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Common Afar Phrases
Essential Afar (Qafár af) phrases with pronunciation guides.
👋Greetings & Basics
| English | Afar | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Nagaya | na-GA-ya |
| Good morning | Subax wanaagsan | su-BAX wa-NAG-san |
| Good evening | Galab wanaagsan | ga-LAB wa-NAG-san |
| Good night | Habeen wanaagsan | ha-BEN wa-NAG-san |
| Goodbye | Nabad gelyo | na-BAD gel-YO |
| How are you? | Maasha yaam? | MA-sha yam |
| I'm fine | Innah yaam | IN-na yam |
| Please | Kadeed | ka-DED |
| Thank you | Mahadsanid | ma-HAD-sa-nid |
| You're welcome | Adiga ayaa mudan | a-DI-ga a-YA mu-DAN |
| Sorry | Raali ahow | RA-li a-HOW |
| Yes | Haa | haa |
| No | Maya | ma-YA |
| My name is... | Magacaygu waa... | ma-GA-cay-gu wa... |
| What is your name? | Magacaagu waa maxay? | ma-GA-ca-gu wa ma-HAY |
| Nice to meet you | Waxaan ku faraxsanahay | wa-KHAN ku fa-RAX-sa-na-hay |
| Do you speak English? | Ingiriisi ma ku hadasaa? | in-gi-RI-si ma ku ha-da-SA |
| I don't understand | Ma garan | ma GA-ran |
| Help! | Caawi! | CA-wi |
| I love you | Waan ku jeclahay | wan ku jec-LA-hay |
✈️Travel
| English | Afar | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Where is...? | ...meeqa? | ...ME-qa |
| How much does it cost? | Qiimahiisu waa immisa? | qi-MA-hi-su wa IM-mi-sa |
| I need help | Caawimaa u baahnahay | ca-WI-ma u ba-NA-hay |
| Where is the hospital? | Isbitaalku meeqa? | is-bi-TAL-ku ME-qa |
| Police | Booliska | BO-lis-ka |
| Airport | Garoonka diyaaradaha | ga-RON-ka di-ya-RA-da-ha |
| Hotel | Hudeel | hu-DEL |
| Restaurant | Makhaayadda | ma-KHA-yad-da |
| Ticket | Tigidhka | ti-GIDH-ka |
| Train station | Istaashan tareenka | is-TA-shan ta-REN-ka |
| Bus stop | Joogitaanka baaska | jog-i-TAN-ka BA-ska |
| Taxi | Gaari taaksi | GA-ri TAK-si |
| Left | Bidix | bi-DIX |
| Right | Midig | mi-DIG |
| Straight ahead | Toosan | TO-san |
| Passport | Pasaborka | pa-sa-BOR-ka |
| Pharmacy | Farmashiga | far-MA-shi-ga |
| Bank | Bangiga | BAN-gi-ga |
| Market | Suuqa | SU-qa |
| Beach | Xeebta | KHEB-ta |
🍽️Food & Dining
| English | Afar | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| I'm hungry | Gaajaysan ahay | GA-ja-yan a-HAY |
| I'm thirsty | Harraday ahay | har-RA-day a-HAY |
| The menu, please | Liiska cuntooyinka, kadeed | LIS-ka cun-TOY-in-ka ka-DED |
| Water | Biyo | BI-yo |
| Bread | Rooti | RO-ti |
| Meat | Hilib | hi-LIB |
| Fish | Kalluun | kal-LUN |
| Vegetables | Khudaar | khu-DAR |
| Delicious | Macaan | ma-CAN |
| Bill please | Biilka, kadeed | BIL-ka ka-DED |
| Tea | Shaah | shaa |
| Coffee | Qaxwo | QAX-wo |
| Beer | Biire | BI-re |
| Wine | Khamri | KHAM-ri |
| I am vegetarian | Hilib ma cunno | hi-LIB ma CUN-no |
| Breakfast | Quraac | qu-RAC |
| Lunch | Qado | QA-do |
| Dinner | Casho | CA-sho |
| Spicy | Xoog leh | KHOG leh |
| Sweet | Macaan | ma-CAN |
🚨Emergency
| English | Afar | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Help! | Caawi! | CA-wi |
| Call the police | Booliska wac | BO-lis-ka wac |
| I need a doctor | Dhakhtar baahan ahay | DHAK-tar BA-han a-HAY |
| Fire! | Dab! | dab |
| Thief! | Tuug! | tug |
| I'm lost | Lumay ahay | LU-may a-HAY |
| I had an accident | Shil bay i dhacday | shil bay i DHAC-day |
| I'm sick | Xanuunsanahay | xa-NUN-sa-na-hay |
| Ambulance | Ambalaaniska | am-ba-LA-nis-ka |
| Hospital | Isbitaalka | is-bi-TAL-ka |
| Emergency | Xaalad degdeg ah | KHA-lad DEG-deg ah |
| I need medicine | Dawo baahan ahay | DA-wo BA-han a-HAY |
| Danger | Khatar | KHA-tar |
| Stop! | Joog! | jog |
💼Business
| English | Afar | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Meeting | Kulanka | ku-LAN-ka |
| Contract | Heshiiska | he-SHIS-ka |
| Invoice | Biilka | BIL-ka |
| Payment | Lacag bixinta | la-CAG bi-XIN-ta |
| Price | Qiimaha | qi-MA-ha |
| Office | Xafiiska | xa-FIS-ka |
| Manager | Maamulaha | ma-MU-la-ha |
| Company | Shirkadda | SHIR-kad-da |
| Iimaylka | i-MAYL-ka | |
| Phone | Telefoonka | te-le-FON-ka |
| Schedule | Jadwalka | jad-WAL-ka |
| Project | Mashruuca | mash-RU-ca |
| Report | Warbixinta | war-bi-XIN-ta |
| Deadline | Wakhtiga dambe | WAK-ti-ga DAM-be |
🔢Numbers & Time
| English | Afar | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| One | Kow | kow |
| Two | Laba | la-BA |
| Three | Saddex | SAD-dex |
| Four | Afar | a-FAR |
| Five | Shan | shan |
| Six | Lix | lix |
| Seven | Toddoba | TOD-do-ba |
| Eight | Sideed | si-DED |
| Nine | Sagaal | sa-GAL |
| Ten | Toban | to-BAN |
| Twenty | Labaatan | la-BA-tan |
| Hundred | Boqol | bo-QOL |
| Thousand | Kun | kun |
| What time is it? | Saacaddu maxay tahay? | SA-cad-du ma-HAY ta-HAY |
| Today | Maanta | MAN-ta |
| Tomorrow | Berri | BER-ri |
| Yesterday | Shalay | sha-LAY |
| Monday | Isniin | is-NIN |
| Friday | Jimce | JIM-ce |
| Weekend | Dhamaadka usbuuca | dha-MAD-ka us-BU-ca |
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