Looking for practical Nuer to NKo phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Nuer phrase first, then the NKo translation (NKo) — 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 NKo.
Tip: when a NKo 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 NKo 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
ᎣᏍᏆ(Oscha)
Nyaak
ᎠᏍᏆᏙᏗ(Ascadodi)
Nhiar gɔ̈ɔ̈r
ᎣᏍᏆ ᎡᏚᏙᏗ(Oscha Edodhi)
Nhiar aŋɔ̈r
ᎣᏍᏆ ᎠᏧᏍᏆᏗ(Oscha Atsachadi)
Nhiar aŋɔ̈r
ᎣᏍᏆ ᏓᎦᏚᏗ(Oscha Dagadudi)
Nhiar kɔ̈c
ᎣᏍᏆ ᏓᏥᏍᏆ(Oscha Datsicha)
Aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n
ᎣᏍᏆ ᏓᎦᏙᏗ(Oscha Dagadodi)
Kɛ̈n
ᎣᏍᏆ ᏓᏁᏙᏗ(Oscha Danodi)
Cɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n?
ᎯᏍᏆ ᎠᏍᏆᏙᏗ ᎢᏳᏍᏆ?(Hisch Ascadodi Iyuscha?)
Cɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r John
ᎠᏓ ᎠᏍᏆᏙᏗ ᎠᏍᏆ ᏥᏍᏆ(Ada Ascadodi Ascha Tischa)
Cɛ̈l kɛ̈n?
ᎯᏍᏆ ᎯᏍᏆ?(Hisch Hisch?)
Kɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n
ᎠᏍᏆᏙᏗ ᏓᏥᏍᏆ(Ascadodi Tischa)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Nyaac ke nyin English?
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߡߊ߬ߟߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬?(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
Nyaac ma nyin Hindi ke nyin.
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߡߊ߬ߟߊ߬ ߗߊ߬ߓߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
Nyaac ma nyin.
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߡߊ߬ߟߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߓߊ߬(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
Yin ke nyin kɛl.
ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߗߊ߬ߓߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
Yin ke nyin kɛl a thok?
ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬?(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
Yin thok a kɛl?
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬?(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
Nyaac ke nyin a city center?
ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬?(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
Yin ke nyin a laar.
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
Yin ke nyin a jɛŋ.
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
Yin ke nyin a thok.
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
Yin ke nyin a kɛl?
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬?(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
Yin ke nyin a ticket.
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
Yin ke nyin a thok?
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬?(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
Nyaac ke nyin.
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
Yin thok a kɛl a SIM card?
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬?(aɡa ɡa ɡa ɡa)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Aye
𞤈𞤢𞤣𞤢
Naa
𞤈𞤢𞤣
Nyaak
𞤈𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤈𞤢𞤣𞤢
Nyeek a kech
𞤉𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢𞤲𞤢
Nyeek a kech naa
𞤉𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢𞤲𞤢 𞤈𞤢𞤣
Iye kech kɛl
𞤈𞤢𞤣 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤈𞤢𞤣
Nyaak a kech?
𞤈𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤈𞤢𞤣
Nyaak a kech a jɔɔr?
𞤈𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤉𞤢𞤣𞤢
Nyeek a jɔɔr kɛl
𞤉𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢
Kɛl a jɔɔr
𞤈𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤈𞤢𞤣
Nyeek a kech
𞤉𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢
Naa a kech kɛl
𞤈𞤢𞤣 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢
Aye kɛl
𞤈𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢
Aye kɛl a wɛr
𞤈𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢
Kɛl a jɔɔr a jɛɛr
𞤈𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢 𞤕𞤢𞤣𞤢
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Känyë kɛ́l wɛ́l?
ߓߍ߬ߓߊ߬ ߓߍ߬ ߛߌ߬ߟߊ߬ߙߌ߬(bɛrɛ ɲaŋa)
Känyë kɛ́l bɔ́l?
ߓߍ߬ߓߊ߬ ߓߍ߬ ߛߌ߬ߟߊ߬ߙߌ߬ ߓߌ߬ߜߌ߬(bɛrɛ ɲaŋa)
Kɛ́l bɛ́t kɛ́t?
