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Common Dinka to Xhosa phrases

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

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

Tip: when a Xhosa phrase looks unfamiliar, compare it with the Dinka wording — noticing word order differences helps you understand grammar naturally.

Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Dinka to Xhosa 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

    Molo (yaaŋ)

  2. Ajak

    Enkosi (ajak)

  3. Bäny äyö

    Ubusuku obuhle (bäny äyö)

  4. Bäny kɛ̈l

    Ubusuku obuhle (bäny kɛ̈l)

  5. Bäny nyin

    Ubusuku obuhle (bäny nyin)

  6. Bäny kɛ̈l

    Lala ngoxolo (bäny kɛ̈l)

  7. Yin kɛ̈l

    Ndiza kubonana kamva (yin kɛ̈l)

  8. Yin kɛ̈l

    Hamba kakuhle (yin kɛ̈l)

  9. Nin kɛ̈l yïn?

    Ngubani igama lakho? (nin kɛ̈l yïn?)

  10. Nin yïn John

    Igama lam nguJohn (nin yïn John)

  11. Kɛ̈l yïn?

    Unjani? (kɛ̈l yïn?)

  12. Bäny kɛ̈l yïn

    Kuhle ukukwazi (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?

    Uthetha isiNgesi?

  2. Aye nyin wic Hindi kɔc.

    Andithethi isiHindi kakuhle

  3. Aye nyin kɔc.

    Andiqondi

  4. Yin kɔc ke nyin.

    Nceda thethe kancinci

  5. Yin wic ke nyin?

    Ungakuphinda lokho?

  6. Cɔl kɛ thon?

    Iphi ibhafu?

  7. Nyaac kɛ jɛt ke cɛl?

    Ndingafika njani kwi mveliso ye dolophu?

  8. Yin tɛŋ ke thok.

    Jolisa kwesokunxele

  9. Yin tɛŋ ke kɛl.

    Jolisa kwesokudla

  10. Yin tɛŋ ke cɛl.

    Hamba ngqo

  11. Cɔl kɛ thon?

    Iholo ingakanani?

  12. Kɛl thok, yin.

    Ithikithi elinye, nceda

  13. Cɔl kɛ jɔk ke cɛl?

    Ingakanani ukusuka apha?

  14. Aye nyin thok.

    Ndilahlekile

  15. Cɔl kɛ jɛt ke SIM?

    Nphi endinokuthenga khona iSIM card?

Everyday conversation

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

  1. Aye

    Ewe

  2. Naa

    Hayi

  3. Cok

    Mhlawumbi

  4. Aye nyin

    Ndiyavuma

  5. Naa nyin

    Andivumi

  6. Käth aŋöör

    Okuhle

  7. Käŋ aŋöör?

    Ucinga ntoni?

  8. Nyaŋ aŋöör?

    Ungandinceda?

  9. Aye bɛ̈t aŋöör

    Ndidinga uncedo

  10. Käŋ aŋöör

    Linda umzuzu

  11. Aye kɛ̈l

    Ndicela uxolo

  12. Naa kɛ̈l

    Akukho ngxaki

  13. Bɛ̈t aŋöör

    Wamkelekile

  14. Bɛ̈t aŋöör kuɔr

    Usuku olumnandi lokuzalwa

  15. Käth aŋöör kuɔr

    Uhambo olukhuselekileyo

Directions and getting around

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

  1. Cïïr yïnë kël?

    Uphi umphakathi wemithwalo? (uphi umphakathi wemithwalo)

  2. Cïïr yïnë kël jëŋ?

    Uphi umphakathi weebhasi? (uphi umphakathi weebhasi)

  3. Këc yïnë kël?

    Yeyiphi iphondo? (yeyiphi iphondo)

  4. Këc kël yïnë?

    Ihamba ngexesha elingakanani? (ihamba ngexesha elingakanani)

  5. Këc yïnë kël wël?

    Ngaba le yindlela efanelekileyo? (ngaba le yindlela efanelekileyo)

  6. Këc yïnë kël jëŋ?

    Ikho kufutshane apha (Kec yin e kel jeng)

  7. Këc yïnë kël wël?

    Ikude apha (Kec yin e kel wel)

  8. Aŋë yïnë kël kɔc?

    Ungandibonisa kwiimeko? (ungandibonisa kwiimeko)

  9. Nye kël jëŋ, jëŋ?

    Misa apha, nceda (Nye kel jeng jeng)

  10. Këc yïnë kël jëŋ?

    Ithatha ixesha elingakanani? (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?

    Ithini le mali? (kuoth ke nyin)

  2. Nyaak ke thok kɛ̈r

    Le mali ibiza kakhulu. (nyaak ke thok kɛ̈r)

  3. Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r?

