Ndyuka is based on English vocabulary, with influence from African languages in its grammar and sounds.

Long vowels are written with double letters (e.g. ⟨aa⟩ [aː], ⟨ee⟩ [eː]) An acute accent is sometimes used for a high tone.

Here is an example of Ndyuka text, and its translation into English (showing the similitarities as well as the lexical evolution), adapted from Languages of the Guianas (SIL Publications): En so den be abaa na a líba, dísi wi kai Kawína Líba.

En so den be waka langa langa gwe te na Mama Ndyuka ede, pe wi kai Mama Ndyuka.And so they crossed the river, which we call "Kawina [Commewijne] River".

Thus they travelled a long, long way, clear to the upper Tapanahony, the place we call "Mama Ndyuka".The language bears some similarity to Twi and other Akan languages spoken by the Akan people of Ghana.