Looking for practical Dinka to Krio phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Dinka phrase first, then the Krio translation (Krio) — 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 Krio.
Tip: read the Krio line out loud three times, then cover the Dinka side and try to recall the meaning — repetition builds memory faster than silent reading.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Dinka to Krio 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
Hello(yaaŋ)
Ajak
Tenki(ajak)
Bäny äyö
Gud mɔnin(bäny äyö)
Bäny kɛ̈l
Gud aftanun(bäny kɛ̈l)
Bäny nyin
Gud ivnin(bäny nyin)
Bäny kɛ̈l
Gud nait(bäny kɛ̈l)
Yin kɛ̈l
Si yu leta(yin kɛ̈l)
Yin kɛ̈l
Bai(yin kɛ̈l)
Nin kɛ̈l yïn?
Wetɛn na yu neym?(nin kɛ̈l yïn?)
Nin yïn John
Ma neym na John(nin yïn John)
Kɛ̈l yïn?
Ow yu de?(kɛ̈l yïn?)
Bäny kɛ̈l yïn
Naes fo mit yu(bäny kɛ̈l yïn)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Nyaac ke wic ku English?
Yu sabi English?
Aye nyin wic Hindi kɔc.
A no sabi Hindi well.
Aye nyin kɔc.
A no sabi.
Yin kɔc ke nyin.
Plis, tok slow.
Yin wic ke nyin?
Yu fit tok dat again?
Cɔl kɛ thon?
Weh na di toilet?
Nyaac kɛ jɛt ke cɛl?
Ow A go fit reach di city center?
Yin tɛŋ ke thok.
Turn left.
Yin tɛŋ ke kɛl.
Turn right.
Yin tɛŋ ke cɛl.
Go straight.
Cɔl kɛ thon?
Ow much na di fare?
Kɛl thok, yin.
One ticket, plis.
Cɔl kɛ jɔk ke cɛl?
E far from ya?
Aye nyin thok.
A don lost.
Cɔl kɛ jɛt ke SIM?
Weh A go fit buy SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Aye
Yes
Naa
No
Cok
Maybe
Aye nyin
A mi agree
Naa nyin
A no agree
Käth aŋöör
Dat na fine
Käŋ aŋöör?
Wet in you tink?
Nyaŋ aŋöör?
You fit help me?
Aye bɛ̈t aŋöör
A need help
Käŋ aŋöör
Wait small
Aye kɛ̈l
A sorry
Naa kɛ̈l
No problem
Bɛ̈t aŋöör
Congratulations
Bɛ̈t aŋöör kuɔr
Happy birthday
Käth aŋöör kuɔr
Get safe trip
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Cïïr yïnë kël?
Weh na di train station?(Cii r yin e kel)
Cïïr yïnë kël jëŋ?
Weh na di bus stop?(Cii r yin e kel jeng)
Këc yïnë kël?
Which platform na im?(Kec yin e kel)
Këc kël yïnë?
Wetin time e go lef?(Kec kel yin e)
Këc yïnë kël wël?
Dis na di right way?(Kec yin e kel wel)
Këc yïnë kël jëŋ?
E dey near here(Kec yin e kel jeng)
Këc yïnë kël wël?
E far from here(Kec yin e kel wel)
Aŋë yïnë kël kɔc?
Yu fit show me pan di map?(Ang e yin e kel koc)
Nye kël jëŋ, jëŋ?
Stop here, pliz(Nye kel jeng jeng)
Këc yïnë kël jëŋ?
How long e go tek?(Kec yin e kel jeng)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Kuoth ke nyin?
How much dis cost?(kuoth ke nyin)
Nyaak ke thok kɛ̈r
Dat too expensive.(nyaak ke thok kɛ̈r)
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r?
You get anytin wey cheaper?(aye ke nyin kɛ̈r)
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɔc?
I fit pay by card?(aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɔc)
Aye ke nyin a tɛ́bɛl kɛ̈r duɔŋ
I wan table for two.(aye ke nyin a tɛ́bɛl kɛ̈r duɔŋ)
Kɛ́l, please
Di bill, please.(kɛ́l, please)
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɛ́l?
Service dey include?(aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɛ́l)
Aye ke nyin a kɔc
I na vegetarian.(aye ke nyin a kɔc)
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r aŋɔr, please
No spicy food, please.(aye ke nyin kɛ̈r aŋɔr, please)
Nyaak ke aŋɔr
Dis dey sweet.(nyaak ke aŋɔr)
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r a menu?
I fit get di menu?(aye ke nyin kɛ̈r a menu)
Aye ke nyin a kɔl aŋɔr, please
A glass of water, please.(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
Call di police
Bɛɛr kɔl ambʊlɛns
Call ambulance
A pɛɛr dɔkta
A need doctor
A jɛt kɔc
A dey feel sick
A kɛl kɔc bɛɛr pɛɛnʊt
A get allergy for peanuts
Cɛɛr kɛ bɛɛr hɔspɪtɔl?
Weh di nearest hospital de?
Kɔc kɛ tɛŋ
E dey pain here
A lɔst pɑspɔt
A don lose mi passport
Kɛl bɛɛr kɔl hɔtɛl a?
You fit call mi hotel?
Yɛɛr!
Help!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Yin ke nyin
Na nice for meet you(Yin ke nyin)
Nyaak ke nyin ke jieng
Make we plan wan meeting(Nyaak ke nyin ke jieng)
Cieng nyin ke jieng?
Wetin time go work for you?(Cieng nyin ke jieng?)
Aye ke cïe report kɛ̈t
A go send di report tiday(Aye ke cïe report kɛ̈t)
Nyaak ke jieng kɛ̈t?
We go fit talk tomorrow?(Nyaak ke jieng kɛ̈t?)
Nyaak ke cïe file kɛ̈t
Abeg find di file wey attach(Nyaak ke cïe file kɛ̈t)
Ayiir ke nyin kɛ̈t
Tenki for your time(Ayiir ke nyin kɛ̈t)
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈t jieng
A dey look forward for work with you(Aye ke nyin kɛ̈t jieng)
Nyaak ke cïe kɛ̈t?
You fit clarify dat point?(Nyaak ke cïe kɛ̈t?)
Nyaak ke cïe nyin kɛ̈t
Make I get back to you(Nyaak ke cïe nyin kɛ̈t)
Cieng kɛ̈t ke Friday
Di deadline na Friday(Cieng kɛ̈t ke Friday)
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.