Here are a list of sentences which will aid in giving you understanding in common every day conversations. Learn
to speak these sentences paying attention to the intonation and phonetics.
| Nuer |
English |
| Maalɛ? |
Is it peace? |
| Gɔaaɛ. |
It is good. It is alright. |
| Yëc, jiä̲ä̲kɛ |
No, it's bad. |
| /Cɛ gɔaa. |
It's no good. |
| Wër! |
Go! (to one person) |
| Wiɛ̈ɛ̈! |
Go! (to more than one person) |
| Bër. |
Come. (to one person) |
| Biëë. |
Come. (to more than one person) |
| /Cu̲ bä̲! |
Don't come! (to one person) |
| /Cuayɛ bä̲! |
Don't come! (to more than one person) E. Nuer |
| /Cuɔrɛ bä̲! |
Don't come! (to more than one person) W. Nuer |
| Ɛ wi̲cdu̲. |
It's your responsibility. |
| Ɛ ruacdu̲. |
It's your say. |
| /Cu̲ wä̲. |
Don't go. (to one person) |
| /Cuayɛ wä̲. |
Don't go. (to more than one person). E. Nuer |
| /Cuɔre wä̲. |
Don't go. (to more than one person). W. Nuer |
| /Ci̲ ɛ jɛn |
It's not so. It's not that way. |
| Yɔ̲ɔ̲n, ɛ jɛn pa̲ny. G`aaz |
Yes, that's really right. That's okay. |
| Thïlɛ mi̲ lɛlɛ. |
Don't bother. It doesn't matter. (malish) |
| Kua̲cä̲ thok nath. |
I don't know the Nuer language. (I am ignorant of the Nuer language.) |
| Kua̲cä̲ jɛ |
I don't know. (I am ignorant of it) |
| /Kaanɛ ŋa̲c |
I don't know. (I am ignorant of it) |
| Thïlɛ jɛ |
There isn't any. He, she or it isn't here. |
| Thïlɛ ŋu̲ |
It isn't anything. |
| /Cu̲ jɛ la̲t ï̲nɔ |
Don't do it like that. |
| /Cu̲ ɤä̲ thie̲c. |
Don't ask me. |
| /Cu̲ ɤa̲ ju̲t. |
Don't pester me. |
| Ci̲ lɔcdä̲ tɛɛth. |
My heart is happy. (I am pleased) |
| Gɔaaɛ. Ci̲ lɔcdä̲ tɛɛth. |
Thank you. |
| Nyɔk ɛ. |
Repeat it. |
| Lar ɛ. |
Say it. |
| Luä̲k ɤä̲. |
Help me. |
| Liŋ ɛ. |
Listen. |
| Nyu̲ri̲. |
Sit down. (to one person) |
| Nyuɔɔrɛ. |
Sit down. (to more than one) |
| Lä̲tni̲ jɛ ï̲nɔ. |
Do it like that. |
| Naŋni̲ jɛ raar. |
Take it outside. |
| Ne̲o̲ni̲ jɛ. |
Bring it, bring him, bring her. (either one) |
| Ŋu̲n ɛ. |
Hand it over. |
| Cɔl ɛ. |
Call him/her. |
| Ka̲mni̲ jɛ ɤä̲. |
Give it to me. |
| Nyu̲thni̲ ɤä̲. |
Show me. |
| Pä̲̩l ɛ. |
Let it go. Leave it. |
| Cu̲ŋni̲. |
Stop. (to one person) pl. cuɔŋɛ. |
| Cɛ li̲w. |
He, she, it died. |
| Gatdä̲ li̲wɛ. |
My child is dying. |
| Ɣä̲n göörä̲ ji̲. |
I want you. |
| Tä̲ä̲mɛ. |
Now. |
| Mëë̈pan. |
Yesterday. |
| I̲ru̲u̲n. |
Tomorrow. |
| Kä̲ ru̲̩n waŋ. |
In the morning. |
| I̲yɔɔ. |
Later (E. Nuer) W. Nuer this means at sunset. |
| Ɣëëlä̲. |
Later (W.Nuer) |
| Walɛ. |
Today. |
| Waalɛ. |
This year. |
| I̲muɔɔlɛ. |
The day after tomorrow. |
| Bä̲ lɛl i̲ di̲. |
What will I do? |
| Cɛ thu̲u̲k. |
It's finished. |
| Cä̲ thu̲ɔ̲k. |
I'm finished. |
| Ci̲ ruac thu̲u̲k. |
The talk is finished. |
| Ɛ jɛn pɛ̲kdɛ. |
That's all there is. |
| Tëë di̲. |
How is he/she or it? How's it getting along? |
| Cɛ ruëëc wi̲i̲cdä̲. |
I forgot. |
| Cɛ wä̲ rɛy cëŋ. |
He/she went to the village. |
| Cɛ wä̲ lɔɔcdä̲. |
It has gone into my heart. i.e. I understand. |
| Cɛ cop lɔɔcdä̲̲. |
It has reached my heart. i.e. I understand. |
| Car wi̲cdu̲. |
Think! (in your head) |
| Car lɔcdu̲. |
Think! (in your heart) |
| Dɔ̲ɔ̲ ɛ jɛn. |
Maybe so. |
| Dɔ̲ɔ̲ ɛ jɛn ï̲nɔ. |
Maybe it's like that. |
| /Ke̲nɛ wä̲ lɔɔcdä̲. |
I don't understand. (E. Nuer) |
| /Kɛrɛ wä̲ lɔɔcdä̲. |
I don't understand. (W. Nuer) |
| Ɛ thaa di̲ tä̲ä̲mɛ? |
What time is it? |
| Nyu̲u̲uɛ baaŋ. |
He's sitting "sakit". |
| /Cu̲ diɛɛr. |
Don't worry. |
| Jï̲n a ni̲? |
Where are you? |
| Ɣä̲n a thï̲̩n. |
I am present. |
| Jɛn a ni̲? |
Where is he/she or it? |
| Jɛn a thï̲̩n. |
He/she or it is present. |
| Kɛn a ni̲? |
Where are they? |
| Kɛn a thï̲̩n. |
They are present. |
| Jaa thï̲̩n. |
He/she or it is present. |
| Kaa thï̲̩n. |
They are present. (contracted forms of the last two.) |
