Looking for practical Luo to Kanuri phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Luo phrase first, then the Kanuri translation (Kanuri) — 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 Kanuri.
Tip: when a Kanuri phrase looks unfamiliar, compare it with the Luo wording — noticing word order differences helps you understand grammar naturally.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Luo to Kanuri 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.
Naki
Sannu(Naki)
Asante
Nagode(Asante)
Naki chuo
Ina kwana(Naki chuo)
Naki ng'ato
Ina yamma(Naki ng'ato)
Naki owadgi
Ina dare(Naki owadgi)
Naki buya
Sai da safe(Naki buya)
Ting' kendo
Zan ganka(Ting' kendo)
Naki
Sai anjima(Naki)
Ine ng'ama in?
Menene sunanka?(Ine ng'ama in?)
Inyalo John
Sunana John(Inyalo John)
Okwere?
Lafiya lau?(Okwere?)
Naki konyo
Na ji dadin haduwa da kai(Naki konyo)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Naki konyo English?
Kuna magana da Turanci?
Naki konyo Hindi mako.
Ba na magana da Hindi sosai.
Nyingi.
Ba na fahimta.
Tende konyo chalo.
Don Allah, ku yi magana a hankali.
Naki konyo to?
Za ku iya faɗin hakan sake?
Ith gi toilet?
Ina wanka?
Ning'eyo konyo city center?
Ta yaya zan isa tsakiyar birni?
Konyo chike.
Juya hagu.
Konyo duto.
Juya dama.
Yie chalo.
Tafiya kai tsaye.
Ning'eyo koro?
Nawa ne farashin?
Ticket moko, ndalo.
Tiket ɗaya, don Allah.
Nia ng'ato kendo?
Shin yana da nisa daga nan?
Nin gi chalo.
Na ɓace.
Ith gi SIM card?
Ina zan iya sayen kati na SIM?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ee
Eey(ee-y)
Ayi
A'a(ah-ah)
Kaka
Wata(wah-tah)
Akwong'
Na amu(nah ah-moo)
Ayi Akwong'
Na a'a amu(nah ah-ah ah-moo)
Ong'eyo
Iya na(ee-yah nah)
Ine owuon?
Kaya ka yi tunani?(kah-yah kah yee too-nah-nee)
Naki gi chalo?
Za ka iya taimaka min?(zah kah ee-yah tie-mah-kah meen)
Nind gi chalo
Na bukaci taimako(nah boo-kah-chee tie-mah-koh)
Chakre
Duba dan lokaci(doo-bah dahn loh-kah-chee)
Naki
Na yi hakuri(nah yee hah-koo-ree)
Ayi koro
Babu matsala(bah-boo maht-sah-lah)
Naki chalo
Taya murna(tah-yah moor-nah)
Naki buo
Barka da haihuwa(bar-kah dah hai-hoo-wah)
Naki chalo gi chalo
Ka yi tafiya lafiya(kah yee tah-fee-yah lah-fee-yah)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Naki yieng' ma train?
Nye boko na gari?
Naki yieng' ma bus?
Nye boko na bas?
Naki platform ng'eyo?
Wane boko na?
Naki koro ng'ato?
Wane lokaci ya tafi?
Ning'eyo ni ng'ato?
Shin wannan hanya ce?
Niko neno.
Yana kusa da nan
Niko piny.
Yana nesa da nan
Okwong' ni on map?
Za ka iya nuna mini a taswirar?
Dhi here, please.
Tsaida nan, don Allah
Naki koro ng'ato?
Yaya tsawon lokaci?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Nia ni?
Nayi na kudi?(Nayi na kudi?)
Owino ni gi chalo.
Wannan ya yi tsada sosai.
I konyo kanyo?
Shin kuna da wani abu mai rahusa?
Inyalo nind gi kad?
Zan iya biyan kudi da kati?
Nin gi chula mar duong'.
Ina so tebur don biyu.
Chakruok, plis.
Lissafi, don Allah.
Isango ni gi?
Shin sabis ya haɗa?
Nin gi vegeterian.
Ni mai ganyayyaki ne.
Naki chalo chalo, plis.
Ba tare da zaki ba, don Allah.
Owino ni gi dho.
Wannan yana da dadi.
Inyalo nind gi menu?
Zan iya samun menu?
Gik konyo mar maji, plis.
Kofin ruwa, don Allah.
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Nedhi polisi
Dawari janga(Dawari janga)
Nedhi ambulance
Dawari ambulan(Dawari ambulan)
Aneedo daktari
Ni na doctor(Ni na doctor)
Akwong' gi chalo
Ni na jaga(Ni na jaga)
An gi allergy kuom peanuts
Ni na haji goro(Ni na haji goro)
Naki hospital mar koro?
Ina asibiti na kusa?(Ina asibiti na kusa?)
Okwong' mana
Yana ciwo a nan(Yana ciwo a nan)
Nying' my passport
Ni na rasa passport na(Ni na rasa passport na)
Inyalo nedhi hotel ang'wen?
Za ka iya dawari otel na?(Za ka iya dawari otel na?)
Konyo!
Taimako!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Naki konyo
Nde gaishe(nde gaishe)
Nying' konyo joma
Mu gaishe taro(mu gaishe taro)
Naki konyo nigi?
Wai gaishe lokaci?(wai gaishe lokaci)
Ng'ato nind gi report nyaka
Zan tura rahoto yau(zan tura rahoto yau)
Ning'eyo konyo nyaka?
Zamu iya magana gobe?(zamu iya magana gobe)
Chieng' ni file ni
Don Allah ka sami fayil din da aka makala(don Allah ka sami fayil din da aka makala)
Asante gi chako
Na gode da lokacinka(na gode da lokacinka)
Nying' konyo gi nyaka
Ina fatan aiki tare da kai(ina fatan aiki tare da kai)
Ning'eyo konyo ni?
Za ka iya fayyace wannan batu?(za ka iya fayyace wannan batu)