Looking for practical Luo to Nuer phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Luo 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: when a Nuer phrase looks unfamiliar, compare it with the Luo 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 Luo 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.
Naki
Nhiar(Naki)
Asante
Nyaak(Asante)
Naki chuo
Nhiar gɔ̈ɔ̈r(Naki chuo)
Naki ng'ato
Nhiar aŋɔ̈r(Naki ng'ato)
Naki owadgi
Nhiar aŋɔ̈r(Naki owadgi)
Naki buya
Nhiar kɔ̈c(Naki buya)
Ting' kendo
Aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n(Ting' kendo)
Naki
Kɛ̈n(Naki)
Ine ng'ama in?
Cɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n?(Ine ng'ama in?)
Inyalo John
Cɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r John(Inyalo John)
Okwere?
Cɛ̈l kɛ̈n?(Okwere?)
Naki konyo
Kɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n(Naki konyo)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Naki konyo English?
Nyaac ke nyin English?
Naki konyo Hindi mako.
Nyaac ma nyin Hindi ke nyin.
Nyingi.
Nyaac ma nyin.
Tende konyo chalo.
Yin ke nyin kɛl.
Naki konyo to?
Yin ke nyin kɛl a thok?
Ith gi toilet?
Yin thok a kɛl?
Ning'eyo konyo city center?
Nyaac ke nyin a city center?
Konyo chike.
Yin ke nyin a laar.
Konyo duto.
Yin ke nyin a jɛŋ.
Yie chalo.
Yin ke nyin a thok.
Ning'eyo koro?
Yin ke nyin a kɛl?
Ticket moko, ndalo.
Yin ke nyin a ticket.
Nia ng'ato kendo?
Yin ke nyin a thok?
Nin gi chalo.
Nyaac ke nyin.
Ith gi SIM card?
Yin thok a kɛl a SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ee
Aye
Ayi
Naa
Kaka
Nyaak
Akwong'
Nyeek a kech
Ayi Akwong'
Nyeek a kech naa
Ong'eyo
Iye kech kɛl
Ine owuon?
Nyaak a kech?
Naki gi chalo?
Nyaak a kech a jɔɔr?
Nind gi chalo
Nyeek a jɔɔr kɛl
Chakre
Kɛl a jɔɔr
Naki
Nyeek a kech
Ayi koro
Naa a kech kɛl
Naki chalo
Aye kɛl
Naki buo
Aye kɛl a wɛr
Naki chalo gi chalo
Kɛl a jɔɔr a jɛɛr
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Naki yieng' ma train?
Känyë kɛ́l wɛ́l?(Känyë kɛl wel)
Naki yieng' ma bus?
Känyë kɛ́l bɔ́l?(Känyë kɛl bol)
Naki platform ng'eyo?
Kɛ́l bɛ́t kɛ́t?(Kel bet ket)
Naki koro ng'ato?
Kɛ́l wɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́t?(Kel wel it ket)
Ning'eyo ni ng'ato?
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l wɛ́l?(Kel it kel wel)
Niko neno.
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l kɛ́l?(Kel it kel kel)
Niko piny.
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l jɔ́l?(Kel it kel jol)
Okwong' ni on map?
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l pɛ́t kɛ́t?(Kel it kel pet ket)
Dhi here, please.
Kɛ́l jɛ́l kɛ́l, pɛ́l?(Kel jel kel pel)
Naki koro ng'ato?
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.
Nia ni?
Nyaak cɛl?(nyaak chel)
Owino ni gi chalo.
Kɛl yic kɛc(kel yich kech)
I konyo kanyo?
Yin kɛl nyin cɛl?(yin kel nyin chel)
Inyalo nind gi kad?
Nyaak tɛr kɛl kɛc?(nyaak ter kel kech)
Nin gi chula mar duong'.
Nyaak cɛl kɛl tɛbɛl kɛl nyin(nyaak chel kel tebel kel nyin)
Chakruok, plis.
Nyaak cɛl kɛl bɛl(nyaak chel kel bel)
Isango ni gi?
Yin kɛl cɛl kɛl tɛr?(yin kel chel kel ter)
Nin gi vegeterian.
Nyaak cɛl wɛr(nyaak chel wer)
Naki chalo chalo, plis.
Nyaak cɛl kɛl wɛr kɛc(nyaak chel kel wer kech)
Owino ni gi dho.
Kɛl cɛl kɛl nyin(kel chel kel nyin)
Inyalo nind gi menu?
Nyaak cɛl kɛl mɛn?(nyaak chel kel men)
Gik konyo mar maji, plis.
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.
Nedhi polisi
Cïl wïr(cil wir)
Nedhi ambulance
Cïl an ambulance(cil an ambulance)
Aneedo daktari
Aŋ thïr a doctor(ang thir a doctor)
Akwong' gi chalo
Aŋ kɔc(ang koc)
An gi allergy kuom peanuts
Aŋ kɔc a pïyït(ang koc a piyit)
Naki hospital mar koro?
Cït kɛ̈n hospital?(cit ken hospital)
Okwong' mana
Cïk bɛ̈t(cik bet)
Nying' my passport
Aŋ kɛ̈n passport(ang ken passport)
Inyalo nedhi hotel ang'wen?
Aŋ kɛ̈n cïl my hotel?(ang ken cil my hotel)
Konyo!
Kɛ̈n!(ken)
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Naki konyo
Nyeu ke nyin(nyin = meet)
Nying' konyo joma
Nyeu ke jɔɔr ke nyin(Nying' konyo joma)
Naki konyo nigi?
Kɛ kɛth jɔɔr a ke?(Naki konyo nigi?)
Ng'ato nind gi report nyaka
Nyeu ke kɛc report kɛ jɔɔl(Ng'ato nind gi report nyaka)
Ning'eyo konyo nyaka?
Nyeu ke jɔɔr kɛ bɛt?(Ning'eyo konyo nyaka?)
Chieng' ni file ni
Nyeu kɛ jɔɔr file kɛ kɛth(Chieng' ni file ni)
Asante gi chako
Nyeu kɛ jɔɔr a ke kɛth(Asante gi chako)
Nying' konyo gi nyaka
Nyeu ke jɔɔr kɛ bɛt a ke(Nying' konyo gi nyaka)
Ning'eyo konyo ni?
A ke jɔɔr kɛ kɛth a?(Ning'eyo konyo ni?)
Ning'eyo konyo nind gi
Nyeu ke jɔɔr kɛ a ke(Ning'eyo konyo nind gi)
Dede ni Friday
Kɛ deadline kɛ Friday(Dede ni Friday)
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.