Looking for practical Kanuri to Luo phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Kanuri 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 Kanuri 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 Kanuri 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.
Sannu
Naki(Naki)
Nagode
Asante(Asante)
Ina kwana
Naki chuo(Naki chuo)
Ina yamma
Naki ng'ato(Naki ng'ato)
Ina dare
Naki owadgi(Naki owadgi)
Sai da safe
Naki buya(Naki buya)
Zan ganka
Ting' kendo(Ting' kendo)
Sai anjima
Naki(Naki)
Menene sunanka?
Ine ng'ama in?(Ine ng'ama in?)
Sunana John
Inyalo John(Inyalo John)
Lafiya lau?
Okwere?(Okwere?)
Na ji dadin haduwa da kai
Naki konyo(Naki konyo)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Kuna magana da Turanci?
Naki konyo English?
Ba na magana da Hindi sosai.
Naki konyo Hindi mako.
Ba na fahimta.
Nyingi.
Don Allah, ku yi magana a hankali.
Tende konyo chalo.
Za ku iya faɗin hakan sake?
Naki konyo to?
Ina wanka?
Ith gi toilet?
Ta yaya zan isa tsakiyar birni?
Ning'eyo konyo city center?
Juya hagu.
Konyo chike.
Juya dama.
Konyo duto.
Tafiya kai tsaye.
Yie chalo.
Nawa ne farashin?
Ning'eyo koro?
Tiket ɗaya, don Allah.
Ticket moko, ndalo.
Shin yana da nisa daga nan?
Nia ng'ato kendo?
Na ɓace.
Nin gi chalo.
Ina zan iya sayen kati na SIM?
Ith gi SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Eey
Ee(ee-y)
A'a
Ayi(ah-ah)
Wata
Kaka(wah-tah)
Na amu
Akwong'(nah ah-moo)
Na a'a amu
Ayi Akwong'(nah ah-ah ah-moo)
Iya na
Ong'eyo(ee-yah nah)
Kaya ka yi tunani?
Ine owuon?(kah-yah kah yee too-nah-nee)
Za ka iya taimaka min?
Naki gi chalo?(zah kah ee-yah tie-mah-kah meen)
Na bukaci taimako
Nind gi chalo(nah boo-kah-chee tie-mah-koh)
Duba dan lokaci
Chakre(doo-bah dahn loh-kah-chee)
Na yi hakuri
Naki(nah yee hah-koo-ree)
Babu matsala
Ayi koro(bah-boo maht-sah-lah)
Taya murna
Naki chalo(tah-yah moor-nah)
Barka da haihuwa
Naki buo(bar-kah dah hai-hoo-wah)
Ka yi tafiya lafiya
Naki chalo gi chalo(kah yee tah-fee-yah lah-fee-yah)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Nye boko na gari?
Naki yieng' ma train?
Nye boko na bas?
Naki yieng' ma bus?
Wane boko na?
Naki platform ng'eyo?
Wane lokaci ya tafi?
Naki koro ng'ato?
Shin wannan hanya ce?
Ning'eyo ni ng'ato?
Yana kusa da nan
Niko neno.
Yana nesa da nan
Niko piny.
Za ka iya nuna mini a taswirar?
Okwong' ni on map?
Tsaida nan, don Allah
Dhi here, please.
Yaya tsawon lokaci?
Naki koro ng'ato?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Nayi na kudi?
Nia ni?(Nayi na kudi?)
Wannan ya yi tsada sosai.
Owino ni gi chalo.
Shin kuna da wani abu mai rahusa?
I konyo kanyo?
Zan iya biyan kudi da kati?
Inyalo nind gi kad?
Ina so tebur don biyu.
Nin gi chula mar duong'.
Lissafi, don Allah.
Chakruok, plis.
Shin sabis ya haɗa?
Isango ni gi?
Ni mai ganyayyaki ne.
Nin gi vegeterian.
Ba tare da zaki ba, don Allah.
Naki chalo chalo, plis.
Wannan yana da dadi.
Owino ni gi dho.
Zan iya samun menu?
Inyalo nind gi menu?
Kofin ruwa, don Allah.
Gik konyo mar maji, plis.
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Dawari janga
Nedhi polisi(Dawari janga)
Dawari ambulan
Nedhi ambulance(Dawari ambulan)
Ni na doctor
Aneedo daktari(Ni na doctor)
Ni na jaga
Akwong' gi chalo(Ni na jaga)
Ni na haji goro
An gi allergy kuom peanuts(Ni na haji goro)
Ina asibiti na kusa?
Naki hospital mar koro?(Ina asibiti na kusa?)
Yana ciwo a nan
Okwong' mana(Yana ciwo a nan)
Ni na rasa passport na
Nying' my passport(Ni na rasa passport na)
Za ka iya dawari otel na?
Inyalo nedhi hotel ang'wen?(Za ka iya dawari otel na?)
Taimako!
Konyo!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Nde gaishe
Naki konyo(Naki konyo)
Mu gaishe taro
Nying' konyo joma(Nying' konyo joma)
Wai gaishe lokaci?
Naki konyo nigi?(Naki konyo nigi?)
Zan tura rahoto yau
Ng'ato nind gi report nyaka(Ng'ato nind gi report nyaka)
Zamu iya magana gobe?
Ning'eyo konyo nyaka?(Ning'eyo konyo nyaka?)
Don Allah ka sami fayil din da aka makala
Chieng' ni file ni(Chieng' ni file ni)
Na gode da lokacinka
Asante gi chako(Asante gi chako)
Ina fatan aiki tare da kai
Nying' konyo gi nyaka(Nying' konyo gi nyaka)
Za ka iya fayyace wannan batu?
Ning'eyo konyo ni?(Ning'eyo konyo ni?)
Bari in dawo gare ka
Ning'eyo konyo nind gi(Ning'eyo konyo nind gi)
Kwanan karshe ranar Jumma'a
Dede ni Friday(Dede ni Friday)
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.