Krio overview

Free Krio starter kit — 25 phrases you can print

A one-page Krio cheat sheet for absolute beginners. Every phrase shows the Krio spelling, what it means, and a respelling with the stressed syllable in capitals so you can say it out loud today. Sierra Leonearound 7 million including second-language speakers.

First words

Greet someone and be polite

  • KusheHello/koo-SHEH/
  • TenkiThank you/TEN-kee/
  • Yu welkamWelcome/yoo WEL-kam/
  • A dey goGoodbye/a day GOH/
  • YesYes/YES/
  • NorNo/NOR/
  • DuyaPlease/DOO-ya/
  • SoriSorry/SO-ree/

Free starter kit

Get all 25 Krio phrases

Enter your email and the full printable Krio starter kit opens right here — every phrase, meaning and pronunciation respelling. We'll also send one short daily phrase so it actually sticks. Unsubscribe from any email.

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Is Krio hard to learn?

  • Vocabulary is largely English-derived, but grammar follows West African patterns.
  • Tense and aspect are marked with separate words, not verb endings.
  • Pronunciation drifts far from English spelling.