Looking for practical Shona to Nuer phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Shona phrase first, then the Nuer translation (Nuer) — 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 Nuer.
Tip: pick five Nuer 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 Shona to Nuer 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
Nhiar
Ndatenda
Nyaak
Mangwanani akanaka
Nhiar gɔ̈ɔ̈r
Masikati akanaka
Nhiar aŋɔ̈r
Manheru akanaka
Nhiar aŋɔ̈r
Usiku hwakanaka
Nhiar kɔ̈c
Tichasangana gare gare
Aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n
Sara zvakanaka
Kɛ̈n
Zita rako ndiani?
Cɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n?
Zita rangu ndiri John
Cɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r John
Uri sei?
Cɛ̈l kɛ̈n?
Ndinofara kukuziva
Kɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Unotaura Chirungu here?
Nyaac ke nyin English?(unotaura chirungu here)
Handitauri Hindi zvakanaka
Nyaac ma nyin Hindi ke nyin.(handitauri hindi zvakanaka)
Handinzwisisi
Nyaac ma nyin.(handinzwisisi)
Ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma
Yin ke nyin kɛl.(ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma)
Ungazvitaura zvakare here?
Yin ke nyin kɛl a thok?(ungazvitaura zvakare here)
Chimbuzi chiripi?
Yin thok a kɛl?(chimbuzi chiripi)
Ndingasvika sei kumusoro kwemaguta?
Nyaac ke nyin a city center?(ndingasvika sei kumusoro kwemaguta)
Tendeuka kuruboshwe
Yin ke nyin a laar.(tendeuka kuruboshwe)
Tendeuka kurudyi
Yin ke nyin a jɛŋ.(tendeuka kurudyi)
Enda mberi
Yin ke nyin a thok.(enda mberi)
Mari yechikwereti ingani?
Yin ke nyin a kɛl?(mari yechikwereti ingani)
Tikiti imwe, ndapota
Yin ke nyin a ticket.(tikiti imwe, ndapota)
Iko kure here kubva pano?
Yin ke nyin a thok?(iko kure here kubva pano)
Ndakakanganiswa
Nyaac ke nyin.(ndakakanganiswa)
Ndingatenga kupi kadhi reSIM?
Yin thok a kɛl a SIM card?(ndingatenga kupi kadhi reSIM)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ehe
Aye
Kwete
Naa
Pangove
Nyaak
Ndinobvumirana
Nyeek a kech
Handibvumirane
Nyeek a kech naa
Izvozvo zvinonzwika zvakanaka
Iye kech kɛl
Unofungei?
Nyaak a kech?
Unogona kundibatsira here?
Nyaak a kech a jɔɔr?
Ndiri kuda rubatsiro
Nyeek a jɔɔr kɛl
Mirira kwechinguva
Kɛl a jɔɔr
Ndine urombo
Nyeek a kech
Hapana chakaipa
Naa a kech kɛl
Makorokoto
Aye kɛl
Makorokoto ezuva rekuzvarwa
Aye kɛl a wɛr
Iva nerwendo rwakanaka
Kɛl a jɔɔr a jɛɛr
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Kupi kune chiteshi chechitima?
Känyë kɛ́l wɛ́l?(Känyë kɛl wel)
Kupi kune chiteshi chebhazi?
Känyë kɛ́l bɔ́l?(Känyë kɛl bol)
Ndeipi puratifomu?
Kɛ́l bɛ́t kɛ́t?(Kel bet ket)
Inobva nenguva ipi?
Kɛ́l wɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́t?(Kel wel it ket)
Iyi ndiyo nzira chaiyo here?
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l wɛ́l?(Kel it kel wel)
Iri pedyo pano
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l kɛ́l?(Kel it kel kel)
Iri kure nepano
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l jɔ́l?(Kel it kel jol)
Unogona kundiratidza pamepu here?
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l pɛ́t kɛ́t?(Kel it kel pet ket)
Mira pano, ndapota
Kɛ́l jɛ́l kɛ́l, pɛ́l?(Kel jel kel pel)
Zvinotora nguva yakareba sei?
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l jɔ́l kɛ́t?(Kel it kel jol ket)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Zvinodhura here?
Nyaak cɛl?(nyaak chel)
Izvozvo zvinodhura kwazvo
Kɛl yic kɛc(kel yich kech)
Une chimwe chinhu chiri pamutengo wakaderera here?
Yin kɛl nyin cɛl?(yin kel nyin chel)
Ndingabhadhara nekadhi here?
Nyaak tɛr kɛl kɛc?(nyaak ter kel kech)
Ndingada tafura yevaviri
Nyaak cɛl kɛl tɛbɛl kɛl nyin(nyaak chel kel tebel kel nyin)
Chikwereti, ndapota
Nyaak cɛl kɛl bɛl(nyaak chel kel bel)
Sevhisi iri mukati here?
Yin kɛl cɛl kɛl tɛr?(yin kel chel kel ter)
Ndiri muvegetarian
Nyaak cɛl wɛr(nyaak chel wer)
Hapana chikafu chinopisa, ndapota
Nyaak cɛl kɛl wɛr kɛc(nyaak chel kel wer kech)
Izvi zvinonaka
Kɛl cɛl kɛl nyin(kel chel kel nyin)
Ndingawana menyu here?
Nyaak cɛl kɛl mɛn?(nyaak chel kel men)
Girazi remvura, ndapota
Nyaak cɛl kɛl gɛl wɛt(nyaak chel kel gel wet)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Fonera mapurisa
Cïl wïr(cil wir)
Fonera amburensi
Cïl an ambulance(cil an ambulance)
Ndiri kuda chiremba
Aŋ thïr a doctor(ang thir a doctor)
Ndiri kunzwa kusuruvara
Aŋ kɔc(ang koc)
Ndine allergic kumapundu
Aŋ kɔc a pïyït(ang koc a piyit)
Chii chiri pedyo nechipatara?
Cït kɛ̈n hospital?(cit ken hospital)
Zvinorwadza pano
Cïk bɛ̈t(cik bet)
Ndakakanganwa pasipoti yangu
Aŋ kɛ̈n passport(ang ken passport)
Unogona here kufonera hotera yangu?
Aŋ kɛ̈n cïl my hotel?(ang ken cil my hotel)
Rubatsiro!
Kɛ̈n!(ken)
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Ndinofara kukusangana
Nyeu ke nyin(nyin = meet)
Ngatirongei musangano
Nyeu ke jɔɔr ke nyin
Ndeipi nguva inokodzera kwauri?
Kɛ kɛth jɔɔr a ke?
Ndichatumira chirevo nhasi
Nyeu ke kɛc report kɛ jɔɔl
Tingataure mangwana here?
Nyeu ke jɔɔr kɛ bɛt?
Ndapota tarisai faira rakabatanidzwa
Nyeu kɛ jɔɔr file kɛ kɛth
Ndatenda nenguva yako
Nyeu kɛ jɔɔr a ke kɛth
Ndiri kutarisira kushanda newe
Nyeu ke jɔɔr kɛ bɛt a ke
Ungajekesei iyo pfungwa?
A ke jɔɔr kɛ kɛth a?
Ndichadzoka kwauri
Nyeu ke jɔɔr kɛ a ke
Nguva yekupedzisira iChishanu
Kɛ deadline kɛ Friday
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.