Looking for practical Luo to Wolof phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Luo phrase first, then the Wolof translation (Wolof) — 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 Wolof.
Tip: pick five Wolof 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 Luo to Wolof 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
Nanga def(nanga def)
Asante
Jërëjëf(jerejef)
Naki chuo
Ba beneen yoon(ba beneen yoon)
Naki ng'ato
Ba pare(ba pare)
Naki owadgi
Ba suuf(ba suuf)
Naki buya
Ba ci kanam(ba ci kanam)
Ting' kendo
Naka la(naka la)
Naki
Ba beneen(ba beneen)
Ine ng'ama in?
Naka sa tur?(naka sa tur)
Inyalo John
Sa tur mooy John(sa tur mooy John)
Okwere?
Naka nga def?(naka nga def)
Naki konyo
Nuyoo na la(nuyoo na la)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Naki konyo English?
Naka la jàngi anglé?
Naki konyo Hindi mako.
Maanu jàngi Hindi bu baax.
Nyingi.
Dama xamul.
Tende konyo chalo.
S'il vous plaît, jàngi bu wéy.
Naki konyo to?
Naka la waxe ko jëkk?
Ith gi toilet?
Fàww la bathroom?
Ning'eyo konyo city center?
Naka la jëm ci centre ville?
Konyo chike.
Jàpp ci jàmm.
Konyo duto.
Jàpp ci nguur.
Yie chalo.
Jëm ci géej.
Ning'eyo koro?
Naka la mbir mi?
Ticket moko, ndalo.
Benn ticket, s'il vous plaît.
Nia ng'ato kendo?
Ndax am na loolu ci biir?
Nin gi chalo.
Dama jàpp.
Ith gi SIM card?
Fàww laa jënd SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ee
Waaw
Ayi
Déedéet
Kaka
Moom
Akwong'
Maa ngi ci kanam
Ayi Akwong'
Maa ngi ci biir
Ong'eyo
Loolu dafa am jamm
Ine owuon?
Lu tax nga?
Naki gi chalo?
Ndax nga ma jëfandikoo?
Nind gi chalo
Maa ngi bëgg jëfandikoo
Chakre
Teg a jàmm
Naki
Naka la?
Ayi koro
Dama jàmm
Naki chalo
Jamm rekk
Naki buo
Bés bu nekk yaakaar
Naki chalo gi chalo
Dama la jàmm ci yoon
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Naki yieng' ma train?
Fekk na ciy tànk?(fekk na chee tânk)
Naki yieng' ma bus?
Fekk na ciy bus?(fekk na chee boos)
Naki platform ng'eyo?
Naka platform bi?(naka platform bee)
Naki koro ng'ato?
Naka at la mu jàpp?(naka at la moo jàpp)
Ning'eyo ni ng'ato?
Ndax loolu mooy way bi?(ndax loolu mooy wee bi)
Niko neno.
Dafa jàmm ci biir(dafa jàmm chee beer)
Niko piny.
Dafa jàmm ci kaw(dafa jàmm chee kaw)
Okwong' ni on map?
Ndax nga ma jox ci carte bi?(ndax nga ma jox chee kart bee)
Dhi here, please.
Soppi ci bi, ndax jëf?(soppi chee bee, ndax jëf)
Naki koro ng'ato?
Naka waxtaan la?(naka waxtaan la)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Nia ni?
Naka la cost bi?(naka la cost bi)
Owino ni gi chalo.
Loolu am na jafe-jafe(loolu am na jafe-jafe)
I konyo kanyo?
Ndax am nga lu jàpp?(ndax am nga lu jàpp)
Inyalo nind gi kad?
Ndax mën naa jox kaar?(ndax mën naa jox kaar)
Nin gi chula mar duong'.
Maa ngi bëgg table bu jëkk(maa ngi bëgg table bu jëkk)
Chakruok, plis.
Bokk, s'il vous plaît(bokk, s'il vous plaît)
Isango ni gi?
Ndax service bi am na?(ndax service bi am na)
Nin gi vegeterian.
Maa ngi vegetarian(maa ngi vegetarian)
Naki chalo chalo, plis.
Sama jëfandikoo, s'il vous plaît(sama jëfandikoo, s'il vous plaît)
Owino ni gi dho.
Loolu am na yomb(loolu am na yomb)
Inyalo nind gi menu?
Ndax mën naa jox menu bi?(ndax mën naa jox menu bi)
Gik konyo mar maji, plis.
Bott bu ndox, s'il vous plaît(bott bu ndox, s'il vous plaît)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Nedhi polisi
Naka police bi(Naka police bee)
Nedhi ambulance
Naka ambulance bi(Naka ambulance bee)
Aneedo daktari
Mangi nekk doctor(Mangi nek doctor)
Akwong' gi chalo
Mangi xam nekk(Mangi xam nek)
An gi allergy kuom peanuts
Mangi am allergie ci karité(Mangi am allergie see karité)
Naki hospital mar koro?
Fii na hospital bu am solo?(Fii na hospital boo am solo?)
Okwong' mana
Moom na fi(Moom na fee)
Nying' my passport
Mangi jàpp passport ma(Mangi japp passport ma)
Inyalo nedhi hotel ang'wen?
Ndax nga nanga jàpp hotel ma?(Ndax nga nanga japp hotel ma?)
Konyo!
Jàmm rekk!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Naki konyo
Nuyul na ci sa bopp(Nuyul na ci sa bopp)
Nying' konyo joma
Nuyul nañu jàmm ci wàllu(Nuyul nañu jàmm ci wàllu)
Naki konyo nigi?
Naka sa waxtaan?(Naka sa waxtaan?)
Ng'ato nind gi report nyaka
Dama sendi rapòrt bi leegi(Dama sendi rapòrt bi leegi)
Ning'eyo konyo nyaka?
Nuyul nañu wax ak sañse?(Nuyul nañu wax ak sañse?)