Looking for practical Fon to Kanuri phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Fon 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: when a Kanuri phrase looks unfamiliar, compare it with the Fon wording — noticing word order differences helps you understand grammar naturally.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Fon 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.
Nɔ́
Sannu(nɔ́)
Mèdɔ́
Nagode(mèdɔ́)
Mèdɔ́ agblɔ
Ina kwana(mèdɔ́ agblɔ)
Mèdɔ́ ɖe
Ina yamma(mèdɔ́ ɖe)
Mèdɔ́ ɖeɖe
Ina dare(mèdɔ́ ɖeɖe)
Mèdɔ́ xɔxɔ
Sai da safe(mèdɔ́ xɔxɔ)
Nɔ́ wɛ
Zan ganka(nɔ́ wɛ)
Nɔ́ wɛ ɖe
Sai anjima(nɔ́ wɛ ɖe)
Nɔ́ wɛ nɔ́?
Menene sunanka?(nɔ́ wɛ nɔ́?)
Mè nɔ́ John
Sunana John(mè nɔ́ John)
Nɔ́ wɛ nɔ́?
Lafiya lau?(nɔ́ wɛ nɔ́?)
Mèdɔ́ nɔ́
Na ji dadin haduwa da kai(mèdɔ́ nɔ́)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
I gbè yé èdè Gẹ̀ẹ́sì?
Kuna magana da Turanci?
Mè n'gbè yé Èdè Hindi kè.
Ba na magana da Hindi sosai.
Mè n'kó nù.
Ba na fahimta.
S'il vous plaît, gbè yé kè.
Don Allah, ku yi magana a hankali.
Mè s'kà yé nù?
Za ku iya faɗin hakan sake?
Èwé n'kà dɔ́?
Ina wanka?
Mè n'kà yé nù àlà nà?
Ta yaya zan isa tsakiyar birni?
Tò n'kà kè.
Juya hagu.
Tò n'kà pɔ́.
Juya dama.
Lè n'kà kè.
Tafiya kai tsaye.
Kí n'kà dɔ́?
Nawa ne farashin?
Mè s'kà àyé, s'il vous plaît.
Tiket ɗaya, don Allah.
Èwé n'kà mɛ́?
Shin yana da nisa daga nan?
Mè n'kà nɔ́.
Na ɓace.
Èwé n'kà nɔ́ SIM?
Ina zan iya sayen kati na SIM?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ɛ
Eey(ee-y)
Ayi
A'a(ah-ah)
Mɛ
Wata(wah-tah)
Mè yé
Na amu(nah ah-moo)
Mè n'yi
Na a'a amu(nah ah-ah ah-moo)
N'kɔ nɔ
Iya na(ee-yah nah)
N'kɔ a kɔ?
Kaya ka yi tunani?(kah-yah kah yee too-nah-nee)
I n'kɔ mɛ?
Za ka iya taimaka min?(zah kah ee-yah tie-mah-kah meen)
Mè n'kɔ mɛ
Na bukaci taimako(nah boo-kah-chee tie-mah-koh)
Tɔ́ nɔ
Duba dan lokaci(doo-bah dahn loh-kah-chee)
Mè nɔ n'kɔ
Na yi hakuri(nah yee hah-koo-ree)
Ayi n'kɔ
Babu matsala(bah-boo maht-sah-lah)
Mè nɔ wé
Taya murna(tah-yah moor-nah)
Mè nɔ tɔ́
Barka da haihuwa(bar-kah dah hai-hoo-wah)
N'kɔ a wé dɔ
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.
N'ye wé train station?
Nye boko na gari?(N'ye wé train station?)
N'ye wé bus stop?
Nye boko na bas?(N'ye wé bus stop?)
Ké platform na?
Wane boko na?(Ké platform na?)
Ké sa a yé?
Wane lokaci ya tafi?(Ké sa a yé?)
N'ye wé yé na?
Shin wannan hanya ce?(N'ye wé yé na?)
Yé na hɛn
Yana kusa da nan(Yé na hɛn)
Yé na hɛn gbo
Yana nesa da nan(Yé na hɛn gbo)
Mè wé hɛn n'ye map?
Za ka iya nuna mini a taswirar?(Mè wé hɛn n'ye map?)
Tó hɛn, s'il vous plaît
Tsaida nan, don Allah(Tó hɛn, s'il vous plaît)
Ké sa a yé?
Yaya tsawon lokaci?(Ké sa a yé?)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Mè wé na?
Nayi na kudi?(Nayi na kudi?)
Yè wé bɔ́ nɔ́.
Wannan ya yi tsada sosai.
A wé nɔ́ dɔ́?
Shin kuna da wani abu mai rahusa?
Mè wé hɛn nɔ́?
Zan iya biyan kudi da kati?
Mè wé dɔ́ nɔ́ fɔ́.
Ina so tebur don biyu.
A wé nɔ́ bɔ́.
Lissafi, don Allah.
Sè wé bɔ́?
Shin sabis ya haɗa?
Mè wé kɔ́ nɔ́.
Ni mai ganyayyaki ne.
Mè wé nɔ́ kɔ́ nɔ́.
Ba tare da zaki ba, don Allah.
Yè wé sɔ́.
Wannan yana da dadi.
Mè wé nɔ́ mɛ́ nɔ́?
Zan iya samun menu?
Mè wé nɔ́ gɔ́ nɔ́.
Kofin ruwa, don Allah.
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Nɔ̀ nɔ́ wɛ́
Dawari janga(Dawari janga)
Nɔ̀ nɔ́ àmblans
Dawari ambulan(Dawari ambulan)
Mè hùn wá dɔ́ktɛ́
Ni na doctor(Ni na doctor)
Mè tɔ́ dɔ́
Ni na jaga(Ni na jaga)
Mè wá nùmɛ́ kɔ́
Ni na haji goro(Ni na haji goro)
Fɔ́ wɛ́ dɔ́kita nɔ́?
Ina asibiti na kusa?(Ina asibiti na kusa?)
A hùn nɔ́
Yana ciwo a nan(Yana ciwo a nan)
Mè lɔ́ mɔ́ kɔ́tɔ́
Ni na rasa passport na(Ni na rasa passport na)
Kɔ́ nɔ́ nɔ́ wɛ́ mɔ́ hɔ́tɛ́l?
Za ka iya dawari otel na?(Za ka iya dawari otel na?)
Sè!
Taimako!(sè!)
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Mè wá nɔ́
Nde gaishe(nde gaishe)
Mè tɔ́ nɔ́ kɔ́ sɔ́
Mu gaishe taro(mu gaishe taro)
Nɔ́ kɔ́ sɔ́ kó?
Wai gaishe lokaci?(wai gaishe lokaci)
Mè yé sɔ́ nɔ́ kɔ́ bɔ́
Zan tura rahoto yau(zan tura rahoto yau)
Mè tɔ́ nɔ́ kɔ́ bɔ́ kɔ́
Zamu iya magana gobe?(zamu iya magana gobe)
Mè tɔ́ nɔ́ kɔ́ sɔ́ nɔ́
Don Allah ka sami fayil din da aka makala(don Allah ka sami fayil din da aka makala)
Mè tɔ́ nɔ́ kɔ́ nɔ́
Na gode da lokacinka(na gode da lokacinka)
Mè tɔ́ nɔ́ kɔ́ sɔ́
Ina fatan aiki tare da kai(ina fatan aiki tare da kai)
Nɔ́ kɔ́ sɔ́ kó?
Za ka iya fayyace wannan batu?(za ka iya fayyace wannan batu)