Looking for practical Yoruba to Kanuri phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Yoruba 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: pick five Kanuri phrases from the greetings section and use them in a real message today. Small daily practice beats cramming before a trip.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Yoruba 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.
Bawo
Sannu(bawoh)
O seun
Nagode(oh shayoon)
E kaaro
Ina kwana(eh kah-roh)
E kaasan
Ina yamma(eh kah-sahn)
E kuurole
Ina dare(eh koo-roh-leh)
O daaro
Sai da safe(oh dah-roh)
A ri e laipe
Zan ganka(ah ree eh lie-peh)
O dabọ
Sai anjima(oh dah-boh)
Kí ni orukọ rẹ?
Menene sunanka?(kee nee oh-roo-koh reh)
Orukọ mi ni John
Sunana John(oh-roo-koh mee nee John)
Bawo ni?
Lafiya lau?(bawoh nee)
Inu mi dun lati pade e
Na ji dadin haduwa da kai(ee-noo mee doon lah-tee pah-deh eh)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Ṣe o n sọ Gẹ́gẹ́?
Kuna magana da Turanci?(Sheh oh n saw Geh-geh)
Mi ò sọ Hindi dáadáa
Ba na magana da Hindi sosai.(Mee oh saw Hindi dah-dah)
Mi ò ye mi
Ba na fahimta.(Mee oh yeh mee)
Jọwọ sọ ní kíkankíkan
Don Allah, ku yi magana a hankali.(Joh-wah saw nee keen-kay-kahn)
Ṣe o le sọ é lẹ́ẹ̀kan síi?
Za ku iya faɗin hakan sake?(Sheh oh leh saw eh leh-eh-kahn see)
Nibo ni baluwe wa?
Ina wanka?(Nee-boh nee bah-loo-weh wah)
Báwo ni mo ṣe lọ sí àárín ìlú?
Ta yaya zan isa tsakiyar birni?(Bah-woh nee moh sheh law see ah-ree-nee loo)
Yí si apa osi
Juya hagu.(Yee see ah-pah oh-shee)
Yí si apa otun
Juya dama.(Yee see ah-pah oh-toon)
Lọ taara
Tafiya kai tsaye.(Law tah-rah)
Elo ni owo ọkọ?
Nawa ne farashin?(Eh-loh nee oh-woh oh-koh)
Ticket kan, jọwọ
Tiket ɗaya, don Allah.(Tee-ket kahn, joh-wah)
Ṣe ó jìnà síbí?
Shin yana da nisa daga nan?(Sheh oh jee-nah see-bee)
Mo ti sọnù
Na ɓace.(Moh tee sohn-oo)
Nibo ni mo ti le ra kaadi SIM?
Ina zan iya sayen kati na SIM?(Nee-boh nee moh tee leh rah kah-dee SIM)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Bẹẹni
Eey(ee-y)
Rara
A'a(ah-ah)
Bóyá
Wata(wah-tah)
Mo gba
Na amu(nah ah-moo)
Mo kọ
Na a'a amu(nah ah-ah ah-moo)
Iyẹn dára
Iya na(ee-yah nah)
Kí ni ìrònú rẹ?
Kaya ka yi tunani?(kah-yah kah yee too-nah-nee)
Ṣé o lè ràn mí lọ́wọ́?
Za ka iya taimaka min?(zah kah ee-yah tie-mah-kah meen)
Mo nílò ìrànlọ́wọ́
Na bukaci taimako(nah boo-kah-chee tie-mah-koh)
Dákẹ́ díẹ̀
Duba dan lokaci(doo-bah dahn loh-kah-chee)
Mo bínú
Na yi hakuri(nah yee hah-koo-ree)
Kò sí ìṣòro
Babu matsala(bah-boo maht-sah-lah)
Ẹ kú àṣeyọrí
Taya murna(tah-yah moor-nah)
Ẹ kú ọjọ́ ibi
Barka da haihuwa(bar-kah dah hai-hoo-wah)
Ṣe ìrìn àjò tó ààbò
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.
Nibo ni ibudo ọkọ oju-irin wa?
Nye boko na gari?(Nibo ni ibudo ọkọ oju-irin wa?)