    Unayo into engabizi? (aye ke nyin kɛ̈r)

  4. Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɔc?

    Ndingakhokha ngekhadi? (aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɔc)

  5. Aye ke nyin a tɛ́bɛl kɛ̈r duɔŋ

    Ndicela itafula lempahla ezimbini. (aye ke nyin a tɛ́bɛl kɛ̈r duɔŋ)

  6. Kɛ́l, please

    Ibhili, nceda. (kɛ́l, please)

  7. Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɛ́l?

    Ingaba inkonzo ibandakanyekile? (aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɛ́l)

  8. Aye ke nyin a kɔc

    Ndiyavegetarian. (aye ke nyin a kɔc)

  9. Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r aŋɔr, please

    Akukho ukutya okunobhotolo, nceda. (aye ke nyin kɛ̈r aŋɔr, please)

  10. Nyaak ke aŋɔr

    Oku kumnandi. (nyaak ke aŋɔr)

  11. Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r a menu?

    Ndingafumana imenyu? (aye ke nyin kɛ̈r a menu)

  12. Aye ke nyin a kɔl aŋɔr, please

    Ingxube ye water, nceda. (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

    Biza uphondo

  2. Bɛɛr kɔl ambʊlɛns

    Biza i-ambulensi

  3. A pɛɛr dɔkta

    Ndifuna ugqirha

  4. A jɛt kɔc

    Ndiziva ndingalunganga

  5. A kɛl kɔc bɛɛr pɛɛnʊt

    Ndine-allergy kwi-peanuts

  6. Cɛɛr kɛ bɛɛr hɔspɪtɔl?

    Uphi umphakathi oseduze?

  7. Kɔc kɛ tɛŋ

    Kubuhlungu apha

  8. A lɔst pɑspɔt

    Ndilahlekelwe yi passport yam

  9. Kɛl bɛɛr kɔl hɔtɛl a?

    Ungabiza ihotele yam?

  10. Yɛɛr!

    Uncedo!

Work and business

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

  1. Yin ke nyin

    Kuhle ukukwazi (Yin ke nyin)

  2. Nyaak ke nyin ke jieng

    Masihlele umhlangano (Nyaak ke nyin ke jieng)

  3. Cieng nyin ke jieng?

    Yiphi ixesha elikufaneleyo? (Cieng nyin ke jieng?)

  4. Aye ke cïe report kɛ̈t

    Ndiza kuthumela ingxelo namhlanje (Aye ke cïe report kɛ̈t)

  5. Nyaak ke jieng kɛ̈t?

    Singathetha ngomso? (Nyaak ke jieng kɛ̈t?)

  6. Nyaak ke cïe file kɛ̈t

    Nceda ufumane ifayile ehlanganisiweyo (Nyaak ke cïe file kɛ̈t)

  7. Ayiir ke nyin kɛ̈t

    Enkosi ngexesha lakho (Ayiir ke nyin kɛ̈t)

  8. Aye ke nyin kɛ̈t jieng

    Ndijonge phambili ekusebenzeni nawe (Aye ke nyin kɛ̈t jieng)

  9. Nyaak ke cïe kɛ̈t?

    Ungacacisa le ndawo? (Nyaak ke cïe kɛ̈t?)

  10. Nyaak ke cïe nyin kɛ̈t

    Mna ndiza kubuyela kuwe (Nyaak ke cïe nyin kɛ̈t)

  11. Cieng kɛ̈t ke Friday

    Umhla wokugqibela nguLwesihlanu (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?

    Yintoni ixesha? (Yin-toh-nee ikh-leh-zah?)

  2. Cïŋ kɛɛŋ thok

    Iiyure ezintathu (Ee-yoo-reh e-zin-tah-thu)

  3. Kɛ̈th

    Namhlanje (Nam-hlan-je)

  4. Kɛ̈th kɛ̈l

    Manga (Man-gah)

  5. Kɛ̈th kɛ̈n

    Izolo (Ee-zoh-loh)

  6. Nyi̱ŋ

    Mvulo (M-vu-lo)

  7. Nyi̱ŋ kɛ̈l

    Lwesibini (Lwe-si-bi-nee)

  8. Nyi̱ŋ kɛ̈n

    Lwesithathu (Lwe-si-tha-thu)

  9. Cïŋ

    Ene (Eh-neh)

  10. Dɛ̈l

    Mbini (M-bee-nee)

  11. Thok

    Thathu (Thah-thu)

  12. Cɛ̈l

    Ishumi (Ee-shoo-mee)

  13. Cïŋ kɛ̈l

    Ishumi elinye (Ee-shoo-mee eh-leen-yeh)

  14. Cɛ̈l kɛ̈l

    Umgama (Um-gah-mah)

  15. Kɛ̈l

    Ngaphezulu (Ngah-peh-zulu)

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