Looking for practical Nuer to Kanuri phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Nuer 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: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Kanuri-speaking trip in a few weeks.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Nuer 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.
Nhiar
Sannu
Nyaak
Nagode
Nhiar gɔ̈ɔ̈r
Ina kwana
Nhiar aŋɔ̈r
Ina yamma
Nhiar aŋɔ̈r
Ina dare
Nhiar kɔ̈c
Sai da safe
Aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n
Zan ganka
Kɛ̈n
Sai anjima
Cɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n?
Menene sunanka?
Cɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r John
Sunana John
Cɛ̈l kɛ̈n?
Lafiya lau?
Kɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n
Na ji dadin haduwa da kai
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Nyaac ke nyin English?
Kuna magana da Turanci?
Nyaac ma nyin Hindi ke nyin.
Ba na magana da Hindi sosai.
Nyaac ma nyin.
Ba na fahimta.
Yin ke nyin kɛl.
Don Allah, ku yi magana a hankali.
Yin ke nyin kɛl a thok?
Za ku iya faɗin hakan sake?
Yin thok a kɛl?
Ina wanka?
Nyaac ke nyin a city center?
Ta yaya zan isa tsakiyar birni?
Yin ke nyin a laar.
Juya hagu.
Yin ke nyin a jɛŋ.
Juya dama.
Yin ke nyin a thok.
Tafiya kai tsaye.
Yin ke nyin a kɛl?
Nawa ne farashin?
Yin ke nyin a ticket.
Tiket ɗaya, don Allah.
Yin ke nyin a thok?
Shin yana da nisa daga nan?
Nyaac ke nyin.
Na ɓace.
Yin thok a kɛl a SIM card?
Ina zan iya sayen kati na SIM?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Aye
Eey(ee-y)
Naa
A'a(ah-ah)
Nyaak
Wata(wah-tah)
Nyeek a kech
Na amu(nah ah-moo)
Nyeek a kech naa
Na a'a amu(nah ah-ah ah-moo)
Iye kech kɛl
Iya na(ee-yah nah)
Nyaak a kech?
Kaya ka yi tunani?(kah-yah kah yee too-nah-nee)
Nyaak a kech a jɔɔr?
Za ka iya taimaka min?(zah kah ee-yah tie-mah-kah meen)
Nyeek a jɔɔr kɛl
Na bukaci taimako(nah boo-kah-chee tie-mah-koh)
Kɛl a jɔɔr
Duba dan lokaci(doo-bah dahn loh-kah-chee)
Nyeek a kech
Na yi hakuri(nah yee hah-koo-ree)
Naa a kech kɛl
Babu matsala(bah-boo maht-sah-lah)
Aye kɛl
Taya murna(tah-yah moor-nah)
Aye kɛl a wɛr
Barka da haihuwa(bar-kah dah hai-hoo-wah)
Kɛl a jɔɔr a jɛɛr
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.
Känyë kɛ́l wɛ́l?
Nye boko na gari?(Känyë kɛl wel)
Känyë kɛ́l bɔ́l?
Nye boko na bas?(Känyë kɛl bol)
Kɛ́l bɛ́t kɛ́t?
Wane boko na?(Kel bet ket)
Kɛ́l wɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́t?
Wane lokaci ya tafi?(Kel wel it ket)
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l wɛ́l?
Shin wannan hanya ce?(Kel it kel wel)
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l kɛ́l?
Yana kusa da nan(Kel it kel kel)
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l jɔ́l?
Yana nesa da nan(Kel it kel jol)
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l pɛ́t kɛ́t?
Za ka iya nuna mini a taswirar?(Kel it kel pet ket)
Kɛ́l jɛ́l kɛ́l, pɛ́l?
Tsaida nan, don Allah(Kel jel kel pel)
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l jɔ́l kɛ́t?
Yaya tsawon lokaci?(Kel it kel jol ket)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Nyaak cɛl?
Nayi na kudi?(Nayi na kudi?)
Kɛl yic kɛc
Wannan ya yi tsada sosai.(kel yich kech)
Yin kɛl nyin cɛl?
Shin kuna da wani abu mai rahusa?(yin kel nyin chel)
Nyaak tɛr kɛl kɛc?
Zan iya biyan kudi da kati?(nyaak ter kel kech)
Nyaak cɛl kɛl tɛbɛl kɛl nyin
Ina so tebur don biyu.(nyaak chel kel tebel kel nyin)
Nyaak cɛl kɛl bɛl
Lissafi, don Allah.(nyaak chel kel bel)
Yin kɛl cɛl kɛl tɛr?
Shin sabis ya haɗa?(yin kel chel kel ter)
Nyaak cɛl wɛr
Ni mai ganyayyaki ne.(nyaak chel wer)
Nyaak cɛl kɛl wɛr kɛc
Ba tare da zaki ba, don Allah.(nyaak chel kel wer kech)
Kɛl cɛl kɛl nyin
Wannan yana da dadi.(kel chel kel nyin)
Nyaak cɛl kɛl mɛn?
Zan iya samun menu?(nyaak chel kel men)
Nyaak cɛl kɛl gɛl wɛt
Kofin ruwa, don Allah.(nyaak chel kel gel wet)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Cïl wïr
Dawari janga(Dawari janga)
Cïl an ambulance
Dawari ambulan(Dawari ambulan)
Aŋ thïr a doctor
Ni na doctor(Ni na doctor)
Aŋ kɔc
Ni na jaga(Ni na jaga)
Aŋ kɔc a pïyït
Ni na haji goro(Ni na haji goro)
Cït kɛ̈n hospital?
Ina asibiti na kusa?(Ina asibiti na kusa?)
Cïk bɛ̈t
Yana ciwo a nan(Yana ciwo a nan)
Aŋ kɛ̈n passport
Ni na rasa passport na(Ni na rasa passport na)
Aŋ kɛ̈n cïl my hotel?
Za ka iya dawari otel na?(Za ka iya dawari otel na?)
Kɛ̈n!
Taimako!(ken)
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Nyeu ke nyin
Nde gaishe(nde gaishe)
Nyeu ke jɔɔr ke nyin
Mu gaishe taro(mu gaishe taro)
Kɛ kɛth jɔɔr a ke?
Wai gaishe lokaci?(wai gaishe lokaci)
Nyeu ke kɛc report kɛ jɔɔl
Zan tura rahoto yau(zan tura rahoto yau)
Nyeu ke jɔɔr kɛ bɛt?
Zamu iya magana gobe?(zamu iya magana gobe)
Nyeu kɛ jɔɔr file kɛ kɛth
Don Allah ka sami fayil din da aka makala(don Allah ka sami fayil din da aka makala)
Nyeu kɛ jɔɔr a ke kɛth
Na gode da lokacinka(na gode da lokacinka)
Nyeu ke jɔɔr kɛ bɛt a ke
Ina fatan aiki tare da kai(ina fatan aiki tare da kai)
A ke jɔɔr kɛ kɛth a?
Za ka iya fayyace wannan batu?(za ka iya fayyace wannan batu)