Looking for practical Kanuri to Fon phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Kanuri phrase first, then the Fon translation (Fon) — 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 Fon.
Tip: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Fon-speaking trip in a few weeks.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Kanuri to Fon 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
Nɔ́(nɔ́)
Nagode
Mèdɔ́(mèdɔ́)
Ina kwana
Mèdɔ́ agblɔ(mèdɔ́ agblɔ)
Ina yamma
Mèdɔ́ ɖe(mèdɔ́ ɖe)
Ina dare
Mèdɔ́ ɖeɖe(mèdɔ́ ɖeɖe)
Sai da safe
Mèdɔ́ xɔxɔ(mèdɔ́ xɔxɔ)
Zan ganka
Nɔ́ wɛ(nɔ́ wɛ)
Sai anjima
Nɔ́ wɛ ɖe(nɔ́ wɛ ɖe)
Menene sunanka?
Nɔ́ wɛ nɔ́?(nɔ́ wɛ nɔ́?)
Sunana John
Mè nɔ́ John(mè nɔ́ John)
Lafiya lau?
Nɔ́ wɛ nɔ́?(nɔ́ wɛ nɔ́?)
Na ji dadin haduwa da kai
Mèdɔ́ nɔ́(mèdɔ́ nɔ́)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Kuna magana da Turanci?
I gbè yé èdè Gẹ̀ẹ́sì?
Ba na magana da Hindi sosai.
Mè n'gbè yé Èdè Hindi kè.
Ba na fahimta.
Mè n'kó nù.
Don Allah, ku yi magana a hankali.
S'il vous plaît, gbè yé kè.
Za ku iya faɗin hakan sake?
Mè s'kà yé nù?
Ina wanka?
Èwé n'kà dɔ́?
Ta yaya zan isa tsakiyar birni?
Mè n'kà yé nù àlà nà?
Juya hagu.
Tò n'kà kè.
Juya dama.
Tò n'kà pɔ́.
Tafiya kai tsaye.
Lè n'kà kè.
Nawa ne farashin?
Kí n'kà dɔ́?
Tiket ɗaya, don Allah.
Mè s'kà àyé, s'il vous plaît.
Shin yana da nisa daga nan?
Èwé n'kà mɛ́?
Na ɓace.
Mè n'kà nɔ́.
Ina zan iya sayen kati na SIM?
Èwé n'kà nɔ́ SIM?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Eey
Ɛ(e)
A'a
Ayi(ayi)
Wata
Mɛ(me)
Na amu
Mè yé(me ye)
Na a'a amu
Mè n'yi(me n'yi)
Iya na
N'kɔ nɔ(n'ko no)
Kaya ka yi tunani?
N'kɔ a kɔ?(n'ko a ko)
Za ka iya taimaka min?
I n'kɔ mɛ?(i n'ko me)
Na bukaci taimako
Mè n'kɔ mɛ(me n'ko me)
Duba dan lokaci
Tɔ́ nɔ(to no)
Na yi hakuri
Mè nɔ n'kɔ(me no n'ko)
Babu matsala
Ayi n'kɔ(ayi n'ko)
Taya murna
Mè nɔ wé(me no we)
Barka da haihuwa
Mè nɔ tɔ́(me no to)
Ka yi tafiya lafiya
N'kɔ a wé dɔ(n'ko a we do)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Nye boko na gari?
N'ye wé train station?(N'ye wé train station?)
Nye boko na bas?
N'ye wé bus stop?(N'ye wé bus stop?)
Wane boko na?
Ké platform na?(Ké platform na?)
Wane lokaci ya tafi?
Ké sa a yé?(Ké sa a yé?)
Shin wannan hanya ce?
N'ye wé yé na?(N'ye wé yé na?)
Yana kusa da nan
Yé na hɛn(Yé na hɛn)
Yana nesa da nan
Yé na hɛn gbo(Yé na hɛn gbo)
Za ka iya nuna mini a taswirar?
Mè wé hɛn n'ye map?(Mè wé hɛn n'ye map?)
Tsaida nan, don Allah
Tó hɛn, s'il vous plaît(Tó hɛn, s'il vous plaît)
Yaya tsawon lokaci?
Ké sa a yé?(Ké sa a yé?)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Nayi na kudi?
Mè wé na?(Nayi na kudi?)
Wannan ya yi tsada sosai.
Yè wé bɔ́ nɔ́.
Shin kuna da wani abu mai rahusa?
A wé nɔ́ dɔ́?
Zan iya biyan kudi da kati?
Mè wé hɛn nɔ́?
Ina so tebur don biyu.
Mè wé dɔ́ nɔ́ fɔ́.
Lissafi, don Allah.
A wé nɔ́ bɔ́.
Shin sabis ya haɗa?
Sè wé bɔ́?
Ni mai ganyayyaki ne.
Mè wé kɔ́ nɔ́.
Ba tare da zaki ba, don Allah.
Mè wé nɔ́ kɔ́ nɔ́.
Wannan yana da dadi.
Yè wé sɔ́.
Zan iya samun menu?
Mè wé nɔ́ mɛ́ nɔ́?
Kofin ruwa, don Allah.
Mè wé nɔ́ gɔ́ nɔ́.
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.