Looking for practical Kanuri to Dinka phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Kanuri phrase first, then the Dinka translation (Dinka) — 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 Dinka.
Tip: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Dinka-speaking trip in a few weeks.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Kanuri to Dinka 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.
Sannu
Yaaŋ(yaaŋ)
Nagode
Ajak(ajak)
Ina kwana
Bäny äyö(bäny äyö)
Ina yamma
Bäny kɛ̈l(bäny kɛ̈l)
Ina dare
Bäny nyin(bäny nyin)
Sai da safe
Bäny kɛ̈l(bäny kɛ̈l)
Zan ganka
Yin kɛ̈l(yin kɛ̈l)
Sai anjima
Yin kɛ̈l(yin kɛ̈l)
Menene sunanka?
Nin kɛ̈l yïn?(nin kɛ̈l yïn?)
Sunana John
Nin yïn John(nin yïn John)
Lafiya lau?
Kɛ̈l yïn?(kɛ̈l yïn?)
Na ji dadin haduwa da kai
Bäny kɛ̈l yïn(bäny kɛ̈l yïn)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Kuna magana da Turanci?
Nyaac ke wic ku English?
Ba na magana da Hindi sosai.
Aye nyin wic Hindi kɔc.
Ba na fahimta.
Aye nyin kɔc.
Don Allah, ku yi magana a hankali.
Yin kɔc ke nyin.
Za ku iya faɗin hakan sake?
Yin wic ke nyin?
Ina wanka?
Cɔl kɛ thon?
Ta yaya zan isa tsakiyar birni?
Nyaac kɛ jɛt ke cɛl?
Juya hagu.
Yin tɛŋ ke thok.
Juya dama.
Yin tɛŋ ke kɛl.
Tafiya kai tsaye.
Yin tɛŋ ke cɛl.
Nawa ne farashin?
Cɔl kɛ thon?
Tiket ɗaya, don Allah.
Kɛl thok, yin.
Shin yana da nisa daga nan?
Cɔl kɛ jɔk ke cɛl?
Na ɓace.
Aye nyin thok.
Ina zan iya sayen kati na SIM?
Cɔl kɛ jɛt ke SIM?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Eey
Aye(ee-y)
A'a
Naa(ah-ah)
Wata
Cok(wah-tah)
Na amu
Aye nyin(nah ah-moo)
Na a'a amu
Naa nyin(nah ah-ah ah-moo)
Iya na
Käth aŋöör(ee-yah nah)
Kaya ka yi tunani?
Käŋ aŋöör?(kah-yah kah yee too-nah-nee)
Za ka iya taimaka min?
Nyaŋ aŋöör?(zah kah ee-yah tie-mah-kah meen)
Na bukaci taimako
Aye bɛ̈t aŋöör(nah boo-kah-chee tie-mah-koh)
Duba dan lokaci
Käŋ aŋöör(doo-bah dahn loh-kah-chee)
Na yi hakuri
Aye kɛ̈l(nah yee hah-koo-ree)
Babu matsala
Naa kɛ̈l(bah-boo maht-sah-lah)
Taya murna
Bɛ̈t aŋöör(tah-yah moor-nah)
Barka da haihuwa
Bɛ̈t aŋöör kuɔr(bar-kah dah hai-hoo-wah)
Ka yi tafiya lafiya
Käth aŋöör kuɔr(kah yee tah-fee-yah lah-fee-yah)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Nye boko na gari?
Cïïr yïnë kël?(Cii r yin e kel)
Nye boko na bas?
Cïïr yïnë kël jëŋ?(Cii r yin e kel jeng)
Wane boko na?
Këc yïnë kël?(Kec yin e kel)
Wane lokaci ya tafi?
Këc kël yïnë?(Kec kel yin e)
Shin wannan hanya ce?
Këc yïnë kël wël?(Kec yin e kel wel)
Yana kusa da nan
Këc yïnë kël jëŋ?(Kec yin e kel jeng)
Yana nesa da nan
Këc yïnë kël wël?(Kec yin e kel wel)
Za ka iya nuna mini a taswirar?
