Looking for practical Kinyarwanda to Afar phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Kinyarwanda 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: when a Afar phrase looks unfamiliar, compare it with the Kinyarwanda wording — noticing word order differences helps you understand grammar naturally.
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Greetings and pleasantries
Hello, goodbye, please, thank you, and polite introductions for meeting new people.
Muraho
Nagaad(nagaad)
Urakoze
Galatooma(galatooma)
Bwakire bwiza
Bariis(bariis)
Nimugoroba mwiza
Galab(galab)
Mwaramutse mwiza
Haal(haal)
Ijoro ryiza
Haalka habeen(haalka habeen)
Tuzabonana nyuma
Ilaa mar kale(ilaa mar kale)
Murabeho
Nagaad(nagaad)
Witwa nde?
Maa magacaa?(maa magacaa)
Nitwa John
Magacaygu waa John(magacaygu waa John)
Umeze ute?
Iska waran?(iska waran)
Nishimiye kukumenya
Aad baan ku faraxsanahay(aad baan ku faraxsanahay)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Uravuga Icyongereza?
Inni ingiriisi maahaa?(Inni ingiriisi maahaa?)
Sinavuga Hindi neza
Hindi maahaa hinjiru(Hindi maahaa hinjiru)
Sinumva
Ani hinfahmi(Ani hinfahmi)
Nyabuneka vuga buhoro
Fadlan si maahaa siib(Fadlan si maahaa siib)
Wabivuga ukundi?
Maahaa inna marra?(Maahaa inna marra?)
Aho ubwiherero buri he?
Maalin baadhu?(Maalin baadhu?)
Nagenda nte ku mugi?
Akkam an magaalatti gahu?(Akkam an magaalatti gahu?)
Hindukira ibumoso
Boodha kaaf(Boodha kaaf)
Hindukira iburyo
Boodha mirga(Boodha mirga)
Genda imbere
Si qodhi(Si qodhi)
Igiciro ni ikihe?
Maalin abaal?(Maalin abaal?)
Itike imwe, nyabuneka
Tiket tokkon, fadlan(Tiket tokkon, fadlan)
Ni kure hano?
Maalin faga?(Maalin faga?)
Ndi mu kaga
Ani dhumtu(Ani dhumtu)
Nshobora kugura SIM card he?
Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?(Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Yego
Eeyy(ee-yee)
Oya
Maya(mah-yah)
Birashoboka
Gara(gah-rah)
Ndemeranya
Anigu waaq(ah-nee-goo wahk)
Sinemeranya
Anigu ma waaq(ah-nee-goo mah wahk)
Birumvikana neza
Tani waa'ee(tah-nee wah-ee)
Ubitekerezaho iki?
Ilaa ma waaq?(ee-lah mah wahk)
Urashobora kumfasha?
Ilaa naxar?(ee-lah nah-khar)
Nkeneye ubufasha
Naxar aniga(nah-khar ah-nee-gah)
Tegereza gato
Soo'aa(soo-ah)
Ndakwinginze
Waa'ee aniga(wah-ee ah-nee-gah)
Nta kibazo
Maya dhib(mah-yah dheeb)
Ibyishimo
Hambalyo(ham-bahl-yo)
Isabukuru nziza
Bariis gadhay(bah-rees gah-thai)
Ugire urugendo rwiza
Safar amni(sah-far am-nee)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Aho ikigo cy'igariyamoshi kiri?
Eeyyoo taayka daab?(eyyoo taayka daab)
Aho ahagarara bisi?
Eeyyoo gaari daab?(eyyoo gaari daab)
Ni iyihe platform?
Keenya kaafaa?(keenya kaafaa)
Igihe izava ryari?
Waqti maayti?(waqti maayti)
Ese iyi niyo nzira nziza?
Maayta kaan?(maayta kaan)
Iri hafi hano
Ittaa hara(ittaa hara)
Iri kure hano
Ittaa faar(ittaa faar)
Ushobora kumfasha ku ikarita?
Maafaa naafaa?(maafaa naafaa)
Hagarara hano, nyabuneka
Hara dhaaf, fadlan(hara dhaaf, fadlan)
Bifata igihe kingana iki?
Waqti mee?(waqti mee)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.