Looking for practical Bemba to Luo phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Bemba 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: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Luo-speaking trip in a few weeks.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Bemba 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.
Shani
Naki(Naki)
Natotela
Asante(Asante)
Muli shani
Naki chuo(Naki chuo)
Muli shani
Naki ng'ato(Naki ng'ato)
Muli shani
Naki owadgi(Naki owadgi)
Shalenipo bwino
Naki buya(Naki buya)
Tukakutana
Ting' kendo(Ting' kendo)
Twalumba
Naki(Naki)
Iwe ulishani?
Ine ng'ama in?(Ine ng'ama in?)
Ndefwaya John
Inyalo John(Inyalo John)
Uli bwanji?
Okwere?(Okwere?)
Nashitasha kukumona
Naki konyo(Naki konyo)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Ulyashi ulukanda mu Chingereza?
Naki konyo English?
Ndefwaya ukulanda Hindi bwino
Naki konyo Hindi mako.
Ndefwaya kumfwa
Nyingi.
Nimwandi ulukanda buteko
Tende konyo chalo.
Ningaloleleko?
Naki konyo to?
Ili kuti ikalamba?
Ith gi toilet?
Ningalileka shani ku city center?
Ning'eyo konyo city center?
Fumya kumwendo
Konyo chike.
Fumya kumwendo
Konyo duto.
Enda pamo
Yie chalo.
Kuli shani ifyabukata?
Ning'eyo koro?
Ticket imwe, nomba
Ticket moko, ndalo.
Kuli lishilu ukulya?
Nia ng'ato kendo?
Ndi lost
Nin gi chalo.
Ili kuti nindeke SIM card?
Ith gi SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Eya
Ee
Awe
Ayi
Panga
Kaka
Ndi bwino
Akwong'
Ndi bwino na
Ayi Akwong'
Ilyo lishibukile
Ong'eyo
Uchite shani?
Ine owuon?
Ushakufwa?
Naki gi chalo?
Ndefwaya ifyakufwa
Nind gi chalo
Leka ifi
Chakre
Nshakufwa
Naki
Takwaba shani
Ayi koro
Nshakufwa bwino
Naki chalo
Nashala bwino mu mwaka
Naki buo
Ube na mulimo wabwino
Naki chalo gi chalo
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Uli kuti ikalamba ya chitima?
Naki yieng' ma train?
Uli kuti icikalo ca bisi?
Naki yieng' ma bus?
Ninshi ni platform iyi?
Naki platform ng'eyo?
Ninshi ikalamba?
Naki koro ng'ato?
Ninshi iyi ni njira shabwino?
Ning'eyo ni ng'ato?
Ili pamo na pano.
Niko neno.
Ili lishilu na pano.
Niko piny.
Ushibukishe pa mape?
Okwong' ni on map?
Leka pano, chonde.
Dhi here, please.
Kuli shani?
Naki koro ng'ato?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Ili shani?
Nia ni?(Ili shani?)
Ili lya kuli
Owino ni gi chalo.(Ili lya kuli)
Muli na chimo chibulu?
I konyo kanyo?(Muli na chimo chibulu?)
Ningakupanga na kadi?
Inyalo nind gi kad?(Ningakupanga na kadi?)
Ningakonda itabo lyakupanga abali babili
Nin gi chula mar duong'.(Ningakonda itabo lyakupanga abali babili)
Icilanga, tapali
Chakruok, plis.(Icilanga, tapali)
Ubufyashi bwakupanga?
Isango ni gi?(Ubufyashi bwakupanga?)
Ndi mvegetarian
Nin gi vegeterian.(Ndi mvegetarian)
Nshikala na fya spicy, tapali
Naki chalo chalo, plis.(Nshikala na fya spicy, tapali)
Ili lya bwino
Owino ni gi dho.(Ili lya bwino)
Ningakonda ifyalo?
Inyalo nind gi menu?(Ningakonda ifyalo?)
Icupa ca mvula, tapali
Gik konyo mar maji, plis.(Icupa ca mvula, tapali)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Tuma abashitisha
Nedhi polisi
Tuma ambulance
Nedhi ambulance
Nshikala na doctor
Aneedo daktari
Nshikala bwino
Akwong' gi chalo
Ndi na allergy ku nsalu
An gi allergy kuom peanuts
Ili kuti hospital ya pafupi?
Naki hospital mar koro?
Kuli ububi pano
Okwong' mana
Nashitile passport yangu
Nying' my passport
Nawe tuma hotel yangu?
Inyalo nedhi hotel ang'wen?
Chikondi!
Konyo!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Nashamukeni
Naki konyo(Naki konyo)
Tulefwaya ukusanga
Nying' konyo joma(Nying' konyo joma)
Ninshi ifikala bwino kwa iwe?
Naki konyo nigi?(Naki konyo nigi?)
Nizakutuma ifishina lelo
Ng'ato nind gi report nyaka(Ng'ato nind gi report nyaka)
Twafwaya ukusambilila lero?
Ning'eyo konyo nyaka?(Ning'eyo konyo nyaka?)
Nomba fwebo file iliko
Chieng' ni file ni(Chieng' ni file ni)
Natotela pa nshita
Asante gi chako(Asante gi chako)
Nifwaya ukushanda na iwe
Nying' konyo gi nyaka(Nying' konyo gi nyaka)
Wakosa ukufumya icikomo?
Ning'eyo konyo ni?(Ning'eyo konyo ni?)
Nizakukumbusha
Ning'eyo konyo nind gi(Ning'eyo konyo nind gi)
Ishina lyakupela ni Lwapula
Dede ni Friday(Dede ni Friday)
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.