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Common Nuer to Lingala phrases

100 practical Nuer to Lingala phrases for travel, study, work, and daily conversation.

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Looking for practical Nuer to Lingala phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Nuer phrase first, then the Lingala translation (Lingala) — 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 Lingala.

Tip: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Lingala-speaking trip in a few weeks.

Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Nuer to Lingala 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.

  1. Nhiar

    Mbote

  2. Nyaak

    Melesi

  3. Nhiar gɔ̈ɔ̈r

    Mbote na ntango ya mokolo

  4. Nhiar aŋɔ̈r

    Mbote na ntango ya midi

  5. Nhiar aŋɔ̈r

    Mbote na ntango ya soir

  6. Nhiar kɔ̈c

    Malamu na butu

  7. Aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n

    Tala yo nsima

  8. Kɛ̈n

    Kende malamu

  9. Cɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n?

    Nkombo na yo nani?

  10. Cɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r John

    Nkombo na ngai ezali John

  11. Cɛ̈l kɛ̈n?

    Ozalaki malamu?

  12. Kɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n

    Nayoki malamu na yo

Useful phrases for travellers

Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.

  1. Nyaac ke nyin English?

    Ozali koloba lingala? (ozali koloba lingala)

  2. Nyaac ma nyin Hindi ke nyin.

    Nasalaka hindi malamu te (nasalaka hindi malamu te)

  3. Nyaac ma nyin.

    Nalingi te (nalingi te)

  4. Yin ke nyin kɛl.

    S'il vous plaît, koloba butu (koloba butu)

  5. Yin ke nyin kɛl a thok?

    Okoki koloba yango lisusu? (okoki koloba yango lisusu)

  6. Yin thok a kɛl?

    Bato ya nzoto ezali wapi? (bato ya nzoto)

  7. Nyaac ke nyin a city center?

    Nakanisi ndenge nini nakokende na centre? (nakokende na centre)

  8. Yin ke nyin a laar.

    Tika na mobali (tika na mobali)

  9. Yin ke nyin a jɛŋ.

    Tika na mwasi (tika na mwasi)

  10. Yin ke nyin a thok.

    Kende na ntango (kende na ntango)

  11. Yin ke nyin a kɛl?

    Mbala nini ezali? (mbala nini)

  12. Yin ke nyin a ticket.

    Billet moko, s'il vous plaît (billet moko)

  13. Yin ke nyin a thok?

    Ezali na esika ya mbali? (ezali na esika ya mbali)

  14. Nyaac ke nyin.

    Nazali na esika ya mabe (nazali na esika ya mabe)

  15. Yin thok a kɛl a SIM card?

    Nakanisi wapi nakokota SIM card? (nakokota SIM card)

Everyday conversation

Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.

  1. Aye

    Oyo

  2. Naa

    Te

  3. Nyaak

    Soki

  4. Nyeek a kech

    Nalingi

  5. Nyeek a kech naa

    Nalingi te

  6. Iye kech kɛl

    Eza malamu

  7. Nyaak a kech?

    Oyo olingi nini?

  8. Nyaak a kech a jɔɔr?

    Okoki kosalisa ngai?

  9. Nyeek a jɔɔr kɛl

    Naza na bosenga ya kosalisa

  10. Kɛl a jɔɔr

    Sunga moke

  11. Nyeek a kech

    Nasalaki mabe

  12. Naa a kech kɛl

    Nani azali na problème

  13. Aye kɛl

    Mokolo malamu

  14. Aye kɛl a wɛr

    Mokolo ya mbotama malamu

  15. Kɛl a jɔɔr a jɛɛr

    Zala na nzela ya malamu

Directions and getting around

Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.

  1. Känyë kɛ́l wɛ́l?

    Eko zali wapi? (Eko zali wapi?)

  2. Känyë kɛ́l bɔ́l?

    Eko zali wapi na bis? (Känyë kɛl bol)

  3. Kɛ́l bɛ́t kɛ́t?

    Eko zali na esika nini? (Kel bet ket)

  4. Kɛ́l wɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́t?

    Ekozanga na ntango nini? (Kel wel it ket)

  5. Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l wɛ́l?

    Oyo ezali nzela ya malamu? (Kel it kel wel)

  6. Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l kɛ́l?

    Ezali pene awa. (Kel it kel kel)

  7. Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l jɔ́l?

    Ezali mbali awa. (Kel it kel jol)

  8. Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l pɛ́t kɛ́t?

    Okoki kolakisa ngai na kati ya mape? (Kel it kel pet ket)

  9. Kɛ́l jɛ́l kɛ́l, pɛ́l?

    Tika awa, s'il vous plaît. (Kel jel kel pel)

  10. Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l jɔ́l kɛ́t?

    Ekozala ntango nini? (Kel it kel jol ket)

Shopping and dining

Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.

