Looking for practical Zapotec to Afar phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Zapotec 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: read the Afar line out loud three times, then cover the Zapotec side and try to recall the meaning — repetition builds memory faster than silent reading.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Zapotec 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.
Díí
Nagaad(nagaad)
Güi
Galatooma(galatooma)
Bëëna
Bariis(bariis)
Bëëna xhí
Galab(galab)
Bëëna xhí
Haal(haal)
Bëëna dzaa
Haalka habeen(haalka habeen)
Dáa xhí
Ilaa mar kale(ilaa mar kale)
Díí xhí
Nagaad(nagaad)
¿Náá xhí nè?
Maa magacaa?(maa magacaa)
Náá nè John
Magacaygu waa John(magacaygu waa John)
¿Náá xhí?
Iska waran?(iska waran)
Náá nè xhí
Aad baan ku faraxsanahay(aad baan ku faraxsanahay)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
¿Ndi xquidxi inglés?
Inni ingiriisi maahaa?(Inni ingiriisi maahaa?)
Ndi xquidxi hindi nisa
Hindi maahaa hinjiru(Hindi maahaa hinjiru)
Ndi xquidxi nisa
Ani hinfahmi(Ani hinfahmi)
Ndi xquidxi xhíí xquidxi
Fadlan si maahaa siib(Fadlan si maahaa siib)
¿Ndi xquidxi nisa xquidxi?
Maahaa inna marra?(Maahaa inna marra?)
¿Díí xquidxi xhíí?
Maalin baadhu?(Maalin baadhu?)
¿Díí xquidxi xhíí nisa?
Akkam an magaalatti gahu?(Akkam an magaalatti gahu?)
Xquidxi xhíí
Boodha kaaf(Boodha kaaf)
Xquidxi xhíí
Boodha mirga(Boodha mirga)
Xquidxi nisa
Si qodhi(Si qodhi)
¿Díí xquidxi nisa?
Maalin abaal?(Maalin abaal?)
Ndi xquidxi nisa, xhíí
Tiket tokkon, fadlan(Tiket tokkon, fadlan)
¿Díí xquidxi nisa?
Maalin faga?(Maalin faga?)
Ndi xquidxi nisa
Ani dhumtu(Ani dhumtu)
¿Díí xquidxi nisa SIM?
Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?(Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Nda
Eeyy(ee-yee)
Naa
Maya(mah-yah)
Nda'na
Gara(gah-rah)
Nda'ni
Anigu waaq(ah-nee-goo wahk)
Naa'ni
Anigu ma waaq(ah-nee-goo mah wahk)
Nda'na xquidxi
Tani waa'ee(tah-nee wah-ee)
¿Nda'ni xquidxi?
Ilaa ma waaq?(ee-lah mah wahk)
¿Nda'ni xquidxi?
Ilaa naxar?(ee-lah nah-khar)
Nda'ni xquidxi xquidxi
Naxar aniga(nah-khar ah-nee-gah)
Nda'ni xquidxi xquidxi
Soo'aa(soo-ah)
Nda'ni xquidxi
Waa'ee aniga(wah-ee ah-nee-gah)
Naa'ni xquidxi
Maya dhib(mah-yah dheeb)
Nda'ni xquidxi
Hambalyo(ham-bahl-yo)
Nda'ni xquidxi
Bariis gadhay(bah-rees gah-thai)
Nda'ni xquidxi
Safar amni(sah-far am-nee)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
¿Dónde está la estación de tren?
Eeyyoo taayka daab?(eyyoo taayka daab)
¿Dónde está la parada de autobús?
Eeyyoo gaari daab?(eyyoo gaari daab)
¿Cuál es la plataforma?
Keenya kaafaa?(keenya kaafaa)
¿A qué hora sale?
Waqti maayti?(waqti maayti)
¿Es este el camino correcto?
Maayta kaan?(maayta kaan)
Está cerca de aquí
Ittaa hara(ittaa hara)
Está lejos de aquí
Ittaa faar(ittaa faar)
¿Puedes mostrarme en el mapa?
Maafaa naafaa?(maafaa naafaa)
Para aquí, por favor
Hara dhaaf, fadlan(hara dhaaf, fadlan)
¿Cuánto tiempo tarda?
Waqti mee?(waqti mee)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.