Looking for practical Kikongo to Krio phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Kikongo phrase first, then the Krio translation (Krio) — 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 Krio.
Tip: pick five Krio 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 Kikongo to Krio 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.
Mbote
Hello
Mele
Tenki
Mokolo mayele
Gud mɔnin
Mokolo ya ntango
Gud aftanun
Mokolo ya mambu
Gud ivnin
Mokolo ya mpembe
Gud nait
Tala mosi
Si yu leta
Tata
Bai
Nki yina nzo?
Wetɛn na yu neym?
Nzo yami ke John
Ma neym na John
Oko wanga?
Ow yu de?
Nki ya mosi na yo
Naes fo mit yu
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Oyo o zola kutu English?
Yu sabi English?
Nkeni kutu Hindi na mosi.
A no sabi Hindi well.
Nkeni kanga.
A no sabi.
Mokolo, zola kutu na mosi.
Plis, tok slow.
Oyo o zola kutu na mosi?
Yu fit tok dat again?
Kutu wapi banzela?
Weh na di toilet?
Nki zola kuenda na kati ya mbanza?
Ow A go fit reach di city center?
Tanda na luma.
Turn left.
Tanda na mambu.
Turn right.
Enda na mosi.
Go straight.
Nki mbongo ya ndako?
Ow much na di fare?
Ticket mosi, mokolo.
One ticket, plis.
Nki feti na wapi?
E far from ya?
Nkeni zola.
A don lost.
Kutu wapi nki zola ku tanga SIM?
Weh A go fit buy SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ewe
Yes
Te
No
Kasi
Maybe
Nkiadi
A mi agree
Nkiadi te
A no agree
Oyo ke nkiadi malamu
Dat na fine
Nkiadi nini?
Wet in you tink?
Okanza kudi nki?
You fit help me?
Nkiadi kudi nki
A need help
Lela na nki
Wait small
Nkiadi na nki
A sorry
Te na nki
No problem
Tata na nki
Congratulations
Mokolo ya mbote
Happy birthday
Tala na nzala ya malamu
Get safe trip
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Wana wanga na tanga ya nzo?
Weh na di train station?(Wana wanga na tanga ya nzo?)
Wana wanga na bus?
Weh na di bus stop?(Wana wanga na bus?)
Nki platform yai?
Which platform na im?(Nki platform yai?)
Soki nki ntangu yina yenda?
Wetin time e go lef?(Soki nki ntangu yina yenda?)
Yai ke nzila ya nki?
Dis na di right way?(Yai ke nzila ya nki?)
Eza na nsi ya nzo
E dey near here(Eza na nsi ya nzo)
Eza na mosi ya nzo
E far from here(Eza na mosi ya nzo)
Okanisa ngai na mape?
Yu fit show me pan di map?(Okanisa ngai na mape?)
Tanga wana, s'il vous plaît
Stop here, pliz(Tanga wana, s'il vous plaît)
Nki ntangu yina yenda?
How long e go tek?(Nki ntangu yina yenda?)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Nki yina kudi?
How much dis cost?(nki yina kudi)
Yina kele na nsi
Dat too expensive.(yina kele na nsi)
Ona kima ki nsi?
You get anytin wey cheaper?(ona kima ki nsi)
Ncanza kudi na kadi?
I fit pay by card?(ncanza kudi na kadi)
Nkena na mesa ya mosi na mosi
I wan table for two.(nkena na mesa ya mosi na mosi)
Kadi, ndakisa
Di bill, please.(kadi, ndakisa)
Kasi nsi ya mpasi ke na?
Service dey include?(kasi nsi ya mpasi ke na)
Ndi muvegetari
I na vegetarian.(ndi muvegetari)
Kaka mfu, ndakisa
No spicy food, please.(kaka mfu, ndakisa)
Yina kele na nsi
Dis dey sweet.(yina kele na nsi)
Ncanza na menu?
I fit get di menu?(ncanza na menu)
Ndi kadi ya mvula, ndakisa
A glass of water, please.(ndi kadi ya mvula, ndakisa)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Landa boma
Call di police
Landa ambulance
Call ambulance
Nkeni mosi
A need doctor
Nkeni na mbisi
A dey feel sick
Nkeni na nsembu ya nsembu
A get allergy for peanuts
Wana hospital ya mbote?
Weh di nearest hospital de?
Eka na nki
E dey pain here
Nkeni tanga pasipoti na ngai
A don lose mi passport
Olanda hotel na ngai?
You fit call mi hotel?
Tala!
Help!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Nzo ya kima
Na nice for meet you(Nzò ya kima)
Tukala na mbandu
Make we plan wan meeting(Tukàla na mbàndu)
Nki nsi ya ntangu?
Wetin time go work for you?(Nki nsi ya ntángu?)
Ndi zola ku sendela nsi ya lufulu
A go send di report tiday(Ndi zòla ku sendèla nsi ya lufùlu)
Tukala na kanda se
We go fit talk tomorrow?(Tukàla na kànda sè?)
Tula nsi ya file ya kima
Abeg find di file wey attach(Tùla nsi ya file ya kima)
Mosi na nsi ya ntangu
Tenki for your time(Mòsi na nsi ya ntángu)
Ndi zola ku zola na yo
A dey look forward for work with you(Ndi zòla ku zòla na yò)
Nki o zola ku zola nki?
You fit clarify dat point?(Nki o zòla ku zòla nki?)
Ndi zola ku yindula na yo
Make I get back to you(Ndi zòla ku yìndula na yò)
Nsi ya kima yina nsi ya mposo
Di deadline na Friday(Nsi ya kima yìna nsi ya mposò)
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.