Krio Language Guide Essential Phrases for Sierra Leone Visitors

Learn Krio — Sierra Leone's beloved lingua franca. Essential greetings, useful phrases, numbers and market Krio to transform your reception from tourist to welcome guest.

Why Krio Changes Everything

English is official, but Krio is the language of the street, the market, the friendship. Learning even 20 phrases transforms your reception from "tourist" to "person who tried" — and Sierra Leoneans genuinely light up with delight when a visitor speaks Krio. It is the single most rewarding cultural investment you can make before travelling.

Essential Greetings

• How de body? — How are you?
• Fine, thank God / Body fine — I am fine, thank God (standard response)
• How di morning? — Good morning
• How di afternoon? — Good afternoon
• Wetin yu nem? — What is your name?
• Mi nem na [name] — My name is [name]
• We yu de go? — Where are you going?

Useful Daily Phrases

• Tenki / Tenki ya — Thank you / Thank you very much
• No wahala — No problem
• Wetin dis? — What is this?
• Aw much dis cost? — How much does this cost?
• Dat di pri too much — That price is too much (bargaining)
• Make yu lower am — Please lower the price
• A wan [item] — I want [item]
• Ples — Please
• Stop ya — Stop here (in taxi or poda-poda)
• E far? — Is it far?

Numbers

• 1 wan, 2 tu, 3 tri, 4 fo, 5 faiv, 6 siks, 7 seven, 8 et, 9 nain, 10 ten
• 100 wan ondred, 1000 wan touzan

Emergencies

• Elp mi — Help me
• A sik — I am sick
• Usai di ospital de? — Where is the hospital?
• Kol di polis — Call the police