Looking for practical Oromo to Dinka phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Oromo phrase first, then the Dinka translation (Dinka) — 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 Dinka.
Tip: read the Dinka line out loud three times, then cover the Oromo side and try to recall the meaning — repetition builds memory faster than silent reading.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Oromo to Dinka 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.
Akkam
Yaaŋ(yaaŋ)
Galatoomi
Ajak(ajak)
Baga nagaan dhufte
Bäny äyö(bäny äyö)
Baga nagaan dhufte galgala
Bäny kɛ̈l(bäny kɛ̈l)
Baga nagaan dhufte
Bäny nyin(bäny nyin)
Baga halkan gaariidha
Bäny kɛ̈l(bäny kɛ̈l)
Akkamitti si arguu
Yin kɛ̈l(yin kɛ̈l)
Nagaan buli
Yin kɛ̈l(yin kɛ̈l)
Maqaan kee maali?
Nin kɛ̈l yïn?(nin kɛ̈l yïn?)
Maqaan koo John dha
Nin yïn John(nin yïn John)
Akkam jirtu?
Kɛ̈l yïn?(kɛ̈l yïn?)
Siin wal arguu bareedaa
Bäny kɛ̈l yïn(bäny kɛ̈l yïn)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Inni Afaan Ingiliffaa dubbataa?
Nyaac ke wic ku English?(Inni Afaan Ingiliffaa dubbataa?)
Ani Afaan Hindiin gaariidhaan dubbachuu hin dandeenye.
Aye nyin wic Hindi kɔc.
Ani hin hubadhu.
Aye nyin kɔc.
Maaf si'a dheeraa dubbadhu.
Yin kɔc ke nyin.
Itti deebi'ee ni jechuu dandeessaa?
Yin wic ke nyin?
Baatroomni eessa?
Cɔl kɛ thon?
Magaalaa gidduutti akkamitti deema?
Nyaac kɛ jɛt ke cɛl?
Bitaa jijjiiri.
Yin tɛŋ ke thok.
Mirga jijjiiri.
Yin tɛŋ ke kɛl.
Qajeelatti deemi.
Yin tɛŋ ke cɛl.
Kafaltiin meeqa?
Cɔl kɛ thon?
Karte tokko, maaloo.
Kɛl thok, yin.
As irraa fagaataa?
Cɔl kɛ jɔk ke cɛl?
Ani dhabuun jira.
Aye nyin thok.
Kaarraa SIM bituuf eessa deemaa?
Cɔl kɛ jɛt ke SIM?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Eeyyee
Aye
Lakkii
Naa
Bakka bu'aa
Cok
Ani waliigala
Aye nyin
Ani hin waliigalu
Naa nyin
Suni gaariidha
Käth aŋöör
Maaltu si yaadachiisa?
Käŋ aŋöör?
Na gargaaraa?
Nyaŋ aŋöör?
Gargaarsa naaf barbaachisa
Aye bɛ̈t aŋöör
Yeroo tokkoof eegi
Käŋ aŋöör
Dhiifama
Aye kɛ̈l
Rakkoo hin qabu
Naa kɛ̈l
Baga gammaddan
Bɛ̈t aŋöör
Baga dhaloota kee gammaddan
Bɛ̈t aŋöör kuɔr
Imala nagaa qabaadhu
Käth aŋöör kuɔr
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Eessa buufata konkolaataa jira?
Cïïr yïnë kël?(Cii r yin e kel)
Eessa dhaabbata bussa?
Cïïr yïnë kël jëŋ?(Cii r yin e kel jeng)
Keenya maali?
Këc yïnë kël?(Kec yin e kel)
Yeroo kamiin ni deema?
Këc kël yïnë?(Kec kel yin e)
Kuni karaa sirrii dha?
Këc yïnë kël wël?(Kec yin e kel wel)
As irratti jiru
Këc yïnë kël jëŋ?(Kec yin e kel jeng)
As irraa fagoo dha
Këc yïnë kël wël?(Kec yin e kel wel)
Mappa irratti na agarsiisuu dandeessaa?
