Kala/phrases

Basic

greetings

• yata - greet/farewell - Hello. / Goodbye.

• iyomani - PROX-day-nice - Good day/morning.

• ipuamani - PROX-evening-nice - Good night/evening.

• to tayo ka - manner 2S.POSS Q - How are you?

• niha, nyasa - fine thank - Fine, thank you.

meeting

• ke ata tayo ka - O name 2S.POSS Q - What is your name?

• ____ ke ata nayo - ____ O name 1S.POSS - ____ is my name.

• ya pesoni - VOC meet-nice - Nice to meet you.

civilities

• tsepa - please - Please.

• nyasa - thank - Thank you.

• nyasampa - thank-much - Thank you very much.

• hako - welcome - You're welcome.

• munyek - problem-NEG - No problem.

• yali(te) - pardon-(PREC) - Excuse me.
  (getting attention, begging pardon, etc)

• na koya - 1S apologize - I'm sorry.

• tama - good - It's okay/fine.
  (polite response to “I’m sorry”)

• munak - worry-NEG - No worries.
  (informal response to “I’m sorry”)

Communicating

• na ke kala unyak - 1sg O language know-NEG - I don't speak Kala.

• ta ke enkalatla unya ka - 2sg O England-language know Q - Do you know English?

• kola ke enkalatla unyatle hina ka - AG-INDEF O England-language know-REL be.here Q - Is there someone here who speaks English?

• yote! - help - Help! (in emergencies)

• na unyak - 1sg understand-NEG - I don't understand.

• pokomo ka - urinate-place Q - Where's the pisser? (informal)

• mo uetse ka - place toilet Q - Where is the toilet? (polite)

Problems

• ya utse - VOC exclude - Leave me alone.

• na uehak - 1S want-NEG - I don't want it!
  (useful for people who come up trying to sell you something)

• ya matok - VOC touch-NEG - Don't touch me!

• na ke tsonyo nyalotli - 1S O police phone-FUT - I'll call the police!

• tsonyo - police - Police!

• ya nusuko - VOC steal-AG - Stop, Thief!

Asking for help

• ena yotehe - P.1S help-NEC - I need help.