Looking for practical Krio to Kanuri phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Krio phrase first, then the Kanuri translation (Kanuri) — 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 Kanuri.
Tip: when a Kanuri phrase looks unfamiliar, compare it with the Krio wording — noticing word order differences helps you understand grammar naturally.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Krio to Kanuri 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.
Hello
Sannu
Tenki
Nagode
Gud mɔnin
Ina kwana
Gud aftanun
Ina yamma
Gud ivnin
Ina dare
Gud nait
Sai da safe
Si yu leta
Zan ganka
Bai
Sai anjima
Wetɛn na yu neym?
Menene sunanka?
Ma neym na John
Sunana John
Ow yu de?
Lafiya lau?
Naes fo mit yu
Na ji dadin haduwa da kai
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Yu sabi English?
Kuna magana da Turanci?
A no sabi Hindi well.
Ba na magana da Hindi sosai.
A no sabi.
Ba na fahimta.
Plis, tok slow.
Don Allah, ku yi magana a hankali.
Yu fit tok dat again?
Za ku iya faɗin hakan sake?
Weh na di toilet?
Ina wanka?
Ow A go fit reach di city center?
Ta yaya zan isa tsakiyar birni?
Turn left.
Juya hagu.
Turn right.
Juya dama.
Go straight.
Tafiya kai tsaye.
Ow much na di fare?
Nawa ne farashin?
One ticket, plis.
Tiket ɗaya, don Allah.
E far from ya?
Shin yana da nisa daga nan?
A don lost.
Na ɓace.
Weh A go fit buy SIM card?
Ina zan iya sayen kati na SIM?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Yes
Eey(ee-y)
No
A'a(ah-ah)
Maybe
Wata(wah-tah)
A mi agree
Na amu(nah ah-moo)
A no agree
Na a'a amu(nah ah-ah ah-moo)
Dat na fine
Iya na(ee-yah nah)
Wet in you tink?
Kaya ka yi tunani?(kah-yah kah yee too-nah-nee)
You fit help me?
Za ka iya taimaka min?(zah kah ee-yah tie-mah-kah meen)
A need help
Na bukaci taimako(nah boo-kah-chee tie-mah-koh)
Wait small
Duba dan lokaci(doo-bah dahn loh-kah-chee)
A sorry
Na yi hakuri(nah yee hah-koo-ree)
No problem
Babu matsala(bah-boo maht-sah-lah)
Congratulations
Taya murna(tah-yah moor-nah)
Happy birthday
Barka da haihuwa(bar-kah dah hai-hoo-wah)
Get safe trip
Ka yi tafiya lafiya(kah yee tah-fee-yah lah-fee-yah)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Weh na di train station?
Nye boko na gari?
Weh na di bus stop?
Nye boko na bas?
Which platform na im?
Wane boko na?
Wetin time e go lef?
Wane lokaci ya tafi?
Dis na di right way?
Shin wannan hanya ce?
E dey near here
Yana kusa da nan
E far from here
Yana nesa da nan
Yu fit show me pan di map?
Za ka iya nuna mini a taswirar?
Stop here, pliz
Tsaida nan, don Allah
How long e go tek?
Yaya tsawon lokaci?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
How much dis cost?
Nayi na kudi?(Nayi na kudi?)
Dat too expensive.
Wannan ya yi tsada sosai.
You get anytin wey cheaper?
Shin kuna da wani abu mai rahusa?
I fit pay by card?
Zan iya biyan kudi da kati?
I wan table for two.
Ina so tebur don biyu.
Di bill, please.
Lissafi, don Allah.
Service dey include?
Shin sabis ya haɗa?
I na vegetarian.
Ni mai ganyayyaki ne.
No spicy food, please.
Ba tare da zaki ba, don Allah.
Dis dey sweet.
Wannan yana da dadi.
I fit get di menu?
Zan iya samun menu?
A glass of water, please.
Kofin ruwa, don Allah.
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Call di police
Dawari janga(Dawari janga)
Call ambulance
Dawari ambulan(Dawari ambulan)
A need doctor
Ni na doctor(Ni na doctor)
A dey feel sick
Ni na jaga(Ni na jaga)
A get allergy for peanuts
Ni na haji goro(Ni na haji goro)
Weh di nearest hospital de?
Ina asibiti na kusa?(Ina asibiti na kusa?)
E dey pain here
Yana ciwo a nan(Yana ciwo a nan)
A don lose mi passport
Ni na rasa passport na(Ni na rasa passport na)
You fit call mi hotel?
Za ka iya dawari otel na?(Za ka iya dawari otel na?)
Help!
Taimako!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Na nice for meet you
Nde gaishe(nde gaishe)
Make we plan wan meeting
Mu gaishe taro(mu gaishe taro)
Wetin time go work for you?
Wai gaishe lokaci?(wai gaishe lokaci)
A go send di report tiday
Zan tura rahoto yau(zan tura rahoto yau)
We go fit talk tomorrow?
Zamu iya magana gobe?(zamu iya magana gobe)
Abeg find di file wey attach
Don Allah ka sami fayil din da aka makala(don Allah ka sami fayil din da aka makala)
Tenki for your time
Na gode da lokacinka(na gode da lokacinka)
A dey look forward for work with you
Ina fatan aiki tare da kai(ina fatan aiki tare da kai)
You fit clarify dat point?
Za ka iya fayyace wannan batu?(za ka iya fayyace wannan batu)