Group of cushitic language
Phrasebooks > Afan Oromo phrasebook

Afan Oromo (Afaan Oromoo/Afàn Oromó‎) is a group of Cushtic dialects spoken by more than 60 million people, mainly in Horn of Africa.

Petros Memorial Hall banner written in Afan Oromo. This Abuna Petros Memorial Hall banner demonstrates how each Afan Oromo character corresponds in English. ma="ma" saa="sa"long

Afan Oromo (Afaan Oromoo/Afán Oromó) is a pastoral language of Horn of Africa.

Pronunciation guide

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Afan Oromo script is written in a latin s cript, even in print.

  • a like a in English and (IPA: /a/)
    60xp
  • aa like '(aa) is a longer version of a (IPA: /aː/)
  • b like b in English and (IPA: /b/)
    60xp


  • c like c in English and (IPA: /c/)
    60xp
  • d like d in English and (IPA: /d/)
    60xp


  • e like e in English and (IPA: /e/)
    60xp
  • f like f in English and (IPA: /f/)
    60xp
  • g like g in English and (IPA: /g/)
    60xp
  • h like h in English and (IPA: /h/)
    60xp
  • i like i in English and (IPA: /i/)
    60xp
  • j like j in English and (IPA: /j/)
    60xp
  • k like k in English and (IPA: /k/)
    60xp
  • l like l in English and (IPA: /l/)
    60xp
  • m like m in English and (IPA: /m/)
    60xp
  • n like n in English and (IPA: /n/)
    60xp
  • o like o in English and (IPA: /o/)
    60xp
  • p like p in English and (IPA: /p/)
    60xp
  • q like * q in English and (IPA: /q/)
    60xp
  • r like r in English and (IPA: /r/)
    60xp
  • s like s in English and (IPA: /s/)
    60xp
  • t like t in English and (IPA: /t/)
    60xp
  • u like u in English and (IPA: /u/)
    60xp
  • v like v in English and (IPA: /v/)
    60xp
  • w like w in English and (IPA: /w/)
    60xp
  • x like x in English and (IPA: /x/)
    60xp
  • y like y in English and (IPA: /y/)
    60xp
  • z like z in English and (IPA: /z/)
    60xp

Phrase list

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Some phrases in this phrasebook still need to be translated. If you know anything about this language, you can help by plunging forward and translating a phrase.

Common signs
OPEN
BANI
CLOSED
CUFI
ENTRANCE
HULAA, SEENSA
EXIT
BAHI
PUSH
DHIIBI
PULL
SOCHOOSI
TOILET
MANFINCAANII
MEN
DHIIRA
WOMEN
DUBARTII
FORBIDDEN
DHORKA

Basics

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Hello.
. ( )
Hello (informal)
akkam
Peace be with you. (formal)
Nagaan siif haa ta'u.(singular)
Nagaan siniif haa ta'u. (plural)
How are you?
 ? ( ?)
Fine, thank you.
. ( )
What is your name?
 ? ( ?)
My name is ______ .
______ . ( _____ .)
Nice to meet you.
. ( )
Please.
maaloo
Thank you [very much].
Galatoomi. (Singular)
Galatoomaa. (Plural)
You're welcome.
. ( )
Yes.
eeyyee
No.
lakki
Excuse me.
Dhiifama
I'm sorry.
. ( )
Goodbye
. ( )
Goodbye (informal)
. ( )
I can't speak name of language [well].
[ ]. ( [ ])
Do you speak English?
 ? ( ?)
Is there someone here who speaks English?
 ? ( ?)
Help!
 ! ( !)
Look out!
 ! ( !)
Good morning.
Nagaa bultee
Good evening.
. ( )
Good night.
. ( )
Good night (to sleep)
. ( )
I don't understand.
. ( )
Where is the toilet?
 ? ( ?)

Problems

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Leave me alone.
. ( .)
Don't touch me!
 ! ( !)
I'll call the police.
. ( .)
Police!
 ! ( !)
Stop! Thief!
 ! ! ( ! !)
I need your help.
. ( .)
It's an emergency.
. ( .)
I'm lost.
. ( .)
I lost my bag.
. ( .)
I lost my wallet.
. ( .)
I'm sick.
. ( .)
I've been injured.
. ( .)
I need a doctor.
. ( .)
Can I use your phone?
 ? ( ?)

Numbers

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1
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2
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3
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4
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5
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6
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7
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8
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9
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10
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11
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12
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13
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14
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15
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16
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17
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18
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19
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20
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21
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22
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23
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30
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40
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50
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60
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70
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80
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90
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100
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200
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300
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1,000
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2,000
( )
1,000,000
( )
1,000,000,000
( )
1,000,000,000,000
( )
number _____ (train, bus, etc.)
( )
half
( )
less
( )
more
( )

Time

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now
( )
later
( )
before
( )
morning
( )
afternoon
( )
evening
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night
( )

Clock time

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one o'clock AM
( )
two o'clock AM
( )
noon
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one o'clock PM
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two o'clock PM
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midnight
( )

Duration

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_____ minute(s)
( )
_____ hour(s)
( )
_____ day(s)
( )
_____ week(s)
( )
_____ month(s)
( )
_____ year(s)
( )

Days

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today
( )
yesterday
( )
tomorrow
( )
this week
( )
last week
( )
next week
( )
Sunday
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Monday
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Tuesday
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Wednesday
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Thursday
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Friday
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Saturday
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Months

