Looking for practical Dinka to Somali phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Dinka phrase first, then the Somali translation (Somali) — 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 Somali.
Tip: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Somali-speaking trip in a few weeks.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Dinka to Somali 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
Salaan(yaaŋ)
Ajak
Mahadsanid(ajak)
Bäny äyö
Subax wanaagsan(bäny äyö)
Bäny kɛ̈l
Duhur wanaagsan(bäny kɛ̈l)
Bäny nyin
Habeen wanaagsan(bäny nyin)
Bäny kɛ̈l
Habeen wanaagsan(bäny kɛ̈l)
Yin kɛ̈l
Ilaa dambe(yin kɛ̈l)
Yin kɛ̈l
Nabad gelyo(yin kɛ̈l)
Nin kɛ̈l yïn?
Magacaa maxay tahay?(nin kɛ̈l yïn?)
Nin yïn John
Magacaygu waa John(nin yïn John)
Kɛ̈l yïn?
Sidee tahay?(kɛ̈l yïn?)
Bäny kɛ̈l yïn
Aad ayaan ugu faraxsanahay in aan ku arko(bäny kɛ̈l yïn)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Nyaac ke wic ku English?
Ma ku hadashaa Ingiriisi?(Ma ku hadashaa Ingiriisi?)
Aye nyin wic Hindi kɔc.
Hindi si fiican uma hadlo
Aye nyin kɔc.
Ma fahmin
Yin kɔc ke nyin.
Fadlan si tartiib ah u hadal
Yin wic ke nyin?
Ma ku celin kartaa?
Cɔl kɛ thon?
Musqusha xaggee buu yaalaa?
Nyaac kɛ jɛt ke cɛl?
Sideen ku gaari karaa xarunta magaalada?
Yin tɛŋ ke thok.
Bidix u leexo
Yin tɛŋ ke kɛl.
Midig u leexo
Yin tɛŋ ke cɛl.
Toos u soco
Cɔl kɛ thon?
Immisa ayey tahay lacagta?
Kɛl thok, yin.
Hal tigidh, fadlan
Cɔl kɛ jɔk ke cɛl?
Ma fog tahay halkan?
Aye nyin thok.
Waan lumay
Cɔl kɛ jɛt ke SIM?
Xaggee ka iibsan karaa kaarka SIM?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Aye
Haa
Naa
Maya
Cok
Malaha
Aye nyin
Waan ku raacsanahay
Naa nyin
Waan ku raacsaneyn
Käth aŋöör
Taasi waa wax fiican
Käŋ aŋöör?
Maxaad u malaynaysaa?
Nyaŋ aŋöör?
Ma i caawin kartaa?
Aye bɛ̈t aŋöör
Waxaan u baahanahay caawimaad
Käŋ aŋöör
Sug daqiiqad
Aye kɛ̈l
Waan ka xumahay
Naa kɛ̈l
Dhib malahan
Bɛ̈t aŋöör
Hambalyo
Bɛ̈t aŋöör kuɔr
Dhalasho wacan
Käth aŋöör kuɔr
Safar wanaagsan
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Cïïr yïnë kël?
Xagee buu tareenka jooga?(Cii r yin e kel)
Cïïr yïnë kël jëŋ?
Xagee buu basaska jooga?(Cii r yin e kel jeng)
Këc yïnë kël?
Keenka sidee buu yahay?(Kec yin e kel)
Këc kël yïnë?
Goormee ayuu baxayaa?(Kec kel yin e)
Këc yïnë kël wël?
Ma tan saxda ah?(Kec yin e kel wel)
Këc yïnë kël jëŋ?
Waa halkan u dhow(Kec yin e kel jeng)
Këc yïnë kël wël?
Waa halkan fog(Kec yin e kel wel)
Aŋë yïnë kël kɔc?
Ma ii muujin kartaa khariidada?(Ang e yin e kel koc)
Nye kël jëŋ, jëŋ?
Halkan joog, fadlan(Nye kel jeng jeng)
Këc yïnë kël jëŋ?
Immisa waqti ayey qaadaneysaa?(Kec yin e kel jeng)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Kuoth ke nyin?
Imisa ayuu ku kacayaa?(kuoth ke nyin)
Nyaak ke thok kɛ̈r
Taasi waa qaali aad u badan.(nyaak ke thok kɛ̈r)
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r?
Ma haysta wax ka jaban?(aye ke nyin kɛ̈r)
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɔc?
Ma bixin karaa kaarka?(aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɔc)
Aye ke nyin a tɛ́bɛl kɛ̈r duɔŋ
Waxaan jeclaan lahaa miis laba qof ah.(aye ke nyin a tɛ́bɛl kɛ̈r duɔŋ)
Kɛ́l, please
Fadlan, biilka.(kɛ́l, please)
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɛ́l?
Ma ku jirtaa adeegga?(aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɛ́l)
Aye ke nyin a kɔc
Anigu waxaan ahay khudradeed.(aye ke nyin a kɔc)
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r aŋɔr, please
Fadlan, cunto aan xawaash lahayn.(aye ke nyin kɛ̈r aŋɔr, please)
Nyaak ke aŋɔr
Tani waa macaan.(nyaak ke aŋɔr)
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r a menu?
Ma heli karaa menu?(aye ke nyin kɛ̈r a menu)
Aye ke nyin a kɔl aŋɔr, please
Fadlan, koob biyo ah.(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
Wac booliiska
Bɛɛr kɔl ambʊlɛns
Wac ambalaas
A pɛɛr dɔkta
Waxaan u baahanahay dhakhtar
A jɛt kɔc
Waxaan dareemayaa xanuun
A kɛl kɔc bɛɛr pɛɛnʊt
Waxaan leeyahay xasaasiyad lowska
Cɛɛr kɛ bɛɛr hɔspɪtɔl?
Isbitaalka ugu dhow xagee buu yaalaa?
Kɔc kɛ tɛŋ
Halkaan ayaa i xanuunaya
A lɔst pɑspɔt
Dukumeentigayga safarka ayaan lumiyay
Kɛl bɛɛr kɔl hɔtɛl a?
Ma wici kartaa hoteelkeyga?
Yɛɛr!
Caawimaad!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Yin ke nyin
Aad baan ugu faraxsanahay in aan ku arko(Yin ke nyin)
Nyaak ke nyin ke jieng
Aan qorshayno kulan(Nyaak ke nyin ke jieng)
Cieng nyin ke jieng?
Waa maxay waqtiga ku habboon adiga?(Cieng nyin ke jieng?)
Aye ke cïe report kɛ̈t
Waxaan maanta soo diri doonaa warbixinta(Aye ke cïe report kɛ̈t)
Nyaak ke jieng kɛ̈t?
Ma ka hadli karnaa berri?(Nyaak ke jieng kɛ̈t?)
Nyaak ke cïe file kɛ̈t
Fadlan eeg faylka ku lifaaqan(Nyaak ke cïe file kɛ̈t)
Ayiir ke nyin kɛ̈t
Waad ku mahadsan tahay waqtigaaga(Ayiir ke nyin kɛ̈t)
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈t jieng
Waxaan rajeynayaa in aan kula shaqeeyo(Aye ke nyin kɛ̈t jieng)
Nyaak ke cïe kɛ̈t?
Ma faahfaahin kartaa dhibicdaas?(Nyaak ke cïe kɛ̈t?)
Nyaak ke cïe nyin kɛ̈t
Aan ku soo laabto(Nyaak ke cïe nyin kɛ̈t)
Cieng kɛ̈t ke Friday
Waqtiga kama dambaysta ah waa Jimcaha(Cieng kɛ̈t ke Friday)
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.