Looking for practical Dinka to Luo phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Dinka 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 Dinka 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.
Yaaŋ
Naki(Naki)
Ajak
Asante(Asante)
Bäny äyö
Naki chuo(Naki chuo)
Bäny kɛ̈l
Naki ng'ato(Naki ng'ato)
Bäny nyin
Naki owadgi(Naki owadgi)
Bäny kɛ̈l
Naki buya(Naki buya)
Yin kɛ̈l
Ting' kendo(Ting' kendo)
Yin kɛ̈l
Naki(Naki)
Nin kɛ̈l yïn?
Ine ng'ama in?(Ine ng'ama in?)
Nin yïn John
Inyalo John(Inyalo John)
Kɛ̈l yïn?
Okwere?(Okwere?)
Bäny kɛ̈l yïn
Naki konyo(Naki konyo)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Nyaac ke wic ku English?
Naki konyo English?
Aye nyin wic Hindi kɔc.
Naki konyo Hindi mako.
Aye nyin kɔc.
Nyingi.
Yin kɔc ke nyin.
Tende konyo chalo.
Yin wic ke nyin?
Naki konyo to?
Cɔl kɛ thon?
Ith gi toilet?
Nyaac kɛ jɛt ke cɛl?
Ning'eyo konyo city center?
Yin tɛŋ ke thok.
Konyo chike.
Yin tɛŋ ke kɛl.
Konyo duto.
Yin tɛŋ ke cɛl.
Yie chalo.
Cɔl kɛ thon?
Ning'eyo koro?
Kɛl thok, yin.
Ticket moko, ndalo.
Cɔl kɛ jɔk ke cɛl?
Nia ng'ato kendo?
Aye nyin thok.
Nin gi chalo.
Cɔl kɛ jɛt ke SIM?
Ith gi SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Aye
Ee
Naa
Ayi
Cok
Kaka
Aye nyin
Akwong'
Naa nyin
Ayi Akwong'
Käth aŋöör
Ong'eyo
Käŋ aŋöör?
Ine owuon?
Nyaŋ aŋöör?
Naki gi chalo?
Aye bɛ̈t aŋöör
Nind gi chalo
Käŋ aŋöör
Chakre
Aye kɛ̈l
Naki
Naa kɛ̈l
Ayi koro
Bɛ̈t aŋöör
Naki chalo
Bɛ̈t aŋöör kuɔr
Naki buo
Käth aŋöör kuɔr
Naki chalo gi chalo
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Cïïr yïnë kël?
Naki yieng' ma train?(Cii r yin e kel)
Cïïr yïnë kël jëŋ?
Naki yieng' ma bus?(Cii r yin e kel jeng)
Këc yïnë kël?
Naki platform ng'eyo?(Kec yin e kel)
Këc kël yïnë?
Naki koro ng'ato?(Kec kel yin e)
Këc yïnë kël wël?
Ning'eyo ni ng'ato?(Kec yin e kel wel)
Këc yïnë kël jëŋ?
Niko neno.(Kec yin e kel jeng)
Këc yïnë kël wël?
Niko piny.(Kec yin e kel wel)
Aŋë yïnë kël kɔc?
Okwong' ni on map?(Ang e yin e kel koc)
Nye kël jëŋ, jëŋ?
Dhi here, please.(Nye kel jeng jeng)
Këc yïnë kël jëŋ?
Naki koro ng'ato?(Kec yin e kel jeng)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Kuoth ke nyin?
Nia ni?(kuoth ke nyin)
Nyaak ke thok kɛ̈r
Owino ni gi chalo.(nyaak ke thok kɛ̈r)
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r?
I konyo kanyo?(aye ke nyin kɛ̈r)
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɔc?
Inyalo nind gi kad?(aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɔc)
Aye ke nyin a tɛ́bɛl kɛ̈r duɔŋ
Nin gi chula mar duong'.(aye ke nyin a tɛ́bɛl kɛ̈r duɔŋ)
Kɛ́l, please
Chakruok, plis.(kɛ́l, please)
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɛ́l?
Isango ni gi?(aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɛ́l)
Aye ke nyin a kɔc
Nin gi vegeterian.(aye ke nyin a kɔc)
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r aŋɔr, please
Naki chalo chalo, plis.(aye ke nyin kɛ̈r aŋɔr, please)
Nyaak ke aŋɔr
Owino ni gi dho.(nyaak ke aŋɔr)
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r a menu?
Inyalo nind gi menu?(aye ke nyin kɛ̈r a menu)
Aye ke nyin a kɔl aŋɔr, please
Gik konyo mar maji, plis.(aye ke nyin a kɔl aŋɔr, please)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Bɛɛr kɔl pɔlɪs
Nedhi polisi
Bɛɛr kɔl ambʊlɛns
Nedhi ambulance
A pɛɛr dɔkta
Aneedo daktari
A jɛt kɔc
Akwong' gi chalo
A kɛl kɔc bɛɛr pɛɛnʊt
An gi allergy kuom peanuts
Cɛɛr kɛ bɛɛr hɔspɪtɔl?
Naki hospital mar koro?
Kɔc kɛ tɛŋ
Okwong' mana
A lɔst pɑspɔt
Nying' my passport
Kɛl bɛɛr kɔl hɔtɛl a?
Inyalo nedhi hotel ang'wen?
Yɛɛr!
Konyo!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Yin ke nyin
Naki konyo(Naki konyo)
Nyaak ke nyin ke jieng
Nying' konyo joma(Nying' konyo joma)
Cieng nyin ke jieng?
Naki konyo nigi?(Naki konyo nigi?)
Aye ke cïe report kɛ̈t
Ng'ato nind gi report nyaka(Ng'ato nind gi report nyaka)
Nyaak ke jieng kɛ̈t?
Ning'eyo konyo nyaka?(Ning'eyo konyo nyaka?)
Nyaak ke cïe file kɛ̈t
Chieng' ni file ni(Chieng' ni file ni)
Ayiir ke nyin kɛ̈t
Asante gi chako(Asante gi chako)
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈t jieng
Nying' konyo gi nyaka(Nying' konyo gi nyaka)
Nyaak ke cïe kɛ̈t?
Ning'eyo konyo ni?(Ning'eyo konyo ni?)
Nyaak ke cïe nyin kɛ̈t
Ning'eyo konyo nind gi(Ning'eyo konyo nind gi)
Cieng kɛ̈t ke 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.