Looking for practical Kanuri to Nuer phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Kanuri phrase first, then the Nuer translation (Nuer) — 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 Nuer.
Tip: read the Nuer line out loud three times, then cover the Kanuri 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 Kanuri to Nuer 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
Nhiar
Nagode
Nyaak
Ina kwana
Nhiar gɔ̈ɔ̈r
Ina yamma
Nhiar aŋɔ̈r
Ina dare
Nhiar aŋɔ̈r
Sai da safe
Nhiar kɔ̈c
Zan ganka
Aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n
Sai anjima
Kɛ̈n
Menene sunanka?
Cɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n?
Sunana John
Cɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r John
Lafiya lau?
Cɛ̈l kɛ̈n?
Na ji dadin haduwa da kai
Kɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Kuna magana da Turanci?
Nyaac ke nyin English?
Ba na magana da Hindi sosai.
Nyaac ma nyin Hindi ke nyin.
Ba na fahimta.
Nyaac ma nyin.
Don Allah, ku yi magana a hankali.
Yin ke nyin kɛl.
Za ku iya faɗin hakan sake?
Yin ke nyin kɛl a thok?
Ina wanka?
Yin thok a kɛl?
Ta yaya zan isa tsakiyar birni?
Nyaac ke nyin a city center?
Juya hagu.
Yin ke nyin a laar.
Juya dama.
Yin ke nyin a jɛŋ.
Tafiya kai tsaye.
Yin ke nyin a thok.
Nawa ne farashin?
Yin ke nyin a kɛl?
Tiket ɗaya, don Allah.
Yin ke nyin a ticket.
Shin yana da nisa daga nan?
Yin ke nyin a thok?
Na ɓace.
Nyaac ke nyin.
Ina zan iya sayen kati na SIM?
Yin thok a kɛl a SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Eey
Aye(ee-y)
A'a
Naa(ah-ah)
Wata
Nyaak(wah-tah)
Na amu
Nyeek a kech(nah ah-moo)
Na a'a amu
Nyeek a kech naa(nah ah-ah ah-moo)
Iya na
Iye kech kɛl(ee-yah nah)
Kaya ka yi tunani?
Nyaak a kech?(kah-yah kah yee too-nah-nee)
Za ka iya taimaka min?
Nyaak a kech a jɔɔr?(zah kah ee-yah tie-mah-kah meen)
Na bukaci taimako
Nyeek a jɔɔr kɛl(nah boo-kah-chee tie-mah-koh)
Duba dan lokaci
Kɛl a jɔɔr(doo-bah dahn loh-kah-chee)
Na yi hakuri
Nyeek a kech(nah yee hah-koo-ree)
Babu matsala
Naa a kech kɛl(bah-boo maht-sah-lah)
Taya murna
Aye kɛl(tah-yah moor-nah)
Barka da haihuwa
Aye kɛl a wɛr(bar-kah dah hai-hoo-wah)
Ka yi tafiya lafiya
Kɛl a jɔɔr a jɛɛr(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?
Känyë kɛ́l wɛ́l?(Känyë kɛl wel)
Nye boko na bas?
Känyë kɛ́l bɔ́l?(Känyë kɛl bol)
Wane boko na?
Kɛ́l bɛ́t kɛ́t?(Kel bet ket)
Wane lokaci ya tafi?
Kɛ́l wɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́t?(Kel wel it ket)
Shin wannan hanya ce?
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l wɛ́l?(Kel it kel wel)
Yana kusa da nan
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l kɛ́l?(Kel it kel kel)
Yana nesa da nan
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l jɔ́l?(Kel it kel jol)
Za ka iya nuna mini a taswirar?
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l pɛ́t kɛ́t?(Kel it kel pet ket)
Tsaida nan, don Allah
Kɛ́l jɛ́l kɛ́l, pɛ́l?(Kel jel kel pel)
Yaya tsawon lokaci?
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l jɔ́l kɛ́t?(Kel it kel jol ket)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Nayi na kudi?
Nyaak cɛl?(nyaak chel)
Wannan ya yi tsada sosai.
Kɛl yic kɛc(kel yich kech)
Shin kuna da wani abu mai rahusa?
Yin kɛl nyin cɛl?(yin kel nyin chel)
Zan iya biyan kudi da kati?
Nyaak tɛr kɛl kɛc?(nyaak ter kel kech)
Ina so tebur don biyu.
Nyaak cɛl kɛl tɛbɛl kɛl nyin(nyaak chel kel tebel kel nyin)
Lissafi, don Allah.
Nyaak cɛl kɛl bɛl(nyaak chel kel bel)
Shin sabis ya haɗa?
Yin kɛl cɛl kɛl tɛr?(yin kel chel kel ter)
Ni mai ganyayyaki ne.
Nyaak cɛl wɛr(nyaak chel wer)
Ba tare da zaki ba, don Allah.
Nyaak cɛl kɛl wɛr kɛc(nyaak chel kel wer kech)
Wannan yana da dadi.
Kɛl cɛl kɛl nyin(kel chel kel nyin)
Zan iya samun menu?
Nyaak cɛl kɛl mɛn?(nyaak chel kel men)
Kofin ruwa, don Allah.
Nyaak cɛl kɛl gɛl wɛt(nyaak chel kel gel wet)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Dawari janga
Cïl wïr(cil wir)
Dawari ambulan
Cïl an ambulance(cil an ambulance)
Ni na doctor
Aŋ thïr a doctor(ang thir a doctor)
Ni na jaga
Aŋ kɔc(ang koc)
Ni na haji goro
Aŋ kɔc a pïyït(ang koc a piyit)
Ina asibiti na kusa?
Cït kɛ̈n hospital?(cit ken hospital)
Yana ciwo a nan
Cïk bɛ̈t(cik bet)
Ni na rasa passport na
Aŋ kɛ̈n passport(ang ken passport)
Za ka iya dawari otel na?
Aŋ kɛ̈n cïl my hotel?(ang ken cil my hotel)
Taimako!
Kɛ̈n!(ken)
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Nde gaishe
Nyeu ke nyin(nyin = meet)
Mu gaishe taro
Nyeu ke jɔɔr ke nyin(mu gaishe taro)
Wai gaishe lokaci?
Kɛ kɛth jɔɔr a ke?(wai gaishe lokaci)
Zan tura rahoto yau
Nyeu ke kɛc report kɛ jɔɔl(zan tura rahoto yau)
Zamu iya magana gobe?
Nyeu ke jɔɔr kɛ bɛt?(zamu iya magana gobe)
Don Allah ka sami fayil din da aka makala
Nyeu kɛ jɔɔr file kɛ kɛth(don Allah ka sami fayil din da aka makala)
Na gode da lokacinka
Nyeu kɛ jɔɔr a ke kɛth(na gode da lokacinka)
Ina fatan aiki tare da kai
Nyeu ke jɔɔr kɛ bɛt a ke(ina fatan aiki tare da kai)
Za ka iya fayyace wannan batu?
A ke jɔɔr kɛ kɛth a?(za ka iya fayyace wannan batu)