Looking for practical Nuer to Maori phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Nuer phrase first, then the Maori translation (Maori) — 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 Maori.
Tip: pick five Maori 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 Maori 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
Kia ora
Nyaak
Ngā mihi
Nhiar gɔ̈ɔ̈r
Ata mārie
Nhiar aŋɔ̈r
Pō mārie
Nhiar aŋɔ̈r
Pō nui
Nhiar kɔ̈c
Nō reira
Aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n
Ka kite anō
Kɛ̈n
Haere rā
Cɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n?
Ko wai tō ingoa?
Cɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r John
Ko John tōku ingoa
Cɛ̈l kɛ̈n?
Kei te pēhea koe?
Kɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n
He pai ki te tūtaki i a koe
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Nyaac ke nyin English?
Ka korero koe i te reo Ingarihi?(kah korero koe ee teh reh-oh ingarihi)
Nyaac ma nyin Hindi ke nyin.
Kaore au e korero pai i te reo Hīndi(kaore ow ee kah-raw pai ee teh reh-oh hindee)
Nyaac ma nyin.
Kaore au e mohio(kaore ow ee moh-ee-oh)
Yin ke nyin kɛl.
Tena koa korero āta(teh-nah koh-ah kah-raw-oh ah-tah)
Yin ke nyin kɛl a thok?
Ka taea e koe te korero ano?(kah tah-eh eh koh-eh teh kah-raw-oh ah-no)
Yin thok a kɛl?
Kei hea te wharepaku?(kay he-ah teh fah-reh-pah-koo)
Nyaac ke nyin a city center?
Me pehea au e tae ki te pokapū o te tāone?(meh peh-heh-ah ow eh tie keh teh poh-kah-poo oh teh tah-oh-neh)
Yin ke nyin a laar.
Huri ki mauī(hoo-ree kee mow-ee)
Yin ke nyin a jɛŋ.
Huri ki te taha matau(hoo-ree kee teh tah-hah mah-tow)
Yin ke nyin a thok.
Haere tika(high-reh tee-kah)
Yin ke nyin a kɛl?
E hia te utu?(eh hee-ah teh oo-too)
Yin ke nyin a ticket.
Kotahi te tikiti, please(koh-tah-hee teh tee-kee-tee)
Yin ke nyin a thok?
Kei tawhiti mai i konei?(kay tah-whee-tee my ee koh-nay)
Nyaac ke nyin.
Kua ngaro au(koo-ah nah-roh ow)
Yin thok a kɛl a SIM card?
Kei hea e taea ai e au te hoko kāri SIM?(kay he-ah eh tah-eh ah-ee eh ow teh hoh-koh kah-ree sim)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Aye
Āe
Naa
Kāo
Nyaak
Tērā pea
Nyeek a kech
Kei te whakaae au
Nyeek a kech naa
Kāore au e whakaae
Iye kech kɛl
He pai tēnā
Nyaak a kech?
He aha tāu e whakaaro ana?
Nyaak a kech a jɔɔr?
Ka taea e koe te awhina i au?
Nyeek a jɔɔr kɛl
Kei te hiahia au i te awhina
Kɛl a jɔɔr
Tēnā tūrua
Nyeek a kech
Aroha mai
Naa a kech kɛl
Kāore he raru
Aye kɛl
Ngā mihi
Aye kɛl a wɛr
Hari huritau
Kɛl a jɔɔr a jɛɛr
Kia pai te haerenga
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Känyë kɛ́l wɛ́l?
Kei hea te teihana tereina?(Kei hea te teihana tereina?)
Känyë kɛ́l bɔ́l?
Kei hea te pooti?(Kei hea te pooti?)
Kɛ́l bɛ́t kɛ́t?
Ko wai te papa?(Ko wai te papa?)
Kɛ́l wɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́t?
He aha te wa e wehe ai?(He aha te wa e wehe ai?)
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l wɛ́l?
Kei te tika tēnei ara?(Kei te tika tēnei ara?)
