Looking for practical Zulu to Krio phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Zulu 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: read the Krio line out loud three times, then cover the Zulu 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 Zulu 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.
Sawubona
Hello
Ngiyabonga
Tenki
Sawubona
Gud mɔnin
Good afternoon
Gud aftanun
Ubusuku obuhle
Gud ivnin
Lala kahle
Gud nait
Sizobonana
Si yu leta
Hamba kahle
Bai
Ubani igama lakho?
Wetɛn na yu neym?
Igama lami nginguJohn
Ma neym na John
Unjani?
Ow yu de?
Ngiyajabula ukukwazi
Naes fo mit yu
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Ukhuluma isiNgisi?
Yu sabi English?
Angikhulumi kahle isiHindi.
A no sabi Hindi well.
Angiqondi.
A no sabi.
Ngiyacela, khuluma kancane.
Plis, tok slow.
Ungakuphinda lokho?
Yu fit tok dat again?
Iphi indlu yangasese?
Weh na di toilet?
Ngiyawufika kanjani emaphandleni?
Ow A go fit reach di city center?
Jika kwesobunxele.
Turn left.
Jika kwesokudla.
Turn right.
Hamba phambili.
Go straight.
Inani lokuhamba lingakanani?
Ow much na di fare?
Ithikithi elilodwa, ngiyacela.
One ticket, plis.
Ingabe kude lapha?
E far from ya?
Ngilahlekile.
A don lost.
Ngaphi engingathenga khona i-SIM card?
Weh A go fit buy SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Yebo
Yes
Cha
No
Mhlawumbe
Maybe
Ngiyavuma
A mi agree
Angivumi
A no agree
Lokho kuzwakala kahle
Dat na fine
Ucabanga ukuthini?
Wet in you tink?
Ungangisiza?
You fit help me?
Ngidinga usizo
A need help
Linda umzuzu
Wait small
Ngiyaxolisa
A sorry
Akukho nkinga
No problem
Halala
Congratulations
Usuku olumnandi lokuzalwa
Happy birthday
Uhambo olunempilo
Get safe trip
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Iphi isitishi sesitimela?
Weh na di train station?(iphi isitishi sesitimela)
Iphi indawo yokuma kwebhasi?
Weh na di bus stop?(iphi indawo yokuma kwebhasi)
Iphi ipulatifomu?
Which platform na im?(iphi ipulatifomu)
Ithini isikhathi sokuhamba?
Wetin time e go lef?(ithini isikhathi sokuhamba)
Ingabe le yindlela efanele?
Dis na di right way?(ingabe le yindlela efanele)
Ikhaya lapha eduze
E dey near here(ikhaya lapha eduze)
Ikude lapha
E far from here(ikude lapha)
Ungangikhombisa emmaphini?
Yu fit show me pan di map?(ungangikhombisa emmaphini)
Misa lapha, ngiyacela
Stop here, pliz(misa lapha, ngiyacela)
Kuthatha isikhathi esingakanani?
How long e go tek?(kuthatha isikhathi esingakanani)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Kubiza malini lokhu?
How much dis cost?
Lokho kubiza kakhulu.
Dat too expensive.
Unayo yini ethengiswa ngentengo ephansi?
You get anytin wey cheaper?
Ngiyakwazi ukukhokha ngekhadi?
I fit pay by card?
Ngifuna itafula labantu ababili.
I wan table for two.
Ibhili, ngiyacela.
Di bill, please.
Inkonzo ifakiwe?
Service dey include?
Ngiyisithuthuthu.
I na vegetarian.
Ngicela ukudla okungashisayo.
No spicy food, please.
Lokhu kuhle.
Dis dey sweet.
Ngicela imenyu?
I fit get di menu?
Ingilazi yamanzi, ngiyacela.
A glass of water, please.
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Shayela amaphoyisa
Call di police
Shayela i-ambulensi
Call ambulance
Ngidinga udokotela
A need doctor
Ngizizwa ngigula
A dey feel sick
Ngine-allergy kumantongomane
A get allergy for peanuts
Iphi isibhedlela esiseduze?
Weh di nearest hospital de?
Kubuhlungu lapha
E dey pain here
Ngilahlekelwe ipasipoti yami
A don lose mi passport
Ungashayela ihhotela lami?
You fit call mi hotel?
Usizo!
Help!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Ngiyajabula ukukwazi
Na nice for meet you
Masihlele umhlangano
Make we plan wan meeting
Yisiphi isikhathi esikufanele?
Wetin time go work for you?
Ngizothumela umbiko namuhla
A go send di report tiday
Singakhuluma kusasa?
We go fit talk tomorrow?
Sicela uthole ifayela elixhunywe
Abeg find di file wey attach
Ngiyabonga ngalesi sikhathi
Tenki for your time
Ngibheke phambili ekusebenzeni nawe
A dey look forward for work with you
Ungacacisa leyo ndaba?
You fit clarify dat point?
Ngizobuyela kuwe
Make I get back to you
Usuku lokugcina nguLwesihlanu
Di deadline na Friday
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.