Looking for practical Luganda to Afar phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Luganda 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 Luganda 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.
Oli otya?
Nagaad(nagaad)
Webale
Galatooma(galatooma)
Osiibye otya?
Bariis(bariis)
Osiibye bulungi?
Galab(galab)
Osiibye otya?
Haal(haal)
Lwaki olugendo?
Haalka habeen(haalka habeen)
Tugenda kutya?
Ilaa mar kale(ilaa mar kale)
Nkwagala
Nagaad(nagaad)
Erinnya lyo ani?
Maa magacaa?(maa magacaa)
Erinnya lyange nze John
Magacaygu waa John(magacaygu waa John)
Oli otya?
Iska waran?(iska waran)
Nkwagala okukulaba
Aad baan ku faraxsanahay(aad baan ku faraxsanahay)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Okwogera mu Lungereza?
Inni ingiriisi maahaa?(Inni ingiriisi maahaa?)
Sikozesa Hindi bulungi.
Hindi maahaa hinjiru(Hindi maahaa hinjiru)
Sijja kumanya.
Ani hinfahmi(Ani hinfahmi)
Nnyonnyola bulungi.
Fadlan si maahaa siib(Fadlan si maahaa siib)
Osobola okwogera buno buno?
Maahaa inna marra?(Maahaa inna marra?)
Ekitanda kiki?
Maalin baadhu?(Maalin baadhu?)
Nteekateeka owa city center?
Akkam an magaalatti gahu?(Akkam an magaalatti gahu?)
Genda ku kkono.
Boodha kaaf(Boodha kaaf)
Genda ku mwoyo.
Boodha mirga(Boodha mirga)
Genda mu maaso.
Si qodhi(Si qodhi)
Ekitundu kiki?
Maalin abaal?(Maalin abaal?)
Ticket emu, please.
Tiket tokkon, fadlan(Tiket tokkon, fadlan)
Kiki kirekera wano?
Maalin faga?(Maalin faga?)
Ndi mu bubi.
Ani dhumtu(Ani dhumtu)
Nneeyisa SIM card wano?
Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?(Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ye
Eeyy(ee-yee)
Nedda
Maya(mah-yah)
Okwagala
Gara(gah-rah)
Nnaakuwandiika
Anigu waaq(ah-nee-goo wahk)
Sikuwandiika
Anigu ma waaq(ah-nee-goo mah wahk)
Kyo kyekirungi
Tani waa'ee(tah-nee wah-ee)
Otekayo ki?
Ilaa ma waaq?(ee-lah mah wahk)
Osobola okundabira?
Ilaa naxar?(ee-lah nah-khar)
Nfuna obuyambi
Naxar aniga(nah-khar ah-nee-gah)
Saba omukutu
Soo'aa(soo-ah)
Nsaba
Waa'ee aniga(wah-ee ah-nee-gah)
Tewali kibadde
Maya dhib(mah-yah dheeb)
Okwagaliza
Hambalyo(ham-bahl-yo)
Okwagaliza ku lunaku lw'okuzaala
Bariis gadhay(bah-rees gah-thai)
Genda bulungi
Safar amni(sah-far am-nee)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Ekitangaala ky'ekitanda?
Eeyyoo taayka daab?(eyyoo taayka daab)
Ekitangaala ky'ekitanda?
Eeyyoo gaari daab?(eyyoo gaari daab)
Ekitangaala ki?
Keenya kaafaa?(keenya kaafaa)
Bwe ki ssaawa esigala?
Waqti maayti?(waqti maayti)
Okwetegeka kwe?
Maayta kaan?(maayta kaan)
Kiri wano wansi
Ittaa hara(ittaa hara)
Kiri mangu
Ittaa faar(ittaa faar)
Osobola okundabira ku kaddde?
Maafaa naafaa?(maafaa naafaa)
Ggenda wano, please
Hara dhaaf, fadlan(hara dhaaf, fadlan)
Tewali bungi ki?
Waqti mee?(waqti mee)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.