Looking for practical Kanuri to Afar phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Kanuri 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: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Afar-speaking trip in a few weeks.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Kanuri 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.
Sannu
Nagaad(nagaad)
Nagode
Galatooma(galatooma)
Ina kwana
Bariis(bariis)
Ina yamma
Galab(galab)
Ina dare
Haal(haal)
Sai da safe
Haalka habeen(haalka habeen)
Zan ganka
Ilaa mar kale(ilaa mar kale)
Sai anjima
Nagaad(nagaad)
Menene sunanka?
Maa magacaa?(maa magacaa)
Sunana John
Magacaygu waa John(magacaygu waa John)
Lafiya lau?
Iska waran?(iska waran)
Na ji dadin haduwa da kai
Aad baan ku faraxsanahay(aad baan ku faraxsanahay)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Kuna magana da Turanci?
Inni ingiriisi maahaa?(Inni ingiriisi maahaa?)
Ba na magana da Hindi sosai.
Hindi maahaa hinjiru(Hindi maahaa hinjiru)
Ba na fahimta.
Ani hinfahmi(Ani hinfahmi)
Don Allah, ku yi magana a hankali.
Fadlan si maahaa siib(Fadlan si maahaa siib)
Za ku iya faɗin hakan sake?
Maahaa inna marra?(Maahaa inna marra?)
Ina wanka?
Maalin baadhu?(Maalin baadhu?)
Ta yaya zan isa tsakiyar birni?
Akkam an magaalatti gahu?(Akkam an magaalatti gahu?)
Juya hagu.
Boodha kaaf(Boodha kaaf)
Juya dama.
Boodha mirga(Boodha mirga)
Tafiya kai tsaye.
Si qodhi(Si qodhi)
Nawa ne farashin?
Maalin abaal?(Maalin abaal?)
Tiket ɗaya, don Allah.
Tiket tokkon, fadlan(Tiket tokkon, fadlan)
Shin yana da nisa daga nan?
Maalin faga?(Maalin faga?)
Na ɓace.
Ani dhumtu(Ani dhumtu)
Ina zan iya sayen kati na SIM?
Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?(Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Eey
Eeyy(ee-yee)
A'a
Maya(mah-yah)
Wata
Gara(gah-rah)
Na amu
Anigu waaq(ah-nee-goo wahk)
Na a'a amu
Anigu ma waaq(ah-nee-goo mah wahk)
Iya na
Tani waa'ee(tah-nee wah-ee)
Kaya ka yi tunani?
Ilaa ma waaq?(ee-lah mah wahk)
Za ka iya taimaka min?
Ilaa naxar?(ee-lah nah-khar)
Na bukaci taimako
Naxar aniga(nah-khar ah-nee-gah)
Duba dan lokaci
Soo'aa(soo-ah)
Na yi hakuri
Waa'ee aniga(wah-ee ah-nee-gah)
Babu matsala
Maya dhib(mah-yah dheeb)
Taya murna
Hambalyo(ham-bahl-yo)
Barka da haihuwa
Bariis gadhay(bah-rees gah-thai)
Ka yi tafiya lafiya
Safar amni(sah-far am-nee)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Nye boko na gari?
Eeyyoo taayka daab?(eyyoo taayka daab)
Nye boko na bas?
Eeyyoo gaari daab?(eyyoo gaari daab)
Wane boko na?
Keenya kaafaa?(keenya kaafaa)
Wane lokaci ya tafi?
Waqti maayti?(waqti maayti)
Shin wannan hanya ce?
Maayta kaan?(maayta kaan)
Yana kusa da nan
Ittaa hara(ittaa hara)
Yana nesa da nan
Ittaa faar(ittaa faar)
Za ka iya nuna mini a taswirar?
Maafaa naafaa?(maafaa naafaa)
Tsaida nan, don Allah
Hara dhaaf, fadlan(hara dhaaf, fadlan)
Yaya tsawon lokaci?
Waqti mee?(waqti mee)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.