Looking for practical Lingala to Afar phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Lingala 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: pick five Afar phrases from the greetings section and use them in a real message today. Small daily practice beats cramming before a trip.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Lingala 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)
Melesi
Galatooma(galatooma)
Mbote na ntango ya mokolo
Bariis(bariis)
Mbote na ntango ya midi
Galab(galab)
Mbote na ntango ya soir
Haal(haal)
Malamu na butu
Haalka habeen(haalka habeen)
Tala yo nsima
Ilaa mar kale(ilaa mar kale)
Kende malamu
Nagaad(nagaad)
Nkombo na yo nani?
Maa magacaa?(maa magacaa)
Nkombo na ngai ezali John
Magacaygu waa John(magacaygu waa John)
Ozalaki malamu?
Iska waran?(iska waran)
Nayoki malamu 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.
Ozali koloba lingala?
Inni ingiriisi maahaa?(Inni ingiriisi maahaa?)
Nasalaka hindi malamu te
Hindi maahaa hinjiru(Hindi maahaa hinjiru)
Nalingi te
Ani hinfahmi(Ani hinfahmi)
S'il vous plaît, koloba butu
Fadlan si maahaa siib(Fadlan si maahaa siib)
Okoki koloba yango lisusu?
Maahaa inna marra?(Maahaa inna marra?)
Bato ya nzoto ezali wapi?
Maalin baadhu?(Maalin baadhu?)
Nakanisi ndenge nini nakokende na centre?
Akkam an magaalatti gahu?(Akkam an magaalatti gahu?)
Tika na mobali
Boodha kaaf(Boodha kaaf)
Tika na mwasi
Boodha mirga(Boodha mirga)
Kende na ntango
Si qodhi(Si qodhi)
Mbala nini ezali?
Maalin abaal?(Maalin abaal?)
Billet moko, s'il vous plaît
Tiket tokkon, fadlan(Tiket tokkon, fadlan)
Ezali na esika ya mbali?
Maalin faga?(Maalin faga?)
Nazali na esika ya mabe
Ani dhumtu(Ani dhumtu)
Nakanisi wapi nakokota SIM card?
Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?(Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Oyo
Eeyy(ee-yee)
Te
Maya(mah-yah)
Soki
Gara(gah-rah)
Nalingi
Anigu waaq(ah-nee-goo wahk)
Nalingi te
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)
Okoki kosalisa ngai?
Ilaa naxar?(ee-lah nah-khar)
Naza na bosenga ya kosalisa
Naxar aniga(nah-khar ah-nee-gah)
Sunga moke
Soo'aa(soo-ah)
Nasalaki mabe
Waa'ee aniga(wah-ee ah-nee-gah)
Nani azali na problème
Maya dhib(mah-yah dheeb)
Mokolo malamu
Hambalyo(ham-bahl-yo)
Mokolo ya mbotama malamu
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.
Eko zali wapi?
Eeyyoo taayka daab?(eyyoo taayka daab)
Eko zali wapi na bis?
Eeyyoo gaari daab?(eyyoo gaari daab)
Eko zali na esika nini?
Keenya kaafaa?(keenya kaafaa)
Ekozanga na ntango nini?
Waqti maayti?(waqti maayti)
Oyo ezali nzela ya malamu?
Maayta kaan?(maayta kaan)
Ezali pene awa.
Ittaa hara(ittaa hara)
Ezali mbali awa.
Ittaa faar(ittaa faar)
Okoki kolakisa ngai na kati ya mape?
Maafaa naafaa?(maafaa naafaa)
Tika awa, s'il vous plaît.
Hara dhaaf, fadlan(hara dhaaf, fadlan)
Ekozala ntango nini?
Waqti mee?(waqti mee)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.