Looking for practical Nuer to Afar phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Nuer 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 Nuer 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.
Nhiar
Nagaad(nagaad)
Nyaak
Galatooma(galatooma)
Nhiar gɔ̈ɔ̈r
Bariis(bariis)
Nhiar aŋɔ̈r
Galab(galab)
Nhiar aŋɔ̈r
Haal(haal)
Nhiar kɔ̈c
Haalka habeen(haalka habeen)
Aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n
Ilaa mar kale(ilaa mar kale)
Kɛ̈n
Nagaad(nagaad)
Cɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n?
Maa magacaa?(maa magacaa)
Cɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r John
Magacaygu waa John(magacaygu waa John)
Cɛ̈l kɛ̈n?
Iska waran?(iska waran)
Kɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n
Aad baan ku faraxsanahay(aad baan ku faraxsanahay)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Nyaac ke nyin English?
Inni ingiriisi maahaa?(Inni ingiriisi maahaa?)
Nyaac ma nyin Hindi ke nyin.
Hindi maahaa hinjiru(Hindi maahaa hinjiru)
Nyaac ma nyin.
Ani hinfahmi(Ani hinfahmi)
Yin ke nyin kɛl.
Fadlan si maahaa siib(Fadlan si maahaa siib)
Yin ke nyin kɛl a thok?
Maahaa inna marra?(Maahaa inna marra?)
Yin thok a kɛl?
Maalin baadhu?(Maalin baadhu?)
Nyaac ke nyin a city center?
Akkam an magaalatti gahu?(Akkam an magaalatti gahu?)
Yin ke nyin a laar.
Boodha kaaf(Boodha kaaf)
Yin ke nyin a jɛŋ.
Boodha mirga(Boodha mirga)
Yin ke nyin a thok.
Si qodhi(Si qodhi)
Yin ke nyin a kɛl?
Maalin abaal?(Maalin abaal?)
Yin ke nyin a ticket.
Tiket tokkon, fadlan(Tiket tokkon, fadlan)
Yin ke nyin a thok?
Maalin faga?(Maalin faga?)
Nyaac ke nyin.
Ani dhumtu(Ani dhumtu)
Yin thok a kɛl a SIM card?
Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?(Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Aye
Eeyy(ee-yee)
Naa
Maya(mah-yah)
Nyaak
Gara(gah-rah)
Nyeek a kech
Anigu waaq(ah-nee-goo wahk)
Nyeek a kech naa
Anigu ma waaq(ah-nee-goo mah wahk)
Iye kech kɛl
Tani waa'ee(tah-nee wah-ee)
Nyaak a kech?
Ilaa ma waaq?(ee-lah mah wahk)
Nyaak a kech a jɔɔr?
Ilaa naxar?(ee-lah nah-khar)
Nyeek a jɔɔr kɛl
Naxar aniga(nah-khar ah-nee-gah)
Kɛl a jɔɔr
Soo'aa(soo-ah)
Nyeek a kech
Waa'ee aniga(wah-ee ah-nee-gah)
Naa a kech kɛl
Maya dhib(mah-yah dheeb)
Aye kɛl
Hambalyo(ham-bahl-yo)
Aye kɛl a wɛr
Bariis gadhay(bah-rees gah-thai)
Kɛl a jɔɔr a jɛɛr
Safar amni(sah-far am-nee)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Känyë kɛ́l wɛ́l?
Eeyyoo taayka daab?(eyyoo taayka daab)
Känyë kɛ́l bɔ́l?
Eeyyoo gaari daab?(eyyoo gaari daab)
Kɛ́l bɛ́t kɛ́t?
Keenya kaafaa?(keenya kaafaa)
Kɛ́l wɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́t?
Waqti maayti?(waqti maayti)
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l wɛ́l?
Maayta kaan?(maayta kaan)
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l kɛ́l?
Ittaa hara(ittaa hara)
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l jɔ́l?
Ittaa faar(ittaa faar)
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l pɛ́t kɛ́t?
Maafaa naafaa?(maafaa naafaa)
Kɛ́l jɛ́l kɛ́l, pɛ́l?
Hara dhaaf, fadlan(hara dhaaf, fadlan)
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l jɔ́l kɛ́t?
Waqti mee?(waqti mee)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.