Looking for practical Somali to Kanuri phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Somali phrase first, then the Kanuri translation (Kanuri) — 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 Kanuri.
Tip: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Kanuri-speaking trip in a few weeks.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Somali to Kanuri 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.
Salaan
Sannu
Mahadsanid
Nagode
Subax wanaagsan
Ina kwana
Duhur wanaagsan
Ina yamma
Habeen wanaagsan
Ina dare
Habeen wanaagsan
Sai da safe
Ilaa dambe
Zan ganka
Nabad gelyo
Sai anjima
Magacaa maxay tahay?
Menene sunanka?
Magacaygu waa John
Sunana John
Sidee tahay?
Lafiya lau?
Aad ayaan ugu faraxsanahay in aan ku arko
Na ji dadin haduwa da kai
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Ma ku hadashaa Ingiriisi?
Kuna magana da Turanci?(Ma ku hadashaa Ingiriisi?)
Hindi si fiican uma hadlo
Ba na magana da Hindi sosai.
Ma fahmin
Ba na fahimta.
Fadlan si tartiib ah u hadal
Don Allah, ku yi magana a hankali.
Ma ku celin kartaa?
Za ku iya faɗin hakan sake?
Musqusha xaggee buu yaalaa?
Ina wanka?
Sideen ku gaari karaa xarunta magaalada?
Ta yaya zan isa tsakiyar birni?
Bidix u leexo
Juya hagu.
Midig u leexo
Juya dama.
Toos u soco
Tafiya kai tsaye.
Immisa ayey tahay lacagta?
Nawa ne farashin?
Hal tigidh, fadlan
Tiket ɗaya, don Allah.
Ma fog tahay halkan?
Shin yana da nisa daga nan?
Waan lumay
Na ɓace.
Xaggee ka iibsan karaa kaarka SIM?
Ina zan iya sayen kati na SIM?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Haa
Eey(ee-y)
Maya
A'a(ah-ah)
Malaha
Wata(wah-tah)
Waan ku raacsanahay
Na amu(nah ah-moo)
Waan ku raacsaneyn
Na a'a amu(nah ah-ah ah-moo)
Taasi waa wax fiican
Iya na(ee-yah nah)
Maxaad u malaynaysaa?
Kaya ka yi tunani?(kah-yah kah yee too-nah-nee)
Ma i caawin kartaa?
Za ka iya taimaka min?(zah kah ee-yah tie-mah-kah meen)
Waxaan u baahanahay caawimaad
Na bukaci taimako(nah boo-kah-chee tie-mah-koh)
Sug daqiiqad
Duba dan lokaci(doo-bah dahn loh-kah-chee)
Waan ka xumahay
Na yi hakuri(nah yee hah-koo-ree)
Dhib malahan
Babu matsala(bah-boo maht-sah-lah)
Hambalyo
Taya murna(tah-yah moor-nah)
Dhalasho wacan
Barka da haihuwa(bar-kah dah hai-hoo-wah)
Safar wanaagsan
Ka yi tafiya lafiya(kah yee tah-fee-yah lah-fee-yah)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Xagee buu tareenka jooga?
Nye boko na gari?
Xagee buu basaska jooga?
Nye boko na bas?
Keenka sidee buu yahay?
Wane boko na?
Goormee ayuu baxayaa?
Wane lokaci ya tafi?
Ma tan saxda ah?
Shin wannan hanya ce?
Waa halkan u dhow
Yana kusa da nan
Waa halkan fog
Yana nesa da nan
Ma ii muujin kartaa khariidada?
Za ka iya nuna mini a taswirar?
Halkan joog, fadlan
Tsaida nan, don Allah
Immisa waqti ayey qaadaneysaa?
Yaya tsawon lokaci?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Imisa ayuu ku kacayaa?
Nayi na kudi?(Nayi na kudi?)
Taasi waa qaali aad u badan.
Wannan ya yi tsada sosai.
Ma haysta wax ka jaban?
Shin kuna da wani abu mai rahusa?
Ma bixin karaa kaarka?
Zan iya biyan kudi da kati?
Waxaan jeclaan lahaa miis laba qof ah.
Ina so tebur don biyu.
Fadlan, biilka.
Lissafi, don Allah.
Ma ku jirtaa adeegga?
Shin sabis ya haɗa?
Anigu waxaan ahay khudradeed.
Ni mai ganyayyaki ne.
Fadlan, cunto aan xawaash lahayn.
Ba tare da zaki ba, don Allah.
Tani waa macaan.
Wannan yana da dadi.
Ma heli karaa menu?
Zan iya samun menu?
Fadlan, koob biyo ah.
Kofin ruwa, don Allah.
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Wac booliiska
Dawari janga(Dawari janga)
Wac ambalaas
Dawari ambulan(Dawari ambulan)
Waxaan u baahanahay dhakhtar
Ni na doctor(Ni na doctor)
Waxaan dareemayaa xanuun
Ni na jaga(Ni na jaga)
Waxaan leeyahay xasaasiyad lowska
Ni na haji goro(Ni na haji goro)
Isbitaalka ugu dhow xagee buu yaalaa?
Ina asibiti na kusa?(Ina asibiti na kusa?)
Halkaan ayaa i xanuunaya
Yana ciwo a nan(Yana ciwo a nan)
Dukumeentigayga safarka ayaan lumiyay
Ni na rasa passport na(Ni na rasa passport na)
Ma wici kartaa hoteelkeyga?
Za ka iya dawari otel na?(Za ka iya dawari otel na?)
Caawimaad!
Taimako!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Aad baan ugu faraxsanahay in aan ku arko
Nde gaishe(nde gaishe)
Aan qorshayno kulan
Mu gaishe taro(mu gaishe taro)
Waa maxay waqtiga ku habboon adiga?
Wai gaishe lokaci?(wai gaishe lokaci)
Waxaan maanta soo diri doonaa warbixinta
Zan tura rahoto yau(zan tura rahoto yau)
Ma ka hadli karnaa berri?
Zamu iya magana gobe?(zamu iya magana gobe)
Fadlan eeg faylka ku lifaaqan
Don Allah ka sami fayil din da aka makala(don Allah ka sami fayil din da aka makala)
Waad ku mahadsan tahay waqtigaaga
Na gode da lokacinka(na gode da lokacinka)
Waxaan rajeynayaa in aan kula shaqeeyo
Ina fatan aiki tare da kai(ina fatan aiki tare da kai)
Ma faahfaahin kartaa dhibicdaas?
Za ka iya fayyace wannan batu?(za ka iya fayyace wannan batu)