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Common Luo to Shona phrases

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

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

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

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

    Mhoro (Naki)

  2. Asante

    Ndatenda (Asante)

  3. Naki chuo

    Mangwanani akanaka (Naki chuo)

  4. Naki ng'ato

    Masikati akanaka (Naki ng'ato)

  5. Naki owadgi

    Manheru akanaka (Naki owadgi)

  6. Naki buya

    Usiku hwakanaka (Naki buya)

  7. Ting' kendo

    Tichasangana gare gare (Ting' kendo)

  8. Naki

    Sara zvakanaka (Naki)

  9. Ine ng'ama in?

    Zita rako ndiani? (Ine ng'ama in?)

  10. Inyalo John

    Zita rangu ndiri John (Inyalo John)

  11. Okwere?

    Uri sei? (Okwere?)

  12. Naki konyo

    Ndinofara kukuziva (Naki konyo)

Useful phrases for travellers

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

  1. Naki konyo English?

    Unotaura Chirungu here? (unotaura chirungu here)

  2. Naki konyo Hindi mako.

    Handitauri Hindi zvakanaka (handitauri hindi zvakanaka)

  3. Nyingi.

    Handinzwisisi (handinzwisisi)

  4. Tende konyo chalo.

    Ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma (ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma)

  5. Naki konyo to?

    Ungazvitaura zvakare here? (ungazvitaura zvakare here)

  6. Ith gi toilet?

    Chimbuzi chiripi? (chimbuzi chiripi)

  7. Ning'eyo konyo city center?

    Ndingasvika sei kumusoro kwemaguta? (ndingasvika sei kumusoro kwemaguta)

  8. Konyo chike.

    Tendeuka kuruboshwe (tendeuka kuruboshwe)

  9. Konyo duto.

    Tendeuka kurudyi (tendeuka kurudyi)

  10. Yie chalo.

    Enda mberi (enda mberi)

  11. Ning'eyo koro?

    Mari yechikwereti ingani? (mari yechikwereti ingani)

  12. Ticket moko, ndalo.

    Tikiti imwe, ndapota (tikiti imwe, ndapota)

  13. Nia ng'ato kendo?

    Iko kure here kubva pano? (iko kure here kubva pano)

  14. Nin gi chalo.

    Ndakakanganiswa (ndakakanganiswa)

  15. Ith gi SIM card?

    Ndingatenga kupi kadhi reSIM? (ndingatenga kupi kadhi reSIM)

Everyday conversation

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

  1. Ee

    Ehe

  2. Ayi

    Kwete

  3. Kaka

    Pangove

  4. Akwong'

    Ndinobvumirana

  5. Ayi Akwong'

    Handibvumirane

  6. Ong'eyo

    Izvozvo zvinonzwika zvakanaka

  7. Ine owuon?

    Unofungei?

  8. Naki gi chalo?

    Unogona kundibatsira here?

  9. Nind gi chalo

    Ndiri kuda rubatsiro

  10. Chakre

    Mirira kwechinguva

  11. Naki

    Ndine urombo

  12. Ayi koro

    Hapana chakaipa

  13. Naki chalo

    Makorokoto

  14. Naki buo

    Makorokoto ezuva rekuzvarwa

  15. Naki chalo gi chalo

    Iva nerwendo rwakanaka

Directions and getting around

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

  1. Naki yieng' ma train?

    Kupi kune chiteshi chechitima? (Kupi kune chiteshi chechitima?)

  2. Naki yieng' ma bus?

    Kupi kune chiteshi chebhazi? (Kupi kune chiteshi chebhazi?)

  3. Naki platform ng'eyo?

    Ndeipi puratifomu? (Ndeipi puratifomu?)

  4. Naki koro ng'ato?

    Inobva nenguva ipi? (Inobva nenguva ipi?)

  5. Ning'eyo ni ng'ato?

    Iyi ndiyo nzira chaiyo here? (Iyi ndiyo nzira chaiyo here?)

  6. Niko neno.

    Iri pedyo pano (Iri pedyo pano)

  7. Niko piny.

    Iri kure nepano (Iri kure nepano)

  8. Okwong' ni on map?

    Unogona kundiratidza pamepu here? (Unogona kundiratidza pamepu here?)

