Looking for practical Bambara to Luo phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Bambara 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: pick five Luo phrases from the greetings section and use them in a real message today. Small daily practice beats cramming before a trip.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Bambara 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.
I ni ce
Naki(Naki)
I ni sogoma
Asante(Asante)
I ni bɔ
Naki chuo(Naki chuo)
I ni kɛ
Naki ng'ato(Naki ng'ato)
I ni sɔgɔ
Naki owadgi(Naki owadgi)
I ni tulu
Naki buya(Naki buya)
N bɛ se ka
Ting' kendo(Ting' kendo)
A bɛ se ka
Naki(Naki)
Nɛnɛ kɛ i tɛ?
Ine ng'ama in?(Ine ng'ama in?)
N bɛ tɔgɔ John
Inyalo John(Inyalo John)
I ni fɛ?
Okwere?(Okwere?)
N bɛ se ka i fɛ
Naki konyo(Naki konyo)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
I ni ce English?
Naki konyo English?(ee nee che English)
N mɔgɔ bɛ Hindi kɛ
Naki konyo Hindi mako.(N mo-go beh Hindi keh)
N mɔgɔ bɛ
Nyingi.(N mo-go beh)
Sɛbɛn, kɛlɛ kɛ
Tende konyo chalo.(Sebene, keh-leh keh)
I ka fɔ a la?
Naki konyo to?(Ee kah fo ah lah)
Bamanakan kɛn na?
Ith gi toilet?(Bah-mah-nah-kahn keh nah)
N bɛ fɔ kɔrɔbɔ?
Ning'eyo konyo city center?(N beh fo koh-roh-boh)
Kɛlɛn bɔ
Konyo chike.(Keh-lehn boh)
Kɛlɛn bɔ kɔrɔ
Konyo duto.(Keh-lehn boh koh-roh)
Fɔ kɛlɛn
Yie chalo.(Fo keh-lehn)
Fɛ kɛ?
Ning'eyo koro?(Feh keh)
Kɛnɛ ticket, please
Ticket moko, ndalo.(Ken-eh ticket, please)
I kɛ fɔ kɛnɛ?
Nia ng'ato kendo?(Ee keh fo keh-neh)
N tɛ bɔ
Nin gi chalo.(N teh boh)
N bɛ fɔ SIM card kɛn?
Ith gi SIM card?(N beh fo SIM card ken)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Aye
Ee
Ala
Ayi
Bara
Kaka
N bɛ bɔ
Akwong'
N bɛ fɔ
Ayi Akwong'
I bɛ sɛbɛn
Ong'eyo
I ka fɛ kɛ?
Ine owuon?
I bɛ ma n bɔ?
Naki gi chalo?
N bɛ fɔ n bɔ
Nind gi chalo
Sira kɛ
Chakre
N tɛgɛ
Naki
Ala ka fɔ
Ayi koro
I ni kɛ
Naki chalo
I ni tɔgɔ kɛ
Naki buo
I bɛ tɔgɔ kɛ
Naki chalo gi chalo
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Fôlô kôkô tîgê?
Naki yieng' ma train?
Fôlô bôgô tîgê?
Naki yieng' ma bus?
I ni tîgê kô?
Naki platform ng'eyo?
Kô tîgê bô?
Naki koro ng'ato?
I ni tîgê bô?
Ning'eyo ni ng'ato?
I tîgê kâ.
Niko neno.
I tîgê kâ fô.
Niko piny.
I bô kô tîgê fô?
Okwong' ni on map?
Tîgê kâ, s'il vous plaît.
Dhi here, please.
Kô tîgê kô?
Naki koro ng'ato?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
I ni ce?
Nia ni?
O ye fɛɛrɛ.
Owino ni gi chalo.
I ni ka fɛɛrɛ?
I konyo kanyo?
N bɛ tɔgɔ ka kɛ?
Inyalo nind gi kad?
N bɛ fɔlɔ kɛlɛ kɔrɔ.
Nin gi chula mar duong'.
Kɔrɔbaw, s'il vous plaît.
Chakruok, plis.
Sɛbɛ ka fo?
Isango ni gi?
N bɛ sɔgɔma.
Nin gi vegeterian.
Kɔrɔ fɛɛrɛ, s'il vous plaît.
Naki chalo chalo, plis.
I ye sɔgɔ.
Owino ni gi dho.
N bɛ fɔlɔ kɔrɔbaw?
Inyalo nind gi menu?
N bɛ fɔlɔ jɔrɔ.
Gik konyo mar maji, plis.
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Nɔgɔ fɔlɔ
Nedhi polisi(nogo folo)
Nɔgɔ kɔrɔ
Nedhi ambulance(nogo koro)
N bɛ sɔrɔ
Aneedo daktari(n be soro)
N bɛ tɛgɛn
Akwong' gi chalo(n be tegen)
N bɛ fɔlɔ kɛlɛ
An gi allergy kuom peanuts(n be folokele)
N bɛ kɔrɔ fɔlɔ?
Naki hospital mar koro?(n be koro folo)
I tɛgɛ fɛ
Okwong' mana(i tege fe)
N bɛ kɛlɛ fɔlɔ
Nying' my passport(n be kele folo)
I bɛ nɔgɔ kɔrɔ fɔlɔ?
Inyalo nedhi hotel ang'wen?(i be nogo koro folo)
Tɛgɛ!
Konyo!(tege)
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
N bɛ se ka kɛnɛ
Naki konyo(Naki konyo)
Ala ka yɛlɛ kɛnɛ
Nying' konyo joma(Nying' konyo joma)
I ni bɔ a la?
Naki konyo nigi?(Naki konyo nigi?)
N bɛ fɔ report la tɛgɛ
Ng'ato nind gi report nyaka(Ng'ato nind gi report nyaka)
N bɛ fɔ tɛgɛ?
Ning'eyo konyo nyaka?(Ning'eyo konyo nyaka?)
Sɔgɔma, fɔ file la a bɛ
Chieng' ni file ni(Chieng' ni file ni)
I ni ce, a bɛ sɔrɔ
Asante gi chako(Asante gi chako)
N bɛ fɔ a la ka yɛlɛ
Nying' konyo gi nyaka(Nying' konyo gi nyaka)
I bɛ fɔ a la fɛ?
Ning'eyo konyo ni?(Ning'eyo konyo ni?)
N bɛ fɔ a la kɛ
Ning'eyo konyo nind gi(Ning'eyo konyo nind gi)
Dɔgɔni tɛgɛ Friday
Dede ni Friday(Dede ni Friday)
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.