Looking for practical Xhosa to Afar phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Xhosa 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: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Afar-speaking trip in a few weeks.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Xhosa 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.
Molo
Nagaad(nagaad)
Enkosi
Galatooma(galatooma)
Ubusuku obuhle
Bariis(bariis)
Ubusuku obuhle
Galab(galab)
Ubusuku obuhle
Haal(haal)
Lala ngoxolo
Haalka habeen(haalka habeen)
Ndiza kubonana kamva
Ilaa mar kale(ilaa mar kale)
Hamba kakuhle
Nagaad(nagaad)
Ngubani igama lakho?
Maa magacaa?(maa magacaa)
Igama lam nguJohn
Magacaygu waa John(magacaygu waa John)
Unjani?
Iska waran?(iska waran)
Kuhle ukukwazi
Aad baan ku faraxsanahay(aad baan ku faraxsanahay)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Uthetha isiNgesi?
Inni ingiriisi maahaa?(Inni ingiriisi maahaa?)
Andithethi isiHindi kakuhle
Hindi maahaa hinjiru(Hindi maahaa hinjiru)
Andiqondi
Ani hinfahmi(Ani hinfahmi)
Nceda thethe kancinci
Fadlan si maahaa siib(Fadlan si maahaa siib)
Ungakuphinda lokho?
Maahaa inna marra?(Maahaa inna marra?)
Iphi ibhafu?
Maalin baadhu?(Maalin baadhu?)
Ndingafika njani kwi mveliso ye dolophu?
Akkam an magaalatti gahu?(Akkam an magaalatti gahu?)
Jolisa kwesokunxele
Boodha kaaf(Boodha kaaf)
Jolisa kwesokudla
Boodha mirga(Boodha mirga)
Hamba ngqo
Si qodhi(Si qodhi)
Iholo ingakanani?
Maalin abaal?(Maalin abaal?)
Ithikithi elinye, nceda
Tiket tokkon, fadlan(Tiket tokkon, fadlan)
Ingakanani ukusuka apha?
Maalin faga?(Maalin faga?)
Ndilahlekile
Ani dhumtu(Ani dhumtu)
Nphi endinokuthenga khona iSIM card?
Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?(Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ewe
Eeyy(ee-yee)
Hayi
Maya(mah-yah)
Mhlawumbi
Gara(gah-rah)
Ndiyavuma
Anigu waaq(ah-nee-goo wahk)
Andivumi
Anigu ma waaq(ah-nee-goo mah wahk)
Okuhle
Tani waa'ee(tah-nee wah-ee)
Ucinga ntoni?
Ilaa ma waaq?(ee-lah mah wahk)
Ungandinceda?
Ilaa naxar?(ee-lah nah-khar)
Ndidinga uncedo
Naxar aniga(nah-khar ah-nee-gah)
Linda umzuzu
Soo'aa(soo-ah)
Ndicela uxolo
Waa'ee aniga(wah-ee ah-nee-gah)
Akukho ngxaki
Maya dhib(mah-yah dheeb)
Wamkelekile
Hambalyo(ham-bahl-yo)
Usuku olumnandi lokuzalwa
Bariis gadhay(bah-rees gah-thai)
Uhambo olukhuselekileyo
Safar amni(sah-far am-nee)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Uphi umphakathi wemithwalo?
Eeyyoo taayka daab?(eyyoo taayka daab)
Uphi umphakathi weebhasi?
Eeyyoo gaari daab?(eyyoo gaari daab)
Yeyiphi iphondo?
Keenya kaafaa?(keenya kaafaa)
Ihamba ngexesha elingakanani?
Waqti maayti?(waqti maayti)
Ngaba le yindlela efanelekileyo?
Maayta kaan?(maayta kaan)
Ikho kufutshane apha
Ittaa hara(ittaa hara)
Ikude apha
Ittaa faar(ittaa faar)
Ungandibonisa kwiimeko?
Maafaa naafaa?(maafaa naafaa)
Misa apha, nceda
Hara dhaaf, fadlan(hara dhaaf, fadlan)
Ithatha ixesha elingakanani?
Waqti mee?(waqti mee)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.