Looking for practical Sango to Afar phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Sango 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: read the Afar line out loud three times, then cover the Sango side and try to recall the meaning — repetition builds memory faster than silent reading.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Sango 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)
Mokolo
Galatooma(galatooma)
Mbote na nganga
Bariis(bariis)
Mbote na nganga ya zanga
Galab(galab)
Mbote na nganga ya sika
Haal(haal)
Ndeko na nganga
Haalka habeen(haalka habeen)
Tango na yo
Ilaa mar kale(ilaa mar kale)
Ayo
Nagaad(nagaad)
Nani na yo?
Maa magacaa?(maa magacaa)
Nani na nga John
Magacaygu waa John(magacaygu waa John)
Oza malamu?
Iska waran?(iska waran)
Mokili 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.
O yo na nganga English?
Inni ingiriisi maahaa?(Inni ingiriisi maahaa?)
O na yo na nganga Hindi na mboka.
Hindi maahaa hinjiru(Hindi maahaa hinjiru)
O na yo na mboka.
Ani hinfahmi(Ani hinfahmi)
Sokou, yo na nganga na mboka.
Fadlan si maahaa siib(Fadlan si maahaa siib)
O tanga na mboka?
Maahaa inna marra?(Maahaa inna marra?)
Banga na yo na ndako?
Maalin baadhu?(Maalin baadhu?)
Nde na yo na banga na mboka?
Akkam an magaalatti gahu?(Akkam an magaalatti gahu?)
Kanga na mboko.
Boodha kaaf(Boodha kaaf)
Kanga na nganga.
Boodha mirga(Boodha mirga)
Kende na mboka.
Si qodhi(Si qodhi)
Nde na yo na mboka?
Maalin abaal?(Maalin abaal?)
Mokolo na ticket, sokou.
Tiket tokkon, fadlan(Tiket tokkon, fadlan)
O na mboka na mboka?
Maalin faga?(Maalin faga?)
O na yo na mboka.
Ani dhumtu(Ani dhumtu)
Banga na yo na tanga SIM card?
Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?(Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
O
Eeyy(ee-yee)
Té
Maya(mah-yah)
Sâ
Gara(gah-rah)
Ngâ tî
Anigu waaq(ah-nee-goo wahk)
Ngâ té tî
Anigu ma waaq(ah-nee-goo mah wahk)
O bô
Tani waa'ee(tah-nee wah-ee)
Nâ tî yé?
Ilaa ma waaq?(ee-lah mah wahk)
O kâ yé tî?
Ilaa naxar?(ee-lah nah-khar)
Ngâ kâ tî
Naxar aniga(nah-khar ah-nee-gah)
Bê na
Soo'aa(soo-ah)
Ngâ tî na
Waa'ee aniga(wah-ee ah-nee-gah)
Té bô
Maya dhib(mah-yah dheeb)
Mâ tî
Hambalyo(ham-bahl-yo)
Mâ na mbâ
Bariis gadhay(bah-rees gah-thai)
O kâ na mbê
Safar amni(sah-far am-nee)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
O na wâ na gare?
Eeyyoo taayka daab?(eyyoo taayka daab)
O na wâ na station de taxi?
Eeyyoo gaari daab?(eyyoo gaari daab)
O na wâ na plateforme?
Keenya kaafaa?(keenya kaafaa)
O na tî na mbô?
Waqti maayti?(waqti maayti)
O na wâ na yâ?
Maayta kaan?(maayta kaan)
O na bô na kâ.
Ittaa hara(ittaa hara)
O na fâ na kâ.
Ittaa faar(ittaa faar)
O kâ tî na mappa?
Maafaa naafaa?(maafaa naafaa)
Kâ na kâ, s'il vous plaît.
Hara dhaaf, fadlan(hara dhaaf, fadlan)
O na tî na mbô?
Waqti mee?(waqti mee)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.