A collection of useful phrases in Sierra Leone Creole (Krio), an English-based creole spoken in Sierra Leone.
See these phrases in any combination of two languages in the Phrase Finder. If you can provide recordings, corrections or additional translations, please contact me.
| Phrase | Krio (Sierra Leone Creole) |
|---|---|
| Welcome | Kabɔ Wɛlkɔm |
| Hello (General greeting) | Kushɛ Kushɛ-o Kabɔ Adu |
| Hello (on phone) | |
| How are you? | Aw yu du? Aw di bɔdi? Aw di go de go? Aw di fambul? (How's your family?) |
| Reply to 'How are you?' | A wɛl, aw yusɛf? Misɛf a wɛl. Aw yu du? A fayn fayn Di bɔdi fayn Di bɔdi nɔ bad Kasi no de pan gɔd |
| Long time no see | |
| What's your name? | Wetin na yu nem? We yu nem? |
| My name is ... | A nem ... Mi nem na ... |
| Where are you from? | Usai yu kɔmɔt? |
| I'm from ... | A kɔmɔt ... |
| Pleased to meet you | A gladi fɔ mit yu |
| Good morning (Morning greeting) |
Gud mɔnin |
| Good afternoon (Afternoon greeting) |
Gud aftanun |
| Good evening (Evening greeting) |
Gud ivnin |
| Good night | Gud nɛt |
| Goodbye (Parting phrases) |
A de go (I'm going) Wi de go (We're going) Wi go si bak (We'll see again) Gudbay Bye bye Mekes ya O mekes o (reply) |
| Good luck! | Gud lɔk Mek bɛtɛ fala yu |
| Cheers! Good Health! (Toasts used when drinking) |
Bɔk ɔp! Gud wɛlbɔdi! |
| Have a nice day | A op yu de go fayn |
| Bon appetit / Have a nice meal |
Ɛnjɔy yu it! |
| Bon voyage / Have a good journey |
Una gɛt gud trip! |
| Yes | Yɛs |
| No | Nɔ |
| Maybe | Sɔntɛm |
| I don't know | A nɔ no A nɔ sabi |
| Do you understand? | Yu ɔndastand? |
| I understand | A ɔndastand |
| I don't understand | A nɔ ɔndastand |
| Please speak more slowly | Duya tɔk mɔ sloslo |
| Please say that again | Duya una tɔk dat bak |
| Please write it down | Duya rayt am dɔŋ |
| Do you speak English? | Yu sabi tɔk inglish? Yu de tok inglish? |
| Do you speak Sierra Leone Creole? | Yu de tok Krio? |
| Yes, a little (reply to 'Do you speak ...?') |
A tɔk smɔl smɔl (I speak a little) A tɔk am mɔl smɔl Nɔ, ba a de lan (No, but I'm learning) |
| Do you speak a language other than Sierra Leone Creole? |
Yu de tok oda langwej pas Krio? |
| Speak to me in Sierra Leone Creole | Tok to mi fo Krio |
| How do you say ... in Sierra Leone Creole? | Aw yu se ... in Krio |
| Excuse me | Bo duya (getting attention) Kɔmɔt na rod (move out of the way) A bayg padin (begging pardon) |
| How much is this? | Ɔmɔs fɔ am ? |
| Sorry | A bayg padin A bayg o padin |
| Please | Duya (only used when asking for a favour) Bo duya |
| Thank you | Tɛnki |
| Reply to thank you | O |
| Where's the toilet / bathroom? | Oosye toilet dey? |
| This gentleman will pay for everything | Dis jentlman go pe fɔ ɔltin |
| This lady will pay for everything | Dis uman go pe fɔ ɔltin |
| Would you like to dance with me? | Yu wan dans wit mi? Yu go lɛk fɔ dans wit mi? |
| Do you come here often? | Yu kin kam ya bɔku tɛm? |
| I miss you | A mis yu |
| I love you | A lɛk yu A lɛk yu badbad wan A lɔv yu Mi at tek yu Mi at tek yu oh Mi at jɔs tek yu |
| Get well soon | Gɛt wɛlbɔdi kwik kwik wan |
| Go away! | Kɔmɔt! |
| Leave me alone! | Lɛf mi! Lɛf mi saful! Yu nɔ go lef mi? |
| Help! | Ɛp! Ɛp mi! Una kam o! |
| Fire! | Faya! |
| Stop! | Lɛf! |
| Call the police! | Kɔl di polis dɛn! |
| Christmas greetings | Api Krismes |
| New Year greetings | Api nyu ia |
| Easter greetings | Gladi Ista |
| Birthday greetings | Api batde |
| Congratulations! | Wi de kɔle yu! |
| One language is never enough | Wan langwej nɔ go du |
| My hovercraft is full of eels |
If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, or if you can provide recordings, please contact me.
Hear some phrases in Sierra Leone Creole:
Information about Sierra Leone Creole | Phrases | Numbers | Tower of Babel
Collections of Sierra Leone Creole phrases
https://wikitravel.org/en/Krio_phrasebook
https://www.visitsierraleone.org/krio-words-and-phrases/
Bislama, Cape Verdean Creole, Chabacano de Zamboanga, Chabacano de Cavite, Haitian Creole, Jamaican, Mauritian Creole, Norfuk, Papiamento, Réunion Creole, Sango, Sierra Leone Creole, Tok Pisin
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