Looking for practical Kanuri to Kiga phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Kanuri phrase first, then the Kiga translation (Kiga) — 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 Kiga.
Tip: when a Kiga phrase looks unfamiliar, compare it with the Kanuri 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 Kanuri to Kiga 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
Okwagala
Nagode
Webale
Ina kwana
Osiibye bulungi
Ina yamma
Osiibye bulungi
Ina dare
Osiibye bulungi
Sai da safe
Osiibye bulungi
Zan ganka
Tugenda okukutana
Sai anjima
Nkwagala
Menene sunanka?
Erinnya lyo ani?
Sunana John
Erinnya lyange nze John
Lafiya lau?
Oli otya?
Na ji dadin haduwa da kai
Nneebwanga okukuyita
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Kuna magana da Turanci?
Oli muwandiika kiingereza?
Ba na magana da Hindi sosai.
Sikuwandiika Hindi bulungi.
Ba na fahimta.
Sikuganya.
Don Allah, ku yi magana a hankali.
Nkwenda okwandiika bulungi.
Za ku iya faɗin hakan sake?
Osobola okuwandiika ekyo na?
Ina wanka?
Ekitanda kiki?
Ta yaya zan isa tsakiyar birni?
Nkwenda otya mu kiti?
Juya hagu.
Genda ku kkono.
Juya dama.
Genda ku ddyo.
Tafiya kai tsaye.
Genda mu maaso.
Nawa ne farashin?
Ekitundu kiki?
Tiket ɗaya, don Allah.
Ekitanda emu, nyamba.
Shin yana da nisa daga nan?
Kiki ekitundu okuva wano?
Na ɓace.
Ndi mu kwegendereza.
Ina zan iya sayen kati na SIM?
Nkwenda kutuuka wa SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Eey
Eee(ee-y)
A'a
Oya(ah-ah)
Wata
Wali(wah-tah)
Na amu
Ndiinze(nah ah-moo)
Na a'a amu
Sindiinze(nah ah-ah ah-moo)
Iya na
Ekitanga kiza(ee-yah nah)
Kaya ka yi tunani?
Oteka ki?(kah-yah kah yee too-nah-nee)
Za ka iya taimaka min?
Okwetegera?(zah kah ee-yah tie-mah-kah meen)
Na bukaci taimako
Nfuna okwetegera(nah boo-kah-chee tie-mah-koh)
Duba dan lokaci
Leka akaseke(doo-bah dahn loh-kah-chee)
Na yi hakuri
Ndi mwefwe(nah yee hah-koo-ree)
Babu matsala
Tera kintu(bah-boo maht-sah-lah)
Taya murna
Nkwagala(tah-yah moor-nah)
Barka da haihuwa
Okwagala omwaka omukya(bar-kah dah hai-hoo-wah)
Ka yi tafiya lafiya
Okwetegera mu nsi(kah yee tah-fee-yah lah-fee-yah)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Nye boko na gari?
Eri heza y'ekitabo?(Eri heza y'ekitabo?)
Nye boko na bas?
Eri heza y'ekibuga?(Eri heza y'ekibuga?)
Wane boko na?
Ekiyungiriro ki?(Ekiyungiriro ki?)
Wane lokaci ya tafi?
Ekitonde ki?(Ekitonde ki?)
Shin wannan hanya ce?
Oni omukono ogw'ekirungi?(Oni omukono ogw'ekirungi?)
Yana kusa da nan
Eri wansi wano(Eri wansi wano)
Yana nesa da nan
Eri kure wano(Eri kure wano)
Za ka iya nuna mini a taswirar?
Oyinza okundabira ku karita?(Oyinza okundabira ku karita?)
Tsaida nan, don Allah
Mugume wano, nyabo(Mugume wano, nyabo)
Yaya tsawon lokaci?
Ekitanga ki?(Ekitanga ki?)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Nayi na kudi?
Ekitanga ki?(ekitanga ki)
Wannan ya yi tsada sosai.
Ekitanga ky'ekikula(ekitanga ky'ekikula)
Shin kuna da wani abu mai rahusa?
Oli n'ekintu ekirungi?(oli n'ekintu ekirungi)
Zan iya biyan kudi da kati?
Nkwenda okwekwasa ku kadi?(nkwenda okwekwasa ku kadi)
Ina so tebur don biyu.
Nkwenda akatabo ku b'abiri(nkwenda akatabo ku b'abiri)