Looking for practical Lingala to Kanuri phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Lingala phrase first, then the Kanuri translation (Kanuri) — 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 Kanuri.
Tip: read the Kanuri line out loud three times, then cover the Lingala 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 Lingala to Kanuri 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.
Mbote
Sannu
Melesi
Nagode
Mbote na ntango ya mokolo
Ina kwana
Mbote na ntango ya midi
Ina yamma
Mbote na ntango ya soir
Ina dare
Malamu na butu
Sai da safe
Tala yo nsima
Zan ganka
Kende malamu
Sai anjima
Nkombo na yo nani?
Menene sunanka?
Nkombo na ngai ezali John
Sunana John
Ozalaki malamu?
Lafiya lau?
Nayoki malamu na yo
Na ji dadin haduwa da kai
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Ozali koloba lingala?
Kuna magana da Turanci?(ozali koloba lingala)
Nasalaka hindi malamu te
Ba na magana da Hindi sosai.(nasalaka hindi malamu te)
Nalingi te
Ba na fahimta.(nalingi te)
S'il vous plaît, koloba butu
Don Allah, ku yi magana a hankali.(koloba butu)
Okoki koloba yango lisusu?
Za ku iya faɗin hakan sake?(okoki koloba yango lisusu)
Bato ya nzoto ezali wapi?
Ina wanka?(bato ya nzoto)
Nakanisi ndenge nini nakokende na centre?
Ta yaya zan isa tsakiyar birni?(nakokende na centre)
Tika na mobali
Juya hagu.(tika na mobali)
Tika na mwasi
Juya dama.(tika na mwasi)
Kende na ntango
Tafiya kai tsaye.(kende na ntango)
Mbala nini ezali?
Nawa ne farashin?(mbala nini)
Billet moko, s'il vous plaît
Tiket ɗaya, don Allah.(billet moko)
Ezali na esika ya mbali?
Shin yana da nisa daga nan?(ezali na esika ya mbali)
Nazali na esika ya mabe
Na ɓace.(nazali na esika ya mabe)
Nakanisi wapi nakokota SIM card?
Ina zan iya sayen kati na SIM?(nakokota SIM card)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Oyo
Eey(ee-y)
Te
A'a(ah-ah)
Soki
Wata(wah-tah)
Nalingi
Na amu(nah ah-moo)
Nalingi te
Na a'a amu(nah ah-ah ah-moo)
Eza malamu
Iya na(ee-yah nah)
Oyo olingi nini?
Kaya ka yi tunani?(kah-yah kah yee too-nah-nee)
Okoki kosalisa ngai?
Za ka iya taimaka min?(zah kah ee-yah tie-mah-kah meen)
Naza na bosenga ya kosalisa
Na bukaci taimako(nah boo-kah-chee tie-mah-koh)
Sunga moke
Duba dan lokaci(doo-bah dahn loh-kah-chee)
Nasalaki mabe
Na yi hakuri(nah yee hah-koo-ree)
Nani azali na problème
Babu matsala(bah-boo maht-sah-lah)
Mokolo malamu
Taya murna(tah-yah moor-nah)
Mokolo ya mbotama malamu
Barka da haihuwa(bar-kah dah hai-hoo-wah)
Zala na nzela ya malamu
Ka yi tafiya lafiya(kah yee tah-fee-yah lah-fee-yah)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Eko zali wapi?
Nye boko na gari?(Eko zali wapi?)
Eko zali wapi na bis?
Nye boko na bas?
Eko zali na esika nini?
Wane boko na?
Ekozanga na ntango nini?
Wane lokaci ya tafi?
Oyo ezali nzela ya malamu?
Shin wannan hanya ce?
Ezali pene awa.
Yana kusa da nan
Ezali mbali awa.
Yana nesa da nan
Okoki kolakisa ngai na kati ya mape?
Za ka iya nuna mini a taswirar?
Tika awa, s'il vous plaît.
Tsaida nan, don Allah
Ekozala ntango nini?
Yaya tsawon lokaci?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Mbongo ya yango eza nini?
Nayi na kudi?(Nayi na kudi?)
Yango eza mabe na mbongo.
Wannan ya yi tsada sosai.
Ozali na makambo mosusu ya mbongo moke?
Shin kuna da wani abu mai rahusa?
Nalingi kobonga na carte?
Zan iya biyan kudi da kati?
Nalingi meka mpo na mibale.
Ina so tebur don biyu.
Liyangani, s'il vous plaît.
Lissafi, don Allah.
Service eza na kati?
Shin sabis ya haɗa?
Nazali mvegetarian.
Ni mai ganyayyaki ne.
Bokoya biloko ya mabe, s'il vous plaît.
Ba tare da zaki ba, don Allah.
Yango ezali malamu.
Wannan yana da dadi.
Nalingi menu, s'il vous plaît.
Zan iya samun menu?
Leki ya mayi, s'il vous plaît.
Kofin ruwa, don Allah.
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Tindá polisi
Dawari janga(Dawari janga)
Tindá ambulance
Dawari ambulan(Dawari ambulan)
Nalingi médecin
Ni na doctor(Ni na doctor)
Nazali na maladi
Ni na jaga(Ni na jaga)
Nazali na allergie na mbala
Ni na haji goro(Ni na haji goro)
Hospital ya liboso ezali wapi?
Ina asibiti na kusa?(Ina asibiti na kusa?)
Ezalaka na nse awa
Yana ciwo a nan(Yana ciwo a nan)
Nazwi passport na ngai
Ni na rasa passport na(Ni na rasa passport na)
Okoki kotinda hôtel na ngai?
Za ka iya dawari otel na?(Za ka iya dawari otel na?)
S.O.S!
Taimako!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Nasepeli na yo
Nde gaishe(nde gaishe)
Tika tozala na mitema
Mu gaishe taro(mu gaishe taro)
Ngai nalobi ntango nini ekozala malamu na yo?
Wai gaishe lokaci?(wai gaishe lokaci)
Naboya raport lelo
Zan tura rahoto yau(zan tura rahoto yau)
Tango tozali na mposo?
Zamu iya magana gobe?(zamu iya magana gobe)
S'il vous plaît, tala fichier oyo ezali na nzela
Don Allah ka sami fayil din da aka makala(don Allah ka sami fayil din da aka makala)
Mersi mpo na ntango na yo
Na gode da lokacinka(na gode da lokacinka)
Nasalela yo na mosala
Ina fatan aiki tare da kai(ina fatan aiki tare da kai)
Okoki kosala likambo yango malamu?
Za ka iya fayyace wannan batu?(za ka iya fayyace wannan batu)