Looking for practical Shona to Afar phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Shona 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: when a Afar phrase looks unfamiliar, compare it with the Shona wording — noticing word order differences helps you understand grammar naturally.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Shona 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.
Mhoro
Nagaad(nagaad)
Ndatenda
Galatooma(galatooma)
Mangwanani akanaka
Bariis(bariis)
Masikati akanaka
Galab(galab)
Manheru akanaka
Haal(haal)
Usiku hwakanaka
Haalka habeen(haalka habeen)
Tichasangana gare gare
Ilaa mar kale(ilaa mar kale)
Sara zvakanaka
Nagaad(nagaad)
Zita rako ndiani?
Maa magacaa?(maa magacaa)
Zita rangu ndiri John
Magacaygu waa John(magacaygu waa John)
Uri sei?
Iska waran?(iska waran)
Ndinofara kukuziva
Aad baan ku faraxsanahay(aad baan ku faraxsanahay)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Unotaura Chirungu here?
Inni ingiriisi maahaa?(Inni ingiriisi maahaa?)
Handitauri Hindi zvakanaka
Hindi maahaa hinjiru(Hindi maahaa hinjiru)
Handinzwisisi
Ani hinfahmi(Ani hinfahmi)
Ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma
Fadlan si maahaa siib(Fadlan si maahaa siib)
Ungazvitaura zvakare here?
Maahaa inna marra?(Maahaa inna marra?)
Chimbuzi chiripi?
Maalin baadhu?(Maalin baadhu?)
Ndingasvika sei kumusoro kwemaguta?
Akkam an magaalatti gahu?(Akkam an magaalatti gahu?)
Tendeuka kuruboshwe
Boodha kaaf(Boodha kaaf)
Tendeuka kurudyi
Boodha mirga(Boodha mirga)
Enda mberi
Si qodhi(Si qodhi)
Mari yechikwereti ingani?
Maalin abaal?(Maalin abaal?)
Tikiti imwe, ndapota
Tiket tokkon, fadlan(Tiket tokkon, fadlan)
Iko kure here kubva pano?
Maalin faga?(Maalin faga?)
Ndakakanganiswa
Ani dhumtu(Ani dhumtu)
Ndingatenga kupi kadhi reSIM?
Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?(Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ehe
Eeyy(ee-yee)
Kwete
Maya(mah-yah)
Pangove
Gara(gah-rah)
Ndinobvumirana
Anigu waaq(ah-nee-goo wahk)
Handibvumirane
Anigu ma waaq(ah-nee-goo mah wahk)
Izvozvo zvinonzwika zvakanaka
Tani waa'ee(tah-nee wah-ee)
Unofungei?
Ilaa ma waaq?(ee-lah mah wahk)
Unogona kundibatsira here?
Ilaa naxar?(ee-lah nah-khar)
Ndiri kuda rubatsiro
Naxar aniga(nah-khar ah-nee-gah)
Mirira kwechinguva
Soo'aa(soo-ah)
Ndine urombo
Waa'ee aniga(wah-ee ah-nee-gah)
Hapana chakaipa
Maya dhib(mah-yah dheeb)
Makorokoto
Hambalyo(ham-bahl-yo)
Makorokoto ezuva rekuzvarwa
Bariis gadhay(bah-rees gah-thai)
Iva nerwendo rwakanaka
Safar amni(sah-far am-nee)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Kupi kune chiteshi chechitima?
Eeyyoo taayka daab?(eyyoo taayka daab)
Kupi kune chiteshi chebhazi?
Eeyyoo gaari daab?(eyyoo gaari daab)
Ndeipi puratifomu?
Keenya kaafaa?(keenya kaafaa)
Inobva nenguva ipi?
Waqti maayti?(waqti maayti)
Iyi ndiyo nzira chaiyo here?
Maayta kaan?(maayta kaan)
Iri pedyo pano
Ittaa hara(ittaa hara)
Iri kure nepano
Ittaa faar(ittaa faar)
Unogona kundiratidza pamepu here?
Maafaa naafaa?(maafaa naafaa)
Mira pano, ndapota
Hara dhaaf, fadlan(hara dhaaf, fadlan)
Zvinotora nguva yakareba sei?
Waqti mee?(waqti mee)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Zvinodhura here?
Iyayka mi'aa?(iyayka mi'aa)
Izvozvo zvinodhura kwazvo
Iyayka xayl(iyayka xayl)
Une chimwe chinhu chiri pamutengo wakaderera here?