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Common Chichewa to Luo phrases

100 practical Chichewa to Luo phrases for travel, study, work, and daily conversation.

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Looking for practical Chichewa to Luo phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Chichewa 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: read the Luo line out loud three times, then cover the Chichewa side and try to recall the meaning — repetition builds memory faster than silent reading.

Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Chichewa 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.

  1. Moni

    Naki (Naki)

  2. Zikomo

    Asante (Asante)

  3. M'mawa wabwino

    Naki chuo (Naki chuo)

  4. Masana abwino

    Naki ng'ato (Naki ng'ato)

  5. Madziwabwino

    Naki owadgi (Naki owadgi)

  6. Usiku wabwino

    Naki buya (Naki buya)

  7. Tiwonana

    Ting' kendo (Ting' kendo)

  8. Tsalani bwino

    Naki (Naki)

  9. Dzina lako ndi ndani?

    Ine ng'ama in? (Ine ng'ama in?)

  10. Dzina langa ndi John

    Inyalo John (Inyalo John)

  11. Muli bwanji?

    Okwere? (Okwere?)

  12. Ndikufuna kukumana nanu

    Naki konyo (Naki konyo)

Useful phrases for travellers

Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.

  1. Mukulankhula Chingerezi?

    Naki konyo English? (Mukulankhula Chingerezi?)

  2. Sindikulankhula Hindi bwino

    Naki konyo Hindi mako. (Sindikulankhula Hindi bwino)

  3. Sindikumva

    Nyingi. (Sindikumva)

  4. Chonde lukani pang'onopang'ono

    Tende konyo chalo. (Chonde lukani pang'onopang'ono)

  5. Mungathe kutero kwachiwiri?

    Naki konyo to? (Mungathe kutero kwachiwiri?)

  6. Kuti ndi kuti chimbudzi?

    Ith gi toilet? (Kuti ndi kuti chimbudzi?)

  7. Ndingapite bwanji ku mseu wa mzinda?

    Ning'eyo konyo city center? (Ndingapite bwanji ku mseu wa mzinda?)

  8. Pangani kumanzere

    Konyo chike. (Pangani kumanzere)

  9. Pangani kumanzere

    Konyo duto. (Pangani kumanzere)

  10. Pitani mwachindunji

    Yie chalo. (Pitani mwachindunji)

  11. Ndi ndalama zingati?

    Ning'eyo koro? (Ndi ndalama zingati?)

  12. Tiket imodzi, chonde

    Ticket moko, ndalo. (Tiket imodzi, chonde)

  13. Ndi kutali bwanji kuchokera pano?

    Nia ng'ato kendo? (Ndi kutali bwanji kuchokera pano?)

  14. Ndakhalapo

    Nin gi chalo. (Ndakhalapo)

  15. Ndingatengere kuti SIM card?

    Ith gi SIM card? (Ndingatengere kuti SIM card?)

Everyday conversation

Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.

  1. Inde

    Ee

  2. Ayi

    Ayi

  3. Mwina

    Kaka

  4. Ndikugwirizana

    Akwong'

  5. Sindikugwirizana

    Ayi Akwong'

  6. Zimakoma

    Ong'eyo

  7. Mumaganiza chiyani?

    Ine owuon?

  8. Mungandithandize?

    Naki gi chalo?

  9. Ndikufuna thandizo

    Nind gi chalo

  10. Dikirani pang'ono

    Chakre

  11. Ndikupemphera

    Naki

  12. Palibe vuto

    Ayi koro

  13. Zikomo

    Naki chalo

  14. Tsiku lobadwa labwino

    Naki buo

  15. Pita bwino

    Naki chalo gi chalo

Directions and getting around

Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.

  1. Kuti ndi kuti sitima?

    Naki yieng' ma train?

  2. Kuti ndi kuti malo otsetsereka?

    Naki yieng' ma bus?

  3. Ndi chigawo chiti?

    Naki platform ng'eyo?

  4. Ndi nthawi iti imatenga?

    Naki koro ng'ato?

  5. Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera?

    Ning'eyo ni ng'ato?

  6. Ili pafupi pano

    Niko neno.

  7. Ili kutali pano

    Niko piny.

  8. Kodi mungandionetse pa mapu?

    Okwong' ni on map?

