Looking for practical Jingpo to Afar phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Jingpo 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.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Jingpo 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.
Nangma
Nagaad(nagaad)
Nangma aji
Galatooma(galatooma)
Nangma na
Bariis(bariis)
Nangma aji na
Galab(galab)
Nangma aji zong
Haal(haal)
Nangma aji zong na
Haalka habeen(haalka habeen)
Nangma aji zong na
Ilaa mar kale(ilaa mar kale)
Nangma aji
Nagaad(nagaad)
Nangma aji na?
Maa magacaa?(maa magacaa)
Nangma aji John na
Magacaygu waa John(magacaygu waa John)
Nangma aji hna?
Iska waran?(iska waran)
Nangma aji hna zong
Aad baan ku faraxsanahay(aad baan ku faraxsanahay)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Nang saku English?
Inni ingiriisi maahaa?(Inni ingiriisi maahaa?)
Nang Hindi hna hna
Hindi maahaa hinjiru(Hindi maahaa hinjiru)
Nang hna na
Ani hinfahmi(Ani hinfahmi)
Nang hna hna lo
Fadlan si maahaa siib(Fadlan si maahaa siib)
Nang hna hna a hna?
Maahaa inna marra?(Maahaa inna marra?)
Nang hna hna kachang?
Maalin baadhu?(Maalin baadhu?)
Nang hna hna hka hna?
Akkam an magaalatti gahu?(Akkam an magaalatti gahu?)
Nang hna hna hka
Boodha kaaf(Boodha kaaf)
Nang hna hna hka
Boodha mirga(Boodha mirga)
Nang hna hna hna
Si qodhi(Si qodhi)
Nang hna hna hka?
Maalin abaal?(Maalin abaal?)
Nang hna hna hka
Tiket tokkon, fadlan(Tiket tokkon, fadlan)
Nang hna hna hka?
Maalin faga?(Maalin faga?)
Nang hna hna
Ani dhumtu(Ani dhumtu)
Nang hna hna SIM card hna?
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)
Baw
Maya(mah-yah)
Hka
Gara(gah-rah)
Nanghka
Anigu waaq(ah-nee-goo wahk)
Nangbaw
Anigu ma waaq(ah-nee-goo mah wahk)
Nang hka a hka
Tani waa'ee(tah-nee wah-ee)
Nang hka hka?
Ilaa ma waaq?(ee-lah mah wahk)
Nang a hka hka?
Ilaa naxar?(ee-lah nah-khar)
Nang a hka na
Naxar aniga(nah-khar ah-nee-gah)
Hka hka hka
Soo'aa(soo-ah)
Nang a hka hka
Waa'ee aniga(wah-ee ah-nee-gah)
Baw a hka
Maya dhib(mah-yah dheeb)
Nang a hka hka
Hambalyo(ham-bahl-yo)
Nang a hka a hka
Bariis gadhay(bah-rees gah-thai)
Nang a hka hka
Safar amni(sah-far am-nee)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Nang hka hka hku?
Eeyyoo taayka daab?(eyyoo taayka daab)
Nang hka bus hka?
Eeyyoo gaari daab?(eyyoo gaari daab)
Nang hka hka hka?
Keenya kaafaa?(keenya kaafaa)
Nang hka hka hka?
Waqti maayti?(waqti maayti)
Nang hka hka hka?
Maayta kaan?(maayta kaan)
Hka hka hka.
Ittaa hara(ittaa hara)
Hka hka hka.
Ittaa faar(ittaa faar)
Nang hka hka hka?
Maafaa naafaa?(maafaa naafaa)
Hka hka hka.
Hara dhaaf, fadlan(hara dhaaf, fadlan)
Hka hka hka?
Waqti mee?(waqti mee)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.