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Common Dinka to Zulu phrases

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

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

Tip: read the Zulu 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 Zulu 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

    Sawubona (yaaŋ)

  2. Ajak

    Ngiyabonga (ajak)

  3. Bäny äyö

    Sawubona (bäny äyö)

  4. Bäny kɛ̈l

    Good afternoon (bäny kɛ̈l)

  5. Bäny nyin

    Ubusuku obuhle (bäny nyin)

  6. Bäny kɛ̈l

    Lala kahle (bäny kɛ̈l)

  7. Yin kɛ̈l

    Sizobonana (yin kɛ̈l)

  8. Yin kɛ̈l

    Hamba kahle (yin kɛ̈l)

  9. Nin kɛ̈l yïn?

    Ubani igama lakho? (nin kɛ̈l yïn?)

  10. Nin yïn John

    Igama lami nginguJohn (nin yïn John)

  11. Kɛ̈l yïn?

    Unjani? (kɛ̈l yïn?)

  12. Bäny kɛ̈l yïn

    Ngiyajabula 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?

    Ukhuluma isiNgisi?

  2. Aye nyin wic Hindi kɔc.

    Angikhulumi kahle isiHindi.

  3. Aye nyin kɔc.

    Angiqondi.

  4. Yin kɔc ke nyin.

    Ngiyacela, khuluma kancane.

  5. Yin wic ke nyin?

    Ungakuphinda lokho?

  6. Cɔl kɛ thon?

    Iphi indlu yangasese?

  7. Nyaac kɛ jɛt ke cɛl?

    Ngiyawufika kanjani emaphandleni?

  8. Yin tɛŋ ke thok.

    Jika kwesobunxele.

  9. Yin tɛŋ ke kɛl.

    Jika kwesokudla.

  10. Yin tɛŋ ke cɛl.

    Hamba phambili.

  11. Cɔl kɛ thon?

    Inani lokuhamba lingakanani?

  12. Kɛl thok, yin.

    Ithikithi elilodwa, ngiyacela.

  13. Cɔl kɛ jɔk ke cɛl?

    Ingabe kude lapha?

  14. Aye nyin thok.

    Ngilahlekile.

  15. Cɔl kɛ jɛt ke SIM?

    Ngaphi engingathenga khona i-SIM card?

Everyday conversation

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

  1. Aye

    Yebo

  2. Naa

    Cha

  3. Cok

    Mhlawumbe

  4. Aye nyin

    Ngiyavuma

  5. Naa nyin

    Angivumi

  6. Käth aŋöör

    Lokho kuzwakala kahle

  7. Käŋ aŋöör?

    Ucabanga ukuthini?

  8. Nyaŋ aŋöör?

    Ungangisiza?

  9. Aye bɛ̈t aŋöör

    Ngidinga usizo

  10. Käŋ aŋöör

    Linda umzuzu

  11. Aye kɛ̈l

    Ngiyaxolisa

  12. Naa kɛ̈l

    Akukho nkinga

  13. Bɛ̈t aŋöör

    Halala

  14. Bɛ̈t aŋöör kuɔr

    Usuku olumnandi lokuzalwa

  15. Käth aŋöör kuɔr

    Uhambo olunempilo

Directions and getting around

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

  1. Cïïr yïnë kël?

    Iphi isitishi sesitimela? (iphi isitishi sesitimela)

  2. Cïïr yïnë kël jëŋ?

    Iphi indawo yokuma kwebhasi? (iphi indawo yokuma kwebhasi)

  3. Këc yïnë kël?

    Iphi ipulatifomu? (iphi ipulatifomu)

  4. Këc kël yïnë?

    Ithini isikhathi sokuhamba? (ithini isikhathi sokuhamba)

  5. Këc yïnë kël wël?

    Ingabe le yindlela efanele? (ingabe le yindlela efanele)

  6. Këc yïnë kël jëŋ?

    Ikhaya lapha eduze (ikhaya lapha eduze)

  7. Këc yïnë kël wël?

    Ikude lapha (ikude lapha)

  8. Aŋë yïnë kël kɔc?

    Ungangikhombisa emmaphini? (ungangikhombisa emmaphini)

  9. Nye kël jëŋ, jëŋ?

    Misa lapha, ngiyacela (misa lapha, ngiyacela)

  10. Këc yïnë kël jëŋ?

    Kuthatha isikhathi esingakanani? (kuthatha isikhathi esingakanani)

Shopping and dining

Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.

  1. Kuoth ke nyin?

    Kubiza malini lokhu? (kuoth ke nyin)

  2. Nyaak ke thok kɛ̈r

    Lokho kubiza kakhulu. (nyaak ke thok kɛ̈r)

  3. Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r?

    Unayo yini ethengiswa ngentengo ephansi? (aye ke nyin kɛ̈r)

  4. Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɔc?

