Looking for practical Sami North to Afar phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Sami North 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 Sami North 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.
Bures
Nagaad(nagaad)
Giitu
Galatooma(galatooma)
Buorre eahket
Bariis(bariis)
Buorre beaivi
Galab(galab)
Buorre iđit
Haal(haal)
Buorre natti
Haalka habeen(haalka habeen)
Bures boahtin
Ilaa mar kale(ilaa mar kale)
Ráhkisvuohta
Nagaad(nagaad)
Mii du namma lea?
Maa magacaa?(maa magacaa)
Mun namma lea John
Magacaygu waa John(magacaygu waa John)
Gii du lea?
Iska waran?(iska waran)
Bures boahtin
Aad baan ku faraxsanahay(aad baan ku faraxsanahay)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Don leat englalaš?
Inni ingiriisi maahaa?(Inni ingiriisi maahaa?)
Mun in lea hindi gohčodaga
Hindi maahaa hinjiru(Hindi maahaa hinjiru)
Mun in boahtte
Ani hinfahmi(Ani hinfahmi)
Váldde čáhkkáldat
Fadlan si maahaa siib(Fadlan si maahaa siib)
Várra gohččat dán again?
Maahaa inna marra?(Maahaa inna marra?)
Gii lea báhkkis?
Maalin baadhu?(Maalin baadhu?)
Mii lea muohta gávdno?
Akkam an magaalatti gahu?(Akkam an magaalatti gahu?)
Váldde oassal
Boodha kaaf(Boodha kaaf)
Váldde dehálaš
Boodha mirga(Boodha mirga)
Geahččat suohkan
Si qodhi(Si qodhi)
Mii lea gávdno?
Maalin abaal?(Maalin abaal?)
Okta billeta, please
Tiket tokkon, fadlan(Tiket tokkon, fadlan)
Lea dat láhka da?
Maalin faga?(Maalin faga?)
Mun lean bohtos
Ani dhumtu(Ani dhumtu)
Gii lea muohta SIM-kortta?
Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?(Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ja
Eeyy(ee-yee)
Ii
Maya(mah-yah)
Mii
Gara(gah-rah)
Mun ođđa
Anigu waaq(ah-nee-goo wahk)
Mun ii ođđa
Anigu ma waaq(ah-nee-goo mah wahk)
Dasa lea buorre
Tani waa'ee(tah-nee wah-ee)
Mii du váldde?
Ilaa ma waaq?(ee-lah mah wahk)
Sii mii geahččat mu?
Ilaa naxar?(ee-lah nah-khar)
Mun háliid geahččat
Naxar aniga(nah-khar ah-nee-gah)
Váldde ieš
Soo'aa(soo-ah)
Mun lea áibbas
Waa'ee aniga(wah-ee ah-nee-gah)
Ii proplema
Maya dhib(mah-yah dheeb)
Báhkkus
Hambalyo(ham-bahl-yo)
Buorre álbmotbeivvi
Bariis gadhay(bah-rees gah-thai)
Váldde beaivvi buorre
Safar amni(sah-far am-nee)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Mii lea raššabáikkit?
Eeyyoo taayka daab?(eyyoo taayka daab)
Mii lea bussibaikkit?
Eeyyoo gaari daab?(eyyoo gaari daab)
Mii platforma lea?
Keenya kaafaa?(keenya kaafaa)
Mii dihte lea?
Waqti maayti?(waqti maayti)
Lea dehálaš vejola?
Maayta kaan?(maayta kaan)
Dat lea njuolga
Ittaa hara(ittaa hara)
Dat lea muohta
Ittaa faar(ittaa faar)
Sii máhcá muohta?
Maafaa naafaa?(maafaa naafaa)
Dán, please
Hara dhaaf, fadlan(hara dhaaf, fadlan)
Mii lea áibbas?
Waqti mee?(waqti mee)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.