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Common Dinka to Kalaallisut phrases

100 practical Dinka to Kalaallisut phrases for travel, study, work, and daily conversation.

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Looking for practical Dinka to Kalaallisut phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Dinka phrase first, then the Kalaallisut translation (Kalaallisut) — 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 Kalaallisut.

Tip: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Kalaallisut-speaking trip in a few weeks.

Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Dinka to Kalaallisut 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.

  1. Yaaŋ

    Aluu (yaaŋ)

  2. Ajak

    Qujanaq (ajak)

  3. Bäny äyö

    Ullut qupp. imaarlutit (bäny äyö)

  4. Bäny kɛ̈l

    Ullut qupp. imaarlutit (bäny kɛ̈l)

  5. Bäny nyin

    Ullut qupp. imaarlutit (bäny nyin)

  6. Bäny kɛ̈l

    Ullut qupp. imaarlutit (bäny kɛ̈l)

  7. Yin kɛ̈l

    Tassunga tulluusimavunga (yin kɛ̈l)

  8. Yin kɛ̈l

    Tassunga (yin kɛ̈l)

  9. Nin kɛ̈l yïn?

    Ilinniaritsi qanoq atit? (nin kɛ̈l yïn?)

  10. Nin yïn John

    Atikuuvoq John (nin yïn John)

  11. Kɛ̈l yïn?

    Qanoq ippit? (kɛ̈l yïn?)

  12. Bäny kɛ̈l yïn

    Tassunga uanga angusinnaavunga (bäny kɛ̈l yïn)

Useful phrases for travellers

Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.

  1. Nyaac ke wic ku English?

    Ilinniaritsi qallunaatuut? (iliniaritsi qallanaat?)

  2. Aye nyin wic Hindi kɔc.

    Hindi-pit maani allaat (hindi-pit maani allaat)

  3. Aye nyin kɔc.

    Naluara (naluara)

  4. Yin kɔc ke nyin.

    Tassuma siullermik oqalukkiartorneq (tassuma siullermik oqalukkiartorneq)

  5. Yin wic ke nyin?

    Taanna ilisarit? (taanna ilisarit?)

  6. Cɔl kɛ thon?

    Qarsoq kikkulluunniit? (qarsoq kikkulluunniit?)

  7. Nyaac kɛ jɛt ke cɛl?

    Kangerlussuaq-kut kangerlussuup tungaanut qanoq ingerlaqqissinnaavunga? (kangerlussuaq-kut kangerlussuup tungaanut)

  8. Yin tɛŋ ke thok.

    Silaannaq (silaannaq)

  9. Yin tɛŋ ke kɛl.

    Timmisartoq (timmisartoq)

  10. Yin tɛŋ ke cɛl.

    Ilaqutariit (ilaqutariit)

  11. Cɔl kɛ thon?

    Kissavik qanoq? (kissavik qanoq?)

  12. Kɛl thok, yin.

    Ataaseq tikit, qaaqqi (ataaseq tikit, qaaqqi)

  13. Cɔl kɛ jɔk ke cɛl?

    Tassunga qangali? (tassunga qangali?)

  14. Aye nyin thok.

    Naluara (naluara)

  15. Cɔl kɛ jɛt ke SIM?

    SIM-kortip qanoq pissarsiarisinnaavara? (sim-kortip qanoq pissarsiarisinnaavara?)

Everyday conversation

Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.

  1. Aye

    Aap (aap)

  2. Naa

    Ila (ila)

  3. Cok

    Piginnaasat (piginnaasat)

  4. Aye nyin

    Sukumi (sukumi)

  5. Naa nyin

    Sukumiinnaq (sukumiinnaq)

  6. Käth aŋöör

    Tassuma pingaaruteqarpa (tassuma)

  7. Käŋ aŋöör?

    Qanoq isumaqarpit? (qanoq)

  8. Nyaŋ aŋöör?

    Ilannguarit? (ilannguarit)

  9. Aye bɛ̈t aŋöör

    Ilannguarit (ilannguarit)

  10. Käŋ aŋöör

    Tassunga tigua (tassunga)

  11. Aye kɛ̈l

    Uanga asanninneq (uanga)

  12. Naa kɛ̈l

    Ila, ilisarit (ila)

  13. Bɛ̈t aŋöör

    Takkulaarit (takkulaarit)

  14. Bɛ̈t aŋöör kuɔr

    Tassunga ukioq (tassunga)

  15. Käth aŋöör kuɔr

    Suli akunnittaraluaruit (suli)

Directions and getting around

Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.

  1. Cïïr yïnë kël?

    Qasigiaqanngilaq? (Cii r yin e kel)

  2. Cïïr yïnë kël jëŋ?

    Busstoppi kikkulluunniit? (Cii r yin e kel jeng)

  3. Këc yïnë kël?

    Qasigiaq kikkulluunniit? (Kec yin e kel)

  4. Këc kël yïnë?

    Kissakkut ingerlaqqippoq? (Kec kel yin e)

  5. Këc yïnë kël wël?

    Taanna ilutigalugu? (Kec yin e kel wel)

  6. Këc yïnë kël jëŋ?

    Tassunga niaqorpoq (Kec yin e kel jeng)

  7. Këc yïnë kël wël?

    Tassunga niaqorpoq (Kec yin e kel wel)

  8. Aŋë yïnë kël kɔc?

    Kujallermi takusinnaavakkit? (Ang e yin e kel koc)

  9. Nye kël jëŋ, jëŋ?

    Ilinniaritsi, taava? (Nye kel jeng jeng)

  10. Këc yïnë kël jëŋ?

    Kissakkut sivisussuseq? (Kec yin e kel jeng)

Shopping and dining

Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.

