Looking for practical Sepedi to Afar phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Sepedi 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 Sepedi 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.
Dumela
Nagaad(nagaad)
Ke a leboga
Galatooma(galatooma)
Dumelang
Bariis(bariis)
Mokhutsong o motle
Galab(galab)
Mokhutsong o motle
Haal(haal)
Borai bo botle
Haalka habeen(haalka habeen)
Tsamaya sentle
Ilaa mar kale(ilaa mar kale)
Siyabonga
Nagaad(nagaad)
O na le leina lefe?
Maa magacaa?(maa magacaa)
Leina la ka ke John
Magacaygu waa John(magacaygu waa John)
O kae?
Iska waran?(iska waran)
Ke thabela go kopana le wena
Aad baan ku faraxsanahay(aad baan ku faraxsanahay)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Na o bua Seisemane?
Inni ingiriisi maahaa?(Inni ingiriisi maahaa?)
Ke sitwa go bua Hindi sentle
Hindi maahaa hinjiru(Hindi maahaa hinjiru)
Ke sitwa go kwele
Ani hinfahmi(Ani hinfahmi)
Tsweetswee bua ka borai
Fadlan si maahaa siib(Fadlan si maahaa siib)
Na o ka bo o mpotsa gape?
Maahaa inna marra?(Maahaa inna marra?)
Borai bo kae?
Maalin baadhu?(Maalin baadhu?)
Ke etse eng go ya borai?
Akkam an magaalatti gahu?(Akkam an magaalatti gahu?)
Fetola go le letšatši
Boodha kaaf(Boodha kaaf)
Fetola go le letona
Boodha mirga(Boodha mirga)
Ya ka pela
Si qodhi(Si qodhi)
Phetho ke bokae?
Maalin abaal?(Maalin abaal?)
Tiketeng e le nngwe, tsweetswee
Tiket tokkon, fadlan(Tiket tokkon, fadlan)
Na ke kgole go tswa fano?
Maalin faga?(Maalin faga?)
Ke sitwa go etse
Ani dhumtu(Ani dhumtu)
Borai bo kae ke ka reka SIM card?
Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?(Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ee
Eeyy(ee-yee)
Aowa
Maya(mah-yah)
Mohlomong
Gara(gah-rah)
Ke a dumela
Anigu waaq(ah-nee-goo wahk)
Ke sitwa go dumela
Anigu ma waaq(ah-nee-goo mah wahk)
Seo se utlwa sentle
Tani waa'ee(tah-nee wah-ee)
O nagana eng?
Ilaa ma waaq?(ee-lah mah wahk)
O ka nthusa?
Ilaa naxar?(ee-lah nah-khar)
Ke hloka thuso
Naxar aniga(nah-khar ah-nee-gah)
Emela nako
Soo'aa(soo-ah)
Ke maswabi
Waa'ee aniga(wah-ee ah-nee-gah)
Ga go na bothata
Maya dhib(mah-yah dheeb)
Dumelang
Hambalyo(ham-bahl-yo)
Tlhogong e monate
Bariis gadhay(bah-rees gah-thai)
Dira leeto le le bolokehileng
Safar amni(sah-far am-nee)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Ke kae boraiwa ba terene?
Eeyyoo taayka daab?(eyyoo taayka daab)
Ke kae boraiwa ba bosi?
Eeyyoo gaari daab?(eyyoo gaari daab)
Ke sehlopha sefe?
Keenya kaafaa?(keenya kaafaa)
Nako efe e tlo fofa?
Waqti maayti?(waqti maayti)
A ke tsela e nepahetseng?
Maayta kaan?(maayta kaan)
E haufi le fa
Ittaa hara(ittaa hara)
E hole le fa
Ittaa faar(ittaa faar)
O ka mpontsha ka mape?
Maafaa naafaa?(maafaa naafaa)
Emisa fa, tsweetswee
Hara dhaaf, fadlan(hara dhaaf, fadlan)
E nka nako e kae?
Waqti mee?(waqti mee)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.