Looking for practical Dinka to Mam phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Dinka phrase first, then the Mam translation (Mam) — 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 Mam.
Tip: pick five Mam phrases from the greetings section and use them in a real message today. Small daily practice beats cramming before a trip.
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Greetings and pleasantries
Hello, goodbye, please, thank you, and polite introductions for meeting new people.
Yaaŋ
Xo'j(sho'j)
Ajak
Tz'ik(tz'ik)
Bäny äyö
Xo'j nax(sho'j nax)
Bäny kɛ̈l
Xo'j q'ij(sho'j q'ij)
Bäny nyin
Xo'j k'ux(sho'j k'ux)
Bäny kɛ̈l
Xo'j k'ux nax(sho'j k'ux nax)
Yin kɛ̈l
K'ux q'ij(k'ux q'ij)
Yin kɛ̈l
Xo'j k'ux(sho'j k'ux)
Nin kɛ̈l yïn?
Ja' k'ux nax?(ha' k'ux nax?)
Nin yïn John
Ja' k'ux nax John(ha' k'ux nax John)
Kɛ̈l yïn?
Jach' k'ux?(hach' k'ux?)
Bäny kɛ̈l yïn
Nab' k'ux(nab' k'ux)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Nyaac ke wic ku English?
¿K'ax k'utun English?
Aye nyin wic Hindi kɔc.
Nek'ux k'utun Hindi k'ax k'utun.
Aye nyin kɔc.
Nek'ux k'ax k'utun.
Yin kɔc ke nyin.
Por favor, k'utun k'ux.
Yin wic ke nyin?
¿K'ax k'utun k'ux?
Cɔl kɛ thon?
¿Jach'och k'ux?
Nyaac kɛ jɛt ke cɛl?
¿Jach'och k'ux ch'ich'?
Yin tɛŋ ke thok.
K'utun k'ux.
Yin tɛŋ ke kɛl.
K'utun k'ux.
Yin tɛŋ ke cɛl.
K'utun k'ux.
Cɔl kɛ thon?
¿K'ax k'ux ch'ich'?
Kɛl thok, yin.
K'utun ch'ich', por favor.
Cɔl kɛ jɔk ke cɛl?
¿K'ax k'ux jach'och?
Aye nyin thok.
Nek'ux k'ax k'ux.
Cɔl kɛ jɛt ke SIM?
¿Jach'och k'ux k'utun SIM?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Aye
Juj(hoo)
Naa
Man(mah)
Cok
K'ux(k'ush)
Aye nyin
Juj k'ux(hoo k'ush)
Naa nyin
Man k'ux(mah k'ush)
Käth aŋöör
K'ux juj(k'ush hoo)
Käŋ aŋöör?
¿Juj k'ux k'ut?(¿hoo k'ush k'ut?)
Nyaŋ aŋöör?
¿Juj k'ux juj k'ux?(¿hoo k'ush hoo k'ush?)
Aye bɛ̈t aŋöör
Juj k'ux juj k'ux k'ut(hoo k'ush hoo k'ut)
Käŋ aŋöör
K'ux k'ut(k'ush k'ut)
Aye kɛ̈l
Juj k'ux k'ut(hoo k'ush k'ut)
Naa kɛ̈l
Man k'ux k'ut(mah k'ush k'ut)
Bɛ̈t aŋöör
K'ux juj k'ut(k'ush hoo k'ut)
Bɛ̈t aŋöör kuɔr
K'ux juj k'ut k'ux(k'ush hoo k'ut k'ush)
Käth aŋöör kuɔr
K'ux juj k'ut k'ux(k'ush hoo k'ut k'ush)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Cïïr yïnë kël?
¿Jujuk pa ri tren?(Cii r yin e kel)
Cïïr yïnë kël jëŋ?
¿Jujuk pa ri bus?(Cii r yin e kel jeng)
Këc yïnë kël?
¿K'ux ri plataforma?(Kec yin e kel)
Këc kël yïnë?
¿K'ux ri tiempo pa k'ux?(Kec kel yin e)
Këc yïnë kël wël?
¿¿K'ux ri camino?(Kec yin e kel wel)
Këc yïnë kël jëŋ?
Ri k'ut pa ri.(Kec yin e kel jeng)
Këc yïnë kël wël?
Ri k'ut pa ri k'ul.(Kec yin e kel wel)
Aŋë yïnë kël kɔc?
¿¿K'ux k'ut ri mapa?(Ang e yin e kel koc)
Nye kël jëŋ, jëŋ?
¿¿K'ut pa ri, por favor?(Nye kel jeng jeng)
Këc yïnë kël jëŋ?
¿¿K'ux ri tiempo?(Kec yin e kel jeng)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.