  1. Kuoth ke nyin?

    Qanoq akissagaa? (qanoq akissagaa)

  2. Nyaak ke thok kɛ̈r

    Taanna qaffasissuuvoq (taanna qaffasissuuvoq)

  3. Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r?

    Ilaat akitsunnguamik pissavutit? (ilaats akitsunnguamik pissavutit)

  4. Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɔc?

    Kardimik akilissaguit? (kardimik akilissaguit)

  5. Aye ke nyin a tɛ́bɛl kɛ̈r duɔŋ

    Manniit marluk toqqarfigissavakka (manniit marluk toqqarfigissavakka)

  6. Kɛ́l, please

    Akileraarut, please (akileraarut, please)

  7. Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɛ́l?

    Obsit ilanngullugit? (obsit ilanngullugit)

  8. Aye ke nyin a kɔc

    Vegetarian-iuvunga (vegetarian-iuvunga)

  9. Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r aŋɔr, please

    Sukkatsoq atorsinnaanngilara, please (sukkatsoq atorsinnaanngilara)

  10. Nyaak ke aŋɔr

    Tassami neriugassaavoq (tassami neriugassaavoq)

  11. Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r a menu?

    Menu-qaanga? (menu-qaanga)

  12. Aye ke nyin a kɔl aŋɔr, please

    Sukkatsoq imaq, please (sukkatsoq imaq)

Emergencies and health

Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.

  1. Bɛɛr kɔl pɔlɪs

    Suliat allattariaq (suliat allattariaq)

  2. Bɛɛr kɔl ambʊlɛns

    Ambulance allattariaq (ambulance allattariaq)

  3. A pɛɛr dɔkta

    Doktorimik pisariaqartiga (doktorimik pisariaqartiga)

  4. A jɛt kɔc

    Sukorsimavunga (sukorsimavunga)

  5. A kɛl kɔc bɛɛr pɛɛnʊt

    Pikkorissumik allaatiga (pikkorissumik allaatiga)

  6. Cɛɛr kɛ bɛɛr hɔspɪtɔl?

    Sumiippit najugassarsiorfiit? (sumiippit najugassarsiorfiit)

  7. Kɔc kɛ tɛŋ

    Tamassa nikinga (tamassa nikinga)

  8. A lɔst pɑspɔt

    Paspoortimik nikerpunga (paspoortimik nikerpunga)

  9. Kɛl bɛɛr kɔl hɔtɛl a?

    Hotelimi allattariaq? (hotelimi allattariaq)

  10. Yɛɛr!

    Naluara!

Work and business

Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.

  1. Yin ke nyin

    Tassunga nuannaarpunga (tassunga nuannaartoq)

  2. Nyaak ke nyin ke jieng

    Tassunga ataatsimiinnerup pilersaarusiorneqarnera (tassunga ataatsimiinnerup pilersaarusiorneqarnera)

  3. Cieng nyin ke jieng?

    Qanoq akunnera iluaqutaasinnaava? (qanoq akunnit)

  4. Aye ke cïe report kɛ̈t

    Oqaatsit ullumikkut nassiuppa (oqaatsit ullumikkut)

  5. Nyaak ke jieng kɛ̈t?

    Ullup akunnerani oqaloqateqarsinnaavunga? (ullup akunnerani)

  6. Nyaak ke cïe file kɛ̈t

    Tassunga allagartaq ilanngullugu takusinnaavat (tassunga allagartaq)

  7. Ayiir ke nyin kɛ̈t

    Qujanaq piffissaqit (qujanaq piffissaqit)

  8. Aye ke nyin kɛ̈t jieng

    Tassunga suleqatigiinnissaq qilanaara (tassunga suleqatigiinnissaq)

  9. Nyaak ke cïe kɛ̈t?

    Oqaatiga qanoq paasitinniarpat? (oqaatiga paasitinniarpat)

  10. Nyaak ke cïe nyin kɛ̈t

    Tassunga uagut qinerpa (tassunga qinerpa)

  11. Cieng kɛ̈t ke Friday

    Piffissaq naammassineq ulloq sisamanngorneq (piffissaq naammassineq)

Time, days and numbers

Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.

  1. Cïŋ ke cïŋ?

    Kissarit? (kisa-rit)

  2. Cïŋ kɛɛŋ thok

    Tamatumani pingasunngorpoq (tamatumani pingasunngorpoq)

  3. Kɛ̈th

    Ulloq (ulloq)

  4. Kɛ̈th kɛ̈l

    Ullumi (ullumi)

  5. Kɛ̈th kɛ̈n

    Ullumi qaammat (ullumi qaammat)

  6. Nyi̱ŋ

    Ataasinngorneq (ataasinngorneq)

  7. Nyi̱ŋ kɛ̈l

    Marlunngorneq (marlunngorneq)

  8. Nyi̱ŋ kɛ̈n

    Pingasunngorneq (pingasunngorneq)

  9. Cïŋ

    Ataaseq (ataaseq)

  10. Dɛ̈l

    Marluk (marluk)

  11. Thok

    Pingasunnguaq (pingasunnguaq)

  12. Cɛ̈l

    Qullik (qullik)

  13. Cïŋ kɛ̈l

    Mioo (mioo)

  14. Cɛ̈l kɛ̈l

    Kitsik (kitsik)

  15. Kɛ̈l

    Kujallik (kuja-llik)

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