Looking for practical Kituba to Afar phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Kituba 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: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Afar-speaking trip in a few weeks.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Kituba 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)
Matondo
Galatooma(galatooma)
Mbote na ntanga
Bariis(bariis)
Mbote na moke
Galab(galab)
Mbote na nsuka
Haal(haal)
Malamu na lola
Haalka habeen(haalka habeen)
Tala moke
Ilaa mar kale(ilaa mar kale)
Kende malamu
Nagaad(nagaad)
Nani na yo?
Maa magacaa?(maa magacaa)
Nani na ngai John
Magacaygu waa John(magacaygu waa John)
Oyo olingi?
Iska waran?(iska waran)
Nionso 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 azali koloba Lingala?
Inni ingiriisi maahaa?(Inni ingiriisi maahaa?)
Nani nazali koloba Hindi malamu te
Hindi maahaa hinjiru(Hindi maahaa hinjiru)
Nani nazali koyeba te
Ani hinfahmi(Ani hinfahmi)
Soki, koloba na mbala moke
Fadlan si maahaa siib(Fadlan si maahaa siib)
Okoki koloba yango lisusu?
Maahaa inna marra?(Maahaa inna marra?)
Bato ya mbala eza wapi?
Maalin baadhu?(Maalin baadhu?)
Nani nakoki kokende na centre ya ville?
Akkam an magaalatti gahu?(Akkam an magaalatti gahu?)
Tika na ngonga ya mabele
Boodha kaaf(Boodha kaaf)
Tika na ngonga ya likolo
Boodha mirga(Boodha mirga)
Yaka na mbala moke
Si qodhi(Si qodhi)
Mbongo ya nzela ezali boni?
Maalin abaal?(Maalin abaal?)
Billet moko, s'il vous plaît
Tiket tokkon, fadlan(Tiket tokkon, fadlan)
Eza mbali na awa?
Maalin faga?(Maalin faga?)
Nani nazali na nzela te
Ani dhumtu(Ani dhumtu)
Nani nakoki kotonga SIM card wapi?
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)
Te
Maya(mah-yah)
Pamba
Gara(gah-rah)
Nani na yo
Anigu waaq(ah-nee-goo wahk)
Nani te na yo
Anigu ma waaq(ah-nee-goo mah wahk)
Eza malamu
Tani waa'ee(tah-nee wah-ee)
Oyo olingi nini?
Ilaa ma waaq?(ee-lah mah wahk)
Okanisa ngai?
Ilaa naxar?(ee-lah nah-khar)
Nalingi lisungi
Naxar aniga(nah-khar ah-nee-gah)
Tika moke
Soo'aa(soo-ah)
Nasalisa
Waa'ee aniga(wah-ee ah-nee-gah)
Te na mabe
Maya dhib(mah-yah dheeb)
Mbote na yo
Hambalyo(ham-bahl-yo)
Mbote na mokolo ya mbotama
Bariis gadhay(bah-rees gah-thai)
Zala na nzela ya malamu
Safar amni(sah-far am-nee)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Nani esika ya ndako ya treni?
Eeyyoo taayka daab?(eyyoo taayka daab)
Nani esika ya ndako ya bisi?
Eeyyoo gaari daab?(eyyoo gaari daab)
Nani esika ya platform?
Keenya kaafaa?(keenya kaafaa)
Nani ntango ebandaka?
Waqti maayti?(waqti maayti)
Nani nzela ya malamu?
Maayta kaan?(maayta kaan)
Eza na nsima
Ittaa hara(ittaa hara)
Eza na mbali
Ittaa faar(ittaa faar)
Okoki na ngai na mape?
Maafaa naafaa?(maafaa naafaa)
Kanga awa, s'il vous plaît
Hara dhaaf, fadlan(hara dhaaf, fadlan)
Nani ntango ebandaka?
Waqti mee?(waqti mee)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.