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l kɛ́l?
Kei konei tata mai(Kei konei tata mai)
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l jɔ́l?
Kei tawhiti mai i konei(Kei tawhiti mai i konei)
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l pɛ́t kɛ́t?
Ka taea e koe te whakaatu ki ahau i runga i te mapi?(Ka taea e koe te whakaatu ki ahau i runga i te mapi?)
Kɛ́l jɛ́l kɛ́l, pɛ́l?
Tū mai i konei, koa(Tū mai i konei, koa)
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l jɔ́l kɛ́t?
E hia te wā e tango ana?(E hia te wā e tango ana?)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Nyaak cɛl?
E hia te utu o tēnei?(ehia te utu o tei nei)
Kɛl yic kɛc
He tino utu tēnā(kel yich kech)
Yin kɛl nyin cɛl?
Kei a koe he mea iti ake?(yin kel nyin chel)
Nyaak tɛr kɛl kɛc?
Ka taea e au te utu mā te kāri?(nyaak ter kel kech)
Nyaak cɛl kɛl tɛbɛl kɛl nyin
E hiahia ana au ki te tepu mō te rua.(nyaak chel kel tebel kel nyin)
Nyaak cɛl kɛl bɛl
Tēnā, te rīhi.(nyaak chel kel bel)
Yin kɛl cɛl kɛl tɛr?
Kei roto i te utu te ratonga?(yin kel chel kel ter)
Nyaak cɛl wɛr
He veggie ahau.(nyaak chel wer)
Nyaak cɛl kɛl wɛr kɛc
Kāore he kai pārearea, tēnā.(nyaak chel kel wer kech)
Kɛl cɛl kɛl nyin
He reka tēnei.(kel chel kel nyin)
Nyaak cɛl kɛl mɛn?
Ka taea e au te rārangi kai?(nyaak chel kel men)
Nyaak cɛl kɛl gɛl wɛt
Tēnā, he karaihe wai.(nyaak chel kel gel wet)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Cïl wïr
Karanga ki te pirihimana(cil wir)
Cïl an ambulance
Karanga ki te āwhina(cil an ambulance)
Aŋ thïr a doctor
Kei te hiahia au i te rata(ang thir a doctor)
Aŋ kɔc
Kei te pāngia au e te mate(ang koc)
Aŋ kɔc a pïyït
He pātea au ki ngā pāhiri(ang koc a piyit)
Cït kɛ̈n hospital?
Kei hea te hōhipera tata?(cit ken hospital)
Cïk bɛ̈t
E mamae ana i konei(cik bet)
Aŋ kɛ̈n passport
I ngaro taku pasapo(ang ken passport)
Aŋ kɛ̈n cïl my hotel?
Ka taea e koe te karanga ki taku hōtera?(ang ken cil my hotel)
Kɛ̈n!
Tautoko!(ken)
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Nyeu ke nyin
Ka pai te kite i a koe(nyin = meet)
Nyeu ke jɔɔr ke nyin
Me whakarite tātou i tētahi hui
Kɛ kɛth jɔɔr a ke?
He aha te wā e pai ana ki a koe?
Nyeu ke kɛc report kɛ jɔɔl
Ka tukuna e au te pūrongo i tēnei rā
Nyeu ke jɔɔr kɛ bɛt?
Ka taea e tātou te kōrero āpōpō?
Nyeu kɛ jɔɔr file kɛ kɛth
Tēnā tirohia te kōnae e piri ana
Nyeu kɛ jɔɔr a ke kɛth
Ngā mihi mo tō wā
Nyeu ke jɔɔr kɛ bɛt a ke
Kei te titiro whakamua au ki te mahi ki a koe
A ke jɔɔr kɛ kɛth a?
Ka taea e koe te whakamarama i taua kōrero?
Nyeu ke jɔɔr kɛ a ke
Me hoki au ki a koe
Kɛ deadline kɛ Friday
Ko te mutunga wā ko te Paraire
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.