Looking for practical Afar to Luo phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Afar phrase first, then the Luo translation (Luo) — 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 Luo.
Tip: when a Luo phrase looks unfamiliar, compare it with the Afar wording — noticing word order differences helps you understand grammar naturally.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Afar to Luo 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.
Nagaad
Naki(Naki)
Galatooma
Asante(Asante)
Bariis
Naki chuo(Naki chuo)
Galab
Naki ng'ato(Naki ng'ato)
Haal
Naki owadgi(Naki owadgi)
Haalka habeen
Naki buya(Naki buya)
Ilaa mar kale
Ting' kendo(Ting' kendo)
Nagaad
Naki(Naki)
Maa magacaa?
Ine ng'ama in?(Ine ng'ama in?)
Magacaygu waa John
Inyalo John(Inyalo John)
Iska waran?
Okwere?(Okwere?)
Aad baan ku faraxsanahay
Naki konyo(Naki konyo)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Inni ingiriisi maahaa?
Naki konyo English?(Inni ingiriisi maahaa?)
Hindi maahaa hinjiru
Naki konyo Hindi mako.(Hindi maahaa hinjiru)
Ani hinfahmi
Nyingi.(Ani hinfahmi)
Fadlan si maahaa siib
Tende konyo chalo.(Fadlan si maahaa siib)
Maahaa inna marra?
Naki konyo to?(Maahaa inna marra?)
Maalin baadhu?
Ith gi toilet?(Maalin baadhu?)
Akkam an magaalatti gahu?
Ning'eyo konyo city center?(Akkam an magaalatti gahu?)
Boodha kaaf
Konyo chike.(Boodha kaaf)
Boodha mirga
Konyo duto.(Boodha mirga)
Si qodhi
Yie chalo.(Si qodhi)
Maalin abaal?
Ning'eyo koro?(Maalin abaal?)
Tiket tokkon, fadlan
Ticket moko, ndalo.(Tiket tokkon, fadlan)
Maalin faga?
Nia ng'ato kendo?(Maalin faga?)
Ani dhumtu
Nin gi chalo.(Ani dhumtu)
Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?
Ith gi SIM card?(Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Eeyy
Ee(ee-yee)
Maya
Ayi(mah-yah)
Gara
Kaka(gah-rah)
Anigu waaq
Akwong'(ah-nee-goo wahk)
Anigu ma waaq
Ayi Akwong'(ah-nee-goo mah wahk)
Tani waa'ee
Ong'eyo(tah-nee wah-ee)
Ilaa ma waaq?
Ine owuon?(ee-lah mah wahk)
Ilaa naxar?
Naki gi chalo?(ee-lah nah-khar)
Naxar aniga
Nind gi chalo(nah-khar ah-nee-gah)
Soo'aa
Chakre(soo-ah)
Waa'ee aniga
Naki(wah-ee ah-nee-gah)
Maya dhib
Ayi koro(mah-yah dheeb)
Hambalyo
Naki chalo(ham-bahl-yo)
Bariis gadhay
Naki buo(bah-rees gah-thai)
Safar amni
Naki chalo gi chalo(sah-far am-nee)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Eeyyoo taayka daab?
Naki yieng' ma train?(eyyoo taayka daab)
Eeyyoo gaari daab?
Naki yieng' ma bus?(eyyoo gaari daab)
Keenya kaafaa?
Naki platform ng'eyo?(keenya kaafaa)
Waqti maayti?
Naki koro ng'ato?(waqti maayti)
Maayta kaan?
Ning'eyo ni ng'ato?(maayta kaan)
Ittaa hara
Niko neno.(ittaa hara)
Ittaa faar
Niko piny.(ittaa faar)
Maafaa naafaa?
Okwong' ni on map?(maafaa naafaa)
Hara dhaaf, fadlan
Dhi here, please.(hara dhaaf, fadlan)
Waqti mee?
Naki koro ng'ato?(waqti mee)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Iyayka mi'aa?
Nia ni?(iyayka mi'aa)
Iyayka xayl
Owino ni gi chalo.(iyayka xayl)
Ma'ayka hara gabbir?
I konyo kanyo?(ma'ayka hara gabbir)
Karta ka'ayka?
Inyalo nind gi kad?(karta ka'ayka)
Mi'ayka mi'ida laba
Nin gi chula mar duong'.(mi'ayka mi'ida laba)
Xisaab, fadlan
Chakruok, plis.(xisaab, fadlan)
Adeegku ma ku jira?
Isango ni gi?(adeegku ma ku jira)
Anigu waxaan ahay khudradeed
Nin gi vegeterian.(anigu waxaan ahay khudradeed)
Cunto kulul ma jirto, fadlan
Naki chalo chalo, plis.(cunto kulul ma jirto)
Tani waa macaan
Owino ni gi dho.(tani waa macaan)
Mi'ayka liiska?
Inyalo nind gi menu?(mi'ayka liiska)
Dharbaaxda biyo, fadlan
Gik konyo mar maji, plis.(dharbaaxda biyo)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Waaqa booliisi
Nedhi polisi(Call the police)
Waaqa ambulaansii
Nedhi ambulance(Call an ambulance)
Dooktar naaf barbaachisa
Aneedo daktari
Naanu dhukkuba qaba
Akwong' gi chalo
Qoricha fooniif dhukkuba qaba
An gi allergy kuom peanuts
Hospitaala dhihoo eessa?
Naki hospital mar koro?
Asitti dhukkuba qaba
Okwong' mana
Paaspoortii koo dhabe
Nying' my passport
Hoteela koo waaqa?
Inyalo nedhi hotel ang'wen?
Gargaarsa!
Konyo!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Nagaad waayi
Naki konyo(Naki konyo)
Nagaad kaabirna waayi
Nying' konyo joma(Nying' konyo joma)
Waqti mee waayi?
Naki konyo nigi?(Naki konyo nigi?)
Warqad kaan diraya harra
Ng'ato nind gi report nyaka(Ng'ato nind gi report nyaka)
Maanta waayi hadalnaa?
Ning'eyo konyo nyaka?(Ning'eyo konyo nyaka?)
Faylka ku lifaaqan fadlan
Chieng' ni file ni(Chieng' ni file ni)
Mahadsanid waqtigaaga
Asante gi chako(Asante gi chako)
Waxaan rajeynayaa inaan la shaqeeyo
Nying' konyo gi nyaka(Nying' konyo gi nyaka)
Ma cadayn kartaa dhibicdaas?
Ning'eyo konyo ni?(Ning'eyo konyo ni?)
Iga raadi dib
Ning'eyo konyo nind gi(Ning'eyo konyo nind gi)
Waqtiga kama dambaysta waa Jimco
Dede ni Friday(Dede ni Friday)
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.