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Common Dinka to Lingala phrases

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

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

Tip: pick five Lingala 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 Lingala 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

    Mbote (yaaŋ)

  2. Ajak

    Melesi (ajak)

  3. Bäny äyö

    Mbote na ntango ya mokolo (bäny äyö)

  4. Bäny kɛ̈l

    Mbote na ntango ya midi (bäny kɛ̈l)

  5. Bäny nyin

    Mbote na ntango ya soir (bäny nyin)

  6. Bäny kɛ̈l

    Malamu na butu (bäny kɛ̈l)

  7. Yin kɛ̈l

    Tala yo nsima (yin kɛ̈l)

  8. Yin kɛ̈l

    Kende malamu (yin kɛ̈l)

  9. Nin kɛ̈l yïn?

    Nkombo na yo nani? (nin kɛ̈l yïn?)

  10. Nin yïn John

    Nkombo na ngai ezali John (nin yïn John)

  11. Kɛ̈l yïn?

    Ozalaki malamu? (kɛ̈l yïn?)

  12. Bäny kɛ̈l yïn

    Nayoki malamu na yo (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?

    Ozali koloba lingala? (ozali koloba lingala)

  2. Aye nyin wic Hindi kɔc.

    Nasalaka hindi malamu te (nasalaka hindi malamu te)

  3. Aye nyin kɔc.

    Nalingi te (nalingi te)

  4. Yin kɔc ke nyin.

    S'il vous plaît, koloba butu (koloba butu)

  5. Yin wic ke nyin?

    Okoki koloba yango lisusu? (okoki koloba yango lisusu)

  6. Cɔl kɛ thon?

    Bato ya nzoto ezali wapi? (bato ya nzoto)

  7. Nyaac kɛ jɛt ke cɛl?

    Nakanisi ndenge nini nakokende na centre? (nakokende na centre)

  8. Yin tɛŋ ke thok.

    Tika na mobali (tika na mobali)

  9. Yin tɛŋ ke kɛl.

    Tika na mwasi (tika na mwasi)

  10. Yin tɛŋ ke cɛl.

    Kende na ntango (kende na ntango)

  11. Cɔl kɛ thon?

    Mbala nini ezali? (mbala nini)

  12. Kɛl thok, yin.

    Billet moko, s'il vous plaît (billet moko)

  13. Cɔl kɛ jɔk ke cɛl?

    Ezali na esika ya mbali? (ezali na esika ya mbali)

  14. Aye nyin thok.

    Nazali na esika ya mabe (nazali na esika ya mabe)

  15. Cɔl kɛ jɛt ke SIM?

    Nakanisi wapi nakokota SIM card? (nakokota SIM card)

Everyday conversation

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

  1. Aye

    Oyo

  2. Naa

    Te

  3. Cok

    Soki

  4. Aye nyin

    Nalingi

  5. Naa nyin

    Nalingi te

  6. Käth aŋöör

    Eza malamu

  7. Käŋ aŋöör?

    Oyo olingi nini?

  8. Nyaŋ aŋöör?

    Okoki kosalisa ngai?

  9. Aye bɛ̈t aŋöör

    Naza na bosenga ya kosalisa

  10. Käŋ aŋöör

    Sunga moke

  11. Aye kɛ̈l

    Nasalaki mabe

  12. Naa kɛ̈l

    Nani azali na problème

  13. Bɛ̈t aŋöör

    Mokolo malamu

  14. Bɛ̈t aŋöör kuɔr

    Mokolo ya mbotama malamu

  15. Käth aŋöör kuɔr

    Zala na nzela ya malamu

Directions and getting around

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

  1. Cïïr yïnë kël?

    Eko zali wapi? (Eko zali wapi?)

  2. Cïïr yïnë kël jëŋ?

    Eko zali wapi na bis? (Cii r yin e kel jeng)

  3. Këc yïnë kël?

    Eko zali na esika nini? (Kec yin e kel)

  4. Këc kël yïnë?

    Ekozanga na ntango nini? (Kec kel yin e)

  5. Këc yïnë kël wël?

    Oyo ezali nzela ya malamu? (Kec yin e kel wel)

  6. Këc yïnë kël jëŋ?

    Ezali pene awa. (Kec yin e kel jeng)

  7. Këc yïnë kël wël?

    Ezali mbali awa. (Kec yin e kel wel)

  8. Aŋë yïnë kël kɔc?

    Okoki kolakisa ngai na kati ya mape? (Ang e yin e kel koc)

  9. Nye kël jëŋ, jëŋ?

    Tika awa, s'il vous plaît. (Nye kel jeng jeng)

  10. Këc yïnë kël jëŋ?

    Ekozala ntango nini? (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?

    Mbongo ya yango eza nini? (kuoth ke nyin)

  2. Nyaak ke thok kɛ̈r

    Yango eza mabe na mbongo. (nyaak ke thok kɛ̈r)

  3. Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r?

