Priority CRITICAL phrases -
50 essential phrases across 9 languages
Select Language
Good morning (formal, to stranger)
Translations:
english:
Good morning, sir/madam
amharic:
እንደምን አደሩ (əndemin aderu)
tigrinya:
ደሓን ዋዓልኩም (dehan wa'alikum)
oromo:
Akkam bultanii (formal)
somali:
Subax wanaagsan, mudane/marwo
arabic:
صباح الخير، سيدي/سيدتي (sabah al-khayr, sayidi/sayidati)
swahili:
Habari za asubuhi, bwana/bibi
french:
Bonjour, monsieur/madame
spanish:
Buenos días, señor/señora
Context:
- time: morning
- relationship: formal_stranger
- formality: very_high
- trust: low
Use when meeting someone for the first time in the morning, or in very formal situations
Good morning (casual, to friend)
Translations:
english:
Morning! / Hey, morning!
amharic:
እንደምን አደርክ/ሽ! (əndemin aderk/sh!)
tigrinya:
ደሓን ዋዓልካ/ኺ! (dehan wa'alka/ki!)
oromo:
Akkam bulte!
somali:
Subax wanaagsan, saaxiib!
arabic:
صباح الخير يا صديقي! (sabah al-khayr ya sadiqi!)
swahili:
Habari ya asubuhi, rafiki!
french:
Salut! Bonjour!
spanish:
¡Hola! ¡Buenos días!
Context:
- time: morning
- relationship: informal_friend
- formality: low
- trust: high
Use with friends, close colleagues, or people you know well
Good morning (parent to child)
Translations:
english:
Good morning, sweetheart/darling
amharic:
እንደምን አደርክ ፍቅሬ (əndemin aderk fiqre)
tigrinya:
ደሓን ዋዓልካ ፍቕረይ (dehan wa'alka fiqrey)
oromo:
Akkam bulte jaalala koo
somali:
Subax wanaagsan, gacaliso
arabic:
صباح الخير يا حبيبي/حبيبتي (sabah al-khayr ya habibi/habibti)
swahili:
Habari za asubuhi, mpenzi wangu
french:
Bonjour, mon chéri/ma chérie
spanish:
Buenos días, cariño/mi amor
Context:
- time: morning
- relationship: hierarchical_parent_child
- formality: low
- trust: very_high
Affectionate morning greeting from parent to child
Good evening (to romantic partner)
Translations:
english:
Hi honey/darling, how was your day?
amharic:
ሰላም ፍቅሬ፣ ቀንሽ እንዴት ነበር? (selam fiqre, qensh indet neber?)
tigrinya:
ሰላም ፍቕረይ፣ መዓልትኻ ከመይ ነበረ? (selam fiqrey, me'altika kemey nebere?)
oromo:
Akkam jirta jaalala koo, guyyaan kee akkam ture?
somali:
Nabad gacaliso, maalintaadu sidee ahayd?
arabic:
مرحباً حبيبي/حبيبتي، كيف كان يومك؟ (marhaban habibi/habibti, kayfa kana yawmuk?)
swahili:
Habari mpenzi, siku yako ilikuwaje?
french:
Salut mon amour, comment s'est passée ta journée?
spanish:
Hola mi amor, ¿cómo estuvo tu día?
Context:
- time: evening
- relationship: intimate_romantic
- formality: very_low
- trust: very_high
Affectionate evening greeting between romantic partners
Can you help me? (formal, to stranger)
Translations:
english:
Excuse me, could you please help me?
amharic:
ይቅርታ፣ እባክዎ ሊረዱኝ ይችላሉ? (yiqirta, ibakwo lireduñ yichilalu?)
tigrinya:
ይቕረታ፣ በጃኹም ክትሕግዙኒ ትኽእሉ ዲኹም? (yiqreta, bejakum kitihgizuni tik'ilu dikum?)
oromo:
Dhiifama, maaloo na gargaaruu dandeessu?
somali:
Raali noqo, fadlan i caawin kartaa?
arabic:
عفواً، هل يمكنك مساعدتي من فضلك؟ ('afwan, hal yumkinuka musa'adati min fadlik?)
swahili:
Samahani, unaweza kunisaidia tafadhali?
french:
Excusez-moi, pourriez-vous m'aider s'il vous plaît?
spanish:
Disculpe, ¿podría ayudarme por favor?
Context:
- relationship: formal_stranger
- formality: high
- trust: low
- urgency: low
Polite way to ask for help from someone you don't know
Can you help me? (casual, to friend)
Translations:
english:
Hey, can you give me a hand?
amharic:
ሄይ፣ ትረዳኛለህ/ሽ? (hey, tiredañaleh/sh?)
tigrinya:
ሄይ፣ ክትሕግዘኒ ትኽእል/ትኽእሊ? (hey, kitihgizeni tik'il/tik'ili?)
oromo:
Hey, na gargaaruu dandeessa?
somali:
Haye, i caawin kartaa saaxiib?
arabic:
هاي، ممكن تساعدني؟ (hay, mumkin tisa'idni?)
swahili:
Haya, unaweza kunisaidia?
french:
Hé, tu peux me donner un coup de main?
spanish:
Oye, ¿me puedes echar una mano?
Context:
- relationship: informal_friend
- formality: low
- trust: high
- urgency: low
Casual way to ask a friend for help
Help! Emergency!
