Looking for practical Venda to Afar phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Venda 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.
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Greetings and pleasantries
Hello, goodbye, please, thank you, and polite introductions for meeting new people.
Ndi matsheloni
Nagaad(nagaad)
Ndi a livhuwa
Galatooma(galatooma)
Ndi matsheloni
Bariis(bariis)
Ndi masiari
Galab(galab)
Ndi madekwana
Haal(haal)
Ndi masiari a u fhela
Haalka habeen(haalka habeen)
Tshilidzi
Ilaa mar kale(ilaa mar kale)
Vhuyani
Nagaad(nagaad)
Ndi mini dzina lenu?
Maa magacaa?(maa magacaa)
Dzina langa ndi John
Magacaygu waa John(magacaygu waa John)
Ni khou itea?
Iska waran?(iska waran)
Ndi khou funa u vhuya na inwi
Aad baan ku faraxsanahay(aad baan ku faraxsanahay)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Ni a ṱhota ṅwambo?
Inni ingiriisi maahaa?(Inni ingiriisi maahaa?)
A ndi ṱhoti Hindi zwavhudi
Hindi maahaa hinjiru(Hindi maahaa hinjiru)
A ndi ḓivhi
Ani hinfahmi(Ani hinfahmi)
Ndi ṱhanyela u ṱhota nga ṱhoho
Fadlan si maahaa siib(Fadlan si maahaa siib)
Ndi a ṱanga zwenezwi?
Maahaa inna marra?(Maahaa inna marra?)
Bani hu na khotani?
Maalin baadhu?(Maalin baadhu?)
Ndi ya hani u ya tsini na muṱa?
Akkam an magaalatti gahu?(Akkam an magaalatti gahu?)
Fhulu u ya shango
Boodha kaaf(Boodha kaaf)
Fhulu u ya ṱhoho
Boodha mirga(Boodha mirga)
Ḓi ṱhota nga ṱhoho
Si qodhi(Si qodhi)
Fhasi i na hani?
Maalin abaal?(Maalin abaal?)
Ticket ye ḽa, nd please
Tiket tokkon, fadlan(Tiket tokkon, fadlan)
I na fhasi u bva hone?
Maalin faga?(Maalin faga?)
Ndi a fhedza
Ani dhumtu(Ani dhumtu)
Ndi nga wana SIM card phi?
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)
Aih
Maya(mah-yah)
Ndi nga si
Gara(gah-rah)
Ndi a livhuwa
Anigu waaq(ah-nee-goo wahk)
Ndi a sa livhuwi
Anigu ma waaq(ah-nee-goo mah wahk)
Izwi zwine zwa ita zwavhuya
Tani waa'ee(tah-nee wah-ee)
U vhona mini?
Ilaa ma waaq?(ee-lah mah wahk)
U nga nthusa?
Ilaa naxar?(ee-lah nah-khar)
Ndi na nyito
Naxar aniga(nah-khar ah-nee-gah)
Langa muthu
Soo'aa(soo-ah)
Ndi a humbula
Waa'ee aniga(wah-ee ah-nee-gah)
A hu na nḓila
Maya dhib(mah-yah dheeb)
Ndi a livhuwa
Hambalyo(ham-bahl-yo)
Ndi a ni ṱhonifha
Bariis gadhay(bah-rees gah-thai)
Ndi a ni ṱhonifha na u shuma
Safar amni(sah-far am-nee)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Uphi i-station ye-train?
Eeyyoo taayka daab?(eyyoo taayka daab)
Uphi i-bus stop?
Eeyyoo gaari daab?(eyyoo gaari daab)
I-platform efani na?
Keenya kaafaa?(keenya kaafaa)
Iri ngafhi?
Waqti maayti?(waqti maayti)
Iyi ndi ndowei efani?
Maayta kaan?(maayta kaan)
Iri khathihi na.
Ittaa hara(ittaa hara)
Iri khulwane na.
Ittaa faar(ittaa faar)
U nga nanga u tshi khou vhona kha maphu?
Maafaa naafaa?(maafaa naafaa)
Dzhia fhedzi, ndi khou livhuwa.
Hara dhaaf, fadlan(hara dhaaf, fadlan)
Zwi tshi dzhia ngafhi?
Waqti mee?(waqti mee)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.