Looking for practical Kikongo to Afar phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Kikongo 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 Kikongo 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 Kikongo 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.
Mbote
Nagaad(nagaad)
Mele
Galatooma(galatooma)
Mokolo mayele
Bariis(bariis)
Mokolo ya ntango
Galab(galab)
Mokolo ya mambu
Haal(haal)
Mokolo ya mpembe
Haalka habeen(haalka habeen)
Tala mosi
Ilaa mar kale(ilaa mar kale)
Tata
Nagaad(nagaad)
Nki yina nzo?
Maa magacaa?(maa magacaa)
Nzo yami ke John
Magacaygu waa John(magacaygu waa John)
Oko wanga?
Iska waran?(iska waran)
Nki ya mosi na yo
Aad baan ku faraxsanahay(aad baan ku faraxsanahay)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Oyo o zola kutu English?
Inni ingiriisi maahaa?(Inni ingiriisi maahaa?)
Nkeni kutu Hindi na mosi.
Hindi maahaa hinjiru(Hindi maahaa hinjiru)
Nkeni kanga.
Ani hinfahmi(Ani hinfahmi)
Mokolo, zola kutu na mosi.
Fadlan si maahaa siib(Fadlan si maahaa siib)
Oyo o zola kutu na mosi?
Maahaa inna marra?(Maahaa inna marra?)
Kutu wapi banzela?
Maalin baadhu?(Maalin baadhu?)
Nki zola kuenda na kati ya mbanza?
Akkam an magaalatti gahu?(Akkam an magaalatti gahu?)
Tanda na luma.
Boodha kaaf(Boodha kaaf)
Tanda na mambu.
Boodha mirga(Boodha mirga)
Enda na mosi.
Si qodhi(Si qodhi)
Nki mbongo ya ndako?
Maalin abaal?(Maalin abaal?)
Ticket mosi, mokolo.
Tiket tokkon, fadlan(Tiket tokkon, fadlan)
Nki feti na wapi?
Maalin faga?(Maalin faga?)
Nkeni zola.
Ani dhumtu(Ani dhumtu)
Kutu wapi nki zola ku tanga SIM?
Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?(Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ewe
Eeyy(ee-yee)
Te
Maya(mah-yah)
Kasi
Gara(gah-rah)
Nkiadi
Anigu waaq(ah-nee-goo wahk)
Nkiadi te
Anigu ma waaq(ah-nee-goo mah wahk)
Oyo ke nkiadi malamu
Tani waa'ee(tah-nee wah-ee)
Nkiadi nini?
Ilaa ma waaq?(ee-lah mah wahk)
Okanza kudi nki?
Ilaa naxar?(ee-lah nah-khar)
Nkiadi kudi nki
Naxar aniga(nah-khar ah-nee-gah)
Lela na nki
Soo'aa(soo-ah)
Nkiadi na nki
Waa'ee aniga(wah-ee ah-nee-gah)
Te na nki
Maya dhib(mah-yah dheeb)
Tata na nki
Hambalyo(ham-bahl-yo)
Mokolo ya mbote
Bariis gadhay(bah-rees gah-thai)
Tala na nzala ya malamu
Safar amni(sah-far am-nee)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Wana wanga na tanga ya nzo?
Eeyyoo taayka daab?(eyyoo taayka daab)
Wana wanga na bus?
Eeyyoo gaari daab?(eyyoo gaari daab)
Nki platform yai?
Keenya kaafaa?(keenya kaafaa)
Soki nki ntangu yina yenda?
Waqti maayti?(waqti maayti)
Yai ke nzila ya nki?
Maayta kaan?(maayta kaan)
Eza na nsi ya nzo
Ittaa hara(ittaa hara)
Eza na mosi ya nzo
Ittaa faar(ittaa faar)
Okanisa ngai na mape?
Maafaa naafaa?(maafaa naafaa)
Tanga wana, s'il vous plaît
Hara dhaaf, fadlan(hara dhaaf, fadlan)
Nki ntangu yina yenda?
Waqti mee?(waqti mee)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.