Looking for practical NKo to Nuer phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the NKo 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 NKo 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 NKo 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.
ᎣᏍᏆ
Nhiar(Oscha)
ᎠᏍᏆᏙᏗ
Nyaak(Ascadodi)
ᎣᏍᏆ ᎡᏚᏙᏗ
Nhiar gɔ̈ɔ̈r(Oscha Edodhi)
ᎣᏍᏆ ᎠᏧᏍᏆᏗ
Nhiar aŋɔ̈r(Oscha Atsachadi)
ᎣᏍᏆ ᏓᎦᏚᏗ
Nhiar aŋɔ̈r(Oscha Dagadudi)
ᎣᏍᏆ ᏓᏥᏍᏆ
Nhiar kɔ̈c(Oscha Datsicha)
ᎣᏍᏆ ᏓᎦᏙᏗ
Aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n(Oscha Dagadodi)
ᎣᏍᏆ ᏓᏁᏙᏗ
Kɛ̈n(Oscha Danodi)
ᎯᏍᏆ ᎠᏍᏆᏙᏗ ᎢᏳᏍᏆ?
Cɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n?(Hisch Ascadodi Iyuscha?)
ᎠᏓ ᎠᏍᏆᏙᏗ ᎠᏍᏆ ᏥᏍᏆ
Cɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r John(Ada Ascadodi Ascha Tischa)
ᎯᏍᏆ ᎯᏍᏆ?
Cɛ̈l kɛ̈n?(Hisch Hisch?)
ᎠᏍᏆᏙᏗ ᏓᏥᏍᏆ
Kɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n(Ascadodi Tischa)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߡߊ߬ߟߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬?
Nyaac ke nyin English?(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߡߊ߬ߟߊ߬ ߗߊ߬ߓߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬
Nyaac ma nyin Hindi ke nyin.(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߡߊ߬ߟߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߓߊ߬
Nyaac ma nyin.(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߗߊ߬ߓߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬
Yin ke nyin kɛl.(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬?
Yin ke nyin kɛl a thok?(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬?
Yin thok a kɛl?(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬?
Nyaac ke nyin a city center?(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬
Yin ke nyin a laar.(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬
Yin ke nyin a jɛŋ.(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬
Yin ke nyin a thok.(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬?
Yin ke nyin a kɛl?(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬
Yin ke nyin a ticket.(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬?
Yin ke nyin a thok?(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬
Nyaac ke nyin.(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬?
Yin thok a kɛl a SIM card?(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
𞤈𞤢𞤣𞤢
Aye
𞤈𞤢𞤣
Naa
𞤈𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤈𞤢𞤣𞤢
Nyaak
𞤉𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢𞤲𞤢
Nyeek a kech
𞤉𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢𞤲𞤢 𞤈𞤢𞤣
Nyeek a kech naa
𞤈𞤢𞤣 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤈𞤢𞤣
Iye kech kɛl
𞤈𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤈𞤢𞤣
Nyaak a kech?
𞤈𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤉𞤢𞤣𞤢
Nyaak a kech a jɔɔr?
𞤉𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢
Nyeek a jɔɔr kɛl
𞤈𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤈𞤢𞤣
Kɛl a jɔɔr
𞤉𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢
Nyeek a kech
𞤈𞤢𞤣 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢
Naa a kech kɛl
𞤈𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢
Aye kɛl
𞤈𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢
Aye kɛl a wɛr
𞤈𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢
Kɛl a jɔɔr a jɛɛr
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
ߓߍ߬ߓߊ߬ ߓߍ߬ ߛߌ߬ߟߊ߬ߙߌ߬
Känyë kɛ́l wɛ́l?(Känyë kɛl wel)
ߓߍ߬ߓߊ߬ ߓߍ߬ ߛߌ߬ߟߊ߬ߙߌ߬ ߓߌ߬ߜߌ߬
Känyë kɛ́l bɔ́l?(Känyë kɛl bol)
ߓߍ߬ߓߊ߬ ߛߌ߬ߟߊ߬ߙߌ߬ ߓߌ߬ߜߌ߬
Kɛ́l bɛ́t kɛ́t?(Kel bet ket)
ߓߍ߬ߓߊ߬ ߛߌ߬ߟߊ߬ߙߌ߬ ߓߌ߬ߜߌ߬
Kɛ́l wɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́t?(Kel wel it ket)
ߓߍ߬ߓߊ߬ ߓߌ߬ߜߌ߬ ߓߍ߬ ߞߌ߬ߟߌ߬
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l wɛ́l?(Kel it kel wel)
ߓߍ߬ߓߊ߬ ߓߌ߬ߜߌ߬ ߓߍ߬ ߞߌ߬ߟߌ߬
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l kɛ́l?(Kel it kel kel)
ߓߍ߬ߓߊ߬ ߓߌ߬ߜߌ߬ ߓߍ߬ ߞߌ߬ߟߌ߬
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l jɔ́l?(Kel it kel jol)
ߓߍ߬ߓߊ߬ ߓߌ߬ߜߌ߬ ߓߍ߬ ߞߌ߬ߟߌ߬
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l pɛ́t kɛ́t?(Kel it kel pet ket)
ߓߍ߬ߓߊ߬ ߓߌ߬ߜߌ߬ ߓߍ߬ ߞߌ߬ߟߌ߬
Kɛ́l jɛ́l kɛ́l, pɛ́l?(Kel jel kel pel)
ߓߍ߬ߓߊ߬ ߓߌ߬ߜߌ߬ ߓߍ߬ ߞߌ߬ߟߌ߬
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.
