Looking for practical Dinka to Kanuri phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Dinka phrase first, then the Kanuri translation (Kanuri) — 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 Kanuri.
Tip: pick five Kanuri 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 Dinka to Kanuri 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.
Yaaŋ
Sannu(yaaŋ)
Ajak
Nagode(ajak)
Bäny äyö
Ina kwana(bäny äyö)
Bäny kɛ̈l
Ina yamma(bäny kɛ̈l)
Bäny nyin
Ina dare(bäny nyin)
Bäny kɛ̈l
Sai da safe(bäny kɛ̈l)
Yin kɛ̈l
Zan ganka(yin kɛ̈l)
Yin kɛ̈l
Sai anjima(yin kɛ̈l)
Nin kɛ̈l yïn?
Menene sunanka?(nin kɛ̈l yïn?)
Nin yïn John
Sunana John(nin yïn John)
Kɛ̈l yïn?
Lafiya lau?(kɛ̈l yïn?)
Bäny kɛ̈l yïn
Na ji dadin haduwa da kai(bäny kɛ̈l yïn)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Nyaac ke wic ku English?
Kuna magana da Turanci?
Aye nyin wic Hindi kɔc.
Ba na magana da Hindi sosai.
Aye nyin kɔc.
Ba na fahimta.
Yin kɔc ke nyin.
Don Allah, ku yi magana a hankali.
Yin wic ke nyin?
Za ku iya faɗin hakan sake?
Cɔl kɛ thon?
Ina wanka?
Nyaac kɛ jɛt ke cɛl?
Ta yaya zan isa tsakiyar birni?
Yin tɛŋ ke thok.
Juya hagu.
Yin tɛŋ ke kɛl.
Juya dama.
Yin tɛŋ ke cɛl.
Tafiya kai tsaye.
Cɔl kɛ thon?
Nawa ne farashin?
Kɛl thok, yin.
Tiket ɗaya, don Allah.
Cɔl kɛ jɔk ke cɛl?
Shin yana da nisa daga nan?
Aye nyin thok.
Na ɓace.
Cɔl kɛ jɛt ke SIM?
Ina zan iya sayen kati na SIM?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Aye
Eey(ee-y)
Naa
A'a(ah-ah)
Cok
Wata(wah-tah)
Aye nyin
Na amu(nah ah-moo)
Naa nyin
Na a'a amu(nah ah-ah ah-moo)
Käth aŋöör
Iya na(ee-yah nah)
Käŋ aŋöör?
Kaya ka yi tunani?(kah-yah kah yee too-nah-nee)
Nyaŋ aŋöör?
Za ka iya taimaka min?(zah kah ee-yah tie-mah-kah meen)
Aye bɛ̈t aŋöör
Na bukaci taimako(nah boo-kah-chee tie-mah-koh)
Käŋ aŋöör
Duba dan lokaci(doo-bah dahn loh-kah-chee)
Aye kɛ̈l
Na yi hakuri(nah yee hah-koo-ree)
Naa kɛ̈l
Babu matsala(bah-boo maht-sah-lah)
Bɛ̈t aŋöör
Taya murna(tah-yah moor-nah)
Bɛ̈t aŋöör kuɔr
Barka da haihuwa(bar-kah dah hai-hoo-wah)
Käth aŋöör kuɔr
Ka yi tafiya lafiya(kah yee tah-fee-yah lah-fee-yah)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Cïïr yïnë kël?
Nye boko na gari?(Cii r yin e kel)
Cïïr yïnë kël jëŋ?
Nye boko na bas?(Cii r yin e kel jeng)
Këc yïnë kël?
Wane boko na?(Kec yin e kel)
Këc kël yïnë?
Wane lokaci ya tafi?(Kec kel yin e)
Këc yïnë kël wël?
Shin wannan hanya ce?(Kec yin e kel wel)
Këc yïnë kël jëŋ?
Yana kusa da nan(Kec yin e kel jeng)
Këc yïnë kël wël?
Yana nesa da nan(Kec yin e kel wel)
Aŋë yïnë kël kɔc?
Za ka iya nuna mini a taswirar?(Ang e yin e kel koc)
Nye kël jëŋ, jëŋ?
Tsaida nan, don Allah(Nye kel jeng jeng)
Këc yïnë kël jëŋ?
Yaya tsawon lokaci?(Kec yin e kel jeng)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Kuoth ke nyin?
Nayi na kudi?(Nayi na kudi?)
Nyaak ke thok kɛ̈r
Wannan ya yi tsada sosai.(nyaak ke thok kɛ̈r)
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r?
Shin kuna da wani abu mai rahusa?(aye ke nyin kɛ̈r)
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɔc?
Zan iya biyan kudi da kati?(aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɔc)
Aye ke nyin a tɛ́bɛl kɛ̈r duɔŋ
Ina so tebur don biyu.(aye ke nyin a tɛ́bɛl kɛ̈r duɔŋ)
Kɛ́l, please
Lissafi, don Allah.(kɛ́l, please)
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɛ́l?
Shin sabis ya haɗa?(aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɛ́l)
Aye ke nyin a kɔc
Ni mai ganyayyaki ne.(aye ke nyin a kɔc)
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r aŋɔr, please
Ba tare da zaki ba, don Allah.(aye ke nyin kɛ̈r aŋɔr, please)
Nyaak ke aŋɔr
Wannan yana da dadi.(nyaak ke aŋɔr)
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r a menu?
Zan iya samun menu?(aye ke nyin kɛ̈r a menu)
Aye ke nyin a kɔl aŋɔr, please
Kofin ruwa, don Allah.(aye ke nyin a kɔl aŋɔr, please)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Bɛɛr kɔl pɔlɪs
Dawari janga(Dawari janga)
Bɛɛr kɔl ambʊlɛns
Dawari ambulan(Dawari ambulan)
A pɛɛr dɔkta
Ni na doctor(Ni na doctor)
A jɛt kɔc
Ni na jaga(Ni na jaga)
A kɛl kɔc bɛɛr pɛɛnʊt
Ni na haji goro(Ni na haji goro)
Cɛɛr kɛ bɛɛr hɔspɪtɔl?
Ina asibiti na kusa?(Ina asibiti na kusa?)
Kɔc kɛ tɛŋ
Yana ciwo a nan(Yana ciwo a nan)
A lɔst pɑspɔt
Ni na rasa passport na(Ni na rasa passport na)
Kɛl bɛɛr kɔl hɔtɛl a?
Za ka iya dawari otel na?(Za ka iya dawari otel na?)
Yɛɛr!
Taimako!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Yin ke nyin
Nde gaishe(nde gaishe)
Nyaak ke nyin ke jieng
Mu gaishe taro(mu gaishe taro)
Cieng nyin ke jieng?
Wai gaishe lokaci?(wai gaishe lokaci)
Aye ke cïe report kɛ̈t
Zan tura rahoto yau(zan tura rahoto yau)
Nyaak ke jieng kɛ̈t?
Zamu iya magana gobe?(zamu iya magana gobe)
Nyaak ke cïe file kɛ̈t
Don Allah ka sami fayil din da aka makala(don Allah ka sami fayil din da aka makala)
Ayiir ke nyin kɛ̈t
Na gode da lokacinka(na gode da lokacinka)
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈t jieng
Ina fatan aiki tare da kai(ina fatan aiki tare da kai)
Nyaak ke cïe kɛ̈t?
Za ka iya fayyace wannan batu?(za ka iya fayyace wannan batu)