Looking for practical Kanuri to Krio phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Kanuri phrase first, then the Krio translation (Krio) — 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 Krio.
Tip: when a Krio 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 Krio 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
Hello
Nagode
Tenki
Ina kwana
Gud mɔnin
Ina yamma
Gud aftanun
Ina dare
Gud ivnin
Sai da safe
Gud nait
Zan ganka
Si yu leta
Sai anjima
Bai
Menene sunanka?
Wetɛn na yu neym?
Sunana John
Ma neym na John
Lafiya lau?
Ow yu de?
Na ji dadin haduwa da kai
Naes fo mit yu
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Kuna magana da Turanci?
Yu sabi English?
Ba na magana da Hindi sosai.
A no sabi Hindi well.
Ba na fahimta.
A no sabi.
Don Allah, ku yi magana a hankali.
Plis, tok slow.
Za ku iya faɗin hakan sake?
Yu fit tok dat again?
Ina wanka?
Weh na di toilet?
Ta yaya zan isa tsakiyar birni?
Ow A go fit reach di city center?
Juya hagu.
Turn left.
Juya dama.
Turn right.
Tafiya kai tsaye.
Go straight.
Nawa ne farashin?
Ow much na di fare?
Tiket ɗaya, don Allah.
One ticket, plis.
Shin yana da nisa daga nan?
E far from ya?
Na ɓace.
A don lost.
Ina zan iya sayen kati na SIM?
Weh A go fit buy SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Eey
Yes(ee-y)
A'a
No(ah-ah)
Wata
Maybe(wah-tah)
Na amu
A mi agree(nah ah-moo)
Na a'a amu
A no agree(nah ah-ah ah-moo)
Iya na
Dat na fine(ee-yah nah)
Kaya ka yi tunani?
Wet in you tink?(kah-yah kah yee too-nah-nee)
Za ka iya taimaka min?
You fit help me?(zah kah ee-yah tie-mah-kah meen)
Na bukaci taimako
A need help(nah boo-kah-chee tie-mah-koh)
Duba dan lokaci
Wait small(doo-bah dahn loh-kah-chee)
Na yi hakuri
A sorry(nah yee hah-koo-ree)
Babu matsala
No problem(bah-boo maht-sah-lah)
Taya murna
Congratulations(tah-yah moor-nah)
Barka da haihuwa
Happy birthday(bar-kah dah hai-hoo-wah)
Ka yi tafiya lafiya
Get safe trip(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?
Weh na di train station?
Nye boko na bas?
Weh na di bus stop?
Wane boko na?
Which platform na im?
Wane lokaci ya tafi?
Wetin time e go lef?
Shin wannan hanya ce?
Dis na di right way?
Yana kusa da nan
E dey near here
Yana nesa da nan
E far from here
Za ka iya nuna mini a taswirar?
Yu fit show me pan di map?
Tsaida nan, don Allah
Stop here, pliz
Yaya tsawon lokaci?
How long e go tek?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Nayi na kudi?
How much dis cost?(Nayi na kudi?)
Wannan ya yi tsada sosai.
Dat too expensive.
Shin kuna da wani abu mai rahusa?
You get anytin wey cheaper?
Zan iya biyan kudi da kati?
I fit pay by card?
Ina so tebur don biyu.
I wan table for two.
Lissafi, don Allah.
Di bill, please.
Shin sabis ya haɗa?
Service dey include?
Ni mai ganyayyaki ne.
I na vegetarian.
Ba tare da zaki ba, don Allah.
No spicy food, please.
Wannan yana da dadi.
Dis dey sweet.
Zan iya samun menu?
I fit get di menu?
Kofin ruwa, don Allah.
A glass of water, please.
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Dawari janga
Call di police(Dawari janga)
Dawari ambulan
Call ambulance(Dawari ambulan)
Ni na doctor
A need doctor(Ni na doctor)
Ni na jaga
A dey feel sick(Ni na jaga)
Ni na haji goro
A get allergy for peanuts(Ni na haji goro)
Ina asibiti na kusa?
Weh di nearest hospital de?(Ina asibiti na kusa?)
Yana ciwo a nan
E dey pain here(Yana ciwo a nan)
Ni na rasa passport na
A don lose mi passport(Ni na rasa passport na)
Za ka iya dawari otel na?
You fit call mi hotel?(Za ka iya dawari otel na?)
Taimako!
Help!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Nde gaishe
Na nice for meet you(nde gaishe)
Mu gaishe taro
Make we plan wan meeting(mu gaishe taro)
Wai gaishe lokaci?
Wetin time go work for you?(wai gaishe lokaci)
Zan tura rahoto yau
A go send di report tiday(zan tura rahoto yau)
Zamu iya magana gobe?
We go fit talk tomorrow?(zamu iya magana gobe)
Don Allah ka sami fayil din da aka makala
Abeg find di file wey attach(don Allah ka sami fayil din da aka makala)
Na gode da lokacinka
Tenki for your time(na gode da lokacinka)
Ina fatan aiki tare da kai
A dey look forward for work with you(ina fatan aiki tare da kai)
Za ka iya fayyace wannan batu?
You fit clarify dat point?(za ka iya fayyace wannan batu)
Bari in dawo gare ka
Make I get back to you(bari in dawo gare ka)
Kwanan karshe ranar Jumma'a
Di deadline na Friday(kwanan karshe ranar Jumma'a)
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.