Looking for practical Nuer to Ilocano phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Nuer phrase first, then the Ilocano translation (Ilocano) — 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 Ilocano.
Tip: pick five Ilocano 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 Nuer to Ilocano 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.
Nhiar
Kumusta(kumusta)
Nyaak
Agyamanak(agyamanak)
Nhiar gɔ̈ɔ̈r
Naimbag a bigat(naimbag a bigat)
Nhiar aŋɔ̈r
Naimbag a malem(naimbag a malem)
Nhiar aŋɔ̈r
Naimbag a rabii(naimbag a rabii)
Nhiar kɔ̈c
Naimbag a rabii(naimbag a rabii)
Aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n
Kitaen tayon(kitaen tayon)
Kɛ̈n
Pakada(pakada)
Cɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n?
Ania ti nagan mo?(ania ti nagan mo)
Cɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r John
Ti nagan ko ket John(ti nagan ko ket John)
Cɛ̈l kɛ̈n?
Kumusta ka?(kumusta ka)
Kɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n
Naragsakak nga makilala ka(naragsakak nga makilala ka)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Nyaac ke nyin English?
Agsasaoka ti English?
Nyaac ma nyin Hindi ke nyin.
Saanak a nasayaat ti agsasaon ti Hindi.
Nyaac ma nyin.
Saanak a maawatan.
Yin ke nyin kɛl.
Maidawat, agsasaoka nga nalaka.
Yin ke nyin kɛl a thok?
Mabalinmo kadi nga ibaga manen?
Yin thok a kɛl?
Ayanna ti banyo?
Nyaac ke nyin a city center?
Kasanoak a makapanka iti sentro ti ciudad?
Yin ke nyin a laar.
Lumiko ka nga agtawid.
Yin ke nyin a jɛŋ.
Lumiko ka nga agtawid.
Yin ke nyin a thok.
Agpada ka.
Yin ke nyin a kɛl?
Mano ti bayad?
Yin ke nyin a ticket.
Maysa nga tiket, maidawat.
Yin ke nyin a thok?
Nalaing kadi dayta manipud ditoy?
Nyaac ke nyin.
Nawawagak.
Yin thok a kɛl a SIM card?
Ayanna ti mabalin paggatangan ti SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Aye
Wen
Naa
Saan
Nyaak
Mabalin
Nyeek a kech
Agkakabsatak
Nyeek a kech naa
Saanak a makikabsat
Iye kech kɛl
Nasayaat dayta
Nyaak a kech?
Ania ti panunot mo?
Nyaak a kech a jɔɔr?
Makatulong ka kanyak?
Nyeek a jɔɔr kɛl
Masapulak ti tulong
Kɛl a jɔɔr
Ur-urayen ti maysa a minuto
Nyeek a kech
Pakawanen
Naa a kech kɛl
Awan ti problema
Aye kɛl
Kudos
Aye kɛl a wɛr
Naragsak a kasangay
Kɛl a jɔɔr a jɛɛr
Agturongka a nasayaat
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Känyë kɛ́l wɛ́l?
Ayanna ti estasyon ti tren?(Ayanna ti estasyon ti tren?)
Känyë kɛ́l bɔ́l?
Ayanna ti pagur-urayan ti bus?(Ayanna ti pagur-urayan ti bus?)
Kɛ́l bɛ́t kɛ́t?
Ania ti plataporma?(Ania ti plataporma?)
Kɛ́l wɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́t?
Ania nga oras ti panagpapanaw na?(Ania nga oras ti panagpapanaw na?)
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l wɛ́l?
Tama ba daytoy nga dalan?(Tama ba daytoy nga dalan?)
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l kɛ́l?
Adu ti asideg ditoy.(Adu ti asideg ditoy.)
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l jɔ́l?
Nabayag ti distansia manipud ditoy.(Nabayag ti distansia manipud ditoy.)
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l pɛ́t kɛ́t?
Mabalin mo ba nga ipakitak iti mapa?(Mabalin mo ba nga ipakitak iti mapa?)
Kɛ́l jɛ́l kɛ́l, pɛ́l?
Umayka ditoy, please.(Umayka ditoy, please.)
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l jɔ́l kɛ́t?
Kaano ti agdama?(Kaano ti agdama?)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Nyaak cɛl?
Mano ti presyo daytoy?(nyaak chel)
Kɛl yic kɛc
Nasukat unay dayta.(kel yich kech)
Yin kɛl nyin cɛl?
Adda kadi ti masansan a presyo?(yin kel nyin chel)
Nyaak tɛr kɛl kɛc?
Mabalin kadi nga agbayad iti kard?(nyaak ter kel kech)
Nyaak cɛl kɛl tɛbɛl kɛl nyin
Kayat ko ti lamesa para iti dua.(nyaak chel kel tebel kel nyin)
Nyaak cɛl kɛl bɛl
Ti kwenta, please.(nyaak chel kel bel)
Yin kɛl cɛl kɛl tɛr?
Nakasarakan kadi ti serbisyo?(yin kel chel kel ter)
Nyaak cɛl wɛr
Vegetarian ak.(nyaak chel wer)
Nyaak cɛl kɛl wɛr kɛc
Awang maang a makan, please.(nyaak chel kel wer kech)
Kɛl cɛl kɛl nyin
Naimas daytoy.(kel chel kel nyin)
Nyaak cɛl kɛl mɛn?
Mabalin kadi nga agrequest iti menu?(nyaak chel kel men)
Nyaak cɛl kɛl gɛl wɛt
Maysa a baso ti danum, please.(nyaak chel kel gel wet)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Cïl wïr
Tawagan ti pulis(cil wir)
Cïl an ambulance
Tawagan ti ambulansya(cil an ambulance)
Aŋ thïr a doctor
Kasapulan ko ti doktor(ang thir a doctor)
Aŋ kɔc
Makaramdamak a masakit(ang koc)
Aŋ kɔc a pïyït
Alergiak iti mani(ang koc a piyit)
Cït kɛ̈n hospital?
Ayanna ti kadakkelan a pagam-anan?(cit ken hospital)
Cïk bɛ̈t
Masakit ditoy(cik bet)
Aŋ kɛ̈n passport
Nawawagan ti pasaporte ko(ang ken passport)
Aŋ kɛ̈n cïl my hotel?
Mabalin mo kadi nga tawagan ti hotel ko?(ang ken cil my hotel)
Kɛ̈n!
Tulungan!(ken)
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Nyeu ke nyin
Naimbag a makilala ka(nyin = meet)
Nyeu ke jɔɔr ke nyin
I-schedule tayo ti panagkikita
Kɛ kɛth jɔɔr a ke?
Ania nga oras ti mabalin para kenka?
Nyeu ke kɛc report kɛ jɔɔl
Ipadala ko ti report ita
Nyeu ke jɔɔr kɛ bɛt?
Mabalin tayo nga agsao inton bigat?
Nyeu kɛ jɔɔr file kɛ kɛth
Pakisukatan ti file a nakadugtong
Nyeu kɛ jɔɔr a ke kɛth
Agyamanak iti oras mo
Nyeu ke jɔɔr kɛ bɛt a ke
Agur-urayak nga agtrabaho kadakayo
A ke jɔɔr kɛ kɛth a?
Mabalin mo nga iklaro dayta a punto?
Nyeu ke jɔɔr kɛ a ke
Ibalik ko ti mensahe kenka
Kɛ deadline kɛ Friday
Ti deadline ket Biyernes
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.