  1. Nyaak cɛl?

    Mbongo ya yango eza nini? (nyaak chel)

  2. Kɛl yic kɛc

    Yango eza mabe na mbongo. (kel yich kech)

  3. Yin kɛl nyin cɛl?

    Ozali na makambo mosusu ya mbongo moke? (yin kel nyin chel)

  4. Nyaak tɛr kɛl kɛc?

    Nalingi kobonga na carte? (nyaak ter kel kech)

  5. Nyaak cɛl kɛl tɛbɛl kɛl nyin

    Nalingi meka mpo na mibale. (nyaak chel kel tebel kel nyin)

  6. Nyaak cɛl kɛl bɛl

    Liyangani, s'il vous plaît. (nyaak chel kel bel)

  7. Yin kɛl cɛl kɛl tɛr?

    Service eza na kati? (yin kel chel kel ter)

  8. Nyaak cɛl wɛr

    Nazali mvegetarian. (nyaak chel wer)

  9. Nyaak cɛl kɛl wɛr kɛc

    Bokoya biloko ya mabe, s'il vous plaît. (nyaak chel kel wer kech)

  10. Kɛl cɛl kɛl nyin

    Yango ezali malamu. (kel chel kel nyin)

  11. Nyaak cɛl kɛl mɛn?

    Nalingi menu, s'il vous plaît. (nyaak chel kel men)

  12. Nyaak cɛl kɛl gɛl wɛt

    Leki ya mayi, s'il vous plaît. (nyaak chel kel gel wet)

Emergencies and health

Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.

  1. Cïl wïr

    Tindá polisi (cil wir)

  2. Cïl an ambulance

    Tindá ambulance (cil an ambulance)

  3. Aŋ thïr a doctor

    Nalingi médecin (ang thir a doctor)

  4. Aŋ kɔc

    Nazali na maladi (ang koc)

  5. Aŋ kɔc a pïyït

    Nazali na allergie na mbala (ang koc a piyit)

  6. Cït kɛ̈n hospital?

    Hospital ya liboso ezali wapi? (cit ken hospital)

  7. Cïk bɛ̈t

    Ezalaka na nse awa (cik bet)

  8. Aŋ kɛ̈n passport

    Nazwi passport na ngai (ang ken passport)

  9. Aŋ kɛ̈n cïl my hotel?

    Okoki kotinda hôtel na ngai? (ang ken cil my hotel)

  10. Kɛ̈n!

    S.O.S! (ken)

Work and business

Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.

  1. Nyeu ke nyin

    Nasepeli na yo (nyin = meet)

  2. Nyeu ke jɔɔr ke nyin

    Tika tozala na mitema

  3. Kɛ kɛth jɔɔr a ke?

    Ngai nalobi ntango nini ekozala malamu na yo?

  4. Nyeu ke kɛc report kɛ jɔɔl

    Naboya raport lelo

  5. Nyeu ke jɔɔr kɛ bɛt?

    Tango tozali na mposo?

  6. Nyeu kɛ jɔɔr file kɛ kɛth

    S'il vous plaît, tala fichier oyo ezali na nzela

  7. Nyeu kɛ jɔɔr a ke kɛth

    Mersi mpo na ntango na yo

  8. Nyeu ke jɔɔr kɛ bɛt a ke

    Nasalela yo na mosala

  9. A ke jɔɔr kɛ kɛth a?

    Okoki kosala likambo yango malamu?

  10. Nyeu ke jɔɔr kɛ a ke

    Napesi yo nzela

  11. Kɛ deadline kɛ Friday

    Mokolo ya kokanga ezali Vendredi

Time, days and numbers

Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.

  1. Nii rɛ̈ŋa?

    Nini tango ezali? (ni-ni tan-go e-za-li)

  2. Nii kɛ̈l lɔk thɛ̈n.

    Ezali ntango ya misato (e-za-li n-tan-go ya mi-sa-to)

  3. Nii rɛ̈ŋa

    Lelo (nii rɛŋa)

  4. Nii rɛ̈ŋa kɛ̈l

    Bokoko (nii rɛŋa kel)

  5. Nii rɛ̈ŋa kɛ̈l lɔk

    Kaka (nii rɛŋa kel lok)

  6. Dɛ̈n tɛ̈n

    Lundi (den ten)

  7. Dɛ̈n kɛ̈l

    Mardi (den kel)

  8. Dɛ̈n lɔk

    Mercredi (den lok)

  9. Kɛ̈l

    Moko (kel)

  10. Lɔk

    Mbala (lok)

  11. Thɛ̈n

    Misato (then)

  12. Jɛ̈n

    Libwa (jen)

  13. Kɛ̈l jɛ̈n

    Sankuru (kel jen)

  14. Nɛ̈ŋ

    Bato (neng)

  15. Kɛ̈l lɔk

    Soki (kel lok)

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