Looking for practical Wolof to Afar phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Wolof 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 Wolof 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 Wolof 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.
Nanga def
Nagaad(nagaad)
Jërëjëf
Galatooma(galatooma)
Ba beneen yoon
Bariis(bariis)
Ba pare
Galab(galab)
Ba suuf
Haal(haal)
Ba ci kanam
Haalka habeen(haalka habeen)
Naka la
Ilaa mar kale(ilaa mar kale)
Ba beneen
Nagaad(nagaad)
Naka sa tur?
Maa magacaa?(maa magacaa)
Sa tur mooy John
Magacaygu waa John(magacaygu waa John)
Naka nga def?
Iska waran?(iska waran)
Nuyoo na la
Aad baan ku faraxsanahay(aad baan ku faraxsanahay)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Naka la jàngi anglé?
Inni ingiriisi maahaa?(Inni ingiriisi maahaa?)
Maanu jàngi Hindi bu baax.
Hindi maahaa hinjiru(Hindi maahaa hinjiru)
Dama xamul.
Ani hinfahmi(Ani hinfahmi)
S'il vous plaît, jàngi bu wéy.
Fadlan si maahaa siib(Fadlan si maahaa siib)
Naka la waxe ko jëkk?
Maahaa inna marra?(Maahaa inna marra?)
Fàww la bathroom?
Maalin baadhu?(Maalin baadhu?)
Naka la jëm ci centre ville?
Akkam an magaalatti gahu?(Akkam an magaalatti gahu?)
Jàpp ci jàmm.
Boodha kaaf(Boodha kaaf)
Jàpp ci nguur.
Boodha mirga(Boodha mirga)
Jëm ci géej.
Si qodhi(Si qodhi)
Naka la mbir mi?
Maalin abaal?(Maalin abaal?)
Benn ticket, s'il vous plaît.
Tiket tokkon, fadlan(Tiket tokkon, fadlan)
Ndax am na loolu ci biir?
Maalin faga?(Maalin faga?)
Dama jàpp.
Ani dhumtu(Ani dhumtu)
Fàww laa jënd SIM card?
Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?(Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Waaw
Eeyy(ee-yee)
Déedéet
Maya(mah-yah)
Moom
Gara(gah-rah)
Maa ngi ci kanam
Anigu waaq(ah-nee-goo wahk)
Maa ngi ci biir
Anigu ma waaq(ah-nee-goo mah wahk)
Loolu dafa am jamm
Tani waa'ee(tah-nee wah-ee)
Lu tax nga?
Ilaa ma waaq?(ee-lah mah wahk)
Ndax nga ma jëfandikoo?
Ilaa naxar?(ee-lah nah-khar)
Maa ngi bëgg jëfandikoo
Naxar aniga(nah-khar ah-nee-gah)
Teg a jàmm
Soo'aa(soo-ah)
Naka la?
Waa'ee aniga(wah-ee ah-nee-gah)
Dama jàmm
Maya dhib(mah-yah dheeb)
Jamm rekk
Hambalyo(ham-bahl-yo)
Bés bu nekk yaakaar
Bariis gadhay(bah-rees gah-thai)
Dama la jàmm ci yoon
Safar amni(sah-far am-nee)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Fekk na ciy tànk?
Eeyyoo taayka daab?(eyyoo taayka daab)
Fekk na ciy bus?
Eeyyoo gaari daab?(eyyoo gaari daab)
Naka platform bi?
Keenya kaafaa?(keenya kaafaa)
Naka at la mu jàpp?
Waqti maayti?(waqti maayti)
Ndax loolu mooy way bi?
Maayta kaan?(maayta kaan)
Dafa jàmm ci biir
Ittaa hara(ittaa hara)
Dafa jàmm ci kaw
Ittaa faar(ittaa faar)
Ndax nga ma jox ci carte bi?
Maafaa naafaa?(maafaa naafaa)
Soppi ci bi, ndax jëf?
Hara dhaaf, fadlan(hara dhaaf, fadlan)
Naka waxtaan la?
Waqti mee?(waqti mee)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.