Looking for practical Shona to Dinka phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Shona 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: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Dinka-speaking trip in a few weeks.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Shona 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.
Mhoro
Yaaŋ(yaaŋ)
Ndatenda
Ajak(ajak)
Mangwanani akanaka
Bäny äyö(bäny äyö)
Masikati akanaka
Bäny kɛ̈l(bäny kɛ̈l)
Manheru akanaka
Bäny nyin(bäny nyin)
Usiku hwakanaka
Bäny kɛ̈l(bäny kɛ̈l)
Tichasangana gare gare
Yin kɛ̈l(yin kɛ̈l)
Sara zvakanaka
Yin kɛ̈l(yin kɛ̈l)
Zita rako ndiani?
Nin kɛ̈l yïn?(nin kɛ̈l yïn?)
Zita rangu ndiri John
Nin yïn John(nin yïn John)
Uri sei?
Kɛ̈l yïn?(kɛ̈l yïn?)
Ndinofara kukuziva
Bäny kɛ̈l yïn(bäny kɛ̈l yïn)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Unotaura Chirungu here?
Nyaac ke wic ku English?(unotaura chirungu here)
Handitauri Hindi zvakanaka
Aye nyin wic Hindi kɔc.(handitauri hindi zvakanaka)
Handinzwisisi
Aye nyin kɔc.(handinzwisisi)
Ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma
Yin kɔc ke nyin.(ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma)
Ungazvitaura zvakare here?
Yin wic ke nyin?(ungazvitaura zvakare here)
Chimbuzi chiripi?
Cɔl kɛ thon?(chimbuzi chiripi)
Ndingasvika sei kumusoro kwemaguta?
Nyaac kɛ jɛt ke cɛl?(ndingasvika sei kumusoro kwemaguta)
Tendeuka kuruboshwe
Yin tɛŋ ke thok.(tendeuka kuruboshwe)
Tendeuka kurudyi
Yin tɛŋ ke kɛl.(tendeuka kurudyi)
Enda mberi
Yin tɛŋ ke cɛl.(enda mberi)
Mari yechikwereti ingani?
Cɔl kɛ thon?(mari yechikwereti ingani)
Tikiti imwe, ndapota
Kɛl thok, yin.(tikiti imwe, ndapota)
Iko kure here kubva pano?
Cɔl kɛ jɔk ke cɛl?(iko kure here kubva pano)
Ndakakanganiswa
Aye nyin thok.(ndakakanganiswa)
Ndingatenga kupi kadhi reSIM?
Cɔl kɛ jɛt ke SIM?(ndingatenga kupi kadhi reSIM)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ehe
Aye
Kwete
Naa
Pangove
Cok
Ndinobvumirana
Aye nyin
Handibvumirane
Naa nyin
Izvozvo zvinonzwika zvakanaka
Käth aŋöör
Unofungei?
Käŋ aŋöör?
Unogona kundibatsira here?
Nyaŋ aŋöör?
Ndiri kuda rubatsiro
Aye bɛ̈t aŋöör
Mirira kwechinguva
Käŋ aŋöör
Ndine urombo
Aye kɛ̈l
Hapana chakaipa
Naa kɛ̈l
Makorokoto
Bɛ̈t aŋöör
Makorokoto ezuva rekuzvarwa
Bɛ̈t aŋöör kuɔr
Iva nerwendo rwakanaka
Käth aŋöör kuɔr
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Kupi kune chiteshi chechitima?
Cïïr yïnë kël?(Cii r yin e kel)
Kupi kune chiteshi chebhazi?
Cïïr yïnë kël jëŋ?(Cii r yin e kel jeng)
Ndeipi puratifomu?
Këc yïnë kël?(Kec yin e kel)
Inobva nenguva ipi?
Këc kël yïnë?(Kec kel yin e)
Iyi ndiyo nzira chaiyo here?
Këc yïnë kël wël?(Kec yin e kel wel)
Iri pedyo pano
Këc yïnë kël jëŋ?(Kec yin e kel jeng)
Iri kure nepano
Këc yïnë kël wël?(Kec yin e kel wel)
Unogona kundiratidza pamepu here?
Aŋë yïnë kël kɔc?(Ang e yin e kel koc)
Mira pano, ndapota
Nye kël jëŋ, jëŋ?(Nye kel jeng jeng)
Zvinotora nguva yakareba sei?
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.
Zvinodhura here?
Kuoth ke nyin?(kuoth ke nyin)
Izvozvo zvinodhura kwazvo
Nyaak ke thok kɛ̈r(nyaak ke thok kɛ̈r)
Une chimwe chinhu chiri pamutengo wakaderera here?
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r?(aye ke nyin kɛ̈r)
Ndingabhadhara nekadhi here?
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɔc?(aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɔc)
Ndingada tafura yevaviri
Aye ke nyin a tɛ́bɛl kɛ̈r duɔŋ(aye ke nyin a tɛ́bɛl kɛ̈r duɔŋ)
Chikwereti, ndapota
Kɛ́l, please(kɛ́l, please)
Sevhisi iri mukati here?
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɛ́l?(aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɛ́l)
Ndiri muvegetarian
Aye ke nyin a kɔc(aye ke nyin a kɔc)
Hapana chikafu chinopisa, ndapota
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r aŋɔr, please(aye ke nyin kɛ̈r aŋɔr, please)
Izvi zvinonaka
Nyaak ke aŋɔr(nyaak ke aŋɔr)
Ndingawana menyu here?
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r a menu?(aye ke nyin kɛ̈r a menu)
Girazi remvura, ndapota
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.
Fonera mapurisa
Bɛɛr kɔl pɔlɪs
Fonera amburensi
Bɛɛr kɔl ambʊlɛns
Ndiri kuda chiremba
A pɛɛr dɔkta
Ndiri kunzwa kusuruvara
A jɛt kɔc
Ndine allergic kumapundu
A kɛl kɔc bɛɛr pɛɛnʊt
Chii chiri pedyo nechipatara?
Cɛɛr kɛ bɛɛr hɔspɪtɔl?
Zvinorwadza pano
Kɔc kɛ tɛŋ
Ndakakanganwa pasipoti yangu
A lɔst pɑspɔt
Unogona here kufonera hotera yangu?
Kɛl bɛɛr kɔl hɔtɛl a?
Rubatsiro!
Yɛɛr!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Ndinofara kukusangana
Yin ke nyin(Yin ke nyin)
Ngatirongei musangano
Nyaak ke nyin ke jieng(Nyaak ke nyin ke jieng)
Ndeipi nguva inokodzera kwauri?
Cieng nyin ke jieng?(Cieng nyin ke jieng?)
Ndichatumira chirevo nhasi
Aye ke cïe report kɛ̈t(Aye ke cïe report kɛ̈t)
Tingataure mangwana here?
Nyaak ke jieng kɛ̈t?(Nyaak ke jieng kɛ̈t?)
Ndapota tarisai faira rakabatanidzwa
Nyaak ke cïe file kɛ̈t(Nyaak ke cïe file kɛ̈t)
Ndatenda nenguva yako
Ayiir ke nyin kɛ̈t(Ayiir ke nyin kɛ̈t)
Ndiri kutarisira kushanda newe
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈t jieng(Aye ke nyin kɛ̈t jieng)
Ungajekesei iyo pfungwa?
Nyaak ke cïe kɛ̈t?(Nyaak ke cïe kɛ̈t?)
Ndichadzoka kwauri
Nyaak ke cïe nyin kɛ̈t(Nyaak ke cïe nyin kɛ̈t)
Nguva yekupedzisira iChishanu
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.