Looking for practical Bemba to Nuer phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Bemba phrase first, then the Nuer translation (Nuer) — so you can scan quickly before a trip, class, or video call.
The phrases are grouped into eight topics: greetings and pleasantries, useful phrases for travellers, everyday conversation, directions and getting around, shopping and dining, emergencies and health, work and business, and time, days and numbers. Use the table of contents to jump straight to greetings, directions, dining, emergencies, or numbers. You do not need perfect grammar to start — short, clear sentences often work better than silence when you are learning Nuer.
Tip: pick five Nuer phrases from the greetings section and use them in a real message today. Small daily practice beats cramming before a trip.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Bemba to Nuer translator to paste your own messages and get an instant translation.
Greetings and pleasantries
Hello, goodbye, please, thank you, and polite introductions for meeting new people.
Shani
Nhiar
Natotela
Nyaak
Muli shani
Nhiar gɔ̈ɔ̈r
Muli shani
Nhiar aŋɔ̈r
Muli shani
Nhiar aŋɔ̈r
Shalenipo bwino
Nhiar kɔ̈c
Tukakutana
Aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n
Twalumba
Kɛ̈n
Iwe ulishani?
Cɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n?
Ndefwaya John
Cɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r John
Uli bwanji?
Cɛ̈l kɛ̈n?
Nashitasha kukumona
Kɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Ulyashi ulukanda mu Chingereza?
Nyaac ke nyin English?
Ndefwaya ukulanda Hindi bwino
Nyaac ma nyin Hindi ke nyin.
Ndefwaya kumfwa
Nyaac ma nyin.
Nimwandi ulukanda buteko
Yin ke nyin kɛl.
Ningaloleleko?
Yin ke nyin kɛl a thok?
Ili kuti ikalamba?
Yin thok a kɛl?
Ningalileka shani ku city center?
Nyaac ke nyin a city center?
Fumya kumwendo
Yin ke nyin a laar.
Fumya kumwendo
Yin ke nyin a jɛŋ.
Enda pamo
Yin ke nyin a thok.
Kuli shani ifyabukata?
Yin ke nyin a kɛl?
Ticket imwe, nomba
Yin ke nyin a ticket.
Kuli lishilu ukulya?
Yin ke nyin a thok?
Ndi lost
Nyaac ke nyin.
Ili kuti nindeke SIM card?
Yin thok a kɛl a SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Eya
Aye
Awe
Naa
Panga
Nyaak
Ndi bwino
Nyeek a kech
Ndi bwino na
Nyeek a kech naa
Ilyo lishibukile
Iye kech kɛl
Uchite shani?
Nyaak a kech?
Ushakufwa?
Nyaak a kech a jɔɔr?
Ndefwaya ifyakufwa
Nyeek a jɔɔr kɛl
Leka ifi
Kɛl a jɔɔr
Nshakufwa
Nyeek a kech
Takwaba shani
Naa a kech kɛl
Nshakufwa bwino
Aye kɛl
Nashala bwino mu mwaka
Aye kɛl a wɛr
Ube na mulimo wabwino
Kɛl a jɔɔr a jɛɛr
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Uli kuti ikalamba ya chitima?
Känyë kɛ́l wɛ́l?(Känyë kɛl wel)
Uli kuti icikalo ca bisi?
Känyë kɛ́l bɔ́l?(Känyë kɛl bol)
Ninshi ni platform iyi?
Kɛ́l bɛ́t kɛ́t?(Kel bet ket)
Ninshi ikalamba?
Kɛ́l wɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́t?(Kel wel it ket)
Ninshi iyi ni njira shabwino?
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l wɛ́l?(Kel it kel wel)
Ili pamo na pano.
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l kɛ́l?(Kel it kel kel)
Ili lishilu na pano.
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l jɔ́l?(Kel it kel jol)
Ushibukishe pa mape?
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l pɛ́t kɛ́t?(Kel it kel pet ket)
Leka pano, chonde.
Kɛ́l jɛ́l kɛ́l, pɛ́l?(Kel jel kel pel)
Kuli shani?
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l jɔ́l kɛ́t?(Kel it kel jol ket)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Ili shani?
Nyaak cɛl?(nyaak chel)
Ili lya kuli
Kɛl yic kɛc(kel yich kech)
Muli na chimo chibulu?
Yin kɛl nyin cɛl?(yin kel nyin chel)
Ningakupanga na kadi?
Nyaak tɛr kɛl kɛc?(nyaak ter kel kech)
Ningakonda itabo lyakupanga abali babili
Nyaak cɛl kɛl tɛbɛl kɛl nyin(nyaak chel kel tebel kel nyin)
Icilanga, tapali
Nyaak cɛl kɛl bɛl(nyaak chel kel bel)
Ubufyashi bwakupanga?
Yin kɛl cɛl kɛl tɛr?(yin kel chel kel ter)
Ndi mvegetarian
Nyaak cɛl wɛr(nyaak chel wer)
Nshikala na fya spicy, tapali
Nyaak cɛl kɛl wɛr kɛc(nyaak chel kel wer kech)
Ili lya bwino
Kɛl cɛl kɛl nyin(kel chel kel nyin)
Ningakonda ifyalo?
Nyaak cɛl kɛl mɛn?(nyaak chel kel men)
Icupa ca mvula, tapali
Nyaak cɛl kɛl gɛl wɛt(nyaak chel kel gel wet)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Tuma abashitisha
Cïl wïr(cil wir)
Tuma ambulance
Cïl an ambulance(cil an ambulance)
Nshikala na doctor
Aŋ thïr a doctor(ang thir a doctor)
Nshikala bwino
Aŋ kɔc(ang koc)
Ndi na allergy ku nsalu
Aŋ kɔc a pïyït(ang koc a piyit)
Ili kuti hospital ya pafupi?
Cït kɛ̈n hospital?(cit ken hospital)
Kuli ububi pano
Cïk bɛ̈t(cik bet)
Nashitile passport yangu
Aŋ kɛ̈n passport(ang ken passport)
Nawe tuma hotel yangu?
Aŋ kɛ̈n cïl my hotel?(ang ken cil my hotel)
Chikondi!
Kɛ̈n!(ken)
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Nashamukeni
Nyeu ke nyin(nyin = meet)
Tulefwaya ukusanga
Nyeu ke jɔɔr ke nyin(tu-le-fwa-ya u-ku-sanga)
Ninshi ifikala bwino kwa iwe?
Kɛ kɛth jɔɔr a ke?(nin-shi i-fi-ka-la bwi-no kwa i-we)
Nizakutuma ifishina lelo
Nyeu ke kɛc report kɛ jɔɔl(ni-za-ku-tu-ma i-fi-shi-na le-lo)
Twafwaya ukusambilila lero?
Nyeu ke jɔɔr kɛ bɛt?(twa-fwa-ya u-ku-sam-bi-li-la le-ro)