Looking for practical Fon to Afar phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Fon 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 Fon 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 Fon 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.
Nɔ́
Nagaad(nagaad)
Mèdɔ́
Galatooma(galatooma)
Mèdɔ́ agblɔ
Bariis(bariis)
Mèdɔ́ ɖe
Galab(galab)
Mèdɔ́ ɖeɖe
Haal(haal)
Mèdɔ́ xɔxɔ
Haalka habeen(haalka habeen)
Nɔ́ wɛ
Ilaa mar kale(ilaa mar kale)
Nɔ́ wɛ ɖe
Nagaad(nagaad)
Nɔ́ wɛ nɔ́?
Maa magacaa?(maa magacaa)
Mè nɔ́ John
Magacaygu waa John(magacaygu waa John)
Nɔ́ wɛ nɔ́?
Iska waran?(iska waran)
Mèdɔ́ nɔ́
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 gbè yé èdè Gẹ̀ẹ́sì?
Inni ingiriisi maahaa?(Inni ingiriisi maahaa?)
Mè n'gbè yé Èdè Hindi kè.
Hindi maahaa hinjiru(Hindi maahaa hinjiru)
Mè n'kó nù.
Ani hinfahmi(Ani hinfahmi)
S'il vous plaît, gbè yé kè.
Fadlan si maahaa siib(Fadlan si maahaa siib)
Mè s'kà yé nù?
Maahaa inna marra?(Maahaa inna marra?)
Èwé n'kà dɔ́?
Maalin baadhu?(Maalin baadhu?)
Mè n'kà yé nù àlà nà?
Akkam an magaalatti gahu?(Akkam an magaalatti gahu?)
Tò n'kà kè.
Boodha kaaf(Boodha kaaf)
Tò n'kà pɔ́.
Boodha mirga(Boodha mirga)
Lè n'kà kè.
Si qodhi(Si qodhi)
Kí n'kà dɔ́?
Maalin abaal?(Maalin abaal?)
Mè s'kà àyé, s'il vous plaît.
Tiket tokkon, fadlan(Tiket tokkon, fadlan)
Èwé n'kà mɛ́?
Maalin faga?(Maalin faga?)
Mè n'kà nɔ́.
Ani dhumtu(Ani dhumtu)
Èwé n'kà nɔ́ SIM?
Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?(Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ɛ
Eeyy(ee-yee)
Ayi
Maya(mah-yah)
Mɛ
Gara(gah-rah)
Mè yé
Anigu waaq(ah-nee-goo wahk)
Mè n'yi
Anigu ma waaq(ah-nee-goo mah wahk)
N'kɔ nɔ
Tani waa'ee(tah-nee wah-ee)
N'kɔ a kɔ?
Ilaa ma waaq?(ee-lah mah wahk)
I n'kɔ mɛ?
Ilaa naxar?(ee-lah nah-khar)
Mè n'kɔ mɛ
Naxar aniga(nah-khar ah-nee-gah)
Tɔ́ nɔ
Soo'aa(soo-ah)
Mè nɔ n'kɔ
Waa'ee aniga(wah-ee ah-nee-gah)
Ayi n'kɔ
Maya dhib(mah-yah dheeb)
Mè nɔ wé
Hambalyo(ham-bahl-yo)
Mè nɔ tɔ́
Bariis gadhay(bah-rees gah-thai)
N'kɔ a wé dɔ
Safar amni(sah-far am-nee)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
N'ye wé train station?
Eeyyoo taayka daab?(eyyoo taayka daab)
N'ye wé bus stop?
Eeyyoo gaari daab?(eyyoo gaari daab)
Ké platform na?
Keenya kaafaa?(keenya kaafaa)
Ké sa a yé?
Waqti maayti?(waqti maayti)
N'ye wé yé na?
Maayta kaan?(maayta kaan)
Yé na hɛn
Ittaa hara(ittaa hara)
Yé na hɛn gbo
Ittaa faar(ittaa faar)
Mè wé hɛn n'ye map?
Maafaa naafaa?(maafaa naafaa)
Tó hɛn, s'il vous plaît
Hara dhaaf, fadlan(hara dhaaf, fadlan)
Ké sa a yé?
Waqti mee?(waqti mee)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.