Looking for practical Kiga to Afar phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Kiga phrase first, then the Afar translation (Afar) — 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 Afar.
Tip: read the Afar line out loud three times, then cover the Kiga 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 Kiga to Afar 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.
Okwagala
Nagaad(nagaad)
Webale
Galatooma(galatooma)
Osiibye bulungi
Bariis(bariis)
Osiibye bulungi
Galab(galab)
Osiibye bulungi
Haal(haal)
Osiibye bulungi
Haalka habeen(haalka habeen)
Tugenda okukutana
Ilaa mar kale(ilaa mar kale)
Nkwagala
Nagaad(nagaad)
Erinnya lyo ani?
Maa magacaa?(maa magacaa)
Erinnya lyange nze John
Magacaygu waa John(magacaygu waa John)
Oli otya?
Iska waran?(iska waran)
Nneebwanga okukuyita
Aad baan ku faraxsanahay(aad baan ku faraxsanahay)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Oli muwandiika kiingereza?
Inni ingiriisi maahaa?(Inni ingiriisi maahaa?)
Sikuwandiika Hindi bulungi.
Hindi maahaa hinjiru(Hindi maahaa hinjiru)
Sikuganya.
Ani hinfahmi(Ani hinfahmi)
Nkwenda okwandiika bulungi.
Fadlan si maahaa siib(Fadlan si maahaa siib)
Osobola okuwandiika ekyo na?
Maahaa inna marra?(Maahaa inna marra?)
Ekitanda kiki?
Maalin baadhu?(Maalin baadhu?)
Nkwenda otya mu kiti?
Akkam an magaalatti gahu?(Akkam an magaalatti gahu?)
Genda ku kkono.
Boodha kaaf(Boodha kaaf)
Genda ku ddyo.
Boodha mirga(Boodha mirga)
Genda mu maaso.
Si qodhi(Si qodhi)
Ekitundu kiki?
Maalin abaal?(Maalin abaal?)
Ekitanda emu, nyamba.
Tiket tokkon, fadlan(Tiket tokkon, fadlan)
Kiki ekitundu okuva wano?
Maalin faga?(Maalin faga?)
Ndi mu kwegendereza.
Ani dhumtu(Ani dhumtu)
Nkwenda kutuuka wa SIM card?
Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?(Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Eee
Eeyy(ee-yee)
Oya
Maya(mah-yah)
Wali
Gara(gah-rah)
Ndiinze
Anigu waaq(ah-nee-goo wahk)
Sindiinze
Anigu ma waaq(ah-nee-goo mah wahk)
Ekitanga kiza
Tani waa'ee(tah-nee wah-ee)
Oteka ki?
Ilaa ma waaq?(ee-lah mah wahk)
Okwetegera?
Ilaa naxar?(ee-lah nah-khar)
Nfuna okwetegera
Naxar aniga(nah-khar ah-nee-gah)
Leka akaseke
Soo'aa(soo-ah)
Ndi mwefwe
Waa'ee aniga(wah-ee ah-nee-gah)
Tera kintu
Maya dhib(mah-yah dheeb)
Nkwagala
Hambalyo(ham-bahl-yo)
Okwagala omwaka omukya
Bariis gadhay(bah-rees gah-thai)
Okwetegera mu nsi
Safar amni(sah-far am-nee)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Eri heza y'ekitabo?
Eeyyoo taayka daab?(eyyoo taayka daab)
Eri heza y'ekibuga?
Eeyyoo gaari daab?(eyyoo gaari daab)
Ekiyungiriro ki?
Keenya kaafaa?(keenya kaafaa)
Ekitonde ki?
Waqti maayti?(waqti maayti)
Oni omukono ogw'ekirungi?
Maayta kaan?(maayta kaan)
Eri wansi wano
Ittaa hara(ittaa hara)
Eri kure wano
Ittaa faar(ittaa faar)
Oyinza okundabira ku karita?
Maafaa naafaa?(maafaa naafaa)
Mugume wano, nyabo
Hara dhaaf, fadlan(hara dhaaf, fadlan)
Ekitanga ki?
Waqti mee?(waqti mee)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.