    Ngiyakwazi ukukhokha ngekhadi? (aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɔc)

  5. Aye ke nyin a tɛ́bɛl kɛ̈r duɔŋ

    Ngifuna itafula labantu ababili. (aye ke nyin a tɛ́bɛl kɛ̈r duɔŋ)

  6. Kɛ́l, please

    Ibhili, ngiyacela. (kɛ́l, please)

  7. Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɛ́l?

    Inkonzo ifakiwe? (aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɛ́l)

  8. Aye ke nyin a kɔc

    Ngiyisithuthuthu. (aye ke nyin a kɔc)

  9. Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r aŋɔr, please

    Ngicela ukudla okungashisayo. (aye ke nyin kɛ̈r aŋɔr, please)

  10. Nyaak ke aŋɔr

    Lokhu kuhle. (nyaak ke aŋɔr)

  11. Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r a menu?

    Ngicela imenyu? (aye ke nyin kɛ̈r a menu)

  12. Aye ke nyin a kɔl aŋɔr, please

    Ingilazi yamanzi, ngiyacela. (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

    Shayela amaphoyisa

  2. Bɛɛr kɔl ambʊlɛns

    Shayela i-ambulensi

  3. A pɛɛr dɔkta

    Ngidinga udokotela

  4. A jɛt kɔc

    Ngizizwa ngigula

  5. A kɛl kɔc bɛɛr pɛɛnʊt

    Ngine-allergy kumantongomane

  6. Cɛɛr kɛ bɛɛr hɔspɪtɔl?

    Iphi isibhedlela esiseduze?

  7. Kɔc kɛ tɛŋ

    Kubuhlungu lapha

  8. A lɔst pɑspɔt

    Ngilahlekelwe ipasipoti yami

  9. Kɛl bɛɛr kɔl hɔtɛl a?

    Ungashayela ihhotela lami?

  10. Yɛɛr!

    Usizo!

Work and business

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

  1. Yin ke nyin

    Ngiyajabula ukukwazi (Yin ke nyin)

  2. Nyaak ke nyin ke jieng

    Masihlele umhlangano (Nyaak ke nyin ke jieng)

  3. Cieng nyin ke jieng?

    Yisiphi isikhathi esikufanele? (Cieng nyin ke jieng?)

  4. Aye ke cïe report kɛ̈t

    Ngizothumela umbiko namuhla (Aye ke cïe report kɛ̈t)

  5. Nyaak ke jieng kɛ̈t?

    Singakhuluma kusasa? (Nyaak ke jieng kɛ̈t?)

  6. Nyaak ke cïe file kɛ̈t

    Sicela uthole ifayela elixhunywe (Nyaak ke cïe file kɛ̈t)

  7. Ayiir ke nyin kɛ̈t

    Ngiyabonga ngalesi sikhathi (Ayiir ke nyin kɛ̈t)

  8. Aye ke nyin kɛ̈t jieng

    Ngibheke phambili ekusebenzeni nawe (Aye ke nyin kɛ̈t jieng)

  9. Nyaak ke cïe kɛ̈t?

    Ungacacisa leyo ndaba? (Nyaak ke cïe kɛ̈t?)

  10. Nyaak ke cïe nyin kɛ̈t

    Ngizobuyela kuwe (Nyaak ke cïe nyin kɛ̈t)

  11. Cieng kɛ̈t ke Friday

    Usuku lokugcina 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?

    Kuyini isikhathi? (ku-yee-nee ee-sih-khah-teh?)

  2. Cïŋ kɛɛŋ thok

    Kuyisithathu (koo-yee-see-thah-thu)

  3. Kɛ̈th

    Namuhla (nah-moo-hlah)

  4. Kɛ̈th kɛ̈l

    Kusasa (koo-sah-sah)

  5. Kɛ̈th kɛ̈n

    Izolo (ee-zoh-loh)

  6. Nyi̱ŋ

    uMsombuluko (oom-sohm-boo-loo-koh)

  7. Nyi̱ŋ kɛ̈l

    uMsombuluko (oom-sohm-boo-loo-koh)

  8. Nyi̱ŋ kɛ̈n

    uLwesithathu (ool-weh-see-thah-thu)

  9. Cïŋ

    Kunye (koon-yeh)

  10. Dɛ̈l

    Kubili (koo-bee-lee)

  11. Thok

    Kuthathu (koo-thah-thu)

  12. Cɛ̈l

    Ishumi (ee-shoo-mee)

  13. Cïŋ kɛ̈l

    Ishumi elinhlanu (ee-shoo-mee eh-leen-hlah-noo)

  14. Cɛ̈l kɛ̈l

    Iphinifa (ee-pee-nee-fah)

  15. Kɛ̈l

    Okuningi (oh-koo-neen-gee)

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