Looking for practical Nuer to Somali phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Nuer phrase first, then the Somali translation (Somali) — 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 Somali.
Tip: pick five Somali 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 Somali 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
Salaan
Nyaak
Mahadsanid
Nhiar gɔ̈ɔ̈r
Subax wanaagsan
Nhiar aŋɔ̈r
Duhur wanaagsan
Nhiar aŋɔ̈r
Habeen wanaagsan
Nhiar kɔ̈c
Habeen wanaagsan
Aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n
Ilaa dambe
Kɛ̈n
Nabad gelyo
Cɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n?
Magacaa maxay tahay?
Cɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r John
Magacaygu waa John
Cɛ̈l kɛ̈n?
Sidee tahay?
Kɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n
Aad ayaan ugu faraxsanahay in aan ku arko
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Nyaac ke nyin English?
Ma ku hadashaa Ingiriisi?(Ma ku hadashaa Ingiriisi?)
Nyaac ma nyin Hindi ke nyin.
Hindi si fiican uma hadlo
Nyaac ma nyin.
Ma fahmin
Yin ke nyin kɛl.
Fadlan si tartiib ah u hadal
Yin ke nyin kɛl a thok?
Ma ku celin kartaa?
Yin thok a kɛl?
Musqusha xaggee buu yaalaa?
Nyaac ke nyin a city center?
Sideen ku gaari karaa xarunta magaalada?
Yin ke nyin a laar.
Bidix u leexo
Yin ke nyin a jɛŋ.
Midig u leexo
Yin ke nyin a thok.
Toos u soco
Yin ke nyin a kɛl?
Immisa ayey tahay lacagta?
Yin ke nyin a ticket.
Hal tigidh, fadlan
Yin ke nyin a thok?
Ma fog tahay halkan?
Nyaac ke nyin.
Waan lumay
Yin thok a kɛl a SIM card?
Xaggee ka iibsan karaa kaarka SIM?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Aye
Haa
Naa
Maya
Nyaak
Malaha
Nyeek a kech
Waan ku raacsanahay
Nyeek a kech naa
Waan ku raacsaneyn
Iye kech kɛl
Taasi waa wax fiican
Nyaak a kech?
Maxaad u malaynaysaa?
Nyaak a kech a jɔɔr?
Ma i caawin kartaa?
Nyeek a jɔɔr kɛl
Waxaan u baahanahay caawimaad
Kɛl a jɔɔr
Sug daqiiqad
Nyeek a kech
Waan ka xumahay
Naa a kech kɛl
Dhib malahan
Aye kɛl
Hambalyo
Aye kɛl a wɛr
Dhalasho wacan
Kɛl a jɔɔr a jɛɛr
Safar wanaagsan
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Känyë kɛ́l wɛ́l?
Xagee buu tareenka jooga?(Känyë kɛl wel)
Känyë kɛ́l bɔ́l?
Xagee buu basaska jooga?(Känyë kɛl bol)
Kɛ́l bɛ́t kɛ́t?
Keenka sidee buu yahay?(Kel bet ket)
Kɛ́l wɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́t?
Goormee ayuu baxayaa?(Kel wel it ket)
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l wɛ́l?
Ma tan saxda ah?(Kel it kel wel)
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l kɛ́l?
Waa halkan u dhow(Kel it kel kel)
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l jɔ́l?
Waa halkan fog(Kel it kel jol)
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l pɛ́t kɛ́t?
Ma ii muujin kartaa khariidada?(Kel it kel pet ket)
Kɛ́l jɛ́l kɛ́l, pɛ́l?
Halkan joog, fadlan(Kel jel kel pel)
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l jɔ́l kɛ́t?
Immisa waqti ayey qaadaneysaa?(Kel it kel jol ket)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Nyaak cɛl?
Imisa ayuu ku kacayaa?(nyaak chel)
Kɛl yic kɛc
Taasi waa qaali aad u badan.(kel yich kech)
Yin kɛl nyin cɛl?
Ma haysta wax ka jaban?(yin kel nyin chel)
Nyaak tɛr kɛl kɛc?
Ma bixin karaa kaarka?(nyaak ter kel kech)
Nyaak cɛl kɛl tɛbɛl kɛl nyin
Waxaan jeclaan lahaa miis laba qof ah.(nyaak chel kel tebel kel nyin)
Nyaak cɛl kɛl bɛl
Fadlan, biilka.(nyaak chel kel bel)
Yin kɛl cɛl kɛl tɛr?
Ma ku jirtaa adeegga?(yin kel chel kel ter)
Nyaak cɛl wɛr
Anigu waxaan ahay khudradeed.(nyaak chel wer)
Nyaak cɛl kɛl wɛr kɛc
Fadlan, cunto aan xawaash lahayn.(nyaak chel kel wer kech)
Kɛl cɛl kɛl nyin
Tani waa macaan.(kel chel kel nyin)
Nyaak cɛl kɛl mɛn?
Ma heli karaa menu?(nyaak chel kel men)
Nyaak cɛl kɛl gɛl wɛt
Fadlan, koob biyo ah.(nyaak chel kel gel wet)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Cïl wïr
Wac booliiska(cil wir)
Cïl an ambulance
Wac ambalaas(cil an ambulance)
Aŋ thïr a doctor
Waxaan u baahanahay dhakhtar(ang thir a doctor)
Aŋ kɔc
Waxaan dareemayaa xanuun(ang koc)
Aŋ kɔc a pïyït
Waxaan leeyahay xasaasiyad lowska(ang koc a piyit)
Cït kɛ̈n hospital?
Isbitaalka ugu dhow xagee buu yaalaa?(cit ken hospital)
Cïk bɛ̈t
Halkaan ayaa i xanuunaya(cik bet)
Aŋ kɛ̈n passport
Dukumeentigayga safarka ayaan lumiyay(ang ken passport)
Aŋ kɛ̈n cïl my hotel?
Ma wici kartaa hoteelkeyga?(ang ken cil my hotel)
Kɛ̈n!
Caawimaad!(ken)
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Nyeu ke nyin
Aad baan ugu faraxsanahay in aan ku arko(nyin = meet)
Nyeu ke jɔɔr ke nyin
Aan qorshayno kulan
Kɛ kɛth jɔɔr a ke?
Waa maxay waqtiga ku habboon adiga?
Nyeu ke kɛc report kɛ jɔɔl
Waxaan maanta soo diri doonaa warbixinta
Nyeu ke jɔɔr kɛ bɛt?
Ma ka hadli karnaa berri?
Nyeu kɛ jɔɔr file kɛ kɛth
Fadlan eeg faylka ku lifaaqan
Nyeu kɛ jɔɔr a ke kɛth
Waad ku mahadsan tahay waqtigaaga
Nyeu ke jɔɔr kɛ bɛt a ke
Waxaan rajeynayaa in aan kula shaqeeyo
A ke jɔɔr kɛ kɛth a?
Ma faahfaahin kartaa dhibicdaas?
Nyeu ke jɔɔr kɛ a ke
Aan ku soo laabto
Kɛ deadline kɛ Friday
Waqtiga kama dambaysta ah waa Jimcaha
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.