Looking for practical Lingala to Luo phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Lingala 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: pick five Luo 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 Lingala 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)
Melesi
Asante(Asante)
Mbote na ntango ya mokolo
Naki chuo(Naki chuo)
Mbote na ntango ya midi
Naki ng'ato(Naki ng'ato)
Mbote na ntango ya soir
Naki owadgi(Naki owadgi)
Malamu na butu
Naki buya(Naki buya)
Tala yo nsima
Ting' kendo(Ting' kendo)
Kende malamu
Naki(Naki)
Nkombo na yo nani?
Ine ng'ama in?(Ine ng'ama in?)
Nkombo na ngai ezali John
Inyalo John(Inyalo John)
Ozalaki malamu?
Okwere?(Okwere?)
Nayoki malamu na yo
Naki konyo(Naki konyo)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Ozali koloba lingala?
Naki konyo English?(ozali koloba lingala)
Nasalaka hindi malamu te
Naki konyo Hindi mako.(nasalaka hindi malamu te)
Nalingi te
Nyingi.(nalingi te)
S'il vous plaît, koloba butu
Tende konyo chalo.(koloba butu)
Okoki koloba yango lisusu?
Naki konyo to?(okoki koloba yango lisusu)
Bato ya nzoto ezali wapi?
Ith gi toilet?(bato ya nzoto)
Nakanisi ndenge nini nakokende na centre?
Ning'eyo konyo city center?(nakokende na centre)
Tika na mobali
Konyo chike.(tika na mobali)
Tika na mwasi
Konyo duto.(tika na mwasi)
Kende na ntango
Yie chalo.(kende na ntango)
Mbala nini ezali?
Ning'eyo koro?(mbala nini)
Billet moko, s'il vous plaît
Ticket moko, ndalo.(billet moko)
Ezali na esika ya mbali?
Nia ng'ato kendo?(ezali na esika ya mbali)
Nazali na esika ya mabe
Nin gi chalo.(nazali na esika ya mabe)
Nakanisi wapi nakokota SIM card?
Ith gi SIM card?(nakokota SIM card)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Oyo
Ee
Te
Ayi
Soki
Kaka
Nalingi
Akwong'
Nalingi te
Ayi Akwong'
Eza malamu
Ong'eyo
Oyo olingi nini?
Ine owuon?
Okoki kosalisa ngai?
Naki gi chalo?
Naza na bosenga ya kosalisa
Nind gi chalo
Sunga moke
Chakre
Nasalaki mabe
Naki
Nani azali na problème
Ayi koro
Mokolo malamu
Naki chalo
Mokolo ya mbotama malamu
Naki buo
Zala na nzela ya malamu
Naki chalo gi chalo
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Eko zali wapi?
Naki yieng' ma train?(Eko zali wapi?)
Eko zali wapi na bis?
Naki yieng' ma bus?
Eko zali na esika nini?
Naki platform ng'eyo?
Ekozanga na ntango nini?
Naki koro ng'ato?
Oyo ezali nzela ya malamu?
Ning'eyo ni ng'ato?
Ezali pene awa.
Niko neno.
Ezali mbali awa.
Niko piny.
Okoki kolakisa ngai na kati ya mape?
Okwong' ni on map?
Tika awa, s'il vous plaît.
Dhi here, please.
Ekozala ntango nini?
Naki koro ng'ato?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Mbongo ya yango eza nini?
Nia ni?
Yango eza mabe na mbongo.
Owino ni gi chalo.
Ozali na makambo mosusu ya mbongo moke?
I konyo kanyo?
Nalingi kobonga na carte?
Inyalo nind gi kad?
Nalingi meka mpo na mibale.
Nin gi chula mar duong'.
Liyangani, s'il vous plaît.
Chakruok, plis.
Service eza na kati?
Isango ni gi?
Nazali mvegetarian.
Nin gi vegeterian.
Bokoya biloko ya mabe, s'il vous plaît.
Naki chalo chalo, plis.
Yango ezali malamu.
Owino ni gi dho.
Nalingi menu, s'il vous plaît.
Inyalo nind gi menu?
Leki ya mayi, s'il vous plaît.
Gik konyo mar maji, plis.
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Tindá polisi
Nedhi polisi
Tindá ambulance
Nedhi ambulance
Nalingi médecin
Aneedo daktari
Nazali na maladi
Akwong' gi chalo
Nazali na allergie na mbala
An gi allergy kuom peanuts
Hospital ya liboso ezali wapi?
Naki hospital mar koro?
Ezalaka na nse awa
Okwong' mana
Nazwi passport na ngai
Nying' my passport
Okoki kotinda hôtel na ngai?
Inyalo nedhi hotel ang'wen?
S.O.S!
Konyo!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Nasepeli na yo
Naki konyo(Naki konyo)
Tika tozala na mitema
Nying' konyo joma(Nying' konyo joma)
Ngai nalobi ntango nini ekozala malamu na yo?
Naki konyo nigi?(Naki konyo nigi?)
Naboya raport lelo
Ng'ato nind gi report nyaka(Ng'ato nind gi report nyaka)
Tango tozali na mposo?
Ning'eyo konyo nyaka?(Ning'eyo konyo nyaka?)
S'il vous plaît, tala fichier oyo ezali na nzela
Chieng' ni file ni(Chieng' ni file ni)
Mersi mpo na ntango na yo
Asante gi chako(Asante gi chako)
Nasalela yo na mosala
Nying' konyo gi nyaka(Nying' konyo gi nyaka)
Okoki kosala likambo yango malamu?
Ning'eyo konyo ni?(Ning'eyo konyo ni?)
Napesi yo nzela
Ning'eyo konyo nind gi(Ning'eyo konyo nind gi)
Mokolo ya kokanga ezali Vendredi
Dede ni Friday(Dede ni Friday)
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.