Looking for practical Tsonga to Nuer phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Tsonga 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 Tsonga 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 Tsonga 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.
Xewani
Nhiar
Ndza khensa
Nyaak
Xewani xitulu
Nhiar gɔ̈ɔ̈r
Xewani ntlhanu
Nhiar aŋɔ̈r
Xewani nhloko
Nhiar aŋɔ̈r
Xewani xihlayo
Nhiar kɔ̈c
Tshamisa
Aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n
Sala kahle
Kɛ̈n
U vitaniwani?
Cɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n?
Ndzina i John
Cɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r John
U njhani?
Cɛ̈l kɛ̈n?
Ku rhandza ku hlangana na wena
Kɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
U vulavula Xitsonga?
Nyaac ke nyin English?
A ndzi vulavula Hindi kahle.
Nyaac ma nyin Hindi ke nyin.
A ndzi twisisi.
Nyaac ma nyin.
Ndza kombela u vulavula hi ku hatlisa.
Yin ke nyin kɛl.
U nga vula sweswo na ku tlhela?
Yin ke nyin kɛl a thok?
Xikombiso xihi?
Yin thok a kɛl?
Ndza famba njhani ku ya etikweni?
Nyaac ke nyin a city center?
Khandziya ekhaya.
Yin ke nyin a laar.
Khandziya ekunene.
Yin ke nyin a jɛŋ.
Famba u ya emahlweni.
Yin ke nyin a thok.
Mafambiselo ma yini?
Yin ke nyin a kɛl?
Nhlamulo imwe, ndza kombela.
Yin ke nyin a ticket.
I yini ku tlula kona?
Yin ke nyin a thok?
Ndzi khomiwe.
Nyaac ke nyin.
Xina ndzi nga teka SIM card?
Yin thok a kɛl a SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Inhlawulo
Aye
A hi kona
Naa
Swi nga va tano
Nyaak
Ndzi amukela
Nyeek a kech
Ndzi nga amukeli
Nyeek a kech naa
Iku na switlhavelo
Iye kech kɛl
U ehleketa yini?
Nyaak a kech?
U nga ndzi pfuna?
Nyaak a kech a jɔɔr?
Ndzi lava mpfuno
Nyeek a jɔɔr kɛl
Hlayisa nkarhi
Kɛl a jɔɔr
Ndzi tsundzuka
Nyeek a kech
A hi na xiphiqo
Naa a kech kɛl
Ndzakuva
Aye kɛl
Mavongele yo tsakela
Aye kɛl a wɛr
U va na ndlela yo olova
Kɛl a jɔɔr a jɛɛr
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Ku wihi xitlhavelo xa mabhazi?
Känyë kɛ́l wɛ́l?(Känyë kɛl wel)
Ku wihi xitlhavelo xa mabhazi?
Känyë kɛ́l bɔ́l?(Känyë kɛl bol)
I platform yihi?
Kɛ́l bɛ́t kɛ́t?(Kel bet ket)
I nkarhi muni yi hamba?
Kɛ́l wɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́t?(Kel wel it ket)
I ndlela leyi nga right?
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l wɛ́l?(Kel it kel wel)
I kona edzongeni.
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l kɛ́l?(Kel it kel kel)
I le n'hweti.
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l jɔ́l?(Kel it kel jol)
U nga ndzi kombisa eka mappu?
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l pɛ́t kɛ́t?(Kel it kel pet ket)
Tshika lapha, ndza kombela.
Kɛ́l jɛ́l kɛ́l, pɛ́l?(Kel jel kel pel)
I nkarhi muni ku taka?
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.
I ku humelela njhani?
Nyaak cɛl?(nyaak chel)
I kona ku phindzelela.
Kɛl yic kɛc(kel yich kech)
U na na yini leyi endlaka ku phindzelela?
Yin kɛl nyin cɛl?(yin kel nyin chel)
Ndzaku ta hlayisa hi khadi?
Nyaak tɛr kɛl kɛc?(nyaak ter kel kech)
Ndza rhandza tafula ya vumbirhi.
Nyaak cɛl kɛl tɛbɛl kɛl nyin(nyaak chel kel tebel kel nyin)
Ndzaku ya le mfunghwini.
Nyaak cɛl kɛl bɛl(nyaak chel kel bel)
I ku kumiwa ka ntirho?
Yin kɛl cɛl kɛl tɛr?(yin kel chel kel ter)
Ndza va vegetarian.
Nyaak cɛl wɛr(nyaak chel wer)
A hi na swakudya leswi khumbaka.
Nyaak cɛl kɛl wɛr kɛc(nyaak chel kel wer kech)
Leswi i switlhavi.
Kɛl cɛl kɛl nyin(kel chel kel nyin)
Ndzaku na menu?
Nyaak cɛl kɛl mɛn?(nyaak chel kel men)
Ndzaku ya vhuvhu.
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.
Tivisa mapolisa
Cïl wïr(cil wir)
Tivisa ambalansi
Cïl an ambulance(cil an ambulance)
Ndzi lava dokotela
Aŋ thïr a doctor(ang thir a doctor)
Ndzi khoma ku vava
Aŋ kɔc(ang koc)
Ndza va na ku vava hi mapfuri
Aŋ kɔc a pïyït(ang koc a piyit)
Hospital leyi nga ekule i wihi?
Cït kɛ̈n hospital?(cit ken hospital)
Ku vava laha
Cïk bɛ̈t(cik bet)
Ndzi lahlekeriwe hi passport ya mina
Aŋ kɛ̈n passport(ang ken passport)
U nga tivisa hotel ya mina?
Aŋ kɛ̈n cïl my hotel?(ang ken cil my hotel)
Shelp!
Kɛ̈n!(ken)
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Ku tsakela ku hlangana na wena
Nyeu ke nyin(nyin = meet)
A hi endla xihlanganiso
Nyeu ke jɔɔr ke nyin
Ntiyiso wo sungula ku tirha na wena?
Kɛ kɛth jɔɔr a ke?
Ndzi ta rhumela xitlhavelo namuntlha
Nyeu ke kɛc report kɛ jɔɔl
Kambe hi nga vulavula sweswi?
Nyeu ke jɔɔr kɛ bɛt?
Ndza kombela u kuma faayela ku hlanganisiwa
Nyeu kɛ jɔɔr file kɛ kɛth
Ndza nkhensa hi nkarhi wa wena
Nyeu kɛ jɔɔr a ke kɛth
Ndza langutela ku tirha na wena
Nyeu ke jɔɔr kɛ bɛt a ke
U nga ku hlamusela xiphemu lexi?
A ke jɔɔr kɛ kɛth a?
A ndzi ta vuya eka wena
Nyeu ke jɔɔr kɛ a ke
Nkarhi wo heta i Friday
Kɛ deadline kɛ Friday
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.