    Ozali na makambo mosusu ya mbongo moke? (aye ke nyin kɛ̈r)

  4. Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɔc?

    Nalingi kobonga na carte? (aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɔc)

  5. Aye ke nyin a tɛ́bɛl kɛ̈r duɔŋ

    Nalingi meka mpo na mibale. (aye ke nyin a tɛ́bɛl kɛ̈r duɔŋ)

  6. Kɛ́l, please

    Liyangani, s'il vous plaît. (kɛ́l, please)

  7. Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɛ́l?

    Service eza na kati? (aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɛ́l)

  8. Aye ke nyin a kɔc

    Nazali mvegetarian. (aye ke nyin a kɔc)

  9. Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r aŋɔr, please

    Bokoya biloko ya mabe, s'il vous plaît. (aye ke nyin kɛ̈r aŋɔr, please)

  10. Nyaak ke aŋɔr

    Yango ezali malamu. (nyaak ke aŋɔr)

  11. Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r a menu?

    Nalingi menu, s'il vous plaît. (aye ke nyin kɛ̈r a menu)

  12. Aye ke nyin a kɔl aŋɔr, please

    Leki ya mayi, s'il vous plaît. (aye ke nyin a kɔl aŋɔr, please)

Emergencies and health

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

  1. Bɛɛr kɔl pɔlɪs

    Tindá polisi

  2. Bɛɛr kɔl ambʊlɛns

    Tindá ambulance

  3. A pɛɛr dɔkta

    Nalingi médecin

  4. A jɛt kɔc

    Nazali na maladi

  5. A kɛl kɔc bɛɛr pɛɛnʊt

    Nazali na allergie na mbala

  6. Cɛɛr kɛ bɛɛr hɔspɪtɔl?

    Hospital ya liboso ezali wapi?

  7. Kɔc kɛ tɛŋ

    Ezalaka na nse awa

  8. A lɔst pɑspɔt

    Nazwi passport na ngai

  9. Kɛl bɛɛr kɔl hɔtɛl a?

    Okoki kotinda hôtel na ngai?

  10. Yɛɛr!

    S.O.S!

Work and business

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

  1. Yin ke nyin

    Nasepeli na yo (Yin ke nyin)

  2. Nyaak ke nyin ke jieng

    Tika tozala na mitema (Nyaak ke nyin ke jieng)

  3. Cieng nyin ke jieng?

    Ngai nalobi ntango nini ekozala malamu na yo? (Cieng nyin ke jieng?)

  4. Aye ke cïe report kɛ̈t

    Naboya raport lelo (Aye ke cïe report kɛ̈t)

  5. Nyaak ke jieng kɛ̈t?

    Tango tozali na mposo? (Nyaak ke jieng kɛ̈t?)

  6. Nyaak ke cïe file kɛ̈t

    S'il vous plaît, tala fichier oyo ezali na nzela (Nyaak ke cïe file kɛ̈t)

  7. Ayiir ke nyin kɛ̈t

    Mersi mpo na ntango na yo (Ayiir ke nyin kɛ̈t)

  8. Aye ke nyin kɛ̈t jieng

    Nasalela yo na mosala (Aye ke nyin kɛ̈t jieng)

  9. Nyaak ke cïe kɛ̈t?

    Okoki kosala likambo yango malamu? (Nyaak ke cïe kɛ̈t?)

  10. Nyaak ke cïe nyin kɛ̈t

    Napesi yo nzela (Nyaak ke cïe nyin kɛ̈t)

  11. Cieng kɛ̈t ke Friday

    Mokolo ya kokanga ezali Vendredi (Cieng kɛ̈t ke Friday)

Time, days and numbers

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

  1. Cïŋ ke cïŋ?

    Nini tango ezali? (ni-ni tan-go e-za-li)

  2. Cïŋ kɛɛŋ thok

    Ezali ntango ya misato (e-za-li n-tan-go ya mi-sa-to)

  3. Kɛ̈th

    Lelo (Keth)

  4. Kɛ̈th kɛ̈l

    Bokoko (Keth kel)

  5. Kɛ̈th kɛ̈n

    Kaka (Keth ken)

  6. Nyi̱ŋ

    Lundi (Nying)

  7. Nyi̱ŋ kɛ̈l

    Mardi (Nying kel)

  8. Nyi̱ŋ kɛ̈n

    Mercredi (Nying ken)

  9. Cïŋ

    Moko (Cing)

  10. Dɛ̈l

    Mbala (Del)

  11. Thok

    Misato (Thok)

  12. Cɛ̈l

    Libwa (Cel)

  13. Cïŋ kɛ̈l

    Sankuru (Cing kel)

  14. Cɛ̈l kɛ̈l

    Bato (Cel kel)

  15. Kɛ̈l

    Soki (Kel)

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