Looking for practical Kanuri to Tswana phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Kanuri phrase first, then the Tswana translation (Tswana) — 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 Tswana.
Tip: read the Tswana line out loud three times, then cover the Kanuri side and try to recall the meaning — repetition builds memory faster than silent reading.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Kanuri to Tswana 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
Dumela
Nagode
Ke a leboga
Ina kwana
Dumelang
Ina yamma
Dumela mo afternoon
Ina dare
Dumela mo evening
Sai da safe
Borai
Zan ganka
Tsamaya sentle
Sai anjima
Tsamaya sentle
Menene sunanka?
O na le leina mang?
Sunana John
Leina la me ke John
Lafiya lau?
O kae?
Na ji dadin haduwa da kai
Ke itumetse go kopana le wena
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Kuna magana da Turanci?
A o bua Seisemane?
Ba na magana da Hindi sosai.
Ke sitwa go bua Hindi sentle
Ba na fahimta.
Ke sitwa go tlhaloganya
Don Allah, ku yi magana a hankali.
Tsweetswee bua ka bonako
Za ku iya faɗin hakan sake?
A o ka bo o bua seo gape?
Ina wanka?
Borai bo kae?
Ta yaya zan isa tsakiyar birni?
Ke tshela jang go ya borai jwa motse?
Juya hagu.
Fetola go ya ka letlhako le letona
Juya dama.
Fetola go ya ka letlhako le lebaganeng
Tafiya kai tsaye.
Tswelela ka fao
Nawa ne farashin?
Gaeletsi e bokae?
Tiket ɗaya, don Allah.
Tikit e le nngwe, tsweetswee
Shin yana da nisa daga nan?
A ke kgole go tswa fano?
Na ɓace.
Ke a latlhela
Ina zan iya sayen kati na SIM?
Borai ke ka fao ke ka rekang SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Eey
Ee(ee-y)
A'a
Nnyaa(ah-ah)
Wata
Mafoko(wah-tah)
Na amu
Ke a dumela(nah ah-moo)
Na a'a amu
Ke sitwa go dumela(nah ah-ah ah-moo)
Iya na
Seo se utlwisa molemo(ee-yah nah)
Kaya ka yi tunani?
O akanya eng?(kah-yah kah yee too-nah-nee)
Za ka iya taimaka min?
O ka nthusa?(zah kah ee-yah tie-mah-kah meen)
Na bukaci taimako
Ke tlhoka thuso(nah boo-kah-chee tie-mah-koh)
Duba dan lokaci
Emisa motsotso(doo-bah dahn loh-kah-chee)
Na yi hakuri
Ke maswabi(nah yee hah-koo-ree)
Babu matsala
Ga go na bothata(bah-boo maht-sah-lah)
Taya murna
A re amogele(tah-yah moor-nah)
Barka da haihuwa
Tlhogomelo e e monate(bar-kah dah hai-hoo-wah)
Ka yi tafiya lafiya
O seka wa tsamaea ka bolokegong(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?
Ke kae borai jwa terene?(ke kae borai jwa terene)
Nye boko na bas?
Ke kae borai jwa boso?(ke kae borai jwa boso)
Wane boko na?
Ke phetogo efe?(ke phetogo efe)
Wane lokaci ya tafi?
Nako efe e tlogang?(nako efe e tlogang)
Shin wannan hanya ce?
A ke tsela e e siameng?(a ke tsela e e siameng)
Yana kusa da nan
E kgaogang fa(e kgaogang fa)
Yana nesa da nan
E le kgakala le fa(e le kgakala le fa)
Za ka iya nuna mini a taswirar?
O ka nthusa go bontsha mo mape?(o ka nthusa go bontsha mo mape)
Tsaida nan, don Allah
Emisa fa, tsweetswee(emisa fa, tsweetswee)
Yaya tsawon lokaci?
E tsaya nako e kae?(e tsaya nako e kae)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Nayi na kudi?
Ke bokae?(ke bo kae?)
Wannan ya yi tsada sosai.
Seo ke se expensive(se ke se expensive)
Shin kuna da wani abu mai rahusa?
A o na le sengwe se se cheap?(a o na le sengwe se se cheap?)
Zan iya biyan kudi da kati?
Na nka lefa ka khadi?(na nka lefa ka khadi?)
Ina so tebur don biyu.
Ke kopa tafole ya babedi(ke kopa tafole ya babedi)
Lissafi, don Allah.
Bille, tsweetswee(bille, tsweetswee)
Shin sabis ya haɗa?
Na tshebeletso e akaretswe?(na tshebeletso e akaretswe?)
Ni mai ganyayyaki ne.
Ke movegetarian(ke mo vegetarian)
Ba tare da zaki ba, don Allah.
A re na le dijo tse di spicy, tsweetswee(a re na le dijo tse di spicy, tsweetswee)
Wannan yana da dadi.
Se ke se monate(se ke se monate)
Zan iya samun menu?
Na nka nna le menu?(na nka nna le menu?)
Kofin ruwa, don Allah.
Glasi ya metsi, tsweetswee(glasi ya metsi, tsweetswee)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Dawari janga
Bua le mapolesa(Dawari janga)
Dawari ambulan
Bua le ambulance(Dawari ambulan)
Ni na doctor
Ke tlhoka ngaka(Ni na doctor)
Ni na jaga
Ke ikutlwa ke sitwa(Ni na jaga)
Ni na haji goro
Ke na le allergy go peanuts(Ni na haji goro)
Ina asibiti na kusa?
Hospitale e kgethegileng e kae?(Ina asibiti na kusa?)
Yana ciwo a nan
Go botlhoko fa(Yana ciwo a nan)
Ni na rasa passport na
Ke sitwa passport ya me(Ni na rasa passport na)
Za ka iya dawari otel na?
O ka bua le hotele ya me?(Za ka iya dawari otel na?)
Taimako!
Thusa!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Nde gaishe
Ke itumetse go kopana le wena(nde gaishe)
Mu gaishe taro
A re beye ngwaga ya kopano(mu gaishe taro)
Wai gaishe lokaci?
Nako efe e go thusang?(wai gaishe lokaci)
Zan tura rahoto yau
Ke tla romela reporteng gompieno(zan tura rahoto yau)
Zamu iya magana gobe?
A re ka bua ka borai?(zamu iya magana gobe)
Don Allah ka sami fayil din da aka makala
Tsweetswee, etse fa faele e amanang(don Allah ka sami fayil din da aka makala)
Na gode da lokacinka
Ke a leboga ka nako ya gago(na gode da lokacinka)
Ina fatan aiki tare da kai
Ke itumelela go dira le wena(ina fatan aiki tare da kai)
Za ka iya fayyace wannan batu?
A o ka tlhalosa ntlha eo?(za ka iya fayyace wannan batu)
Bari in dawo gare ka
A ke boele go wena(bari in dawo gare ka)
Kwanan karshe ranar Jumma'a
Nako ya go fela ke Labohlano(kwanan karshe ranar Jumma'a)
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.