Looking for practical Kikongo to Luo phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Kikongo 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 Kikongo 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.
Mbote
Naki(Naki)
Mele
Asante(Asante)
Mokolo mayele
Naki chuo(Naki chuo)
Mokolo ya ntango
Naki ng'ato(Naki ng'ato)
Mokolo ya mambu
Naki owadgi(Naki owadgi)
Mokolo ya mpembe
Naki buya(Naki buya)
Tala mosi
Ting' kendo(Ting' kendo)
Tata
Naki(Naki)
Nki yina nzo?
Ine ng'ama in?(Ine ng'ama in?)
Nzo yami ke John
Inyalo John(Inyalo John)
Oko wanga?
Okwere?(Okwere?)
Nki ya mosi na yo
Naki konyo(Naki konyo)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Oyo o zola kutu English?
Naki konyo English?
Nkeni kutu Hindi na mosi.
Naki konyo Hindi mako.
Nkeni kanga.
Nyingi.
Mokolo, zola kutu na mosi.
Tende konyo chalo.
Oyo o zola kutu na mosi?
Naki konyo to?
Kutu wapi banzela?
Ith gi toilet?
Nki zola kuenda na kati ya mbanza?
Ning'eyo konyo city center?
Tanda na luma.
Konyo chike.
Tanda na mambu.
Konyo duto.
Enda na mosi.
Yie chalo.
Nki mbongo ya ndako?
Ning'eyo koro?
Ticket mosi, mokolo.
Ticket moko, ndalo.
Nki feti na wapi?
Nia ng'ato kendo?
Nkeni zola.
Nin gi chalo.
Kutu wapi nki zola ku tanga SIM?
Ith gi SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ewe
Ee
Te
Ayi
Kasi
Kaka
Nkiadi
Akwong'
Nkiadi te
Ayi Akwong'
Oyo ke nkiadi malamu
Ong'eyo
Nkiadi nini?
Ine owuon?
Okanza kudi nki?
Naki gi chalo?
Nkiadi kudi nki
Nind gi chalo
Lela na nki
Chakre
Nkiadi na nki
Naki
Te na nki
Ayi koro
Tata na nki
Naki chalo
Mokolo ya mbote
Naki buo
Tala na nzala ya malamu
Naki chalo gi chalo
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Wana wanga na tanga ya nzo?
Naki yieng' ma train?(Wana wanga na tanga ya nzo?)
Wana wanga na bus?
Naki yieng' ma bus?(Wana wanga na bus?)
Nki platform yai?
Naki platform ng'eyo?(Nki platform yai?)
Soki nki ntangu yina yenda?
Naki koro ng'ato?(Soki nki ntangu yina yenda?)
Yai ke nzila ya nki?
Ning'eyo ni ng'ato?(Yai ke nzila ya nki?)
Eza na nsi ya nzo
Niko neno.(Eza na nsi ya nzo)
Eza na mosi ya nzo
Niko piny.(Eza na mosi ya nzo)
Okanisa ngai na mape?
Okwong' ni on map?(Okanisa ngai na mape?)
Tanga wana, s'il vous plaît
Dhi here, please.(Tanga wana, s'il vous plaît)
Nki ntangu yina yenda?
Naki koro ng'ato?(Nki ntangu yina yenda?)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Nki yina kudi?
Nia ni?(nki yina kudi)
Yina kele na nsi
Owino ni gi chalo.(yina kele na nsi)
Ona kima ki nsi?
I konyo kanyo?(ona kima ki nsi)
Ncanza kudi na kadi?
Inyalo nind gi kad?(ncanza kudi na kadi)
Nkena na mesa ya mosi na mosi
Nin gi chula mar duong'.(nkena na mesa ya mosi na mosi)
Kadi, ndakisa
Chakruok, plis.(kadi, ndakisa)
Kasi nsi ya mpasi ke na?
Isango ni gi?(kasi nsi ya mpasi ke na)
Ndi muvegetari
Nin gi vegeterian.(ndi muvegetari)
Kaka mfu, ndakisa
Naki chalo chalo, plis.(kaka mfu, ndakisa)
Yina kele na nsi
Owino ni gi dho.(yina kele na nsi)
Ncanza na menu?
Inyalo nind gi menu?(ncanza na menu)
Ndi kadi ya mvula, ndakisa
Gik konyo mar maji, plis.(ndi kadi ya mvula, ndakisa)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Landa boma
Nedhi polisi
Landa ambulance
Nedhi ambulance
Nkeni mosi
Aneedo daktari
Nkeni na mbisi
Akwong' gi chalo
Nkeni na nsembu ya nsembu
An gi allergy kuom peanuts
Wana hospital ya mbote?
Naki hospital mar koro?
Eka na nki
Okwong' mana
Nkeni tanga pasipoti na ngai
Nying' my passport
Olanda hotel na ngai?
Inyalo nedhi hotel ang'wen?
Tala!
Konyo!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Nzo ya kima
Naki konyo(Naki konyo)
Tukala na mbandu
Nying' konyo joma(Nying' konyo joma)
Nki nsi ya ntangu?
Naki konyo nigi?(Naki konyo nigi?)
Ndi zola ku sendela nsi ya lufulu
Ng'ato nind gi report nyaka(Ng'ato nind gi report nyaka)
Tukala na kanda se
Ning'eyo konyo nyaka?(Ning'eyo konyo nyaka?)
Tula nsi ya file ya kima
Chieng' ni file ni(Chieng' ni file ni)
Mosi na nsi ya ntangu
Asante gi chako(Asante gi chako)
Ndi zola ku zola na yo
Nying' konyo gi nyaka(Nying' konyo gi nyaka)
Nki o zola ku zola nki?
Ning'eyo konyo ni?(Ning'eyo konyo ni?)
Ndi zola ku yindula na yo
Ning'eyo konyo nind gi(Ning'eyo konyo nind gi)
Nsi ya kima yina nsi ya mposo
Dede ni Friday(Dede ni Friday)
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.