Looking for practical Tumbuka to Nuer phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Tumbuka 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: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Nuer-speaking trip in a few weeks.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Tumbuka 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.
Moni
Nhiar
Zikomo
Nyaak
Muli bwanji
Nhiar gɔ̈ɔ̈r
Muli bwanji
Nhiar aŋɔ̈r
Muli bwanji
Nhiar aŋɔ̈r
Usiku wabwino
Nhiar kɔ̈c
Tiwonana
Aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n
Tsalani bwino
Kɛ̈n
Dzina lanu ndi ndani?
Cɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n?
Dzina langa ndi John
Cɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r John
Muli bwanji?
Cɛ̈l kɛ̈n?
Ndine wokondwa kukumana nanu
Kɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Muli ndi Chingerezi?
Nyaac ke nyin English?(muli ndi chingerezi)
Sikuyankhula Hindi bwino
Nyaac ma nyin Hindi ke nyin.(sikuyankhula hindi bwino)
Sindikumva
Nyaac ma nyin.(sindikumva)
Chonde yankhulani pang'ono
Yin ke nyin kɛl.(chonde yankhulani pang'ono)
Mungandiyankhulepo?
Yin ke nyin kɛl a thok?(mungandiyankhulepo)
Kuti ndi kuti?
Yin thok a kɛl?(kuti ndi kuti)
Ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu?
Nyaac ke nyin a city center?(ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu)
Pita kumanzere
Yin ke nyin a laar.(pita kumanzere)
Pita kumanja
Yin ke nyin a jɛŋ.(pita kumanja)
Pita mwendo
Yin ke nyin a thok.(pita mwendo)
Ndi ndalama zingati?
Yin ke nyin a kɛl?(ndi ndalama zingati)
Tiketi imodzi, chonde
Yin ke nyin a ticket.(tiketi imodzi, chonde)
Ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano?
Yin ke nyin a thok?(ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano)
Ndakhalapo
Nyaac ke nyin.(ndakhalapo)
Ndingatengere kuti kuti SIM card?
Yin thok a kɛl a SIM card?(ndingatengere kuti kuti sim card)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Iye
Aye
Ayi
Naa
Pang'ono
Nyaak
Ndikugwirizana
Nyeek a kech
Sindikugwirizana
Nyeek a kech naa
Ichi chimaoneka bwino
Iye kech kɛl
Muli ndi chiyani choti mumaganize?
Nyaak a kech?
Mungandithandize?
Nyaak a kech a jɔɔr?
Ndikufuna thandizo
Nyeek a jɔɔr kɛl
Dikirani pang’ono
Kɛl a jɔɔr
Ndikupemphera
Nyeek a kech
Palibe vutoli
Naa a kech kɛl
Zikomo
Aye kɛl
Tsiku lobadwa labwino
Aye kɛl a wɛr
Pita bwino pa ulendo
Kɛl a jɔɔr a jɛɛr
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Kukakhala kuti chiteshi cha njinga?
Känyë kɛ́l wɛ́l?(Känyë kɛl wel)
Kukakhala kuti malo otchinga basi?
Känyë kɛ́l bɔ́l?(Känyë kɛl bol)
Ndi chigawo chiti?
Kɛ́l bɛ́t kɛ́t?(Kel bet ket)
Nanga nthawi itangopita?
Kɛ́l wɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́t?(Kel wel it ket)
Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera?
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l wɛ́l?(Kel it kel wel)
Iyi ndi pafupi apa
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l kɛ́l?(Kel it kel kel)
Iyi ndi kutali ndi apa
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l jɔ́l?(Kel it kel jol)
Mungandionetse pa chithunzi?
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l pɛ́t kɛ́t?(Kel it kel pet ket)
Chimitsa apa, chonde
Kɛ́l jɛ́l kɛ́l, pɛ́l?(Kel jel kel pel)
Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji?
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.
Iyi ikuguliradi chingwe?
Nyaak cɛl?(nyaak chel)
Iyi ndi mtengo wopusa
Kɛl yic kɛc(kel yich kech)
Muli ndi chinthu chochepa mtengo?
Yin kɛl nyin cɛl?(yin kel nyin chel)
Ningathe kulipira ndi khadi?
Nyaak tɛr kɛl kɛc?(nyaak ter kel kech)
Ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri
Nyaak cɛl kɛl tɛbɛl kɛl nyin(nyaak chel kel tebel kel nyin)
Chikalata, chonde
Nyaak cɛl kɛl bɛl(nyaak chel kel bel)
Ntchito ikuphatikizidwa?
Yin kɛl cɛl kɛl tɛr?(yin kel chel kel ter)
Ndine wopanda nyama
Nyaak cɛl wɛr(nyaak chel wer)
Chonde, osati chakudya chothira
Nyaak cɛl kɛl wɛr kɛc(nyaak chel kel wer kech)
Iyi ndi yokoma
Kɛl cɛl kɛl nyin(kel chel kel nyin)
Ningathe kupeza menyu?
Nyaak cɛl kɛl mɛn?(nyaak chel kel men)
Galasi ya madzi, chonde
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.
Fufuzani polisi
Cïl wïr(cil wir)
Fufuzani ambulansi
Cïl an ambulance(cil an ambulance)
Ndikufuna dokotala
Aŋ thïr a doctor(ang thir a doctor)
Ndikuwona bwino
Aŋ kɔc(ang koc)
Ndine wosowa ma groundnuts
Aŋ kɔc a pïyït(ang koc a piyit)
Kuti ndi chiyani chachikondi?
Cït kɛ̈n hospital?(cit ken hospital)
Kuli kuuma apa
Cïk bɛ̈t(cik bet)
Ndasowa pasipoti yangu
Aŋ kɛ̈n passport(ang ken passport)
Mungafufuze hotelo yanga?
Aŋ kɛ̈n cïl my hotel?(ang ken cil my hotel)
Thandizani!
Kɛ̈n!(ken)
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Ndalumba kukumana nanu
Nyeu ke nyin(nyin = meet)
Tiyeni tiwoneke pa nthawi
Nyeu ke jɔɔr ke nyin
Nthawi yiti ikukugwirirani ntchito?
Kɛ kɛth jɔɔr a ke?
Ndidzatumiza lipoti lero
Nyeu ke kɛc report kɛ jɔɔl
Tingathe kulankhula mawa?
Nyeu ke jɔɔr kɛ bɛt?
Chonde onani fayilo yolembedwa
Nyeu kɛ jɔɔr file kɛ kɛth
Zikomo chifukwa cha nthawi yanu
Nyeu kɛ jɔɔr a ke kɛth
Ndikuyembekezera kugwira ntchito nanu
Nyeu ke jɔɔr kɛ bɛt a ke
Mungathe kuthetsa mfundo imeneyi?
A ke jɔɔr kɛ kɛth a?
Nditenge nthawi ndikubwerereni
Nyeu ke jɔɔr kɛ a ke
Nthawi yomaliza ndi Lachisanu
Kɛ deadline kɛ Friday
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.