Aŋë yïnë kël kɔc?(Ang e yin e kel koc)
As dhaabi, maaloo
Nye kël jëŋ, jëŋ?(Nye kel jeng jeng)
Yeroo meeqa fudhata?
Këc yïnë kël jëŋ?(Kec yin e kel jeng)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Kun maali?
Kuoth ke nyin?(kuoth ke nyin)
Inni baay'ee gurguddaa dha.
Nyaak ke thok kɛ̈r(nyaak ke thok kɛ̈r)
Wanti gatii xiqqaa qabu jira?
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r?(aye ke nyin kɛ̈r)
Kaardii irratti kaffaluun ni danda'amaa?
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɔc?(aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɔc)
Teessoo lamaaf barbaada.
Aye ke nyin a tɛ́bɛl kɛ̈r duɔŋ(aye ke nyin a tɛ́bɛl kɛ̈r duɔŋ)
Karoora, mee.
Kɛ́l, please(kɛ́l, please)
Tajaajilli dabalataa?
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɛ́l?(aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɛ́l)
Ani foon hin nyaadhu.
Aye ke nyin a kɔc(aye ke nyin a kɔc)
Nyaata aannan hin qabu, mee.
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r aŋɔr, please(aye ke nyin kɛ̈r aŋɔr, please)
Kun mi'aawaa dha.
Nyaak ke aŋɔr(nyaak ke aŋɔr)
Menyuun naaf kennaa?
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r a menu?(aye ke nyin kɛ̈r a menu)
Bishaan gubbaa, mee.
Aye ke nyin a kɔl aŋɔr, please(aye ke nyin a kɔl aŋɔr, please)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Polisii waami
Bɛɛr kɔl pɔlɪs
Ambulaansii waami
Bɛɛr kɔl ambʊlɛns
Doktorri na barbaachisa
A pɛɛr dɔkta
Nyaata dhukkuba qabu
A jɛt kɔc
Boonyaa qamadii natti dhukkuba
A kɛl kɔc bɛɛr pɛɛnʊt
Hospitaala dhihaatu eessa?
Cɛɛr kɛ bɛɛr hɔspɪtɔl?
Asitti dhukkuba qaba
Kɔc kɛ tɛŋ
Phaaspoortii kiyya dhabe
A lɔst pɑspɔt
Hoteela kiyya waamuu dandeessaa?
Kɛl bɛɛr kɔl hɔtɛl a?
Gargaarsa!
Yɛɛr!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Siin wal arguun gaariidha
Yin ke nyin(Yin ke nyin)
Walgahiin qopheessuu haa goonu
Nyaak ke nyin ke jieng(Nyaak ke nyin ke jieng)
Yeroo kami siif mijataa?
Cieng nyin ke jieng?(Cieng nyin ke jieng?)
Gabaasa har'a erga
Aye ke cïe report kɛ̈t(Aye ke cïe report kɛ̈t)
Bor irratti haasa'uu dandeenya?
Nyaak ke jieng kɛ̈t?(Nyaak ke jieng kɛ̈t?)
Faayilii walitti hidhamte argadhu
Nyaak ke cïe file kɛ̈t(Nyaak ke cïe file kɛ̈t)
Yeroo keetiif galatoomi
Ayiir ke nyin kɛ̈t(Ayiir ke nyin kɛ̈t)
Siin waliin hojjechuu kootiif eeggachaa jira
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈t jieng(Aye ke nyin kɛ̈t jieng)
Phaawundii sana ifa gochuu dandeessaa?
Nyaak ke cïe kɛ̈t?(Nyaak ke cïe kɛ̈t?)
Ani siif deebisuuf ni yaala
Nyaak ke cïe nyin kɛ̈t(Nyaak ke cïe nyin kɛ̈t)
Guyyaan xumuraa Jimaata
Cieng kɛ̈t ke Friday(Cieng kɛ̈t ke Friday)
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.