Everyday essentials
The handful of phrases that get you through a day
No
I don't understand
Yorùbá
Kò yé mi
literally “it is not clear to me”
- literally "I don't hear"Mi ò gbọ́
Yorùbá puts the understanding on the thing, not the person — it does not become clear to me, rather than I fail to grasp it.
Do you speak English?
Hausa
Kana jin Turanci?
literally “are you hearing English (male)?”
- to a womanKina jin Turanci?
How much is it?
Yorùbá
Èló ni?
literally “how much is it?”
The single most useful phrase in any market.
Where is …?
I want water
Please help me
3 phrases here want a speaker's eye first
These phrases were drafted for NaijaTongues and are still awaiting native-speaker review. Wording, tone marks and register vary by region, and anything marked as wanting review is where a speaker would help most. If something reads wrong to you as a speaker, suggest the correct form on any phrase — or tell us.