalin baadhu?(Maalin baadhu?)
Nyaac kɛ jɛt ke cɛl?
Akkam an magaalatti gahu?(Akkam an magaalatti gahu?)
Yin tɛŋ ke thok.
Boodha kaaf(Boodha kaaf)
Yin tɛŋ ke kɛl.
Boodha mirga(Boodha mirga)
Yin tɛŋ ke cɛl.
Si qodhi(Si qodhi)
Cɔl kɛ thon?
Maalin abaal?(Maalin abaal?)
Kɛl thok, yin.
Tiket tokkon, fadlan(Tiket tokkon, fadlan)
Cɔl kɛ jɔk ke cɛl?
Maalin faga?(Maalin faga?)
Aye nyin thok.
Ani dhumtu(Ani dhumtu)
Cɔl kɛ jɛt ke SIM?
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)
Naa
Maya(mah-yah)
Cok
Gara(gah-rah)
Aye nyin
Anigu waaq(ah-nee-goo wahk)
Naa nyin
Anigu ma waaq(ah-nee-goo mah wahk)
Käth aŋöör
Tani waa'ee(tah-nee wah-ee)
Käŋ aŋöör?
Ilaa ma waaq?(ee-lah mah wahk)
Nyaŋ aŋöör?
Ilaa naxar?(ee-lah nah-khar)
Aye bɛ̈t aŋöör
Naxar aniga(nah-khar ah-nee-gah)
Käŋ aŋöör
Soo'aa(soo-ah)
Aye kɛ̈l
Waa'ee aniga(wah-ee ah-nee-gah)
Naa kɛ̈l
Maya dhib(mah-yah dheeb)
Bɛ̈t aŋöör
Hambalyo(ham-bahl-yo)
Bɛ̈t aŋöör kuɔr
Bariis gadhay(bah-rees gah-thai)
Käth aŋöör kuɔr
Safar amni(sah-far am-nee)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Cïïr yïnë kël?
Eeyyoo taayka daab?(eyyoo taayka daab)
Cïïr yïnë kël jëŋ?
Eeyyoo gaari daab?(eyyoo gaari daab)
Këc yïnë kël?
Keenya kaafaa?(keenya kaafaa)
Këc kël yïnë?
Waqti maayti?(waqti maayti)
Këc yïnë kël wël?
Maayta kaan?(maayta kaan)
Këc yïnë kël jëŋ?
Ittaa hara(ittaa hara)
Këc yïnë kël wël?
Ittaa faar(ittaa faar)
Aŋë yïnë kël kɔc?
Maafaa naafaa?(maafaa naafaa)
Nye kël jëŋ, jëŋ?
Hara dhaaf, fadlan(hara dhaaf, fadlan)
Këc yïnë kël jëŋ?
Waqti mee?(waqti mee)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.