Aŋë yïnë kël kɔc?(Ang e yin e kel koc)
Tsaida nan, don Allah
Nye kël jëŋ, jëŋ?(Nye kel jeng jeng)
Yaya tsawon lokaci?
Këc yïnë kël jëŋ?(Kec yin e kel jeng)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Nayi na kudi?
Kuoth ke nyin?(kuoth ke nyin)
Wannan ya yi tsada sosai.
Nyaak ke thok kɛ̈r(nyaak ke thok kɛ̈r)
Shin kuna da wani abu mai rahusa?
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r?(aye ke nyin kɛ̈r)
Zan iya biyan kudi da kati?
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɔc?(aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɔc)
Ina so tebur don biyu.
Aye ke nyin a tɛ́bɛl kɛ̈r duɔŋ(aye ke nyin a tɛ́bɛl kɛ̈r duɔŋ)
Lissafi, don Allah.
Kɛ́l, please(kɛ́l, please)
Shin sabis ya haɗa?
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɛ́l?(aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɛ́l)
Ni mai ganyayyaki ne.
Aye ke nyin a kɔc(aye ke nyin a kɔc)
Ba tare da zaki ba, don Allah.
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r aŋɔr, please(aye ke nyin kɛ̈r aŋɔr, please)
Wannan yana da dadi.
Nyaak ke aŋɔr(nyaak ke aŋɔr)
Zan iya samun menu?
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r a menu?(aye ke nyin kɛ̈r a menu)
Kofin ruwa, don Allah.
Aye ke nyin a kɔl aŋɔr, please(aye ke nyin a kɔl aŋɔr, please)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Dawari janga
Bɛɛr kɔl pɔlɪs(Dawari janga)
Dawari ambulan
Bɛɛr kɔl ambʊlɛns(Dawari ambulan)
Ni na doctor
A pɛɛr dɔkta(Ni na doctor)
Ni na jaga
A jɛt kɔc(Ni na jaga)
Ni na haji goro
A kɛl kɔc bɛɛr pɛɛnʊt(Ni na haji goro)
Ina asibiti na kusa?
Cɛɛr kɛ bɛɛr hɔspɪtɔl?(Ina asibiti na kusa?)
Yana ciwo a nan
Kɔc kɛ tɛŋ(Yana ciwo a nan)
Ni na rasa passport na
A lɔst pɑspɔt(Ni na rasa passport na)
Za ka iya dawari otel na?
Kɛl bɛɛr kɔl hɔtɛl a?(Za ka iya dawari otel na?)
Taimako!
Yɛɛr!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Nde gaishe
Yin ke nyin(Yin ke nyin)
Mu gaishe taro
Nyaak ke nyin ke jieng(Nyaak ke nyin ke jieng)
Wai gaishe lokaci?
Cieng nyin ke jieng?(Cieng nyin ke jieng?)
Zan tura rahoto yau
Aye ke cïe report kɛ̈t(Aye ke cïe report kɛ̈t)
Zamu iya magana gobe?
Nyaak ke jieng kɛ̈t?(Nyaak ke jieng kɛ̈t?)
Don Allah ka sami fayil din da aka makala
Nyaak ke cïe file kɛ̈t(Nyaak ke cïe file kɛ̈t)
Na gode da lokacinka
Ayiir ke nyin kɛ̈t(Ayiir ke nyin kɛ̈t)
Ina fatan aiki tare da kai
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈t jieng(Aye ke nyin kɛ̈t jieng)
Za ka iya fayyace wannan batu?
Nyaak ke cïe kɛ̈t?(Nyaak ke cïe kɛ̈t?)
Bari in dawo gare ka
Nyaak ke cïe nyin kɛ̈t(Nyaak ke cïe nyin kɛ̈t)
Kwanan karshe ranar Jumma'a
Cieng kɛ̈t ke Friday(Cieng kɛ̈t ke Friday)
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.