Looking for practical Dinka to Yoruba phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Dinka phrase first, then the Yoruba translation (Yoruba) — 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 Yoruba.
Tip: read the Yoruba 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 Yoruba 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
Bawo(bawoh)
Ajak
O seun(oh shayoon)
Bäny äyö
E kaaro(eh kah-roh)
Bäny kɛ̈l
E kaasan(eh kah-sahn)
Bäny nyin
E kuurole(eh koo-roh-leh)
Bäny kɛ̈l
O daaro(oh dah-roh)
Yin kɛ̈l
A ri e laipe(ah ree eh lie-peh)
Yin kɛ̈l
O dabọ(oh dah-boh)
Nin kɛ̈l yïn?
Kí ni orukọ rẹ?(kee nee oh-roo-koh reh)
Nin yïn John
Orukọ mi ni John(oh-roo-koh mee nee John)
Kɛ̈l yïn?
Bawo ni?(bawoh nee)
Bäny kɛ̈l yïn
Inu mi dun lati pade e(ee-noo mee doon lah-tee pah-deh eh)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Nyaac ke wic ku English?
Ṣe o n sọ Gẹ́gẹ́?(Sheh oh n saw Geh-geh)
Aye nyin wic Hindi kɔc.
Mi ò sọ Hindi dáadáa(Mee oh saw Hindi dah-dah)
Aye nyin kɔc.
Mi ò ye mi(Mee oh yeh mee)
Yin kɔc ke nyin.
Jọwọ sọ ní kíkankíkan(Joh-wah saw nee keen-kay-kahn)
Yin wic ke nyin?
Ṣe o le sọ é lẹ́ẹ̀kan síi?(Sheh oh leh saw eh leh-eh-kahn see)
Cɔl kɛ thon?
Nibo ni baluwe wa?(Nee-boh nee bah-loo-weh wah)
Nyaac kɛ jɛt ke cɛl?
Báwo ni mo ṣe lọ sí àárín ìlú?(Bah-woh nee moh sheh law see ah-ree-nee loo)
Yin tɛŋ ke thok.
Yí si apa osi(Yee see ah-pah oh-shee)
Yin tɛŋ ke kɛl.
Yí si apa otun(Yee see ah-pah oh-toon)
Yin tɛŋ ke cɛl.
Lọ taara(Law tah-rah)
Cɔl kɛ thon?
Elo ni owo ọkọ?(Eh-loh nee oh-woh oh-koh)
Kɛl thok, yin.
Ticket kan, jọwọ(Tee-ket kahn, joh-wah)
Cɔl kɛ jɔk ke cɛl?
Ṣe ó jìnà síbí?(Sheh oh jee-nah see-bee)
Aye nyin thok.
Mo ti sọnù(Moh tee sohn-oo)
Cɔl kɛ jɛt ke SIM?
Nibo ni mo ti le ra kaadi SIM?(Nee-boh nee moh tee leh rah kah-dee SIM)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Aye
Bẹẹni
Naa
Rara
Cok
Bóyá
Aye nyin
Mo gba
Naa nyin
Mo kọ
Käth aŋöör
Iyẹn dára
Käŋ aŋöör?
Kí ni ìrònú rẹ?
Nyaŋ aŋöör?
Ṣé o lè ràn mí lọ́wọ́?
Aye bɛ̈t aŋöör
Mo nílò ìrànlọ́wọ́
Käŋ aŋöör
Dákẹ́ díẹ̀
Aye kɛ̈l
Mo bínú
Naa kɛ̈l
Kò sí ìṣòro
Bɛ̈t aŋöör
Ẹ kú àṣeyọrí
Bɛ̈t aŋöör kuɔr
Ẹ kú ọjọ́ ibi
Käth aŋöör kuɔr
Ṣe ìrìn àjò tó ààbò
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Cïïr yïnë kël?
Nibo ni ibudo ọkọ oju-irin wa?(Nibo ni ibudo ọkọ oju-irin wa?)
Cïïr yïnë kël jëŋ?
Nibo ni ibudo bosi wa?(Nibo ni ibudo bosi wa?)
Këc yïnë kël?
Ibo ni pẹpẹ naa?(Ibo ni pẹpẹ naa?)
Këc kël yïnë?
Iwo wo ni o fi n lọ?(Iwo wo ni o fi n lọ?)
Këc yïnë kël wël?
Ṣe eyi ni ọna to tọ?(Ṣe eyi ni ọna to tọ?)
