Looking for practical Krio to Dinka phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Krio 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: when a Dinka phrase looks unfamiliar, compare it with the Krio 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 Krio 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.
Hello
Yaaŋ(yaaŋ)
Tenki
Ajak(ajak)
Gud mɔnin
Bäny äyö(bäny äyö)
Gud aftanun
Bäny kɛ̈l(bäny kɛ̈l)
Gud ivnin
Bäny nyin(bäny nyin)
Gud nait
Bäny kɛ̈l(bäny kɛ̈l)
Si yu leta
Yin kɛ̈l(yin kɛ̈l)
Bai
Yin kɛ̈l(yin kɛ̈l)
Wetɛn na yu neym?
Nin kɛ̈l yïn?(nin kɛ̈l yïn?)
Ma neym na John
Nin yïn John(nin yïn John)
Ow yu de?
Kɛ̈l yïn?(kɛ̈l yïn?)
Naes fo mit yu
Bäny kɛ̈l yïn(bäny kɛ̈l yïn)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Yu sabi English?
Nyaac ke wic ku English?
A no sabi Hindi well.
Aye nyin wic Hindi kɔc.
A no sabi.
Aye nyin kɔc.
Plis, tok slow.
Yin kɔc ke nyin.
Yu fit tok dat again?
Yin wic ke nyin?
Weh na di toilet?
Cɔl kɛ thon?
Ow A go fit reach di city center?
Nyaac kɛ jɛt ke cɛl?
Turn left.
Yin tɛŋ ke thok.
Turn right.
Yin tɛŋ ke kɛl.
Go straight.
Yin tɛŋ ke cɛl.
Ow much na di fare?
Cɔl kɛ thon?
One ticket, plis.
Kɛl thok, yin.
E far from ya?
Cɔl kɛ jɔk ke cɛl?
A don lost.
Aye nyin thok.
Weh A go fit buy SIM card?
Cɔl kɛ jɛt ke SIM?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Yes
Aye
No
Naa
Maybe
Cok
A mi agree
Aye nyin
A no agree
Naa nyin
Dat na fine
Käth aŋöör
Wet in you tink?
Käŋ aŋöör?
You fit help me?
Nyaŋ aŋöör?
A need help
Aye bɛ̈t aŋöör
Wait small
Käŋ aŋöör
A sorry
Aye kɛ̈l
No problem
Naa kɛ̈l
Congratulations
Bɛ̈t aŋöör
Happy birthday
Bɛ̈t aŋöör kuɔr
Get safe trip
Käth aŋöör kuɔr
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Weh na di train station?
Cïïr yïnë kël?(Cii r yin e kel)
Weh na di bus stop?
Cïïr yïnë kël jëŋ?(Cii r yin e kel jeng)
Which platform na im?
Këc yïnë kël?(Kec yin e kel)
Wetin time e go lef?
Këc kël yïnë?(Kec kel yin e)
Dis na di right way?
Këc yïnë kël wël?(Kec yin e kel wel)
E dey near here
Këc yïnë kël jëŋ?(Kec yin e kel jeng)
E far from here
Këc yïnë kël wël?(Kec yin e kel wel)
Yu fit show me pan di map?
Aŋë yïnë kël kɔc?(Ang e yin e kel koc)
Stop here, pliz
Nye kël jëŋ, jëŋ?(Nye kel jeng jeng)
How long e go tek?
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.
How much dis cost?
Kuoth ke nyin?(kuoth ke nyin)
Dat too expensive.
Nyaak ke thok kɛ̈r(nyaak ke thok kɛ̈r)
You get anytin wey cheaper?
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r?(aye ke nyin kɛ̈r)
I fit pay by card?
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɔc?(aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɔc)
I wan table for two.
Aye ke nyin a tɛ́bɛl kɛ̈r duɔŋ(aye ke nyin a tɛ́bɛl kɛ̈r duɔŋ)
Di bill, please.
Kɛ́l, please(kɛ́l, please)
Service dey include?
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɛ́l?(aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɛ́l)
I na vegetarian.
Aye ke nyin a kɔc(aye ke nyin a kɔc)
No spicy food, please.
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r aŋɔr, please(aye ke nyin kɛ̈r aŋɔr, please)
Dis dey sweet.
Nyaak ke aŋɔr(nyaak ke aŋɔr)
I fit get di menu?
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r a menu?(aye ke nyin kɛ̈r a menu)
A glass of water, please.
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.
Call di police
Bɛɛr kɔl pɔlɪs
Call ambulance
Bɛɛr kɔl ambʊlɛns
A need doctor
A pɛɛr dɔkta
A dey feel sick
A jɛt kɔc
A get allergy for peanuts
A kɛl kɔc bɛɛr pɛɛnʊt
Weh di nearest hospital de?
Cɛɛr kɛ bɛɛr hɔspɪtɔl?
E dey pain here
Kɔc kɛ tɛŋ
A don lose mi passport
A lɔst pɑspɔt
You fit call mi hotel?
Kɛl bɛɛr kɔl hɔtɛl a?
Help!
Yɛɛr!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Na nice for meet you
Yin ke nyin(Yin ke nyin)
Make we plan wan meeting
Nyaak ke nyin ke jieng(Nyaak ke nyin ke jieng)
Wetin time go work for you?
Cieng nyin ke jieng?(Cieng nyin ke jieng?)
A go send di report tiday
Aye ke cïe report kɛ̈t(Aye ke cïe report kɛ̈t)
We go fit talk tomorrow?
Nyaak ke jieng kɛ̈t?(Nyaak ke jieng kɛ̈t?)
Abeg find di file wey attach
Nyaak ke cïe file kɛ̈t(Nyaak ke cïe file kɛ̈t)
Tenki for your time
Ayiir ke nyin kɛ̈t(Ayiir ke nyin kɛ̈t)
A dey look forward for work with you
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈t jieng(Aye ke nyin kɛ̈t jieng)
You fit clarify dat point?
Nyaak ke cïe kɛ̈t?(Nyaak ke cïe kɛ̈t?)
Make I get back to you
Nyaak ke cïe nyin kɛ̈t(Nyaak ke cïe nyin kɛ̈t)
Di deadline na Friday
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.