ߓߍ߬ߓߊ߬ ߛߌ߬ߟߊ߬ߙߌ߬ ߓߌ߬ߜߌ߬(bɛrɛ ɲaŋa)
Kɛ́l wɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́t?
ߓߍ߬ߓߊ߬ ߛߌ߬ߟߊ߬ߙߌ߬ ߓߌ߬ߜߌ߬(bɛrɛ ɲaŋa)
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l wɛ́l?
ߓߍ߬ߓߊ߬ ߓߌ߬ߜߌ߬ ߓߍ߬ ߞߌ߬ߟߌ߬(bɛrɛ ɲaŋa)
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l kɛ́l?
ߓߍ߬ߓߊ߬ ߓߌ߬ߜߌ߬ ߓߍ߬ ߞߌ߬ߟߌ߬(bɛrɛ ɲaŋa)
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l jɔ́l?
ߓߍ߬ߓߊ߬ ߓߌ߬ߜߌ߬ ߓߍ߬ ߞߌ߬ߟߌ߬(bɛrɛ ɲaŋa)
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l pɛ́t kɛ́t?
ߓߍ߬ߓߊ߬ ߓߌ߬ߜߌ߬ ߓߍ߬ ߞߌ߬ߟߌ߬(bɛrɛ ɲaŋa)
Kɛ́l jɛ́l kɛ́l, pɛ́l?
ߓߍ߬ߓߊ߬ ߓߌ߬ߜߌ߬ ߓߍ߬ ߞߌ߬ߟߌ߬(bɛrɛ ɲaŋa)
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l jɔ́l kɛ́t?
ߓߍ߬ߓߊ߬ ߓߌ߬ߜߌ߬ ߓߍ߬ ߞߌ߬ߟߌ߬(bɛrɛ ɲaŋa)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Nyaak cɛl?
ߊߞߊ ߟߌ߬ߓߊ ߞߊ߬ߙߌߟߌ?(aɡa fɔtɔ?)
Kɛl yic kɛc
߉ߠߊ ߞߊ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߟߌ߬ߓߊ ߞߊ߬ߙߌ(aɡa ɲa fɔtɔ)
Yin kɛl nyin cɛl?
ߊߞߊ ߡߊ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߞߊ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߞߌ߬ߙߌ?(aɡa ɲa fɔtɔ?)
Nyaak tɛr kɛl kɛc?
ߊߞߊ ߡߊ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߡߌ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߞߌ߬ߙߌ?(aɡa ɲa fɔtɔ?)
Nyaak cɛl kɛl tɛbɛl kɛl nyin
ߊߞߊ ߡߊ ߞߊ ߞߌ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߡߌ߬ߙߌ(aɡa ɲa fɔtɔ?)
Nyaak cɛl kɛl bɛl
ߊߞߊ ߡߊ ߞߌ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߡߌ߬ߙߌ(aɡa ɲa fɔtɔ?)
Yin kɛl cɛl kɛl tɛr?
ߊߞߊ ߡߊ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߞߊ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߞߌ߬ߙߌ?(aɡa ɲa fɔtɔ?)
Nyaak cɛl wɛr
ߊߞߊ ߡߊ ߞߊ ߞߌ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߡߌ߬ߙߌ(aɡa ɲa fɔtɔ?)
Nyaak cɛl kɛl wɛr kɛc
ߊߞߊ ߡߊ ߞߊ ߞߌ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߡߌ߬ߙߌ(aɡa ɲa fɔtɔ?)
Kɛl cɛl kɛl nyin
ߊߞߊ ߡߊ ߞߊ ߞߌ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߡߌ߬ߙߌ(aɡa ɲa fɔtɔ?)
Nyaak cɛl kɛl mɛn?
ߊߞߊ ߡߊ ߞߊ ߞߌ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߡߌ߬ߙߌ?(aɡa ɲa fɔtɔ?)
Nyaak cɛl kɛl gɛl wɛt
ߊߞߊ ߡߊ ߞߊ ߞߌ߬ߙߌ ߞߊ ߡߌ߬ߙߌ(aɡa ɲa fɔtɔ?)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.