Looking for practical Luganda to Luo phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Luganda 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 Luganda 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.
Oli otya?
Naki(Naki)
Webale
Asante(Asante)
Osiibye otya?
Naki chuo(Naki chuo)
Osiibye bulungi?
Naki ng'ato(Naki ng'ato)
Osiibye otya?
Naki owadgi(Naki owadgi)
Lwaki olugendo?
Naki buya(Naki buya)
Tugenda kutya?
Ting' kendo(Ting' kendo)
Nkwagala
Naki(Naki)
Erinnya lyo ani?
Ine ng'ama in?(Ine ng'ama in?)
Erinnya lyange nze John
Inyalo John(Inyalo John)
Oli otya?
Okwere?(Okwere?)
Nkwagala okukulaba
Naki konyo(Naki konyo)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Okwogera mu Lungereza?
Naki konyo English?
Sikozesa Hindi bulungi.
Naki konyo Hindi mako.
Sijja kumanya.
Nyingi.
Nnyonnyola bulungi.
Tende konyo chalo.
Osobola okwogera buno buno?
Naki konyo to?
Ekitanda kiki?
Ith gi toilet?
Nteekateeka owa city center?
Ning'eyo konyo city center?
Genda ku kkono.
Konyo chike.
Genda ku mwoyo.
Konyo duto.
Genda mu maaso.
Yie chalo.
Ekitundu kiki?
Ning'eyo koro?
Ticket emu, please.
Ticket moko, ndalo.
Kiki kirekera wano?
Nia ng'ato kendo?
Ndi mu bubi.
Nin gi chalo.
Nneeyisa SIM card wano?
Ith gi SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ye
Ee
Nedda
Ayi
Okwagala
Kaka
Nnaakuwandiika
Akwong'
Sikuwandiika
Ayi Akwong'
Kyo kyekirungi
Ong'eyo
Otekayo ki?
Ine owuon?
Osobola okundabira?
Naki gi chalo?
Nfuna obuyambi
Nind gi chalo
Saba omukutu
Chakre
Nsaba
Naki
Tewali kibadde
Ayi koro
Okwagaliza
Naki chalo
Okwagaliza ku lunaku lw'okuzaala
Naki buo
Genda bulungi
Naki chalo gi chalo
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Ekitangaala ky'ekitanda?
Naki yieng' ma train?(ekitangaala ky'ekitanda)
Ekitangaala ky'ekitanda?
Naki yieng' ma bus?(ekitangaala ky'ekitanda)
Ekitangaala ki?
Naki platform ng'eyo?(ekitangaala ki)
Bwe ki ssaawa esigala?
Naki koro ng'ato?(bwe ki ssaawa esigala)
Okwetegeka kwe?
Ning'eyo ni ng'ato?(okwetegeka kwe)
Kiri wano wansi
Niko neno.(kiri wano wansi)
Kiri mangu
Niko piny.(kiri mangu)
Osobola okundabira ku kaddde?
Okwong' ni on map?(osobola okundabira ku kaddde)
Ggenda wano, please
Dhi here, please.(ggenda wano, please)
Tewali bungi ki?
Naki koro ng'ato?(tewali bungi ki)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Kiki ky'ekitundu?
Nia ni?(Kiki ky'ekitundu?)
Ekitundu kyo kireetese.
Owino ni gi chalo.
Oli n'ekikadde ekirala?
I konyo kanyo?
Nneetaaga okwefuga ku kadi?
Inyalo nind gi kad?
Nneetaaga akatale ka abantu babiri.
Nin gi chula mar duong'.
Ekitabo, please.
Chakruok, plis.
Okwetegereza kukyusiddwa?
Isango ni gi?
Nze ndi omukazi wa mboga.
Nin gi vegeterian.
Tewali emmere eya kinyama, please.
Naki chalo chalo, plis.
Ono mulungi.
Owino ni gi dho.
Nneetaaga menu?
Inyalo nind gi menu?
Ekikopo ky'amata, please.
Gik konyo mar maji, plis.
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Mpozzi polisi
Nedhi polisi
Mpozzi ambulance
Nedhi ambulance
Nfuna daktari
Aneedo daktari
Ndi mu mbeera mbi
Akwong' gi chalo
Ndi mu bbeera ya nfuzi
An gi allergy kuom peanuts
Okwetegereza hospital ey'ekyama?
Naki hospital mar koro?
Bikozesa wano
Okwong' mana
Nfuuse passport yange
Nying' my passport
Osobola okumpa mpozzi hotel yange?
Inyalo nedhi hotel ang'wen?
Mbadde!
Konyo!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Nkwagala okubaako
Naki konyo(Naki konyo)
Tugende mu nteekateeka
Nying' konyo joma(Nying' konyo joma)
Okwesiga ki?
Naki konyo nigi?(Naki konyo nigi?)
Nja kutandika okutuusa ebiragiro leero
Ng'ato nind gi report nyaka(Ng'ato nind gi report nyaka)
Tusobola okubaako oluvannyuma?
Ning'eyo konyo nyaka?(Ning'eyo konyo nyaka?)
Nsaba osanga fayiro eyakwatiddwa
Chieng' ni file ni(Chieng' ni file ni)
Webale ku ssaawa yo
Asante gi chako(Asante gi chako)
Ntegedde okubaako na ggwe
Nying' konyo gi nyaka(Nying' konyo gi nyaka)
Osobola okuddamu ekifaananyi?
Ning'eyo konyo ni?(Ning'eyo konyo ni?)
Nja kukuwandiikira
Ning'eyo konyo nind gi(Ning'eyo konyo nind gi)
Ekitundu ky’okusaba kiki ku Lwokutaano
Dede ni Friday(Dede ni Friday)
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.