Translations:
english:
Help! Emergency!
amharic:
እርዳታ! አደጋ! (irdata! adega!)
tigrinya:
ሓግዙኒ! ሓደጋ! (hagizuni! hadega!)
oromo:
Gargaarsa! Balaa!
somali:
Caawiyo! Degdeg!
arabic:
النجدة! طوارئ! (an-najda! tawari'!)
swahili:
Msaada! Dharura!
french:
Au secours! Urgence!
spanish:
¡Ayuda! ¡Emergencia!
Context:
- urgency: critical
- formality: none
- situation: emergency
Use in any emergency situation regardless of who is around
Thank you (formal)
Translations:
english:
Thank you very much, sir/madam
amharic:
በጣም አመሰግናለሁ (betam ameseginalehu)
tigrinya:
ብጣዕሚ የቐንየለይ (bit'a'mi yeqeniyeley)
oromo:
Baay'ee galatoomaa
somali:
Aad ayaan ugu mahad celinayaa, mudane/marwo
arabic:
شكراً جزيلاً، سيدي/سيدتي (shukran jazilan, sayidi/sayidati)
swahili:
Asante sana, bwana/bibi
french:
Merci beaucoup, monsieur/madame
spanish:
Muchas gracias, señor/señora
Context:
- relationship: formal_stranger
- formality: high
- trust: low
Formal expression of gratitude to strangers or in professional settings
Thank you (casual)
Translations:
english:
Thanks! / Thanks a lot!
amharic:
አመሰግናለሁ! (ameseginalehu!)
tigrinya:
የቐንየለይ! (yeqeniyeley!)
oromo:
Galatoomaa!
somali:
Mahadsanid!
arabic:
شكراً! (shukran!)
swahili:
Asante!
french:
Merci! / Merci beaucoup!
spanish:
¡Gracias! / ¡Muchas gracias!
Context:
- relationship: informal_friend
- formality: low
- trust: high
Casual thanks to friends and people you know well
May I have water? (formal)
Translations:
english:
Excuse me, could I have some water, please?
amharic:
ይቅርታ፣ እባክዎ ውሃ ማግኘት እችላለሁ? (yiqirta, ibakwo wiha maget ichilalewu?)
tigrinya:
ይቕረታ፣ በጃኹም ማይ ክረክብ እኽእል ድየ? (yiqreta, bejakum may kirekib ik'il diye?)
oromo:
Dhiifama, maaloo bishaan argachuu danda'aa?
somali:
Raali noqo, fadlan biyo heli karaa?
arabic:
عفواً، هل يمكنني الحصول على ماء من فضلك؟ ('afwan, hal yumkinuni al-husul 'ala ma' min fadlik?)
swahili:
Samahani, naweza kupata maji tafadhali?
french:
Excusez-moi, pourrais-je avoir de l'eau s'il vous plaît?
spanish:
Disculpe, ¿podría darme agua por favor?
Context:
- relationship: formal_stranger
- formality: high
- need: basic
Polite way to request water in formal settings or from strangers
Can I get some water? (casual)
Translations:
english:
Got any water? / Can I get some water?
amharic:
ውሃ አለ? (wiha ale?)
tigrinya:
ማይ ኣሎ? (may alo?)
oromo:
Bishaan jiraa?
somali:
Biyo ma jiraa?
arabic:
في ماء؟ (fi ma'?)
swahili:
Kuna maji?
french:
T'as de l'eau?
spanish:
¿Hay agua? / ¿Tienes agua?
Context:
- relationship: informal_friend
- formality: low
- need: basic
Casual way to ask for water from friends or family
Where is the hospital? (formal)
Translations:
english:
Excuse me, where is the hospital, please?
amharic:
ይቅርታ፣ ሆስፒታሉ የት ነው እባክዎ? (yiqirta, hospitalu yet new ibakwo?)
tigrinya:
ይቕረታ፣ ሆስፒታል ኣበይ ኣሎ በጃኹም? (yiqreta, hospital abey alo bejakum?)
oromo:
Dhiifama, hospitaalli eessa jira maaloo?
somali:
Raali noqo, isbitaalku xagee ku yaal fadlan?
arabic:
عفواً، أين المستشفى من فضلك؟ ('afwan, ayna al-mustashfa min fadlik?)
swahili:
Samahani, hospitali iko wapi tafadhali?
french:
Excusez-moi, où est l'hôpital s'il vous plaît?
spanish:
Disculpe, ¿dónde está el hospital por favor?
Context:
- relationship: formal_stranger
- formality: high
- urgency: medium
Polite way to ask for directions to hospital
I'd like to order lunch
Translations:
english:
I'd like to order lunch, please
amharic:
እባክዎ ምሳ ማዘዝ እፈልጋለሁ (ibakwo misa mazez ifeliagalehu)
tigrinya:
በጃኹም ምሳሕ ክእዝዝ እደሊ (bejakum misah ki'iziz ideli)
oromo:
Maaloo laaqana ajajuu barbaada
somali:
Fadlan qado doonayaa
arabic:
أريد طلب الغداء من فضلك (uridu talab al-ghada' min fadlik)
swahili:
Nataka kuagiza chakula cha mchana tafadhali
french:
Je voudrais commander le déjeuner s'il vous plaît
spanish:
Me gustaría pedir el almuerzo por favor
Context:
- time: midday
- relationship: transactional_service
- formality: medium
Standard phrase for ordering lunch at a restaurant