Looking for practical Xhosa to Nuer phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Xhosa 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: read the Nuer line out loud three times, then cover the Xhosa 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 Xhosa 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.
Molo
Nhiar
Enkosi
Nyaak
Ubusuku obuhle
Nhiar gɔ̈ɔ̈r
Ubusuku obuhle
Nhiar aŋɔ̈r
Ubusuku obuhle
Nhiar aŋɔ̈r
Lala ngoxolo
Nhiar kɔ̈c
Ndiza kubonana kamva
Aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n
Hamba kakuhle
Kɛ̈n
Ngubani igama lakho?
Cɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n?
Igama lam nguJohn
Cɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r John
Unjani?
Cɛ̈l kɛ̈n?
Kuhle ukukwazi
Kɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Uthetha isiNgesi?
Nyaac ke nyin English?
Andithethi isiHindi kakuhle
Nyaac ma nyin Hindi ke nyin.
Andiqondi
Nyaac ma nyin.
Nceda thethe kancinci
Yin ke nyin kɛl.
Ungakuphinda lokho?
Yin ke nyin kɛl a thok?
Iphi ibhafu?
Yin thok a kɛl?
Ndingafika njani kwi mveliso ye dolophu?
Nyaac ke nyin a city center?
Jolisa kwesokunxele
Yin ke nyin a laar.
Jolisa kwesokudla
Yin ke nyin a jɛŋ.
Hamba ngqo
Yin ke nyin a thok.
Iholo ingakanani?
Yin ke nyin a kɛl?
Ithikithi elinye, nceda
Yin ke nyin a ticket.
Ingakanani ukusuka apha?
Yin ke nyin a thok?
Ndilahlekile
Nyaac ke nyin.
Nphi endinokuthenga khona iSIM card?
Yin thok a kɛl a SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ewe
Aye
Hayi
Naa
Mhlawumbi
Nyaak
Ndiyavuma
Nyeek a kech
Andivumi
Nyeek a kech naa
Okuhle
Iye kech kɛl
Ucinga ntoni?
Nyaak a kech?
Ungandinceda?
Nyaak a kech a jɔɔr?
Ndidinga uncedo
Nyeek a jɔɔr kɛl
Linda umzuzu
Kɛl a jɔɔr
Ndicela uxolo
Nyeek a kech
Akukho ngxaki
Naa a kech kɛl
Wamkelekile
Aye kɛl
Usuku olumnandi lokuzalwa
Aye kɛl a wɛr
Uhambo olukhuselekileyo
Kɛl a jɔɔr a jɛɛr
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Uphi umphakathi wemithwalo?
Känyë kɛ́l wɛ́l?(Känyë kɛl wel)
Uphi umphakathi weebhasi?
Känyë kɛ́l bɔ́l?(Känyë kɛl bol)
Yeyiphi iphondo?
Kɛ́l bɛ́t kɛ́t?(Kel bet ket)
Ihamba ngexesha elingakanani?
Kɛ́l wɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́t?(Kel wel it ket)
Ngaba le yindlela efanelekileyo?
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l wɛ́l?(Kel it kel wel)
Ikho kufutshane apha
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l kɛ́l?(Kel it kel kel)
Ikude apha
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l jɔ́l?(Kel it kel jol)
Ungandibonisa kwiimeko?
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l pɛ́t kɛ́t?(Kel it kel pet ket)
Misa apha, nceda
Kɛ́l jɛ́l kɛ́l, pɛ́l?(Kel jel kel pel)
Ithatha ixesha elingakanani?
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.
Ithini le mali?
Nyaak cɛl?(nyaak chel)
Le mali ibiza kakhulu.
Kɛl yic kɛc(kel yich kech)
Unayo into engabizi?
Yin kɛl nyin cɛl?(yin kel nyin chel)
Ndingakhokha ngekhadi?
Nyaak tɛr kɛl kɛc?(nyaak ter kel kech)
Ndicela itafula lempahla ezimbini.
Nyaak cɛl kɛl tɛbɛl kɛl nyin(nyaak chel kel tebel kel nyin)
Ibhili, nceda.
Nyaak cɛl kɛl bɛl(nyaak chel kel bel)
Ingaba inkonzo ibandakanyekile?
Yin kɛl cɛl kɛl tɛr?(yin kel chel kel ter)
Ndiyavegetarian.
Nyaak cɛl wɛr(nyaak chel wer)
Akukho ukutya okunobhotolo, nceda.
Nyaak cɛl kɛl wɛr kɛc(nyaak chel kel wer kech)
Oku kumnandi.
Kɛl cɛl kɛl nyin(kel chel kel nyin)
Ndingafumana imenyu?
Nyaak cɛl kɛl mɛn?(nyaak chel kel men)
Ingxube ye water, nceda.
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.
Biza uphondo
Cïl wïr(cil wir)
Biza i-ambulensi
Cïl an ambulance(cil an ambulance)
Ndifuna ugqirha
Aŋ thïr a doctor(ang thir a doctor)
Ndiziva ndingalunganga
Aŋ kɔc(ang koc)
Ndine-allergy kwi-peanuts
Aŋ kɔc a pïyït(ang koc a piyit)
Uphi umphakathi oseduze?
Cït kɛ̈n hospital?(cit ken hospital)
Kubuhlungu apha
Cïk bɛ̈t(cik bet)
Ndilahlekelwe yi passport yam
Aŋ kɛ̈n passport(ang ken passport)
Ungabiza ihotele yam?
Aŋ kɛ̈n cïl my hotel?(ang ken cil my hotel)
Uncedo!
Kɛ̈n!(ken)
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Kuhle ukukwazi
Nyeu ke nyin(nyin = meet)
Masihlele umhlangano
Nyeu ke jɔɔr ke nyin
Yiphi ixesha elikufaneleyo?
Kɛ kɛth jɔɔr a ke?
Ndiza kuthumela ingxelo namhlanje
Nyeu ke kɛc report kɛ jɔɔl
Singathetha ngomso?
Nyeu ke jɔɔr kɛ bɛt?
Nceda ufumane ifayile ehlanganisiweyo
Nyeu kɛ jɔɔr file kɛ kɛth
Enkosi ngexesha lakho
Nyeu kɛ jɔɔr a ke kɛth
Ndijonge phambili ekusebenzeni nawe
Nyeu ke jɔɔr kɛ bɛt a ke
Ungacacisa le ndawo?
A ke jɔɔr kɛ kɛth a?
Mna ndiza kubuyela kuwe
Nyeu ke jɔɔr kɛ a ke
Umhla wokugqibela nguLwesihlanu
Kɛ deadline kɛ Friday
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.