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Common Luo to Chichewa phrases

100 practical Luo to Chichewa phrases for travel, study, work, and daily conversation.

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Looking for practical Luo to Chichewa phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Luo phrase first, then the Chichewa translation (Chichewa) — 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 Chichewa.

Tip: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Chichewa-speaking trip in a few weeks.

Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Luo to Chichewa 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.

  1. Naki

    Moni (Naki)

  2. Asante

    Zikomo (Asante)

  3. Naki chuo

    M'mawa wabwino (Naki chuo)

  4. Naki ng'ato

    Masana abwino (Naki ng'ato)

  5. Naki owadgi

    Madziwabwino (Naki owadgi)

  6. Naki buya

    Usiku wabwino (Naki buya)

  7. Ting' kendo

    Tiwonana (Ting' kendo)

  8. Naki

    Tsalani bwino (Naki)

  9. Ine ng'ama in?

    Dzina lako ndi ndani? (Ine ng'ama in?)

  10. Inyalo John

    Dzina langa ndi John (Inyalo John)

  11. Okwere?

    Muli bwanji? (Okwere?)

  12. Naki konyo

    Ndikufuna kukumana nanu (Naki konyo)

Useful phrases for travellers

Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.

  1. Naki konyo English?

    Mukulankhula Chingerezi? (Mukulankhula Chingerezi?)

  2. Naki konyo Hindi mako.

    Sindikulankhula Hindi bwino (Sindikulankhula Hindi bwino)

  3. Nyingi.

    Sindikumva (Sindikumva)

  4. Tende konyo chalo.

    Chonde lukani pang'onopang'ono (Chonde lukani pang'onopang'ono)

  5. Naki konyo to?

    Mungathe kutero kwachiwiri? (Mungathe kutero kwachiwiri?)

  6. Ith gi toilet?

    Kuti ndi kuti chimbudzi? (Kuti ndi kuti chimbudzi?)

  7. Ning'eyo konyo city center?

    Ndingapite bwanji ku mseu wa mzinda? (Ndingapite bwanji ku mseu wa mzinda?)

  8. Konyo chike.

    Pangani kumanzere (Pangani kumanzere)

  9. Konyo duto.

    Pangani kumanzere (Pangani kumanzere)

  10. Yie chalo.

    Pitani mwachindunji (Pitani mwachindunji)

  11. Ning'eyo koro?

    Ndi ndalama zingati? (Ndi ndalama zingati?)

  12. Ticket moko, ndalo.

    Tiket imodzi, chonde (Tiket imodzi, chonde)

  13. Nia ng'ato kendo?

    Ndi kutali bwanji kuchokera pano? (Ndi kutali bwanji kuchokera pano?)

  14. Nin gi chalo.

    Ndakhalapo (Ndakhalapo)

  15. Ith gi SIM card?

    Ndingatengere kuti SIM card? (Ndingatengere kuti SIM card?)

Everyday conversation

Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.

  1. Ee

    Inde

  2. Ayi

    Ayi

  3. Kaka

    Mwina

  4. Akwong'

    Ndikugwirizana

  5. Ayi Akwong'

    Sindikugwirizana

  6. Ong'eyo

    Zimakoma

  7. Ine owuon?

    Mumaganiza chiyani?

  8. Naki gi chalo?

    Mungandithandize?

  9. Nind gi chalo

    Ndikufuna thandizo

  10. Chakre

    Dikirani pang'ono

  11. Naki

    Ndikupemphera

  12. Ayi koro

    Palibe vuto

  13. Naki chalo

    Zikomo

  14. Naki buo

    Tsiku lobadwa labwino

  15. Naki chalo gi chalo

    Pita bwino

Directions and getting around

Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.

  1. Naki yieng' ma train?

    Kuti ndi kuti sitima?

  2. Naki yieng' ma bus?

    Kuti ndi kuti malo otsetsereka?

  3. Naki platform ng'eyo?

    Ndi chigawo chiti?

  4. Naki koro ng'ato?

    Ndi nthawi iti imatenga?

  5. Ning'eyo ni ng'ato?

    Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera?

  6. Niko neno.

    Ili pafupi pano

  7. Niko piny.

    Ili kutali pano

  8. Okwong' ni on map?

    Kodi mungandionetse pa mapu?

