Looking for practical Tetum to Afar phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Tetum 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 Tetum 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 Tetum 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.
Olá
Nagaad(nagaad)
Obrigadu
Galatooma(galatooma)
Bondia
Bariis(bariis)
Bona tarde
Galab(galab)
Bona noite
Haal(haal)
Bona noite
Haalka habeen(haalka habeen)
Ami hanesan
Ilaa mar kale(ilaa mar kale)
Adeus
Nagaad(nagaad)
Quale naran ida?
Maa magacaa?(maa magacaa)
Naran hau John.
Magacaygu waa John(magacaygu waa John)
Kona ba o?
Iska waran?(iska waran)
Diak ba halo ho o.
Aad baan ku faraxsanahay(aad baan ku faraxsanahay)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Keta fala Inglês?
Inni ingiriisi maahaa?(Inni ingiriisi maahaa?)
Hau la fala Hindi diak.
Hindi maahaa hinjiru(Hindi maahaa hinjiru)
Hau la hatene.
Ani hinfahmi(Ani hinfahmi)
Favor fala ba moris.
Fadlan si maahaa siib(Fadlan si maahaa siib)
Keta bele fala fali?
Maahaa inna marra?(Maahaa inna marra?)
Onde mak banheira?
Maalin baadhu?(Maalin baadhu?)
Kona ne'ebe hau bele baa sentru cidade?
Akkam an magaalatti gahu?(Akkam an magaalatti gahu?)
Virar ba hadau.
Boodha kaaf(Boodha kaaf)
Virar ba direita.
Boodha mirga(Boodha mirga)
Baa diretamente.
Si qodhi(Si qodhi)
Iha ne'e barak?
Maalin abaal?(Maalin abaal?)
Ticket ida, favor.
Tiket tokkon, fadlan(Tiket tokkon, fadlan)
Iha ne'e laran ka?
Maalin faga?(Maalin faga?)
Hau nune'e.
Ani dhumtu(Ani dhumtu)
Onde mak hau bele compra SIM card?
Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?(Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Sim
Eeyy(ee-yee)
La
Maya(mah-yah)
Talvez
Gara(gah-rah)
Hau hakarak
Anigu waaq(ah-nee-goo wahk)
Hau la hakarak
Anigu ma waaq(ah-nee-goo mah wahk)
Nia mak diak
Tani waa'ee(tah-nee wah-ee)
Ita nian ideia sa?
Ilaa ma waaq?(ee-lah mah wahk)
Mak bele ajuda hau?
Ilaa naxar?(ee-lah nah-khar)
Hau precisa ajuda
Naxar aniga(nah-khar ah-nee-gah)
Hakarak momentu
Soo'aa(soo-ah)
Hau mós
Waa'ee aniga(wah-ee ah-nee-gah)
La problema
Maya dhib(mah-yah dheeb)
Parabens
Hambalyo(ham-bahl-yo)
Parabens ba aniversario
Bariis gadhay(bah-rees gah-thai)
Hau haruka viagen diak
Safar amni(sah-far am-nee)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Onde está a estacão de trem?
Eeyyoo taayka daab?(eyyoo taayka daab)
Onde está a paragem de autocarro?
Eeyyoo gaari daab?(eyyoo gaari daab)
Iha ne'e plataforma sa'e?
Keenya kaafaa?(keenya kaafaa)
Hora ne'e sai?
Waqti maayti?(waqti maayti)
Ema ne'e dalan certo ka?
Maayta kaan?(maayta kaan)
Iha ne'e perto
Ittaa hara(ittaa hara)
Iha ne'e laran
Ittaa faar(ittaa faar)
Kona ba mapa?
Maafaa naafaa?(maafaa naafaa)
Parar iha ne'e, favor
Hara dhaaf, fadlan(hara dhaaf, fadlan)
Kona tempu hira?
Waqti mee?(waqti mee)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.