Looking for practical Mam to Afar phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Mam 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 Mam 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.
Xo'j
Nagaad(nagaad)
Tz'ik
Galatooma(galatooma)
Xo'j nax
Bariis(bariis)
Xo'j q'ij
Galab(galab)
Xo'j k'ux
Haal(haal)
Xo'j k'ux nax
Haalka habeen(haalka habeen)
K'ux q'ij
Ilaa mar kale(ilaa mar kale)
Xo'j k'ux
Nagaad(nagaad)
Ja' k'ux nax?
Maa magacaa?(maa magacaa)
Ja' k'ux nax John
Magacaygu waa John(magacaygu waa John)
Jach' k'ux?
Iska waran?(iska waran)
Nab' k'ux
Aad baan ku faraxsanahay(aad baan ku faraxsanahay)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
¿K'ax k'utun English?
Inni ingiriisi maahaa?(Inni ingiriisi maahaa?)
Nek'ux k'utun Hindi k'ax k'utun.
Hindi maahaa hinjiru(Hindi maahaa hinjiru)
Nek'ux k'ax k'utun.
Ani hinfahmi(Ani hinfahmi)
Por favor, k'utun k'ux.
Fadlan si maahaa siib(Fadlan si maahaa siib)
¿K'ax k'utun k'ux?
Maahaa inna marra?(Maahaa inna marra?)
¿Jach'och k'ux?
Maalin baadhu?(Maalin baadhu?)
¿Jach'och k'ux ch'ich'?
Akkam an magaalatti gahu?(Akkam an magaalatti gahu?)
K'utun k'ux.
Boodha kaaf(Boodha kaaf)
K'utun k'ux.
Boodha mirga(Boodha mirga)
K'utun k'ux.
Si qodhi(Si qodhi)
¿K'ax k'ux ch'ich'?
Maalin abaal?(Maalin abaal?)
K'utun ch'ich', por favor.
Tiket tokkon, fadlan(Tiket tokkon, fadlan)
¿K'ax k'ux jach'och?
Maalin faga?(Maalin faga?)
Nek'ux k'ax k'ux.
Ani dhumtu(Ani dhumtu)
¿Jach'och k'ux k'utun SIM?
Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?(Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Juj
Eeyy(ee-yee)
Man
Maya(mah-yah)
K'ux
Gara(gah-rah)
Juj k'ux
Anigu waaq(ah-nee-goo wahk)
Man k'ux
Anigu ma waaq(ah-nee-goo mah wahk)
K'ux juj
Tani waa'ee(tah-nee wah-ee)
¿Juj k'ux k'ut?
Ilaa ma waaq?(ee-lah mah wahk)
¿Juj k'ux juj k'ux?
Ilaa naxar?(ee-lah nah-khar)
Juj k'ux juj k'ux k'ut
Naxar aniga(nah-khar ah-nee-gah)
K'ux k'ut
Soo'aa(soo-ah)
Juj k'ux k'ut
Waa'ee aniga(wah-ee ah-nee-gah)
Man k'ux k'ut
Maya dhib(mah-yah dheeb)
K'ux juj k'ut
Hambalyo(ham-bahl-yo)
K'ux juj k'ut k'ux
Bariis gadhay(bah-rees gah-thai)
K'ux juj k'ut k'ux
Safar amni(sah-far am-nee)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
¿Jujuk pa ri tren?
Eeyyoo taayka daab?(eyyoo taayka daab)
¿Jujuk pa ri bus?
Eeyyoo gaari daab?(eyyoo gaari daab)
¿K'ux ri plataforma?
Keenya kaafaa?(keenya kaafaa)
¿K'ux ri tiempo pa k'ux?
Waqti maayti?(waqti maayti)
¿¿K'ux ri camino?
Maayta kaan?(maayta kaan)
Ri k'ut pa ri.
Ittaa hara(ittaa hara)
Ri k'ut pa ri k'ul.
Ittaa faar(ittaa faar)
¿¿K'ux k'ut ri mapa?
Maafaa naafaa?(maafaa naafaa)
¿¿K'ut pa ri, por favor?
Hara dhaaf, fadlan(hara dhaaf, fadlan)
¿¿K'ux ri tiempo?
Waqti mee?(waqti mee)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.