Looking for practical Kanuri to Yoruba phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Kanuri phrase first, then the Yoruba translation (Yoruba) — 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 Yoruba.
Tip: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Yoruba-speaking trip in a few weeks.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Kanuri to Yoruba 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
Bawo(bawoh)
Nagode
O seun(oh shayoon)
Ina kwana
E kaaro(eh kah-roh)
Ina yamma
E kaasan(eh kah-sahn)
Ina dare
E kuurole(eh koo-roh-leh)
Sai da safe
O daaro(oh dah-roh)
Zan ganka
A ri e laipe(ah ree eh lie-peh)
Sai anjima
O dabọ(oh dah-boh)
Menene sunanka?
Kí ni orukọ rẹ?(kee nee oh-roo-koh reh)
Sunana John
Orukọ mi ni John(oh-roo-koh mee nee John)
Lafiya lau?
Bawo ni?(bawoh nee)
Na ji dadin haduwa da kai
Inu mi dun lati pade e(ee-noo mee doon lah-tee pah-deh eh)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Kuna magana da Turanci?
Ṣe o n sọ Gẹ́gẹ́?(Sheh oh n saw Geh-geh)
Ba na magana da Hindi sosai.
Mi ò sọ Hindi dáadáa(Mee oh saw Hindi dah-dah)
Ba na fahimta.
Mi ò ye mi(Mee oh yeh mee)
Don Allah, ku yi magana a hankali.
Jọwọ sọ ní kíkankíkan(Joh-wah saw nee keen-kay-kahn)
Za ku iya faɗin hakan sake?
Ṣe o le sọ é lẹ́ẹ̀kan síi?(Sheh oh leh saw eh leh-eh-kahn see)
Ina wanka?
Nibo ni baluwe wa?(Nee-boh nee bah-loo-weh wah)
Ta yaya zan isa tsakiyar birni?
Báwo ni mo ṣe lọ sí àárín ìlú?(Bah-woh nee moh sheh law see ah-ree-nee loo)
Juya hagu.
Yí si apa osi(Yee see ah-pah oh-shee)
Juya dama.
Yí si apa otun(Yee see ah-pah oh-toon)
Tafiya kai tsaye.
Lọ taara(Law tah-rah)
Nawa ne farashin?
Elo ni owo ọkọ?(Eh-loh nee oh-woh oh-koh)
Tiket ɗaya, don Allah.
Ticket kan, jọwọ(Tee-ket kahn, joh-wah)
Shin yana da nisa daga nan?
Ṣe ó jìnà síbí?(Sheh oh jee-nah see-bee)
Na ɓace.
Mo ti sọnù(Moh tee sohn-oo)
Ina zan iya sayen kati na SIM?
Nibo ni mo ti le ra kaadi SIM?(Nee-boh nee moh tee leh rah kah-dee SIM)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Eey
Bẹẹni(ee-y)
A'a
Rara(ah-ah)
Wata
Bóyá(wah-tah)
Na amu
Mo gba(nah ah-moo)
Na a'a amu
Mo kọ(nah ah-ah ah-moo)
Iya na
Iyẹn dára(ee-yah nah)
Kaya ka yi tunani?
Kí ni ìrònú rẹ?(kah-yah kah yee too-nah-nee)
Za ka iya taimaka min?
Ṣé o lè ràn mí lọ́wọ́?(zah kah ee-yah tie-mah-kah meen)
Na bukaci taimako
Mo nílò ìrànlọ́wọ́(nah boo-kah-chee tie-mah-koh)
Duba dan lokaci
Dákẹ́ díẹ̀(doo-bah dahn loh-kah-chee)
Na yi hakuri
Mo bínú(nah yee hah-koo-ree)
Babu matsala
Kò sí ìṣòro(bah-boo maht-sah-lah)
Taya murna
Ẹ kú àṣeyọrí(tah-yah moor-nah)
Barka da haihuwa
Ẹ kú ọjọ́ ibi(bar-kah dah hai-hoo-wah)
Ka yi tafiya lafiya
Ṣe ìrìn àjò tó ààbò(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?
Nibo ni ibudo ọkọ oju-irin wa?(Nibo ni ibudo ọkọ oju-irin wa?)
Nye boko na bas?
Nibo ni ibudo bosi wa?(Nibo ni ibudo bosi wa?)