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January
( )
February
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March
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April
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May
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June
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July
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August
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September
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October
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November
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December
( )

Writing time and date

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Colors

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black
( )
white
( )
gray
( )
red
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blue
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yellow
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green
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orange
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purple
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brown
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Transportation

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Bus and train

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How much is a ticket to _____?
( )
One ticket to _____, please.
( )
Where does this train/bus go?
( )
Where is the train/bus to _____?
( )
Does this train/bus stop in _____?
( )
When does the train/bus for _____ leave?
( )
When will this train/bus arrive in _____?
( )

Directions

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How do I get to _____ ?
( )
...the train station?
( )
...the bus station?
( )
...the airport?
( )
...downtown?
( )
...the youth hostel?
( )
...the _____ hotel?
( )
...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate?
( )
Where are there a lot of...
( )
...hotels?
( )
...restaurants?
( )
...bars?
( )
...sites to see?
( )
Can you show me on the map?
( )
street
( )
Turn left.
( )
Turn right.
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left
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right
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straight ahead
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towards the _____
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past the _____
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before the _____
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Watch for the _____.
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intersection
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north
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south
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east
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west
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uphill
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downhill
( )

Taxi

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Taxi!
( )
Take me to _____, please.
( )
How much does it cost to get to _____?
( )
Take me there, please.
( )

Lodging

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Do you have any rooms available?
( )
How much is a room for one person/two people?
( )
Does the room come with...
( )
...bedsheets?
( )
...a bathroom?
( )
...a telephone?
( )
...a TV?
( )
May I see the room first?
( )
Do you have anything quieter?
( )
...bigger?
( )
...cleaner?
( )
...cheaper?
( )
OK, I'll take it.
( )
I will stay for _____ night(s).
( )
Can you suggest another hotel?
( )
Do you have a safe?
( )
...lockers?
( )
Is breakfast/supper included?
( )
What time is breakfast/supper?
( )
Please clean my room.
( )
Can you wake me at _____?
( )
I want to check out.
( )

Money

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Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?
( )
Do you accept British pounds?
( )
Do you accept Euros?
( )
Do you accept credit cards?
( )
Can you change money for me?
( )
Where can I get money changed?
( )
Can you change a traveler's check for me?
( )
Where can I get a traveler's check changed?
( )
What is the exchange rate?
( )
Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)?
( )

Eating

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A table for one person/two people, please.
( )
Can I look at the menu, please?
( )
Can I look in the kitchen?
( )
Is there a house specialty?
( )
Is there a local specialty?
( )
I'm a vegetarian.
( )
I don't eat pork.
( )
I don't eat beef.
( )
I only eat kosher food.
( )
Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard)
( )
fixed-price meal
( )
a la carte
( )
breakfast
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lunch
( )
tea (meal)
( )
supper
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I want _____.
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I want a dish containing _____.
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chicken
( )
beef
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fish
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ham
( )
sausage
( )
cheese
( )
eggs
( )
salad
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(fresh) vegetables
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(fresh) fruit
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bread
( )
toast
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noodles
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rice
( )
beans
( )
May I have a glass of _____?
( )
May I have a cup of _____?
( )
May I have a bottle of _____?
( )
coffee
( )
tea (drink)
( )
juice
( )
(bubbly) water
( )
(still) water
( )
beer
( )
red/white wine
( )
May I have some _____?
( )
salt
( )
black pepper
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butter
( )
Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)
( )
I'm finished.
( )
It was delicious.
( )
Please clear the plates.
( )
The check, please.
( )

Bars

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Do you serve alcohol?
( )
Is there table service?
( )
A beer/two beers, please.
( )
A glass of red/white wine, please.
( )
A pint, please.
( )
A bottle, please.
( )
_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please.
( )
whiskey
( )
vodka
( )
rum
( )
water
( )
club soda
( )
tonic water
( )
orange juice
( )
Coke (soda)
( )
Do you have any bar snacks?
( )
One more, please.
( )
Another round, please.
( )
When is closing time?
( )
Cheers!
( )

Shopping

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Do you have this in my size?
( )
How much is this?
( )
That's too expensive.
( )
Would you take _____?
( )
expensive
( )
cheap
( )
I can't afford it.
( )
I don't want it.
( )
You're cheating me.
( )
I'm not interested.
(..)
OK, I'll take it.
( )
Can I have a bag?
( )
Do you ship (overseas)?
( )
I need...
( )
...toothpaste.
( )
...a toothbrush.
( )
...tampons.
. ( )
...soap.
( )
...shampoo.
( )
...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen)
( )
...cold medicine.
( )
...stomach medicine.
... ( )
...a razor.
( )
...an umbrella.
( )
...sunblock lotion.
( )
...a postcard.
( )
...postage stamps.
( )
...batteries.
( )
...writing paper.
( )
...a pen.
( )
...English-language books.
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...English-language magazines.
( )
...an English-language newspaper.
( )
...an English-English dictionary.
( )

Driving

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I want to rent a car.
( )
Can I get insurance?
( )
stop (on a street sign)
( )
one way
( )
yield
( )
no parking
( )
speed limit
( )
gas (petrol) station
( )
petrol
( )
diesel
( )

Authority

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I haven't done anything wrong.
( )
It was a misunderstanding.
( )
Where are you taking me?
( )
Am I under arrest?
( )
I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen.
( )
I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate.
( )
I want to talk to a lawyer.
( )
Can I just pay a fine now?
( )
This Afan Oromo phrasebook is an outline and needs more content. It has a template, but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow!

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