  9. Dhi here, please.

    Khalani pano, chonde

  10. Naki koro ng'ato?

    Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji?

Shopping and dining

Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.

  1. Nia ni?

    Zimatenga ndalama zingati?

  2. Owino ni gi chalo.

    Izi ndizokwera mtengo kwambiri.

  3. I konyo kanyo?

    Kodi muli ndi chinthu chotsika mtengo?

  4. Inyalo nind gi kad?

    Ndingathe kulipira ndi khadi?

  5. Nin gi chula mar duong'.

    Ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri.

  6. Chakruok, plis.

    Chikonthe, chonde.

  7. Isango ni gi?

    Kodi ntchito yakhala mu mtengo?

  8. Nin gi vegeterian.

    Ndine mvegetarian.

  9. Naki chalo chalo, plis.

    Osati chakudya chotentha, chonde.

  10. Owino ni gi dho.

    Izi ndizochuluka.

  11. Inyalo nind gi menu?

    Ndingathe kupeza menyu?

  12. Gik konyo mar maji, plis.

    Galasi ya madzi, chonde.

Emergencies and health

Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.

  1. Nedhi polisi

    Fufuzani apolisi

  2. Nedhi ambulance

    Fufuzani ambulansi

  3. Aneedo daktari

    Ndikufuna dokotala

  4. Akwong' gi chalo

    Ndikumva kutopa

  5. An gi allergy kuom peanuts

    Ndine wosokoneza ndi ma nuts a phala

  6. Naki hospital mar koro?

    Kuti ndi kuti chibadwe chachikondi?

  7. Okwong' mana

    Kukonda apa

  8. Nying' my passport

    Ndapeza pasipoti yanga

  9. Inyalo nedhi hotel ang'wen?

    Mungafufuze hotelo yanga?

  10. Konyo!

    Thandizani!

Work and business

Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.

  1. Naki konyo

    Ndikuyamikira kukumana nanu (Naki konyo)

  2. Nying' konyo joma

    Tiyeni tikhazikitse meeting (Nying' konyo joma)

  3. Naki konyo nigi?

    Ndi nthawi yanji yomwe ikugwira ntchito kwa inu? (Naki konyo nigi?)

  4. Ng'ato nind gi report nyaka

    Ndzatumiza lipoti lero (Ng'ato nind gi report nyaka)

  5. Ning'eyo konyo nyaka?

    Tingathe kulankhula mawa? (Ning'eyo konyo nyaka?)

  6. Chieng' ni file ni

    Chonde pezani fayilo yowonjezedwa (Chieng' ni file ni)

  7. Asante gi chako

    Zikomo chifukwa cha nthawi yanu (Asante gi chako)

  8. Nying' konyo gi nyaka

    Ndikuyembekezera kugwira ntchito nanu (Nying' konyo gi nyaka)

  9. Ning'eyo konyo ni?

    Mungathe kuthetsa mfundo imeneyo? (Ning'eyo konyo ni?)

  10. Ning'eyo konyo nind gi

    Nditheke kubwerera kwa inu (Ning'eyo konyo nind gi)

  11. Dede ni Friday

    Nthawi yotsiriza ndi Lachisanu (Dede ni Friday)

Time, days and numbers

Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.

  1. Naki ng'ato?

    Ndi nthawi yanji? (Naki ng'ato?)

  2. Nye kendo ng'ato tati

    Ndi nthawi itatu. (Nye kendo ng'ato tati)

  3. Nia

    Lero (Nia)

  4. Nia ng'ato

    Mawa (Nia ng'ato)

  5. Nia kendo

    Ch yesterday (Nia kendo)

  6. Juma

    Lolemba (Juma)

  7. Juma mar ariyo

    Lachiwiri (Juma mar ariyo)

  8. Juma mar achiel

    Lachitatu (Juma mar achiel)

  9. Piny

    Chimodzi (Piny)

  10. Dhiang'

    Chiwiri (Dhiang')

  11. Tati

    Chitatu (Tati)

  12. Polo

    Kumi (Polo)

  13. Piny ng'ato

    Zana (Piny ng'ato)

  14. Nyang'

    Pafupifupi (Nyang')

  15. Dhi

    Zambiri (Dhi)

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