Looking for practical Nuer to Tswana phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Nuer phrase first, then the Tswana translation (Tswana) — 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 Tswana.
Tip: pick five Tswana 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 Tswana 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
Dumela
Nyaak
Ke a leboga
Nhiar gɔ̈ɔ̈r
Dumelang
Nhiar aŋɔ̈r
Dumela mo afternoon
Nhiar aŋɔ̈r
Dumela mo evening
Nhiar kɔ̈c
Borai
Aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n
Tsamaya sentle
Kɛ̈n
Tsamaya sentle
Cɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n?
O na le leina mang?
Cɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r John
Leina la me ke John
Cɛ̈l kɛ̈n?
O kae?
Kɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n
Ke itumetse go kopana le wena
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Nyaac ke nyin English?
A o bua Seisemane?
Nyaac ma nyin Hindi ke nyin.
Ke sitwa go bua Hindi sentle
Nyaac ma nyin.
Ke sitwa go tlhaloganya
Yin ke nyin kɛl.
Tsweetswee bua ka bonako
Yin ke nyin kɛl a thok?
A o ka bo o bua seo gape?
Yin thok a kɛl?
Borai bo kae?
Nyaac ke nyin a city center?
Ke tshela jang go ya borai jwa motse?
Yin ke nyin a laar.
Fetola go ya ka letlhako le letona
Yin ke nyin a jɛŋ.
Fetola go ya ka letlhako le lebaganeng
Yin ke nyin a thok.
Tswelela ka fao
Yin ke nyin a kɛl?
Gaeletsi e bokae?
Yin ke nyin a ticket.
Tikit e le nngwe, tsweetswee
Yin ke nyin a thok?
A ke kgole go tswa fano?
Nyaac ke nyin.
Ke a latlhela
Yin thok a kɛl a SIM card?
Borai ke ka fao ke ka rekang SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Aye
Ee
Naa
Nnyaa
Nyaak
Mafoko
Nyeek a kech
Ke a dumela
Nyeek a kech naa
Ke sitwa go dumela
Iye kech kɛl
Seo se utlwisa molemo
Nyaak a kech?
O akanya eng?
Nyaak a kech a jɔɔr?
O ka nthusa?
Nyeek a jɔɔr kɛl
Ke tlhoka thuso
Kɛl a jɔɔr
Emisa motsotso
Nyeek a kech
Ke maswabi
Naa a kech kɛl
Ga go na bothata
Aye kɛl
A re amogele
Aye kɛl a wɛr
Tlhogomelo e e monate
Kɛl a jɔɔr a jɛɛr
O seka wa tsamaea ka bolokegong
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Känyë kɛ́l wɛ́l?
Ke kae borai jwa terene?(ke kae borai jwa terene)
Känyë kɛ́l bɔ́l?
Ke kae borai jwa boso?(ke kae borai jwa boso)
Kɛ́l bɛ́t kɛ́t?
Ke phetogo efe?(ke phetogo efe)
Kɛ́l wɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́t?
Nako efe e tlogang?(nako efe e tlogang)
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l wɛ́l?
A ke tsela e e siameng?(a ke tsela e e siameng)
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l kɛ́l?
E kgaogang fa(e kgaogang fa)
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l jɔ́l?
E le kgakala le fa(e le kgakala le fa)
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l pɛ́t kɛ́t?
O ka nthusa go bontsha mo mape?(o ka nthusa go bontsha mo mape)
Kɛ́l jɛ́l kɛ́l, pɛ́l?
Emisa fa, tsweetswee(emisa fa, tsweetswee)
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l jɔ́l kɛ́t?
E tsaya nako e kae?(e tsaya nako e kae)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Nyaak cɛl?
Ke bokae?(ke bo kae?)
Kɛl yic kɛc
Seo ke se expensive(se ke se expensive)
Yin kɛl nyin cɛl?
A o na le sengwe se se cheap?(a o na le sengwe se se cheap?)
Nyaak tɛr kɛl kɛc?
Na nka lefa ka khadi?(na nka lefa ka khadi?)
Nyaak cɛl kɛl tɛbɛl kɛl nyin
Ke kopa tafole ya babedi(ke kopa tafole ya babedi)
Nyaak cɛl kɛl bɛl
Bille, tsweetswee(bille, tsweetswee)
Yin kɛl cɛl kɛl tɛr?
Na tshebeletso e akaretswe?(na tshebeletso e akaretswe?)
Nyaak cɛl wɛr
Ke movegetarian(ke mo vegetarian)
Nyaak cɛl kɛl wɛr kɛc
A re na le dijo tse di spicy, tsweetswee(a re na le dijo tse di spicy, tsweetswee)
Kɛl cɛl kɛl nyin
Se ke se monate(se ke se monate)
Nyaak cɛl kɛl mɛn?
Na nka nna le menu?(na nka nna le menu?)
Nyaak cɛl kɛl gɛl wɛt
Glasi ya metsi, tsweetswee(glasi ya metsi, tsweetswee)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Cïl wïr
Bua le mapolesa(cil wir)
Cïl an ambulance
Bua le ambulance(cil an ambulance)
Aŋ thïr a doctor
Ke tlhoka ngaka(ang thir a doctor)
Aŋ kɔc
Ke ikutlwa ke sitwa(ang koc)
Aŋ kɔc a pïyït
Ke na le allergy go peanuts(ang koc a piyit)
Cït kɛ̈n hospital?
Hospitale e kgethegileng e kae?(cit ken hospital)
Cïk bɛ̈t
Go botlhoko fa(cik bet)
Aŋ kɛ̈n passport
Ke sitwa passport ya me(ang ken passport)
Aŋ kɛ̈n cïl my hotel?
O ka bua le hotele ya me?(ang ken cil my hotel)
Kɛ̈n!
Thusa!(ken)
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Nyeu ke nyin
Ke itumetse go kopana le wena(nyin = meet)
Nyeu ke jɔɔr ke nyin
A re beye ngwaga ya kopano
Kɛ kɛth jɔɔr a ke?
Nako efe e go thusang?
Nyeu ke kɛc report kɛ jɔɔl
Ke tla romela reporteng gompieno
Nyeu ke jɔɔr kɛ bɛt?
A re ka bua ka borai?
Nyeu kɛ jɔɔr file kɛ kɛth
Tsweetswee, etse fa faele e amanang
Nyeu kɛ jɔɔr a ke kɛth
Ke a leboga ka nako ya gago
Nyeu ke jɔɔr kɛ bɛt a ke
Ke itumelela go dira le wena
A ke jɔɔr kɛ kɛth a?
A o ka tlhalosa ntlha eo?
Nyeu ke jɔɔr kɛ a ke
A ke boele go wena
Kɛ deadline kɛ Friday
Nako ya go fela ke Labohlano
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.