Looking for practical Tiv to Afar phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Tiv 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 Tiv wording — noticing word order differences helps you understand grammar naturally.
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Greetings and pleasantries
Hello, goodbye, please, thank you, and polite introductions for meeting new people.
Mgbakpa
Nagaad(nagaad)
Ior na
Galatooma(galatooma)
Mgbakpa u sha
Bariis(bariis)
Mgbakpa u kpa
Galab(galab)
Mgbakpa u ter
Haal(haal)
Mgbakpa u ter sha
Haalka habeen(haalka habeen)
Kpa a joo
Ilaa mar kale(ilaa mar kale)
Ior a joo
Nagaad(nagaad)
Ior m ngu?
Maa magacaa?(maa magacaa)
M ngu John
Magacaygu waa John(magacaygu waa John)
Ior m nande?
Iska waran?(iska waran)
Ior m nande a joo
Aad baan ku faraxsanahay(aad baan ku faraxsanahay)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
I kpa English?
Inni ingiriisi maahaa?(Inni ingiriisi maahaa?)
M nahan Hindi nahan.
Hindi maahaa hinjiru(Hindi maahaa hinjiru)
M nahan usha.
Ani hinfahmi(Ani hinfahmi)
M nahan usha kpa.
Fadlan si maahaa siib(Fadlan si maahaa siib)
I kpa a sha?
Maahaa inna marra?(Maahaa inna marra?)
I we a joo?
Maalin baadhu?(Maalin baadhu?)
Nenge a kpa a city center?
Akkam an magaalatti gahu?(Akkam an magaalatti gahu?)
Kpa a joo.
Boodha kaaf(Boodha kaaf)
Kpa a nahan.
Boodha mirga(Boodha mirga)
Kpa a sha.
Si qodhi(Si qodhi)
Nenge a kpa a fare?
Maalin abaal?(Maalin abaal?)
I kpa a ticket, please.
Tiket tokkon, fadlan(Tiket tokkon, fadlan)
I we a nahan a nahan?
Maalin faga?(Maalin faga?)
M nahan sha.
Ani dhumtu(Ani dhumtu)
I we a kpa a SIM card?
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)
Naa
Maya(mah-yah)
Iye
Gara(gah-rah)
M na a kpa
Anigu waaq(ah-nee-goo wahk)
M na a kpa nahan
Anigu ma waaq(ah-nee-goo mah wahk)
I kpa a kpa
Tani waa'ee(tah-nee wah-ee)
U kpa a nahan?
Ilaa ma waaq?(ee-lah mah wahk)
U kpa m nahan?
Ilaa naxar?(ee-lah nah-khar)
M na a kpa nahan
Naxar aniga(nah-khar ah-nee-gah)
Kpa a kpa
Soo'aa(soo-ah)
M na a kpa
Waa'ee aniga(wah-ee ah-nee-gah)
Naa a kpa
Maya dhib(mah-yah dheeb)
I kpa a kpa
Hambalyo(ham-bahl-yo)
A kpa a kpa
Bariis gadhay(bah-rees gah-thai)
U kpa a kpa
Safar amni(sah-far am-nee)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Ior a kpa?
Eeyyoo taayka daab?(eyyoo taayka daab)
Ior a nyam?
Eeyyoo gaari daab?(eyyoo gaari daab)
Ior a gande?
Keenya kaafaa?(keenya kaafaa)
Nenge a kpa?
Waqti maayti?(waqti maayti)
Ior a nenge a?
Maayta kaan?(maayta kaan)
I na kpa a.
Ittaa hara(ittaa hara)
I na kpa a kpa.
Ittaa faar(ittaa faar)
I ma ior a gande?
Maafaa naafaa?(maafaa naafaa)
Kpa a, please.
Hara dhaaf, fadlan(hara dhaaf, fadlan)
Nenge a kpa?
Waqti mee?(waqti mee)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.