Refugee Language Cheat Sheet
Somali
Welcome:
Hello:
How are you:
I am fine:
What is your name?
Thank you:
Goodbye:
Yes
No
Soo Dhawoow
Hallow
See tahay?
Waan fiicanahay
Maga aa?
Mahadsanid
Nabadeey
Haa
Maya
Russian (Phonetic)
Hi
Welcome:
How are you?
Fine, thanks:
Thank you:
You are welcome
Ok:
Yes:
No:
Good bye
Pryvet, Privet
Dobro pozhalovat'
Kak pazhivayete? / Kak dela?
Spasiba, harasho
Spaciba
Pa`zhalsta
Hara`sho
Da
Niet
Da-svi-da-niya (Dasvidania)
Farsi (Afghanistan)
Hi:
Salam
Welcome:
Khosh Amadid
How are you?
Shoma Chetur Hastin?
I’m Fine
Man Khoobam
What is your name?
Esm e shoma chist?
Nice to meet you: As didanye e sham khosh vaghtam
Thank you:
Tashakoor
See you later:
Ba’adan mibinamet
Good bye:
Khoda hafiz
Yes:
Balli
No:
Nah
Arabic (Iraq)
Greeting:
Welcome:
How are you?
Thank you:
See you later:
Goodbye:
Yes:
No:
As-salaam alaykum
Marhaban
Shloonak? (male)
Shloonitsh? (female)
Ana bekhair
Ma esmouk?
Ma esmouki?
Itsharefna bema’refatek (M)
Itsharefna bema’refaatek (F)
Shokran (jazeelan)
Nashofak Gaden or Bukra
Ma’a salaama
Naam
Laa
Kunama (Eritrea)
Hello:
How are you:
Thank you:
Yes:
No:
Inkidino
Inkaleno galeya
Giraske
ye
aya (aia)
I’m fine:
What’s your name?
Nice to meet you:
Swahili (Burundi, Congo, Somalia)
Welcome:
Karibu (plural=Karibuni)
Greeting/How are you? Habari?
Reply hello/Fine:
Mzuri
Ok:
Sawa
What is your name?
Jina lako nani?
Thank you:
Asante ( “ Much: Asante Sana)
Yes:
Ndiyo
No:
Hapana
Bye:
Kwa Heri
Kirundi (Burundi)
Welcome to America:
Hello or Hi:
How are you:
Fine:
Nice to meet you
Let’s Go:
Goodbye:
Yes:
No:
Karen (Burma)
Hello:
How are you?
I’m fine:
Thank you:
What is your name?
Yes:
No:
Goodbye:
Kadze Muri America
Muraho
Amakuru
Nimeeza
Ni vyiza Kubonana nawe
Tugende
Muraheho
Ego
Oya
Hey
Ner o su o klay ha?
Ya o su o klay
T’bluh Doh Ma
Noe meing dee lae?
May (rising tone)
Dah MAY (rising tone) bah
Bye bye
Spanish (Cuba and Colombia)
Hello:
Hola
Welcome:
Bienvenidos
How are you?
Como estas?
I’m fine
Estoy Bien
What is your name?
Como te llamas?
Nice to meet you (M/F) Encantado/ Encantada
Yes:
Si
No:
No
Thank you:
Gracias
Good bye:
Adios
Nepali (Bhutan)
Greeting:
Welcome:
How are you?
Fine thanks,
Thank you
You are welcome.
OK
Yes:
No:
Good bye:
Namastey
Swagat
K chha?
Thik Chha
Dhanayabad
Taopis lai swagat chhha
Huncha
La/
Hunchha
Nai/ Hudaina
bye bye or ta ta
Developed by the IRC-Jenn Pierson and modified by Iskashitaa Refugee Network, 2007-08.