Nibo ni ibudo bosi wa?
Nye boko na bas?(Nibo ni ibudo bosi wa?)
Ibo ni pẹpẹ naa?
Wane boko na?(Ibo ni pẹpẹ naa?)
Iwo wo ni o fi n lọ?
Wane lokaci ya tafi?(Iwo wo ni o fi n lọ?)
Ṣe eyi ni ọna to tọ?
Shin wannan hanya ce?(Ṣe eyi ni ọna to tọ?)
O sunmọ ibi yi
Yana kusa da nan
O jinna si ibi yi
Yana nesa da nan
Ṣe o le fihan mi lori maapu?
Za ka iya nuna mini a taswirar?(Ṣe o le fihan mi lori maapu?)
Duro nibi, jọwọ
Tsaida nan, don Allah
Bawo ni igba wo ni o gba?
Yaya tsawon lokaci?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Elo ni eyi?
Nayi na kudi?(Nayi na kudi?)
Eyi jẹ́ gbowó púpọ̀
Wannan ya yi tsada sosai.(eyi je gbowo pupo)
Ṣe o ni nkan tó rọrùn?
Shin kuna da wani abu mai rahusa?(se o ni nkan to rorun)
Ṣe mo le sanwo pẹ̀lú kaadi?
Zan iya biyan kudi da kati?(se mo le sanwo pelu kaadi)
Mo fẹ́ tábìlì fún méjì
Ina so tebur don biyu.(mo fe tabili fun meji)
Iwe isanwo, jọwọ
Lissafi, don Allah.(iwe isanwo jowo)
Ṣe iṣẹ́ wa nínú?
Shin sabis ya haɗa?(se ise wa ninu)
Mo jẹ́ onjẹ ẹfọ
Ni mai ganyayyaki ne.(mo je onje efo)
Kò sí onjẹ tó ní ìkà, jọwọ
Ba tare da zaki ba, don Allah.(ko si onje to ni ika jowo)
Eyi dára
Wannan yana da dadi.(eyi dara)
Ṣe mo le ní àtòjọ onjẹ?
Zan iya samun menu?(se mo le ni atojo onje)
Gilaasi omi, jọwọ
Kofin ruwa, don Allah.(gilaasi omi jowo)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Pe iroyin ọlọpa
Dawari janga(Dawari janga)
Pe ambulance
Dawari ambulan(Dawari ambulan)
Mo nilo dokita
Ni na doctor(Ni na doctor)
Mo n ni irora
Ni na jaga(Ni na jaga)
Mo ni àkúnya sí ẹ̀fọ́
Ni na haji goro(Ni na haji goro)
Nibo ni ile-iwosan to sunmo?
Ina asibiti na kusa?(Ina asibiti na kusa?)
O n dun nibi
Yana ciwo a nan(Yana ciwo a nan)
Mo padanu iwe irinna mi
Ni na rasa passport na(Ni na rasa passport na)
Se o le pe hotẹẹli mi?
Za ka iya dawari otel na?(Za ka iya dawari otel na?)
I ranlọwọ!
Taimako!(i ranlọwọ)
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Inu mi dun lati pade e
Nde gaishe(nde gaishe)
Jẹ ki a ṣe ipade
Mu gaishe taro(mu gaishe taro)
Iwo, wo ni akoko ti o ba mu?
Wai gaishe lokaci?(wai gaishe lokaci)
Mo maa fi iroyin ranṣẹ loni
Zan tura rahoto yau(zan tura rahoto yau)
Se a le ba ara wa sọrọ ni ọla?
Zamu iya magana gobe?(zamu iya magana gobe)
Jọwọ ri faili ti a so mọ́
Don Allah ka sami fayil din da aka makala(don Allah ka sami fayil din da aka makala)
O seun fun akoko rẹ
Na gode da lokacinka(na gode da lokacinka)
Mo n reti lati ṣiṣẹ pẹlu rẹ
Ina fatan aiki tare da kai(ina fatan aiki tare da kai)
Se o le ṣalaye aaye yẹn?
Za ka iya fayyace wannan batu?(za ka iya fayyace wannan batu)