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When traveling to a new country, it's easy for things to become lost in translation. That fact is especially true in Africa, where there are between 1,500 and 2,000 recognized languages.
As a first step transcending the language barrier in Africa learning to say a few words in the native tongue will help. African societies are typically both polite and respectful, and so being able to say "thank you" is key when it comes to making new friends and establishing a good rapport with the local people.
Since most African countries are multilingual, it's always best to use the country's official language if you're unsure about a local dialect. Where there are multiple official languages or an unofficial language that is still widely used, this guide will include these translations as well; however, this list is by no means exhaustive.
Africa is an adventure so preparing ahead will ensure a great trip. Or as journalist Brian Jackman put it “Africa changes you forever, like nowhere on earth. Once you have been there, you will never be the same. But how do you begin to describe its magic to someone who has never felt it?"
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Angola
- Portuguese: Obrigado (Thank you, when speaking to a man)
- Portuguese: Obrigada (When speaking to a woman)
Botswana
- Setswana: Ke a leboga
- English: Thank you
Burkina Faso
- French: Merci
- Mossi: Barka
- Dyula: I ni che
Cameroon
- French: Merci
- English: Thank you
Cape Verde
- Cape Verde Creole: Obrigadu
- Portuguese: Obrigado (Thank you, when speaking to a man)
- Portuguese: Obrigada (When speaking to a woman)
Cote d'Ivoire
- French: Merci
Egypt
- Arabic: Shukran
Ethiopia
- Amharic: Amesegënallô
Gabon
- French: Merci
- Fang: Abora
Ghana
- English: Thank you
- Twi: Me daa si
Kenya
- Swahili: Asante
- English: Thank you
Lesotho
- Sesotho: Ke a leboha
- English: Thank you
Libya
- Arabic: S hukran
Madagascar
- Malagasy: Misaotra
- French: Merci
Malawi
- Chichewa: Zikomo
- English: Thank you
Mali
- French: Merci
- Bambara: I ni ce
Mauritania
- Arabic: Shukran
- Hassaniya: Shukram
Morocco
- Arabic: Shukran
- French: Merci
Mozambique
- Portuguese: Obrigado (Thank you, when speaking to a man)
- Portuguese: Obrigada (When speaking to a woman)
Namibia
- English: Thank you
- Afrikaans: Dankie
- Oshiwambo: Tangi unene
Nigeria
- English: Thank you
- Hausa: Nagode
- Igbo: Imena
- Yoruba: E se
Rwanda
- Kinyarwanda: Murakoze
- French: Merci
- English: Thank you
Senegal
- French: Merci
- Wolof: J erejef
Sierra Leone
- English: Thank you
- Krio: Tenkey
South Africa
- Zulu: Ngiyabonga (Thank you to one person)
- Zulu: Siyabonga (Thank you to several people)
- Xhosa: Enkosi
- Afrikaans: Dankie
- English: Thank you
Sudan
- Arabic: Shukran
Swaziland
- Swati: Ngiyabonga (Thank you to one person), Siyabonga (Thank you to several people)
- English: Thank you
Tanzania
- Swahili: Asante
- English: Thank you
Togo
- French: Merci
Tunisia
- French: Merci
- Arabic: Shukran
Uganda
- Luganda: Webale
- Swahili: Asante
- English: Thank you
Zambia
- English: Thank you
- Bemba: Natotela
Zimbabwe
- English: Thank you
- Shona: Ndatenda (Thank you to one person), Tatenda (Thank you to several people)
- Ndebele: Ngiyabonga (Thank you to one person), Siyabonga (Thank you to several people)