Looking for practical Xhosa to Krio phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Xhosa phrase first, then the Krio translation (Krio) — 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 Krio.
Tip: when a Krio phrase looks unfamiliar, compare it with the Xhosa 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 Xhosa to Krio 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
Hello
Enkosi
Tenki
Ubusuku obuhle
Gud mɔnin
Ubusuku obuhle
Gud aftanun
Ubusuku obuhle
Gud ivnin
Lala ngoxolo
Gud nait
Ndiza kubonana kamva
Si yu leta
Hamba kakuhle
Bai
Ngubani igama lakho?
Wetɛn na yu neym?
Igama lam nguJohn
Ma neym na John
Unjani?
Ow yu de?
Kuhle ukukwazi
Naes fo mit yu
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Uthetha isiNgesi?
Yu sabi English?
Andithethi isiHindi kakuhle
A no sabi Hindi well.
Andiqondi
A no sabi.
Nceda thethe kancinci
Plis, tok slow.
Ungakuphinda lokho?
Yu fit tok dat again?
Iphi ibhafu?
Weh na di toilet?
Ndingafika njani kwi mveliso ye dolophu?
Ow A go fit reach di city center?
Jolisa kwesokunxele
Turn left.
Jolisa kwesokudla
Turn right.
Hamba ngqo
Go straight.
Iholo ingakanani?
Ow much na di fare?
Ithikithi elinye, nceda
One ticket, plis.
Ingakanani ukusuka apha?
E far from ya?
Ndilahlekile
A don lost.
Nphi endinokuthenga khona iSIM card?
Weh A go fit buy SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ewe
Yes
Hayi
No
Mhlawumbi
Maybe
Ndiyavuma
A mi agree
Andivumi
A no agree
Okuhle
Dat na fine
Ucinga ntoni?
Wet in you tink?
Ungandinceda?
You fit help me?
Ndidinga uncedo
A need help
Linda umzuzu
Wait small
Ndicela uxolo
A sorry
Akukho ngxaki
No problem
Wamkelekile
Congratulations
Usuku olumnandi lokuzalwa
Happy birthday
Uhambo olukhuselekileyo
Get safe trip
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Uphi umphakathi wemithwalo?
Weh na di train station?(uphi umphakathi wemithwalo)
Uphi umphakathi weebhasi?
Weh na di bus stop?(uphi umphakathi weebhasi)
Yeyiphi iphondo?
Which platform na im?(yeyiphi iphondo)
Ihamba ngexesha elingakanani?
Wetin time e go lef?(ihamba ngexesha elingakanani)
Ngaba le yindlela efanelekileyo?
Dis na di right way?(ngaba le yindlela efanelekileyo)
Ikho kufutshane apha
E dey near here
Ikude apha
E far from here
Ungandibonisa kwiimeko?
Yu fit show me pan di map?(ungandibonisa kwiimeko)
Misa apha, nceda
Stop here, pliz
Ithatha ixesha elingakanani?
How long e go tek?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Ithini le mali?
How much dis cost?
Le mali ibiza kakhulu.
Dat too expensive.
Unayo into engabizi?
You get anytin wey cheaper?
Ndingakhokha ngekhadi?
I fit pay by card?
Ndicela itafula lempahla ezimbini.
I wan table for two.
Ibhili, nceda.
Di bill, please.
Ingaba inkonzo ibandakanyekile?
Service dey include?
Ndiyavegetarian.
I na vegetarian.
Akukho ukutya okunobhotolo, nceda.
No spicy food, please.
Oku kumnandi.
Dis dey sweet.
Ndingafumana imenyu?
I fit get di menu?
Ingxube ye water, nceda.
A glass of water, please.
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Biza uphondo
Call di police
Biza i-ambulensi
Call ambulance
Ndifuna ugqirha
A need doctor
Ndiziva ndingalunganga
A dey feel sick
Ndine-allergy kwi-peanuts
A get allergy for peanuts
Uphi umphakathi oseduze?
Weh di nearest hospital de?
Kubuhlungu apha
E dey pain here
Ndilahlekelwe yi passport yam
A don lose mi passport
Ungabiza ihotele yam?
You fit call mi hotel?
Uncedo!
Help!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Kuhle ukukwazi
Na nice for meet you
Masihlele umhlangano
Make we plan wan meeting
Yiphi ixesha elikufaneleyo?
Wetin time go work for you?
Ndiza kuthumela ingxelo namhlanje
A go send di report tiday
Singathetha ngomso?
We go fit talk tomorrow?
Nceda ufumane ifayile ehlanganisiweyo
Abeg find di file wey attach
Enkosi ngexesha lakho
Tenki for your time
Ndijonge phambili ekusebenzeni nawe
A dey look forward for work with you
Ungacacisa le ndawo?
You fit clarify dat point?
Mna ndiza kubuyela kuwe
Make I get back to you
Umhla wokugqibela nguLwesihlanu
Di deadline na Friday
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.