  9. Khalani pano, chonde

    Dhi here, please.

  10. Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji?

    Naki koro ng'ato?

Shopping and dining

Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.

  1. Zimatenga ndalama zingati?

    Nia ni?

  2. Izi ndizokwera mtengo kwambiri.

    Owino ni gi chalo.

  3. Kodi muli ndi chinthu chotsika mtengo?

    I konyo kanyo?

  4. Ndingathe kulipira ndi khadi?

    Inyalo nind gi kad?

  5. Ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri.

    Nin gi chula mar duong'.

  6. Chikonthe, chonde.

    Chakruok, plis.

  7. Kodi ntchito yakhala mu mtengo?

    Isango ni gi?

  8. Ndine mvegetarian.

    Nin gi vegeterian.

  9. Osati chakudya chotentha, chonde.

    Naki chalo chalo, plis.

  10. Izi ndizochuluka.

    Owino ni gi dho.

  11. Ndingathe kupeza menyu?

    Inyalo nind gi menu?

  12. Galasi ya madzi, chonde.

    Gik konyo mar maji, plis.

Emergencies and health

Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.

  1. Fufuzani apolisi

    Nedhi polisi

  2. Fufuzani ambulansi

    Nedhi ambulance

  3. Ndikufuna dokotala

    Aneedo daktari

  4. Ndikumva kutopa

    Akwong' gi chalo

  5. Ndine wosokoneza ndi ma nuts a phala

    An gi allergy kuom peanuts

  6. Kuti ndi kuti chibadwe chachikondi?

    Naki hospital mar koro?

  7. Kukonda apa

    Okwong' mana

  8. Ndapeza pasipoti yanga

    Nying' my passport

  9. Mungafufuze hotelo yanga?

    Inyalo nedhi hotel ang'wen?

  10. Thandizani!

    Konyo!

Work and business

Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.

  1. Ndikuyamikira kukumana nanu

    Naki konyo (Naki konyo)

  2. Tiyeni tikhazikitse meeting

    Nying' konyo joma (Nying' konyo joma)

  3. Ndi nthawi yanji yomwe ikugwira ntchito kwa inu?

    Naki konyo nigi? (Naki konyo nigi?)

  4. Ndzatumiza lipoti lero

    Ng'ato nind gi report nyaka (Ng'ato nind gi report nyaka)

  5. Tingathe kulankhula mawa?

    Ning'eyo konyo nyaka? (Ning'eyo konyo nyaka?)

  6. Chonde pezani fayilo yowonjezedwa

    Chieng' ni file ni (Chieng' ni file ni)

  7. Zikomo chifukwa cha nthawi yanu

    Asante gi chako (Asante gi chako)

  8. Ndikuyembekezera kugwira ntchito nanu

    Nying' konyo gi nyaka (Nying' konyo gi nyaka)

  9. Mungathe kuthetsa mfundo imeneyo?

    Ning'eyo konyo ni? (Ning'eyo konyo ni?)

  10. Nditheke kubwerera kwa inu

    Ning'eyo konyo nind gi (Ning'eyo konyo nind gi)

  11. Nthawi yotsiriza ndi Lachisanu

    Dede ni Friday (Dede ni Friday)

Time, days and numbers

Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.

  1. Ndi nthawi yanji?

    Naki ng'ato? (Naki ng'ato?)

  2. Ndi nthawi itatu.

    Nye kendo ng'ato tati (Nye kendo ng'ato tati)

  3. Lero

    Nia (Nia)

  4. Mawa

    Nia ng'ato (Nia ng'ato)

  5. Ch yesterday

    Nia kendo (Nia kendo)

  6. Lolemba

    Juma (Juma)

  7. Lachiwiri

    Juma mar ariyo (Juma mar ariyo)

  8. Lachitatu

    Juma mar achiel (Juma mar achiel)

  9. Chimodzi

    Piny (Piny)

  10. Chiwiri

    Dhiang' (Dhiang')

  11. Chitatu

    Tati (Tati)

  12. Kumi

    Polo (Polo)

  13. Zana

    Piny ng'ato (Piny ng'ato)

  14. Pafupifupi

    Nyang' (Nyang')

  15. Zambiri

    Dhi (Dhi)

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