  9. Dhi here, please.

    Mira pano, ndapota (Mira pano, ndapota)

  10. Naki koro ng'ato?

    Zvinotora nguva yakareba sei? (Zvinotora nguva yakareba sei?)

Shopping and dining

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

  1. Nia ni?

    Zvinodhura here? (Zvinodhura here?)

  2. Owino ni gi chalo.

    Izvozvo zvinodhura kwazvo

  3. I konyo kanyo?

    Une chimwe chinhu chiri pamutengo wakaderera here?

  4. Inyalo nind gi kad?

    Ndingabhadhara nekadhi here?

  5. Nin gi chula mar duong'.

    Ndingada tafura yevaviri

  6. Chakruok, plis.

    Chikwereti, ndapota

  7. Isango ni gi?

    Sevhisi iri mukati here?

  8. Nin gi vegeterian.

    Ndiri muvegetarian

  9. Naki chalo chalo, plis.

    Hapana chikafu chinopisa, ndapota

  10. Owino ni gi dho.

    Izvi zvinonaka

  11. Inyalo nind gi menu?

    Ndingawana menyu here?

  12. Gik konyo mar maji, plis.

    Girazi remvura, ndapota

Emergencies and health

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

  1. Nedhi polisi

    Fonera mapurisa

  2. Nedhi ambulance

    Fonera amburensi

  3. Aneedo daktari

    Ndiri kuda chiremba

  4. Akwong' gi chalo

    Ndiri kunzwa kusuruvara

  5. An gi allergy kuom peanuts

    Ndine allergic kumapundu

  6. Naki hospital mar koro?

    Chii chiri pedyo nechipatara?

  7. Okwong' mana

    Zvinorwadza pano

  8. Nying' my passport

    Ndakakanganwa pasipoti yangu

  9. Inyalo nedhi hotel ang'wen?

    Unogona here kufonera hotera yangu?

  10. Konyo!

    Rubatsiro!

Work and business

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

  1. Naki konyo

    Ndinofara kukusangana (Naki konyo)

  2. Nying' konyo joma

    Ngatirongei musangano (Nying' konyo joma)

  3. Naki konyo nigi?

    Ndeipi nguva inokodzera kwauri? (Naki konyo nigi?)

  4. Ng'ato nind gi report nyaka

    Ndichatumira chirevo nhasi (Ng'ato nind gi report nyaka)

  5. Ning'eyo konyo nyaka?

    Tingataure mangwana here? (Ning'eyo konyo nyaka?)

  6. Chieng' ni file ni

    Ndapota tarisai faira rakabatanidzwa (Chieng' ni file ni)

  7. Asante gi chako

    Ndatenda nenguva yako (Asante gi chako)

  8. Nying' konyo gi nyaka

    Ndiri kutarisira kushanda newe (Nying' konyo gi nyaka)

  9. Ning'eyo konyo ni?

    Ungajekesei iyo pfungwa? (Ning'eyo konyo ni?)

  10. Ning'eyo konyo nind gi

    Ndichadzoka kwauri (Ning'eyo konyo nind gi)

  11. Dede ni Friday

    Nguva yekupedzisira iChishanu (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?

    Ndeipi nguva? (N-dei-pi n-guh-wah?)

  2. Nye kendo ng'ato tati

    Iri pa3 (Ee-ree pah-tatu)

  3. Nia

    Nhasi (N-ha-see)

  4. Nia ng'ato

    Mangwana (Mahn-gwah-nah)

  5. Nia kendo

    Zuro (Zoo-roh)

  6. Juma

    Muvhuro (Moo-vhoo-roh)

  7. Juma mar ariyo

    Chipiri (Chee-pee-ree)

  8. Juma mar achiel

    Chitatu (Chee-tah-too)

  9. Piny

    Imwe (Ee-mweh)

  10. Dhiang'

    Piri (Pee-ree)

  11. Tati

    Tatu (Tah-too)

  12. Polo

    Gumi (Goo-mee)

  13. Piny ng'ato

    Zana (Zah-nah)

  14. Nyang'

    Hafu (Hah-foo)

  15. Dhi

    Zvimwe (Zvee-mweh)

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