Këc yïnë kël jëŋ?
O sunmọ ibi yi(Kec yin e kel jeng)
Këc yïnë kël wël?
O jinna si ibi yi(Kec yin e kel wel)
Aŋë yïnë kël kɔc?
Ṣe o le fihan mi lori maapu?(Ṣe o le fihan mi lori maapu?)
Nye kël jëŋ, jëŋ?
Duro nibi, jọwọ(Nye kel jeng jeng)
Këc yïnë kël jëŋ?
Bawo ni igba wo ni o gba?(Kec yin e kel jeng)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Kuoth ke nyin?
Elo ni eyi?(elo ni eyi)
Nyaak ke thok kɛ̈r
Eyi jẹ́ gbowó púpọ̀(eyi je gbowo pupo)
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r?
Ṣe o ni nkan tó rọrùn?(se o ni nkan to rorun)
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɔc?
Ṣe mo le sanwo pẹ̀lú kaadi?(se mo le sanwo pelu kaadi)
Aye ke nyin a tɛ́bɛl kɛ̈r duɔŋ
Mo fẹ́ tábìlì fún méjì(mo fe tabili fun meji)
Kɛ́l, please
Iwe isanwo, jọwọ(iwe isanwo jowo)
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɛ́l?
Ṣe iṣẹ́ wa nínú?(se ise wa ninu)
Aye ke nyin a kɔc
Mo jẹ́ onjẹ ẹfọ(mo je onje efo)
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r aŋɔr, please
Kò sí onjẹ tó ní ìkà, jọwọ(ko si onje to ni ika jowo)
Nyaak ke aŋɔr
Eyi dára(eyi dara)
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r a menu?
Ṣe mo le ní àtòjọ onjẹ?(se mo le ni atojo onje)
Aye ke nyin a kɔl aŋɔr, please
Gilaasi omi, jọwọ(gilaasi omi jowo)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Bɛɛr kɔl pɔlɪs
Pe iroyin ọlọpa(pe iroyin olopa)
Bɛɛr kɔl ambʊlɛns
Pe ambulance(pe ambulance)
A pɛɛr dɔkta
Mo nilo dokita(mo nilo dokita)
A jɛt kɔc
Mo n ni irora(mo n ni irora)
A kɛl kɔc bɛɛr pɛɛnʊt
Mo ni àkúnya sí ẹ̀fọ́(mo ni akunya si efo)
Cɛɛr kɛ bɛɛr hɔspɪtɔl?
Nibo ni ile-iwosan to sunmo?(nibo ni ile-iwosan to sunmo)
Kɔc kɛ tɛŋ
O n dun nibi(o n dun nibi)
A lɔst pɑspɔt
Mo padanu iwe irinna mi(mo padanu iwe irinna mi)
Kɛl bɛɛr kɔl hɔtɛl a?
Se o le pe hotẹẹli mi?(se o le pe hoteeli mi)
Yɛɛr!
I ranlọwọ!(i ranlọwọ)
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Yin ke nyin
Inu mi dun lati pade e(Inu mi dun lati pade e)
Nyaak ke nyin ke jieng
Jẹ ki a ṣe ipade(Nyaak ke nyin ke jieng)
Cieng nyin ke jieng?
Iwo, wo ni akoko ti o ba mu?(Cieng nyin ke jieng?)
Aye ke cïe report kɛ̈t
Mo maa fi iroyin ranṣẹ loni(Aye ke cïe report kɛ̈t)
Nyaak ke jieng kɛ̈t?
Se a le ba ara wa sọrọ ni ọla?(Nyaak ke jieng kɛ̈t?)
Nyaak ke cïe file kɛ̈t
Jọwọ ri faili ti a so mọ́(Nyaak ke cïe file kɛ̈t)
Ayiir ke nyin kɛ̈t
O seun fun akoko rẹ(Ayiir ke nyin kɛ̈t)
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈t jieng
Mo n reti lati ṣiṣẹ pẹlu rẹ(Aye ke nyin kɛ̈t jieng)
Nyaak ke cïe kɛ̈t?
Se o le ṣalaye aaye yẹn?(Nyaak ke cïe kɛ̈t?)
Nyaak ke cïe nyin kɛ̈t
Jẹ ki n pada sọrọ si ọ(Nyaak ke cïe nyin kɛ̈t)
Cieng kɛ̈t ke Friday
Akoko ipari ni Friday(Cieng kɛ̈t ke Friday)
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.