Looking for practical Somali to Nuer phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Somali 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: when a Nuer phrase looks unfamiliar, compare it with the Somali wording — noticing word order differences helps you understand grammar naturally.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Somali 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.
Salaan
Nhiar
Mahadsanid
Nyaak
Subax wanaagsan
Nhiar gɔ̈ɔ̈r
Duhur wanaagsan
Nhiar aŋɔ̈r
Habeen wanaagsan
Nhiar aŋɔ̈r
Habeen wanaagsan
Nhiar kɔ̈c
Ilaa dambe
Aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n
Nabad gelyo
Kɛ̈n
Magacaa maxay tahay?
Cɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n?
Magacaygu waa John
Cɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r John
Sidee tahay?
Cɛ̈l kɛ̈n?
Aad ayaan ugu faraxsanahay in aan ku arko
Kɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Ma ku hadashaa Ingiriisi?
Nyaac ke nyin English?(Ma ku hadashaa Ingiriisi?)
Hindi si fiican uma hadlo
Nyaac ma nyin Hindi ke nyin.
Ma fahmin
Nyaac ma nyin.
Fadlan si tartiib ah u hadal
Yin ke nyin kɛl.
Ma ku celin kartaa?
Yin ke nyin kɛl a thok?
Musqusha xaggee buu yaalaa?
Yin thok a kɛl?
Sideen ku gaari karaa xarunta magaalada?
Nyaac ke nyin a city center?
Bidix u leexo
Yin ke nyin a laar.
Midig u leexo
Yin ke nyin a jɛŋ.
Toos u soco
Yin ke nyin a thok.
Immisa ayey tahay lacagta?
Yin ke nyin a kɛl?
Hal tigidh, fadlan
Yin ke nyin a ticket.
Ma fog tahay halkan?
Yin ke nyin a thok?
Waan lumay
Nyaac ke nyin.
Xaggee ka iibsan karaa kaarka SIM?
Yin thok a kɛl a SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Haa
Aye
Maya
Naa
Malaha
Nyaak
Waan ku raacsanahay
Nyeek a kech
Waan ku raacsaneyn
Nyeek a kech naa
Taasi waa wax fiican
Iye kech kɛl
Maxaad u malaynaysaa?
Nyaak a kech?
Ma i caawin kartaa?
Nyaak a kech a jɔɔr?
Waxaan u baahanahay caawimaad
Nyeek a jɔɔr kɛl
Sug daqiiqad
Kɛl a jɔɔr
Waan ka xumahay
Nyeek a kech
Dhib malahan
Naa a kech kɛl
Hambalyo
Aye kɛl
Dhalasho wacan
Aye kɛl a wɛr
Safar wanaagsan
Kɛl a jɔɔr a jɛɛr
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Xagee buu tareenka jooga?
Känyë kɛ́l wɛ́l?(Känyë kɛl wel)
Xagee buu basaska jooga?
Känyë kɛ́l bɔ́l?(Känyë kɛl bol)
Keenka sidee buu yahay?
Kɛ́l bɛ́t kɛ́t?(Kel bet ket)
Goormee ayuu baxayaa?
Kɛ́l wɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́t?(Kel wel it ket)
Ma tan saxda ah?
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l wɛ́l?(Kel it kel wel)
Waa halkan u dhow
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l kɛ́l?(Kel it kel kel)
Waa halkan fog
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l jɔ́l?(Kel it kel jol)
Ma ii muujin kartaa khariidada?
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l pɛ́t kɛ́t?(Kel it kel pet ket)
Halkan joog, fadlan
Kɛ́l jɛ́l kɛ́l, pɛ́l?(Kel jel kel pel)
Immisa waqti ayey qaadaneysaa?
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.
Imisa ayuu ku kacayaa?
Nyaak cɛl?(nyaak chel)
Taasi waa qaali aad u badan.
Kɛl yic kɛc(kel yich kech)
Ma haysta wax ka jaban?
Yin kɛl nyin cɛl?(yin kel nyin chel)
Ma bixin karaa kaarka?
Nyaak tɛr kɛl kɛc?(nyaak ter kel kech)
Waxaan jeclaan lahaa miis laba qof ah.
Nyaak cɛl kɛl tɛbɛl kɛl nyin(nyaak chel kel tebel kel nyin)
Fadlan, biilka.
Nyaak cɛl kɛl bɛl(nyaak chel kel bel)
Ma ku jirtaa adeegga?
Yin kɛl cɛl kɛl tɛr?(yin kel chel kel ter)
Anigu waxaan ahay khudradeed.
Nyaak cɛl wɛr(nyaak chel wer)
Fadlan, cunto aan xawaash lahayn.
Nyaak cɛl kɛl wɛr kɛc(nyaak chel kel wer kech)
Tani waa macaan.
Kɛl cɛl kɛl nyin(kel chel kel nyin)
Ma heli karaa menu?
Nyaak cɛl kɛl mɛn?(nyaak chel kel men)
Fadlan, koob biyo ah.
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.
Wac booliiska
Cïl wïr(cil wir)
Wac ambalaas
Cïl an ambulance(cil an ambulance)
Waxaan u baahanahay dhakhtar
Aŋ thïr a doctor(ang thir a doctor)
Waxaan dareemayaa xanuun
Aŋ kɔc(ang koc)
Waxaan leeyahay xasaasiyad lowska
Aŋ kɔc a pïyït(ang koc a piyit)
Isbitaalka ugu dhow xagee buu yaalaa?
Cït kɛ̈n hospital?(cit ken hospital)
Halkaan ayaa i xanuunaya
Cïk bɛ̈t(cik bet)
Dukumeentigayga safarka ayaan lumiyay
Aŋ kɛ̈n passport(ang ken passport)
Ma wici kartaa hoteelkeyga?
Aŋ kɛ̈n cïl my hotel?(ang ken cil my hotel)
Caawimaad!
Kɛ̈n!(ken)
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Aad baan ugu faraxsanahay in aan ku arko
Nyeu ke nyin(nyin = meet)
Aan qorshayno kulan
Nyeu ke jɔɔr ke nyin
Waa maxay waqtiga ku habboon adiga?
Kɛ kɛth jɔɔr a ke?
Waxaan maanta soo diri doonaa warbixinta
Nyeu ke kɛc report kɛ jɔɔl
Ma ka hadli karnaa berri?
Nyeu ke jɔɔr kɛ bɛt?
Fadlan eeg faylka ku lifaaqan
Nyeu kɛ jɔɔr file kɛ kɛth
Waad ku mahadsan tahay waqtigaaga
Nyeu kɛ jɔɔr a ke kɛth
Waxaan rajeynayaa in aan kula shaqeeyo
Nyeu ke jɔɔr kɛ bɛt a ke
Ma faahfaahin kartaa dhibicdaas?
A ke jɔɔr kɛ kɛth a?
Aan ku soo laabto
Nyeu ke jɔɔr kɛ a ke
Waqtiga kama dambaysta ah waa Jimcaha
Kɛ deadline kɛ Friday
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.