Wane boko na?
Ibo ni pẹpẹ naa?(Ibo ni pẹpẹ naa?)
Wane lokaci ya tafi?
Iwo wo ni o fi n lọ?(Iwo wo ni o fi n lọ?)
Shin wannan hanya ce?
Ṣe eyi ni ọna to tọ?(Ṣe eyi ni ọna to tọ?)
Yana kusa da nan
O sunmọ ibi yi
Yana nesa da nan
O jinna si ibi yi
Za ka iya nuna mini a taswirar?
Ṣe o le fihan mi lori maapu?(Ṣe o le fihan mi lori maapu?)
Tsaida nan, don Allah
Duro nibi, jọwọ
Yaya tsawon lokaci?
Bawo ni igba wo ni o gba?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Nayi na kudi?
Elo ni eyi?(elo ni eyi)
Wannan ya yi tsada sosai.
Eyi jẹ́ gbowó púpọ̀(eyi je gbowo pupo)
Shin kuna da wani abu mai rahusa?
Ṣe o ni nkan tó rọrùn?(se o ni nkan to rorun)
Zan iya biyan kudi da kati?
Ṣe mo le sanwo pẹ̀lú kaadi?(se mo le sanwo pelu kaadi)
Ina so tebur don biyu.
Mo fẹ́ tábìlì fún méjì(mo fe tabili fun meji)
Lissafi, don Allah.
Iwe isanwo, jọwọ(iwe isanwo jowo)
Shin sabis ya haɗa?
Ṣe iṣẹ́ wa nínú?(se ise wa ninu)
Ni mai ganyayyaki ne.
Mo jẹ́ onjẹ ẹfọ(mo je onje efo)
Ba tare da zaki ba, don Allah.
Kò sí onjẹ tó ní ìkà, jọwọ(ko si onje to ni ika jowo)
Wannan yana da dadi.
Eyi dára(eyi dara)
Zan iya samun menu?
Ṣe mo le ní àtòjọ onjẹ?(se mo le ni atojo onje)
Kofin ruwa, don Allah.
Gilaasi omi, jọwọ(gilaasi omi jowo)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Dawari janga
Pe iroyin ọlọpa(pe iroyin olopa)
Dawari ambulan
Pe ambulance(pe ambulance)
Ni na doctor
Mo nilo dokita(mo nilo dokita)
Ni na jaga
Mo n ni irora(mo n ni irora)
Ni na haji goro
Mo ni àkúnya sí ẹ̀fọ́(mo ni akunya si efo)
Ina asibiti na kusa?
Nibo ni ile-iwosan to sunmo?(nibo ni ile-iwosan to sunmo)
Yana ciwo a nan
O n dun nibi(o n dun nibi)
Ni na rasa passport na
Mo padanu iwe irinna mi(mo padanu iwe irinna mi)
Za ka iya dawari otel na?
Se o le pe hotẹẹli mi?(se o le pe hoteeli mi)
Taimako!
I ranlọwọ!(i ranlọwọ)
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Nde gaishe
Inu mi dun lati pade e(Inu mi dun lati pade e)
Mu gaishe taro
Jẹ ki a ṣe ipade(mu gaishe taro)
Wai gaishe lokaci?
Iwo, wo ni akoko ti o ba mu?(wai gaishe lokaci)
Zan tura rahoto yau
Mo maa fi iroyin ranṣẹ loni(zan tura rahoto yau)
Zamu iya magana gobe?
Se a le ba ara wa sọrọ ni ọla?(zamu iya magana gobe)
Don Allah ka sami fayil din da aka makala
Jọwọ ri faili ti a so mọ́(don Allah ka sami fayil din da aka makala)
Na gode da lokacinka
O seun fun akoko rẹ(na gode da lokacinka)
Ina fatan aiki tare da kai
Mo n reti lati ṣiṣẹ pẹlu rẹ(ina fatan aiki tare da kai)
Za ka iya fayyace wannan batu?
Se o le ṣalaye aaye yẹn?(za ka iya fayyace wannan batu)
Bari in dawo gare ka
Jẹ ki n pada sọrọ si ọ(bari in dawo gare ka)
Kwanan karshe ranar Jumma'a
Akoko ipari ni Friday(kwanan karshe ranar Jumma'a)
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.