Looking for practical Xhosa to Kanuri phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Xhosa phrase first, then the Kanuri translation (Kanuri) — 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 Kanuri.
Tip: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Kanuri-speaking trip in a few weeks.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Xhosa to Kanuri 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
Sannu
Enkosi
Nagode
Ubusuku obuhle
Ina kwana
Ubusuku obuhle
Ina yamma
Ubusuku obuhle
Ina dare
Lala ngoxolo
Sai da safe
Ndiza kubonana kamva
Zan ganka
Hamba kakuhle
Sai anjima
Ngubani igama lakho?
Menene sunanka?
Igama lam nguJohn
Sunana John
Unjani?
Lafiya lau?
Kuhle ukukwazi
Na ji dadin haduwa da kai
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Uthetha isiNgesi?
Kuna magana da Turanci?
Andithethi isiHindi kakuhle
Ba na magana da Hindi sosai.
Andiqondi
Ba na fahimta.
Nceda thethe kancinci
Don Allah, ku yi magana a hankali.
Ungakuphinda lokho?
Za ku iya faɗin hakan sake?
Iphi ibhafu?
Ina wanka?
Ndingafika njani kwi mveliso ye dolophu?
Ta yaya zan isa tsakiyar birni?
Jolisa kwesokunxele
Juya hagu.
Jolisa kwesokudla
Juya dama.
Hamba ngqo
Tafiya kai tsaye.
Iholo ingakanani?
Nawa ne farashin?
Ithikithi elinye, nceda
Tiket ɗaya, don Allah.
Ingakanani ukusuka apha?
Shin yana da nisa daga nan?
Ndilahlekile
Na ɓace.
Nphi endinokuthenga khona iSIM card?
Ina zan iya sayen kati na SIM?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ewe
Eey(ee-y)
Hayi
A'a(ah-ah)
Mhlawumbi
Wata(wah-tah)
Ndiyavuma
Na amu(nah ah-moo)
Andivumi
Na a'a amu(nah ah-ah ah-moo)
Okuhle
Iya na(ee-yah nah)
Ucinga ntoni?
Kaya ka yi tunani?(kah-yah kah yee too-nah-nee)
Ungandinceda?
Za ka iya taimaka min?(zah kah ee-yah tie-mah-kah meen)
Ndidinga uncedo
Na bukaci taimako(nah boo-kah-chee tie-mah-koh)
Linda umzuzu
Duba dan lokaci(doo-bah dahn loh-kah-chee)
Ndicela uxolo
Na yi hakuri(nah yee hah-koo-ree)
Akukho ngxaki
Babu matsala(bah-boo maht-sah-lah)
Wamkelekile
Taya murna(tah-yah moor-nah)
Usuku olumnandi lokuzalwa
Barka da haihuwa(bar-kah dah hai-hoo-wah)
Uhambo olukhuselekileyo
Ka yi tafiya lafiya(kah yee tah-fee-yah lah-fee-yah)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Uphi umphakathi wemithwalo?
Nye boko na gari?(uphi umphakathi wemithwalo)
Uphi umphakathi weebhasi?
Nye boko na bas?(uphi umphakathi weebhasi)
Yeyiphi iphondo?
Wane boko na?(yeyiphi iphondo)
Ihamba ngexesha elingakanani?
Wane lokaci ya tafi?(ihamba ngexesha elingakanani)
Ngaba le yindlela efanelekileyo?
Shin wannan hanya ce?(ngaba le yindlela efanelekileyo)
Ikho kufutshane apha
Yana kusa da nan
Ikude apha
Yana nesa da nan
Ungandibonisa kwiimeko?
Za ka iya nuna mini a taswirar?(ungandibonisa kwiimeko)
Misa apha, nceda
Tsaida nan, don Allah
Ithatha ixesha elingakanani?
Yaya tsawon lokaci?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Ithini le mali?
Nayi na kudi?(Nayi na kudi?)
Le mali ibiza kakhulu.
Wannan ya yi tsada sosai.
Unayo into engabizi?
Shin kuna da wani abu mai rahusa?
Ndingakhokha ngekhadi?
Zan iya biyan kudi da kati?
Ndicela itafula lempahla ezimbini.
Ina so tebur don biyu.
Ibhili, nceda.
Lissafi, don Allah.
Ingaba inkonzo ibandakanyekile?
Shin sabis ya haɗa?
Ndiyavegetarian.
Ni mai ganyayyaki ne.
Akukho ukutya okunobhotolo, nceda.
Ba tare da zaki ba, don Allah.
Oku kumnandi.
Wannan yana da dadi.
Ndingafumana imenyu?
Zan iya samun menu?
Ingxube ye water, nceda.
Kofin ruwa, don Allah.
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Biza uphondo
Dawari janga(Dawari janga)
Biza i-ambulensi
Dawari ambulan(Dawari ambulan)
Ndifuna ugqirha
Ni na doctor(Ni na doctor)
Ndiziva ndingalunganga
Ni na jaga(Ni na jaga)
Ndine-allergy kwi-peanuts
Ni na haji goro(Ni na haji goro)
Uphi umphakathi oseduze?
Ina asibiti na kusa?(Ina asibiti na kusa?)
Kubuhlungu apha
Yana ciwo a nan(Yana ciwo a nan)
Ndilahlekelwe yi passport yam
Ni na rasa passport na(Ni na rasa passport na)
Ungabiza ihotele yam?
Za ka iya dawari otel na?(Za ka iya dawari otel na?)
Uncedo!
Taimako!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Kuhle ukukwazi
Nde gaishe(nde gaishe)
Masihlele umhlangano
Mu gaishe taro(mu gaishe taro)
Yiphi ixesha elikufaneleyo?
Wai gaishe lokaci?(wai gaishe lokaci)
Ndiza kuthumela ingxelo namhlanje
Zan tura rahoto yau(zan tura rahoto yau)
Singathetha ngomso?
Zamu iya magana gobe?(zamu iya magana gobe)
Nceda ufumane ifayile ehlanganisiweyo
Don Allah ka sami fayil din da aka makala(don Allah ka sami fayil din da aka makala)
Enkosi ngexesha lakho
Na gode da lokacinka(na gode da lokacinka)
Ndijonge phambili ekusebenzeni nawe
Ina fatan aiki tare da kai(ina fatan aiki tare da kai)
Ungacacisa le ndawo?
Za ka iya fayyace wannan batu?(za ka iya fayyace wannan batu)