Conversation Practice

1. Greetings / Nër

A: Hello! How are you?

Nuer: Maalɛ! Mal puɔ̱nydu? Amharic: ሰላም! እንዴት ነህ? selami! indēt nehi?

B: I'm good, thank you! And you?

Nuer: Ɣän gɔaaä, la̱rä ji tɛ̈thlɔaac! Kä jin? Amharic: ደህና ነኝ, አመሰግናለሁ! አንተስ? dehina nenyi, āmeseginalehu! ānitesi?

2. Asking for Directions / Thiec kɛ kui̱ dupni̱

A: Excuse me, where is the nearest bank?

Nuer: Päl ɣä kä, ɛn bank in thia̱k ɛ nikä? Amharic: ይቅርታ ፣ ቅርብ ባንክ የት ነው ያለው? yik’irita , k’iribi baniki yeti newi yalewi

B: It's across from the church

Nuer: Ɛ kui̱c in dɔ̱ŋ kä duel kuɔth Amharic: ከቤተክርስቲያን ማዶ ነው። kebētkiristīyani mado newi

3. Ordering Food / mi cɔ̱li kuän

B: What food would you like?

Nuer: Ɛ mi̱eth ŋukä mi go̱o̱ri? Amharic: ምን ዓይነት ምግብ ይፈልጋሉ? min ‘ayinet migib yifeligalu?

A: I would like to order a walwal, please.

Nuer: Ɣän göörä ɣöö bä walwal kɔk,liɛ̱mä ji Amharic: እባክህ ዋልዋል ማዘዝ እፈልጋለሁ። ibakihi walwal mazez ifeligalehu

4. Making Plans / La̱t Cärä

A: What are you doing this weekend?

Nuer: Ɛŋu mi lätdi kɛ guut juokä ɛmɛ? Amharic: በዚህ ቅዳሜና እሁድ ምን እየሰራህ ነው?

B: I'm thinking of going to church. Want to join?

Nuer: Ɣän cä car i̱ bä wä duel kuɔth. Go̱o̱ri ɣöö bi rɔ mat thin? Amharic: ቤተ ክርስቲያን ልሄድ እያሰብኩ ነው። መቀላቀል ይፈልጋሉ? bēte kirisitīyani lihēdi iyasebiku newi. mek’elak’eli yifeligalu?

5. Talking About Weather / Ruac kɛ kui̱ jɔam

A: What is the weather like today?

Nuer: Kä ɣɔw ɛ ŋu ɛn wa̱lɛ? Amharic: የዛሬው የአየር ሁኔታ ምን ይመስላል?

B: "It's sunny and warm."

Nuer: Ɛ cäŋ mi lɛp kä lëthƐ. Amharic: ፀሐያማ እና ሞቃት ነው. ts’eḥāyama ina mok’ati newi.

6. Discussing Hobbies / Ruac kɛ kui̱ lätni̱ tin nhɔakɛ

A: What do you like to do in your free time?

Nuer: Ɛŋu mi nhɔki ɛn ɣöö bi la̱t kɛ gua̱a̱th in lɔr? Amharic: በትርፍ ጊዜዎ ምን ማድረግ ይወዳሉ? betirifi gīzēwo mini madiregi yiwedalu?

B: I enjoy reading and playing football.

Nuer: Ɣän nhɔakä kuën kɛnɛ ŋar kɛɛ kurɛ. Amharic: ማንበብ እና እግር ኳስ መጫወት እወዳለሁ። manibebi ina igiri kwasi mech’aweti iwedalehu.

7. Talking About Family / Ruac kɛ kui̱ ji̱ dhɔaar

A: Do you have any siblings?

Nuer: Ji̱n ti̱i̱ kɛ gaatmuɔɔri? Amharic: ወንድሞችና እህቶች አሉዎት?

B: Yes, I have one brother and two sisters.

Nuer: Ɣɔ̱ɔ̱n, ɣän ta̱a̱ kɛ dämaar kɛl kɛnɛ nyimaari da̱ŋ rɛw. Amharic: አዎ፣ አንድ ወንድም እና ሁለት እህቶች አሉኝ። āwo, ānidi wenidimi ina huleti ihitochi ālunyi