Looking for practical Luganda to Nuer phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Luganda 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: pick five Nuer phrases from the greetings section and use them in a real message today. Small daily practice beats cramming before a trip.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Luganda 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.
Oli otya?
Nhiar(Oli otya?)
Webale
Nyaak(Webale)
Osiibye otya?
Nhiar gɔ̈ɔ̈r(Osiibye otya?)
Osiibye bulungi?
Nhiar aŋɔ̈r(Osiibye bulungi?)
Osiibye otya?
Nhiar aŋɔ̈r(Osiibye otya?)
Lwaki olugendo?
Nhiar kɔ̈c(Lwaki olugendo?)
Tugenda kutya?
Aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n(Tugenda kutya?)
Nkwagala
Kɛ̈n(Nkwagala)
Erinnya lyo ani?
Cɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n?(Erinnya lyo ani?)
Erinnya lyange nze John
Cɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r John(Erinnya lyange nze John)
Oli otya?
Cɛ̈l kɛ̈n?(Oli otya?)
Nkwagala okukulaba
Kɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n(Nkwagala okukulaba)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Okwogera mu Lungereza?
Nyaac ke nyin English?
Sikozesa Hindi bulungi.
Nyaac ma nyin Hindi ke nyin.
Sijja kumanya.
Nyaac ma nyin.
Nnyonnyola bulungi.
Yin ke nyin kɛl.
Osobola okwogera buno buno?
Yin ke nyin kɛl a thok?
Ekitanda kiki?
Yin thok a kɛl?
Nteekateeka owa city center?
Nyaac ke nyin a city center?
Genda ku kkono.
Yin ke nyin a laar.
Genda ku mwoyo.
Yin ke nyin a jɛŋ.
Genda mu maaso.
Yin ke nyin a thok.
Ekitundu kiki?
Yin ke nyin a kɛl?
Ticket emu, please.
Yin ke nyin a ticket.
Kiki kirekera wano?
Yin ke nyin a thok?
Ndi mu bubi.
Nyaac ke nyin.
Nneeyisa SIM card wano?
Yin thok a kɛl a SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ye
Aye
Nedda
Naa
Okwagala
Nyaak
Nnaakuwandiika
Nyeek a kech
Sikuwandiika
Nyeek a kech naa
Kyo kyekirungi
Iye kech kɛl
Otekayo ki?
Nyaak a kech?
Osobola okundabira?
Nyaak a kech a jɔɔr?
Nfuna obuyambi
Nyeek a jɔɔr kɛl
Saba omukutu
Kɛl a jɔɔr
Nsaba
Nyeek a kech
Tewali kibadde
Naa a kech kɛl
Okwagaliza
Aye kɛl
Okwagaliza ku lunaku lw'okuzaala
Aye kɛl a wɛr
Genda bulungi
Kɛl a jɔɔr a jɛɛr
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Ekitangaala ky'ekitanda?
Känyë kɛ́l wɛ́l?(Känyë kɛl wel)
Ekitangaala ky'ekitanda?
Känyë kɛ́l bɔ́l?(Känyë kɛl bol)
Ekitangaala ki?
Kɛ́l bɛ́t kɛ́t?(Kel bet ket)
Bwe ki ssaawa esigala?
Kɛ́l wɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́t?(Kel wel it ket)
Okwetegeka kwe?
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l wɛ́l?(Kel it kel wel)
Kiri wano wansi
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l kɛ́l?(Kel it kel kel)
Kiri mangu
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l jɔ́l?(Kel it kel jol)
Osobola okundabira ku kaddde?
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l pɛ́t kɛ́t?(Kel it kel pet ket)
Ggenda wano, please
Kɛ́l jɛ́l kɛ́l, pɛ́l?(Kel jel kel pel)
Tewali bungi ki?
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.
Kiki ky'ekitundu?
Nyaak cɛl?(nyaak chel)
Ekitundu kyo kireetese.
Kɛl yic kɛc(kel yich kech)
Oli n'ekikadde ekirala?
Yin kɛl nyin cɛl?(yin kel nyin chel)
Nneetaaga okwefuga ku kadi?
Nyaak tɛr kɛl kɛc?(nyaak ter kel kech)
Nneetaaga akatale ka abantu babiri.
Nyaak cɛl kɛl tɛbɛl kɛl nyin(nyaak chel kel tebel kel nyin)
Ekitabo, please.
Nyaak cɛl kɛl bɛl(nyaak chel kel bel)
Okwetegereza kukyusiddwa?
Yin kɛl cɛl kɛl tɛr?(yin kel chel kel ter)
Nze ndi omukazi wa mboga.
Nyaak cɛl wɛr(nyaak chel wer)
Tewali emmere eya kinyama, please.
Nyaak cɛl kɛl wɛr kɛc(nyaak chel kel wer kech)
Ono mulungi.
Kɛl cɛl kɛl nyin(kel chel kel nyin)
Nneetaaga menu?
Nyaak cɛl kɛl mɛn?(nyaak chel kel men)
Ekikopo ky'amata, please.
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.
Mpozzi polisi
Cïl wïr(cil wir)
Mpozzi ambulance
Cïl an ambulance(cil an ambulance)
Nfuna daktari
Aŋ thïr a doctor(ang thir a doctor)
Ndi mu mbeera mbi
Aŋ kɔc(ang koc)
Ndi mu bbeera ya nfuzi
Aŋ kɔc a pïyït(ang koc a piyit)
Okwetegereza hospital ey'ekyama?
Cït kɛ̈n hospital?(cit ken hospital)
Bikozesa wano
Cïk bɛ̈t(cik bet)
Nfuuse passport yange
Aŋ kɛ̈n passport(ang ken passport)
Osobola okumpa mpozzi hotel yange?
Aŋ kɛ̈n cïl my hotel?(ang ken cil my hotel)
Mbadde!
Kɛ̈n!(ken)
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Nkwagala okubaako
Nyeu ke nyin(nyin = meet)
Tugende mu nteekateeka
Nyeu ke jɔɔr ke nyin(Tugende mu nteekateeka)
Okwesiga ki?
Kɛ kɛth jɔɔr a ke?(Okwesiga ki?)
Nja kutandika okutuusa ebiragiro leero
Nyeu ke kɛc report kɛ jɔɔl(Nja kutandika okutuusa ebiragiro leero)
Tusobola okubaako oluvannyuma?
Nyeu ke jɔɔr kɛ bɛt?(Tusobola okubaako oluvannyuma?)