Looking for practical Somali to Dinka phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Somali 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 Somali 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 Somali 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.
Salaan
Yaaŋ(yaaŋ)
Mahadsanid
Ajak(ajak)
Subax wanaagsan
Bäny äyö(bäny äyö)
Duhur wanaagsan
Bäny kɛ̈l(bäny kɛ̈l)
Habeen wanaagsan
Bäny nyin(bäny nyin)
Habeen wanaagsan
Bäny kɛ̈l(bäny kɛ̈l)
Ilaa dambe
Yin kɛ̈l(yin kɛ̈l)
Nabad gelyo
Yin kɛ̈l(yin kɛ̈l)
Magacaa maxay tahay?
Nin kɛ̈l yïn?(nin kɛ̈l yïn?)
Magacaygu waa John
Nin yïn John(nin yïn John)
Sidee tahay?
Kɛ̈l yïn?(kɛ̈l yïn?)
Aad ayaan ugu faraxsanahay in aan ku arko
Bäny kɛ̈l yïn(bäny kɛ̈l yïn)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Ma ku hadashaa Ingiriisi?
Nyaac ke wic ku English?(Ma ku hadashaa Ingiriisi?)
Hindi si fiican uma hadlo
Aye nyin wic Hindi kɔc.
Ma fahmin
Aye nyin kɔc.
Fadlan si tartiib ah u hadal
Yin kɔc ke nyin.
Ma ku celin kartaa?
Yin wic ke nyin?
Musqusha xaggee buu yaalaa?
Cɔl kɛ thon?
Sideen ku gaari karaa xarunta magaalada?
Nyaac kɛ jɛt ke cɛl?
Bidix u leexo
Yin tɛŋ ke thok.
Midig u leexo
Yin tɛŋ ke kɛl.
Toos u soco
Yin tɛŋ ke cɛl.
Immisa ayey tahay lacagta?
Cɔl kɛ thon?
Hal tigidh, fadlan
Kɛl thok, yin.
Ma fog tahay halkan?
Cɔl kɛ jɔk ke cɛl?
Waan lumay
Aye nyin thok.
Xaggee ka iibsan karaa kaarka SIM?
Cɔl kɛ jɛt ke SIM?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Haa
Aye
Maya
Naa
Malaha
Cok
Waan ku raacsanahay
Aye nyin
Waan ku raacsaneyn
Naa nyin
Taasi waa wax fiican
Käth aŋöör
Maxaad u malaynaysaa?
Käŋ aŋöör?
Ma i caawin kartaa?
Nyaŋ aŋöör?
Waxaan u baahanahay caawimaad
Aye bɛ̈t aŋöör
Sug daqiiqad
Käŋ aŋöör
Waan ka xumahay
Aye kɛ̈l
Dhib malahan
Naa kɛ̈l
Hambalyo
Bɛ̈t aŋöör
Dhalasho wacan
Bɛ̈t aŋöör kuɔr
Safar wanaagsan
Käth aŋöör kuɔr
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Xagee buu tareenka jooga?
Cïïr yïnë kël?(Cii r yin e kel)
Xagee buu basaska jooga?
Cïïr yïnë kël jëŋ?(Cii r yin e kel jeng)
Keenka sidee buu yahay?
Këc yïnë kël?(Kec yin e kel)
Goormee ayuu baxayaa?
Këc kël yïnë?(Kec kel yin e)
Ma tan saxda ah?
Këc yïnë kël wël?(Kec yin e kel wel)
Waa halkan u dhow
Këc yïnë kël jëŋ?(Kec yin e kel jeng)
Waa halkan fog
Këc yïnë kël wël?(Kec yin e kel wel)
Ma ii muujin kartaa khariidada?
Aŋë yïnë kël kɔc?(Ang e yin e kel koc)
Halkan joog, fadlan
Nye kël jëŋ, jëŋ?(Nye kel jeng jeng)
Immisa waqti ayey qaadaneysaa?
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.
Imisa ayuu ku kacayaa?
Kuoth ke nyin?(kuoth ke nyin)
Taasi waa qaali aad u badan.
Nyaak ke thok kɛ̈r(nyaak ke thok kɛ̈r)
Ma haysta wax ka jaban?
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r?(aye ke nyin kɛ̈r)
Ma bixin karaa kaarka?
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɔc?(aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɔc)
Waxaan jeclaan lahaa miis laba qof ah.
Aye ke nyin a tɛ́bɛl kɛ̈r duɔŋ(aye ke nyin a tɛ́bɛl kɛ̈r duɔŋ)
Fadlan, biilka.
Kɛ́l, please(kɛ́l, please)
Ma ku jirtaa adeegga?
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɛ́l?(aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɛ́l)
Anigu waxaan ahay khudradeed.
Aye ke nyin a kɔc(aye ke nyin a kɔc)
Fadlan, cunto aan xawaash lahayn.
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r aŋɔr, please(aye ke nyin kɛ̈r aŋɔr, please)
Tani waa macaan.
Nyaak ke aŋɔr(nyaak ke aŋɔr)
Ma heli karaa menu?
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r a menu?(aye ke nyin kɛ̈r a menu)
Fadlan, koob biyo ah.
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.
Wac booliiska
Bɛɛr kɔl pɔlɪs
Wac ambalaas
Bɛɛr kɔl ambʊlɛns
Waxaan u baahanahay dhakhtar
A pɛɛr dɔkta
Waxaan dareemayaa xanuun
A jɛt kɔc
Waxaan leeyahay xasaasiyad lowska
A kɛl kɔc bɛɛr pɛɛnʊt
Isbitaalka ugu dhow xagee buu yaalaa?
Cɛɛr kɛ bɛɛr hɔspɪtɔl?
Halkaan ayaa i xanuunaya
Kɔc kɛ tɛŋ
Dukumeentigayga safarka ayaan lumiyay
A lɔst pɑspɔt
Ma wici kartaa hoteelkeyga?
Kɛl bɛɛr kɔl hɔtɛl a?
Caawimaad!
Yɛɛr!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Aad baan ugu faraxsanahay in aan ku arko
Yin ke nyin(Yin ke nyin)
Aan qorshayno kulan
Nyaak ke nyin ke jieng(Nyaak ke nyin ke jieng)
Waa maxay waqtiga ku habboon adiga?
Cieng nyin ke jieng?(Cieng nyin ke jieng?)
Waxaan maanta soo diri doonaa warbixinta
Aye ke cïe report kɛ̈t(Aye ke cïe report kɛ̈t)
Ma ka hadli karnaa berri?
Nyaak ke jieng kɛ̈t?(Nyaak ke jieng kɛ̈t?)
Fadlan eeg faylka ku lifaaqan
Nyaak ke cïe file kɛ̈t(Nyaak ke cïe file kɛ̈t)
Waad ku mahadsan tahay waqtigaaga
Ayiir ke nyin kɛ̈t(Ayiir ke nyin kɛ̈t)
Waxaan rajeynayaa in aan kula shaqeeyo
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈t jieng(Aye ke nyin kɛ̈t jieng)
Ma faahfaahin kartaa dhibicdaas?
Nyaak ke cïe kɛ̈t?(Nyaak ke cïe kɛ̈t?)
Aan ku soo laabto
Nyaak ke cïe nyin kɛ̈t(Nyaak ke cïe nyin kɛ̈t)
Waqtiga kama dambaysta ah waa Jimcaha
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.