ߊߞߊ ߟߌ߬ߓߊ ߞߊ߬ߙߌߟߌ?
Nyaak cɛl?(nyaak chel)
߉ߠߊ ߞߊ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߟߌ߬ߓߊ ߞߊ߬ߙߌ
Kɛl yic kɛc(kel yich kech)
ߊߞߊ ߡߊ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߞߊ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߞߌ߬ߙߌ?
Yin kɛl nyin cɛl?(yin kel nyin chel)
ߊߞߊ ߡߊ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߡߌ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߞߌ߬ߙߌ?
Nyaak tɛr kɛl kɛc?(nyaak ter kel kech)
ߊߞߊ ߡߊ ߞߊ ߞߌ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߡߌ߬ߙߌ
Nyaak cɛl kɛl tɛbɛl kɛl nyin(nyaak chel kel tebel kel nyin)
ߊߞߊ ߡߊ ߞߌ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߡߌ߬ߙߌ
Nyaak cɛl kɛl bɛl(nyaak chel kel bel)
ߊߞߊ ߡߊ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߞߊ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߞߌ߬ߙߌ?
Yin kɛl cɛl kɛl tɛr?(yin kel chel kel ter)
ߊߞߊ ߡߊ ߞߊ ߞߌ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߡߌ߬ߙߌ
Nyaak cɛl wɛr(nyaak chel wer)
ߊߞߊ ߡߊ ߞߊ ߞߌ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߡߌ߬ߙߌ
Nyaak cɛl kɛl wɛr kɛc(nyaak chel kel wer kech)
ߊߞߊ ߡߊ ߞߊ ߞߌ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߡߌ߬ߙߌ
Kɛl cɛl kɛl nyin(kel chel kel nyin)
ߊߞߊ ߡߊ ߞߊ ߞߌ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߡߌ߬ߙߌ?
Nyaak cɛl kɛl mɛn?(nyaak chel kel men)
ߊߞߊ ߡߊ ߞߊ ߞߌ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߡߌ߬ߙߌ
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.
ߞߊ߬ߟߊ߬ ߞߍ߬ߟߌ߬
Cïl wïr(cil wir)
ߞߊ߬ߟߊ߬ ߟߌ߬ߞߌ߬ ߡߊ߬ߟߊ߬
Cïl an ambulance(cil an ambulance)
ߘߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߡߊ߬ߖߊ߬
Aŋ thïr a doctor(ang thir a doctor)
ߘߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߟߊ߬
Aŋ kɔc(ang koc)
ߘߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߟߍ߬ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߡߊ߬ߣߊ߬
Aŋ kɔc a pïyït(ang koc a piyit)
ߞߍ߬ ߝߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߡߊ߬ߖߊ߬ ߡߊ߬ߞߌ߬?
Cït kɛ̈n hospital?(cit ken hospital)
ߘߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߡߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߟߊ߬
Cïk bɛ̈t(cik bet)
ߘߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߡߊ߬ߖߊ߬ ߙߊ߬ߓߊ߬
Aŋ kɛ̈n passport(ang ken passport)
ߞߍ߬ ߡߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߟߊ߬ߖߊ߬ ߙߊ߬ߚߊ߬?
Aŋ kɛ̈n cïl my hotel?(ang ken cil my hotel)
ߞߍ߬ ߡߊ߬ߡߊ߬!
Kɛ̈n!(ken)
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
መይ ወይ ደሊ እንደ ወይ
Nyeu ke nyin(nyin = meet)
ንደ ወርክ ወን ወይ
Nyeu ke jɔɔr ke nyin(nda werk wen wey)
ንደ ወይ ወይ ወይ
Kɛ kɛth jɔɔr a ke?(nda wey wey wey)
እኔ ወይ ወርክ ወይ ወይ
Nyeu ke kɛc report kɛ jɔɔl(eñe wey werk wey wey)
ንደ ወይ ወይ ወይ
Nyeu ke jɔɔr kɛ bɛt?(nda wey wey wey)
ንደ ወይ ወይ ወይ
Nyeu kɛ jɔɔr file kɛ kɛth(nda wey wey wey)
መይ ወይ ወይ ወይ
Nyeu kɛ jɔɔr a ke kɛth(mey wey wey wey)
እኔ ወይ ወይ ወይ
Nyeu ke jɔɔr kɛ bɛt a ke(eñe wey wey wey)
ንደ ወይ ወይ ወይ
A ke jɔɔr kɛ kɛth a?(nda wey wey wey)
ንደ ወይ ወይ ወይ
Nyeu ke jɔɔr kɛ a ke(nda wey wey wey)
ንደ ወይ ወይ ወይ
Kɛ deadline kɛ Friday(nda wey wey wey)
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.