Looking for practical Sesotho to Afar phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Sesotho 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 Sesotho 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.
Lumelang
Nagaad(nagaad)
Kea leboha
Galatooma(galatooma)
Dumelang
Bariis(bariis)
Molo
Galab(galab)
Dumelang
Haal(haal)
Borai
Haalka habeen(haalka habeen)
Re tla kopana hamorao
Ilaa mar kale(ilaa mar kale)
Tsamaya hantle
Nagaad(nagaad)
O na le lebitso lefe?
Maa magacaa?(maa magacaa)
Lebitso la ka ke John
Magacaygu waa John(magacaygu waa John)
O kae?
Iska waran?(iska waran)
Ke thabela ho 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 u bua Senyesemane?
Inni ingiriisi maahaa?(Inni ingiriisi maahaa?)
Ke sitwa ho bua Hindi hantle
Hindi maahaa hinjiru(Hindi maahaa hinjiru)
Ke sitwa ho utloisisa
Ani hinfahmi(Ani hinfahmi)
Ka kopo bua butle
Fadlan si maahaa siib(Fadlan si maahaa siib)
Na u ka boela ua re?
Maahaa inna marra?(Maahaa inna marra?)
Ntloana e kae?
Maalin baadhu?(Maalin baadhu?)
Ke etse joang ho ea bohareng ba toropo?
Akkam an magaalatti gahu?(Akkam an magaalatti gahu?)
Fetola ho ea letsohong
Boodha kaaf(Boodha kaaf)
Fetola ho ea ka ho letona
Boodha mirga(Boodha mirga)
Eya ka pela
Si qodhi(Si qodhi)
Chelete ea sekepe ke e kae?
Maalin abaal?(Maalin abaal?)
Tiket e le 'ngoe, ka kopo
Tiket tokkon, fadlan(Tiket tokkon, fadlan)
Na e hole le mona?
Maalin faga?(Maalin faga?)
Ke lahlehile
Ani dhumtu(Ani dhumtu)
Ke kae moo ke ka rekang kharejamo?
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)
Che
Maya(mah-yah)
Mohlomong
Gara(gah-rah)
Ke lumela
Anigu waaq(ah-nee-goo wahk)
Ke sitwa
Anigu ma waaq(ah-nee-goo mah wahk)
Seo se utloahala hantle
Tani waa'ee(tah-nee wah-ee)
O nahana eng?
Ilaa ma waaq?(ee-lah mah wahk)
Na o ka nthusa?
Ilaa naxar?(ee-lah nah-khar)
Ke hloka thuso
Naxar aniga(nah-khar ah-nee-gah)
Emisa motsotso
Soo'aa(soo-ah)
Ke maswabi
Waa'ee aniga(wah-ee ah-nee-gah)
Ha ho bothata
Maya dhib(mah-yah dheeb)
O amohelehile
Hambalyo(ham-bahl-yo)
Letsatsi le monate la tsoalo
Bariis gadhay(bah-rees gah-thai)
Ebe le tsamaea hantle
Safar amni(sah-far am-nee)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Ke kae seteishene sa terene?
Eeyyoo taayka daab?(eyyoo taayka daab)
Ke kae borai?
Eeyyoo gaari daab?(eyyoo gaari daab)
Ke sehlopha sefe?
Keenya kaafaa?(keenya kaafaa)
Nako e kae e tlohang?
Waqti maayti?(waqti maayti)
Na ena ke tsela e nepahetseng?
Maayta kaan?(maayta kaan)
E haufi le mona
Ittaa hara(ittaa hara)
E hole le mona
Ittaa faar(ittaa faar)
O ka mpontša ka mapeng?
Maafaa naafaa?(maafaa naafaa)
Emisa mona, ka kopo
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.