Looking for practical Nuer to Krio phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Nuer phrase first, then the Krio translation (Krio) — 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 Krio.
Tip: when a Krio phrase looks unfamiliar, compare it with the Nuer 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 Nuer to Krio 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
Hello
Nyaak
Tenki
Nhiar gɔ̈ɔ̈r
Gud mɔnin
Nhiar aŋɔ̈r
Gud aftanun
Nhiar aŋɔ̈r
Gud ivnin
Nhiar kɔ̈c
Gud nait
Aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n
Si yu leta
Kɛ̈n
Bai
Cɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n?
Wetɛn na yu neym?
Cɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r John
Ma neym na John
Cɛ̈l kɛ̈n?
Ow yu de?
Kɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n
Naes fo mit yu
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Nyaac ke nyin English?
Yu sabi English?
Nyaac ma nyin Hindi ke nyin.
A no sabi Hindi well.
Nyaac ma nyin.
A no sabi.
Yin ke nyin kɛl.
Plis, tok slow.
Yin ke nyin kɛl a thok?
Yu fit tok dat again?
Yin thok a kɛl?
Weh na di toilet?
Nyaac ke nyin a city center?
Ow A go fit reach di city center?
Yin ke nyin a laar.
Turn left.
Yin ke nyin a jɛŋ.
Turn right.
Yin ke nyin a thok.
Go straight.
Yin ke nyin a kɛl?
Ow much na di fare?
Yin ke nyin a ticket.
One ticket, plis.
Yin ke nyin a thok?
E far from ya?
Nyaac ke nyin.
A don lost.
Yin thok a kɛl a SIM card?
Weh A go fit buy SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Aye
Yes
Naa
No
Nyaak
Maybe
Nyeek a kech
A mi agree
Nyeek a kech naa
A no agree
Iye kech kɛl
Dat na fine
Nyaak a kech?
Wet in you tink?
Nyaak a kech a jɔɔr?
You fit help me?
Nyeek a jɔɔr kɛl
A need help
Kɛl a jɔɔr
Wait small
Nyeek a kech
A sorry
Naa a kech kɛl
No problem
Aye kɛl
Congratulations
Aye kɛl a wɛr
Happy birthday
Kɛl a jɔɔr a jɛɛr
Get safe trip
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Känyë kɛ́l wɛ́l?
Weh na di train station?(Känyë kɛl wel)
Känyë kɛ́l bɔ́l?
Weh na di bus stop?(Känyë kɛl bol)
Kɛ́l bɛ́t kɛ́t?
Which platform na im?(Kel bet ket)
Kɛ́l wɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́t?
Wetin time e go lef?(Kel wel it ket)
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l wɛ́l?
Dis na di right way?(Kel it kel wel)
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l kɛ́l?
E dey near here(Kel it kel kel)
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l jɔ́l?
E far from here(Kel it kel jol)
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l pɛ́t kɛ́t?
Yu fit show me pan di map?(Kel it kel pet ket)
Kɛ́l jɛ́l kɛ́l, pɛ́l?
Stop here, pliz(Kel jel kel pel)
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l jɔ́l kɛ́t?
How long e go tek?(Kel it kel jol ket)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Nyaak cɛl?
How much dis cost?(nyaak chel)
Kɛl yic kɛc
Dat too expensive.(kel yich kech)
Yin kɛl nyin cɛl?
You get anytin wey cheaper?(yin kel nyin chel)
Nyaak tɛr kɛl kɛc?
I fit pay by card?(nyaak ter kel kech)
Nyaak cɛl kɛl tɛbɛl kɛl nyin
I wan table for two.(nyaak chel kel tebel kel nyin)
Nyaak cɛl kɛl bɛl
Di bill, please.(nyaak chel kel bel)
Yin kɛl cɛl kɛl tɛr?
Service dey include?(yin kel chel kel ter)
Nyaak cɛl wɛr
I na vegetarian.(nyaak chel wer)
Nyaak cɛl kɛl wɛr kɛc
No spicy food, please.(nyaak chel kel wer kech)
Kɛl cɛl kɛl nyin
Dis dey sweet.(kel chel kel nyin)
Nyaak cɛl kɛl mɛn?
I fit get di menu?(nyaak chel kel men)
Nyaak cɛl kɛl gɛl wɛt
A glass of water, please.(nyaak chel kel gel wet)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Cïl wïr
Call di police(cil wir)
Cïl an ambulance
Call ambulance(cil an ambulance)
Aŋ thïr a doctor
A need doctor(ang thir a doctor)
Aŋ kɔc
A dey feel sick(ang koc)
Aŋ kɔc a pïyït
A get allergy for peanuts(ang koc a piyit)
Cït kɛ̈n hospital?
Weh di nearest hospital de?(cit ken hospital)
Cïk bɛ̈t
E dey pain here(cik bet)
Aŋ kɛ̈n passport
A don lose mi passport(ang ken passport)
Aŋ kɛ̈n cïl my hotel?
You fit call mi hotel?(ang ken cil my hotel)
Kɛ̈n!
Help!(ken)
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Nyeu ke nyin
Na nice for meet you(nyin = meet)
Nyeu ke jɔɔr ke nyin
Make we plan wan meeting
Kɛ kɛth jɔɔr a ke?
Wetin time go work for you?
Nyeu ke kɛc report kɛ jɔɔl
A go send di report tiday
Nyeu ke jɔɔr kɛ bɛt?
We go fit talk tomorrow?
Nyeu kɛ jɔɔr file kɛ kɛth
Abeg find di file wey attach
Nyeu kɛ jɔɔr a ke kɛth
Tenki for your time
Nyeu ke jɔɔr kɛ bɛt a ke
A dey look forward for work with you
A ke jɔɔr kɛ kɛth a?
You fit clarify dat point?
Nyeu ke jɔɔr kɛ a ke
Make I get back to you
Kɛ deadline kɛ Friday
Di deadline na Friday
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.