Looking for practical Kanuri to Papiamento phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Kanuri phrase first, then the Papiamento translation (Papiamento) — 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 Papiamento.
Tip: pick five Papiamento phrases from the greetings section and use them in a real message today. Small daily practice beats cramming before a trip.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Kanuri to Papiamento 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
Halo
Nagode
Dank'i
Ina kwana
Bon dia
Ina yamma
Bon tardi
Ina dare
Bon nochi
Sai da safe
Bon nochi
Zan ganka
Hasta luego
Sai anjima
Ayo
Menene sunanka?
Kiko ta bo nòmber?
Sunana John
Mi nòmber ta John
Lafiya lau?
Kon ta bai?
Na ji dadin haduwa da kai
Dushi pa konosé bo
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Kuna magana da Turanci?
Bo ta papia Ingles?(Bo ta papia Ingles?)
Ba na magana da Hindi sosai.
Mi no ta papia Hindi bon(Mi no ta papia Hindi bon)
Ba na fahimta.
Mi no ta komprondé(Mi no ta komprondé)
Don Allah, ku yi magana a hankali.
Por fabor, papia lentamente(Por fabor, papia lentamente)
Za ku iya faɗin hakan sake?
Podé bo duna e palabra otro vez?(Podé bo duna e palabra otro vez?)
Ina wanka?
Unda ta e baño?(Unda ta e baño?)
Ta yaya zan isa tsakiyar birni?
Kiko mi mester hasi pa yega na centro di ciudad?(Kiko mi mester hasi pa yega na centro di ciudad?)
Juya hagu.
Duna ku left(Duna ku left)
Juya dama.
Duna ku right(Duna ku right)
Tafiya kai tsaye.
Bai straight(Bai straight)
Nawa ne farashin?
Kantu ta e tarifa?(Kantu ta e tarifa?)
Tiket ɗaya, don Allah.
Un tiket, por fabor(Un tiket, por fabor)
Shin yana da nisa daga nan?
Ta leu for di aki?(Ta leu for di aki?)
Na ɓace.
Mi ta perdo(Mi ta perdo)
Ina zan iya sayen kati na SIM?
Unda mi por komprá un SIM card?(Unda mi por komprá un SIM card?)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Eey
Si(ee-y)
A'a
No(ah-ah)
Wata
Quizás(wah-tah)
Na amu
Mi ta akordá(nah ah-moo)
Na a'a amu
Mi no ta akordá(nah ah-ah ah-moo)
Iya na
Esaki ta suena bon(ee-yah nah)
Kaya ka yi tunani?
Kiko bo ta pensa?(kah-yah kah yee too-nah-nee)
Za ka iya taimaka min?
Bo por yuda mi?(zah kah ee-yah tie-mah-kah meen)
Na bukaci taimako
Mi mester yuda(nah boo-kah-chee tie-mah-koh)
Duba dan lokaci
Spera un momentu(doo-bah dahn loh-kah-chee)
Na yi hakuri
Mi ta diskulpa(nah yee hah-koo-ree)
Babu matsala
No tin problema(bah-boo maht-sah-lah)
Taya murna
Felicidades(tah-yah moor-nah)
Barka da haihuwa
Feliz cumpleaños(bar-kah dah hai-hoo-wah)
Ka yi tafiya lafiya
Ten un viahe seguro(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?
Unda ta e stasyon di tren?
Nye boko na bas?
Unda ta e parada di bus?
Wane boko na?
Kual plataforma ta?
Wane lokaci ya tafi?
Kico ora e ta bai?
Shin wannan hanya ce?
Esaki ta e manera correctu?
Yana kusa da nan
E ta cerca aki
Yana nesa da nan
E ta leu for di aki
Za ka iya nuna mini a taswirar?
Poei mostra mi na e mapa?
Tsaida nan, don Allah
Para aki, por fabor
Yaya tsawon lokaci?
Kantu tempu e ta tuma?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Nayi na kudi?
Kiko ta e precio di esaki?(Nayi na kudi?)
Wannan ya yi tsada sosai.
Esaki ta demasiado caro.
Shin kuna da wani abu mai rahusa?
Bo tin algo mas barato?
Zan iya biyan kudi da kati?
Porke mi por paga ku tarjeta?
Ina so tebur don biyu.
Mi ke un mesa pa dos.
Lissafi, don Allah.
E cuenta, por fabor.
Shin sabis ya haɗa?
E servicio ta inkludí?
Ni mai ganyayyaki ne.
Mi ta vegetariano.
Ba tare da zaki ba, don Allah.
No komida picante, por fabor.
Wannan yana da dadi.
Esaki ta sabroso.
Zan iya samun menu?
Porke mi por tin e menu?
Kofin ruwa, don Allah.
Un bashi di awa, por fabor.
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Dawari janga
Llama polis(Dawari janga)
Dawari ambulan
Llama un ambulansia(Dawari ambulan)
Ni na doctor
Mi mester un doktor(Ni na doctor)
Ni na jaga
Mi ta sinti mal(Ni na jaga)
Ni na haji goro
Mi ta alergiko pa maní(Ni na haji goro)
Ina asibiti na kusa?
Unda ta e hospital mas cercano?(Ina asibiti na kusa?)
Yana ciwo a nan
Ta doli aki(Yana ciwo a nan)
Ni na rasa passport na
Mi a perde mi pasaporte(Ni na rasa passport na)
Za ka iya dawari otel na?
Bo por llama mi hotel?(Za ka iya dawari otel na?)
Taimako!
Yuda!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Nde gaishe
Bon dii pa conoce bo(nde gaishe)
Mu gaishe taro
Deja nos programa un reuníon(mu gaishe taro)
Wai gaishe lokaci?
Kiko ora ta bon pa bo?(wai gaishe lokaci)
Zan tura rahoto yau
Mi ta manda e report di awor(zan tura rahoto yau)
Zamu iya magana gobe?
Por ta papia mañan?(zamu iya magana gobe)
Don Allah ka sami fayil din da aka makala
Por fabor, haya e file anexa(don Allah ka sami fayil din da aka makala)
Na gode da lokacinka
Danki pa bo tempo(na gode da lokacinka)
Ina fatan aiki tare da kai
Mi ta spera pa traha ku bo(ina fatan aiki tare da kai)
Za ka iya fayyace wannan batu?
Bo por klarifica esaki?(za ka iya fayyace wannan batu)
Bari in dawo gare ka
Deja mi a volve na bo(bari in dawo gare ka)
Kwanan karshe ranar Jumma'a
E deadline ta dia dushi(kwanan karshe ranar Jumma'a)
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.