Looking for practical Kanuri to Mam phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Kanuri phrase first, then the Mam translation (Mam) — 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 Mam.
Tip: when a Mam phrase looks unfamiliar, compare it with the Kanuri wording — noticing word order differences helps you understand grammar naturally.
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Greetings and pleasantries
Hello, goodbye, please, thank you, and polite introductions for meeting new people.
Sannu
Xo'j(sho'j)
Nagode
Tz'ik(tz'ik)
Ina kwana
Xo'j nax(sho'j nax)
Ina yamma
Xo'j q'ij(sho'j q'ij)
Ina dare
Xo'j k'ux(sho'j k'ux)
Sai da safe
Xo'j k'ux nax(sho'j k'ux nax)
Zan ganka
K'ux q'ij(k'ux q'ij)
Sai anjima
Xo'j k'ux(sho'j k'ux)
Menene sunanka?
Ja' k'ux nax?(ha' k'ux nax?)
Sunana John
Ja' k'ux nax John(ha' k'ux nax John)
Lafiya lau?
Jach' k'ux?(hach' k'ux?)
Na ji dadin haduwa da kai
Nab' k'ux(nab' k'ux)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Kuna magana da Turanci?
¿K'ax k'utun English?
Ba na magana da Hindi sosai.
Nek'ux k'utun Hindi k'ax k'utun.
Ba na fahimta.
Nek'ux k'ax k'utun.
Don Allah, ku yi magana a hankali.
Por favor, k'utun k'ux.
Za ku iya faɗin hakan sake?
¿K'ax k'utun k'ux?
Ina wanka?
¿Jach'och k'ux?
Ta yaya zan isa tsakiyar birni?
¿Jach'och k'ux ch'ich'?
Juya hagu.
K'utun k'ux.
Juya dama.
K'utun k'ux.
Tafiya kai tsaye.
K'utun k'ux.
Nawa ne farashin?
¿K'ax k'ux ch'ich'?
Tiket ɗaya, don Allah.
K'utun ch'ich', por favor.
Shin yana da nisa daga nan?
¿K'ax k'ux jach'och?
Na ɓace.
Nek'ux k'ax k'ux.
Ina zan iya sayen kati na SIM?
¿Jach'och k'ux k'utun SIM?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Eey
Juj(hoo)
A'a
Man(mah)
Wata
K'ux(k'ush)
Na amu
Juj k'ux(hoo k'ush)
Na a'a amu
Man k'ux(mah k'ush)
Iya na
K'ux juj(k'ush hoo)
Kaya ka yi tunani?
¿Juj k'ux k'ut?(¿hoo k'ush k'ut?)
Za ka iya taimaka min?
¿Juj k'ux juj k'ux?(¿hoo k'ush hoo k'ush?)
Na bukaci taimako
Juj k'ux juj k'ux k'ut(hoo k'ush hoo k'ut)
Duba dan lokaci
K'ux k'ut(k'ush k'ut)
Na yi hakuri
Juj k'ux k'ut(hoo k'ush k'ut)
Babu matsala
Man k'ux k'ut(mah k'ush k'ut)
Taya murna
K'ux juj k'ut(k'ush hoo k'ut)
Barka da haihuwa
K'ux juj k'ut k'ux(k'ush hoo k'ut k'ush)
Ka yi tafiya lafiya
K'ux juj k'ut k'ux(k'ush hoo k'ut k'ush)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Nye boko na gari?
¿Jujuk pa ri tren?
Nye boko na bas?
¿Jujuk pa ri bus?
Wane boko na?
¿K'ux ri plataforma?
Wane lokaci ya tafi?
¿K'ux ri tiempo pa k'ux?
Shin wannan hanya ce?
¿¿K'ux ri camino?
Yana kusa da nan
Ri k'ut pa ri.
Yana nesa da nan
Ri k'ut pa ri k'ul.
Za ka iya nuna mini a taswirar?
¿¿K'ux k'ut ri mapa?
Tsaida nan, don Allah
¿¿K'ut pa ri, por favor?
Yaya tsawon lokaci?
¿¿K'ux ri tiempo?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.