Looking for practical Swahili to Afar phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Swahili 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: pick five Afar phrases from the greetings section and use them in a real message today. Small daily practice beats cramming before a trip.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Swahili 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.
Habari
Nagaad(nagaad)
Asante
Galatooma(galatooma)
Habari ya asubuhi
Bariis(bariis)
Habari ya mchana
Galab(galab)
Habari ya jioni
Haal(haal)
Usiku mwema
Haalka habeen(haalka habeen)
Tutaonana baadaye
Ilaa mar kale(ilaa mar kale)
Kwaheri
Nagaad(nagaad)
Jina lako nani?
Maa magacaa?(maa magacaa)
Jina langu ni John
Magacaygu waa John(magacaygu waa John)
Habari gani?
Iska waran?(iska waran)
Nafurahi kukutana na wewe
Aad baan ku faraxsanahay(aad baan ku faraxsanahay)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Unazungumza Kiingereza?
Inni ingiriisi maahaa?(Inni ingiriisi maahaa?)
Sizungumza Hindi vizuri.
Hindi maahaa hinjiru(Hindi maahaa hinjiru)
Sielewi.
Ani hinfahmi(Ani hinfahmi)
Tafadhali ongea polepole.
Fadlan si maahaa siib(Fadlan si maahaa siib)
Unaweza kusema tena?
Maahaa inna marra?(Maahaa inna marra?)
Choo kiko wapi?
Maalin baadhu?(Maalin baadhu?)
Ninafika vipi katikati ya jiji?
Akkam an magaalatti gahu?(Akkam an magaalatti gahu?)
Geuka kushoto.
Boodha kaaf(Boodha kaaf)
Geuka kulia.
Boodha mirga(Boodha mirga)
Nenda moja kwa moja.
Si qodhi(Si qodhi)
Nauli ni kiasi gani?
Maalin abaal?(Maalin abaal?)
Tiketi moja, tafadhali.
Tiket tokkon, fadlan(Tiket tokkon, fadlan)
Je, ni mbali na hapa?
Maalin faga?(Maalin faga?)
Nimepotea.
Ani dhumtu(Ani dhumtu)
Ninaweza kununua kadi ya SIM wapi?
Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?(Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ndio
Eeyy(ee-yee)
Hapana
Maya(mah-yah)
Pengine
Gara(gah-rah)
Ninakubaliana
Anigu waaq(ah-nee-goo wahk)
Sikubaliani
Anigu ma waaq(ah-nee-goo mah wahk)
Inasikika vizuri
Tani waa'ee(tah-nee wah-ee)
Unafikiriaje?
Ilaa ma waaq?(ee-lah mah wahk)
Unaweza kunisaidia?
Ilaa naxar?(ee-lah nah-khar)
Nahitaji msaada
Naxar aniga(nah-khar ah-nee-gah)
Subiri kidogo
Soo'aa(soo-ah)
Ninasikitika
Waa'ee aniga(wah-ee ah-nee-gah)
Hakuna shida
Maya dhib(mah-yah dheeb)
Hongera
Hambalyo(ham-bahl-yo)
Siku ya kuzaliwa njema
Bariis gadhay(bah-rees gah-thai)
Safari njema
Safar amni(sah-far am-nee)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Kituo cha treni kiko wapi?
Eeyyoo taayka daab?(eyyoo taayka daab)
Kituo cha basi kiko wapi?
Eeyyoo gaari daab?(eyyoo gaari daab)
Ni jukwaa gani?
Keenya kaafaa?(keenya kaafaa)
Inatoka saa ngapi?
Waqti maayti?(waqti maayti)
Je, hii ndiyo njia sahihi?
Maayta kaan?(maayta kaan)
Iko karibu hapa
Ittaa hara(ittaa hara)
Iko mbali na hapa
Ittaa faar(ittaa faar)
Unaweza kunionesha kwenye ramani?
Maafaa naafaa?(maafaa naafaa)
Simama hapa, tafadhali
Hara dhaaf, fadlan(hara dhaaf, fadlan)
Inachukua muda gani?
Waqti mee?(waqti mee)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.