Looking for practical Zulu to Afar phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Zulu 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: pick five Afar 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 Zulu 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.
Sawubona
Nagaad(nagaad)
Ngiyabonga
Galatooma(galatooma)
Sawubona
Bariis(bariis)
Good afternoon
Galab(galab)
Ubusuku obuhle
Haal(haal)
Lala kahle
Haalka habeen(haalka habeen)
Sizobonana
Ilaa mar kale(ilaa mar kale)
Hamba kahle
Nagaad(nagaad)
Ubani igama lakho?
Maa magacaa?(maa magacaa)
Igama lami nginguJohn
Magacaygu waa John(magacaygu waa John)
Unjani?
Iska waran?(iska waran)
Ngiyajabula 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.
Ukhuluma isiNgisi?
Inni ingiriisi maahaa?(Inni ingiriisi maahaa?)
Angikhulumi kahle isiHindi.
Hindi maahaa hinjiru(Hindi maahaa hinjiru)
Angiqondi.
Ani hinfahmi(Ani hinfahmi)
Ngiyacela, khuluma kancane.
Fadlan si maahaa siib(Fadlan si maahaa siib)
Ungakuphinda lokho?
Maahaa inna marra?(Maahaa inna marra?)
Iphi indlu yangasese?
Maalin baadhu?(Maalin baadhu?)
Ngiyawufika kanjani emaphandleni?
Akkam an magaalatti gahu?(Akkam an magaalatti gahu?)
Jika kwesobunxele.
Boodha kaaf(Boodha kaaf)
Jika kwesokudla.
Boodha mirga(Boodha mirga)
Hamba phambili.
Si qodhi(Si qodhi)
Inani lokuhamba lingakanani?
Maalin abaal?(Maalin abaal?)
Ithikithi elilodwa, ngiyacela.
Tiket tokkon, fadlan(Tiket tokkon, fadlan)
Ingabe kude lapha?
Maalin faga?(Maalin faga?)
Ngilahlekile.
Ani dhumtu(Ani dhumtu)
Ngaphi engingathenga khona i-SIM card?
Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?(Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Yebo
Eeyy(ee-yee)
Cha
Maya(mah-yah)
Mhlawumbe
Gara(gah-rah)
Ngiyavuma
Anigu waaq(ah-nee-goo wahk)
Angivumi
Anigu ma waaq(ah-nee-goo mah wahk)
Lokho kuzwakala kahle
Tani waa'ee(tah-nee wah-ee)
Ucabanga ukuthini?
Ilaa ma waaq?(ee-lah mah wahk)
Ungangisiza?
Ilaa naxar?(ee-lah nah-khar)
Ngidinga usizo
Naxar aniga(nah-khar ah-nee-gah)
Linda umzuzu
Soo'aa(soo-ah)
Ngiyaxolisa
Waa'ee aniga(wah-ee ah-nee-gah)
Akukho nkinga
Maya dhib(mah-yah dheeb)
Halala
Hambalyo(ham-bahl-yo)
Usuku olumnandi lokuzalwa
Bariis gadhay(bah-rees gah-thai)
Uhambo olunempilo
Safar amni(sah-far am-nee)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Iphi isitishi sesitimela?
Eeyyoo taayka daab?(eyyoo taayka daab)
Iphi indawo yokuma kwebhasi?
Eeyyoo gaari daab?(eyyoo gaari daab)
Iphi ipulatifomu?
Keenya kaafaa?(keenya kaafaa)
Ithini isikhathi sokuhamba?
Waqti maayti?(waqti maayti)
Ingabe le yindlela efanele?
Maayta kaan?(maayta kaan)
Ikhaya lapha eduze
Ittaa hara(ittaa hara)
Ikude lapha
Ittaa faar(ittaa faar)
Ungangikhombisa emmaphini?
Maafaa naafaa?(maafaa naafaa)
Misa lapha, ngiyacela
Hara dhaaf, fadlan(hara dhaaf, fadlan)
Kuthatha isikhathi esingakanani?
Waqti mee?(waqti mee)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.