Looking for practical Luo to Yoruba phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Luo phrase first, then the Yoruba translation (Yoruba) — 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 Yoruba.
Tip: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Yoruba-speaking trip in a few weeks.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Luo to Yoruba 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
Bawo(bawoh)
Asante
O seun(oh shayoon)
Naki chuo
E kaaro(eh kah-roh)
Naki ng'ato
E kaasan(eh kah-sahn)
Naki owadgi
E kuurole(eh koo-roh-leh)
Naki buya
O daaro(oh dah-roh)
Ting' kendo
A ri e laipe(ah ree eh lie-peh)
Naki
O dabọ(oh dah-boh)
Ine ng'ama in?
Kí ni orukọ rẹ?(kee nee oh-roo-koh reh)
Inyalo John
Orukọ mi ni John(oh-roo-koh mee nee John)
Okwere?
Bawo ni?(bawoh nee)
Naki konyo
Inu mi dun lati pade e(ee-noo mee doon lah-tee pah-deh eh)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Naki konyo English?
Ṣe o n sọ Gẹ́gẹ́?(Sheh oh n saw Geh-geh)
Naki konyo Hindi mako.
Mi ò sọ Hindi dáadáa(Mee oh saw Hindi dah-dah)
Nyingi.
Mi ò ye mi(Mee oh yeh mee)
Tende konyo chalo.
Jọwọ sọ ní kíkankíkan(Joh-wah saw nee keen-kay-kahn)
Naki konyo to?
Ṣe o le sọ é lẹ́ẹ̀kan síi?(Sheh oh leh saw eh leh-eh-kahn see)
Ith gi toilet?
Nibo ni baluwe wa?(Nee-boh nee bah-loo-weh wah)
Ning'eyo konyo city center?
Báwo ni mo ṣe lọ sí àárín ìlú?(Bah-woh nee moh sheh law see ah-ree-nee loo)
Konyo chike.
Yí si apa osi(Yee see ah-pah oh-shee)
Konyo duto.
Yí si apa otun(Yee see ah-pah oh-toon)
Yie chalo.
Lọ taara(Law tah-rah)
Ning'eyo koro?
Elo ni owo ọkọ?(Eh-loh nee oh-woh oh-koh)
Ticket moko, ndalo.
Ticket kan, jọwọ(Tee-ket kahn, joh-wah)
Nia ng'ato kendo?
Ṣe ó jìnà síbí?(Sheh oh jee-nah see-bee)
Nin gi chalo.
Mo ti sọnù(Moh tee sohn-oo)
Ith gi SIM card?
Nibo ni mo ti le ra kaadi SIM?(Nee-boh nee moh tee leh rah kah-dee SIM)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ee
Bẹẹni
Ayi
Rara
Kaka
Bóyá
Akwong'
Mo gba
Ayi Akwong'
Mo kọ
Ong'eyo
Iyẹn dára
Ine owuon?
Kí ni ìrònú rẹ?
Naki gi chalo?
Ṣé o lè ràn mí lọ́wọ́?
Nind gi chalo
Mo nílò ìrànlọ́wọ́
Chakre
Dákẹ́ díẹ̀
Naki
Mo bínú
Ayi koro
Kò sí ìṣòro
Naki chalo
Ẹ kú àṣeyọrí
Naki buo
Ẹ kú ọjọ́ ibi
Naki chalo gi chalo
Ṣe ìrìn àjò tó ààbò
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Naki yieng' ma train?
Nibo ni ibudo ọkọ oju-irin wa?(Nibo ni ibudo ọkọ oju-irin wa?)
Naki yieng' ma bus?
Nibo ni ibudo bosi wa?(Nibo ni ibudo bosi wa?)
Naki platform ng'eyo?
Ibo ni pẹpẹ naa?(Ibo ni pẹpẹ naa?)
Naki koro ng'ato?
Iwo wo ni o fi n lọ?(Iwo wo ni o fi n lọ?)
Ning'eyo ni ng'ato?
Ṣe eyi ni ọna to tọ?(Ṣe eyi ni ọna to tọ?)
Niko neno.
O sunmọ ibi yi
Niko piny.
O jinna si ibi yi
Okwong' ni on map?
Ṣe o le fihan mi lori maapu?(Ṣe o le fihan mi lori maapu?)
Dhi here, please.
Duro nibi, jọwọ
Naki koro ng'ato?
Bawo ni igba wo ni o gba?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Nia ni?
Elo ni eyi?(elo ni eyi)
Owino ni gi chalo.
Eyi jẹ́ gbowó púpọ̀(eyi je gbowo pupo)
I konyo kanyo?
Ṣe o ni nkan tó rọrùn?(se o ni nkan to rorun)
Inyalo nind gi kad?
Ṣe mo le sanwo pẹ̀lú kaadi?(se mo le sanwo pelu kaadi)
Nin gi chula mar duong'.
Mo fẹ́ tábìlì fún méjì(mo fe tabili fun meji)
Chakruok, plis.
Iwe isanwo, jọwọ(iwe isanwo jowo)
Isango ni gi?
Ṣe iṣẹ́ wa nínú?(se ise wa ninu)
Nin gi vegeterian.
Mo jẹ́ onjẹ ẹfọ(mo je onje efo)
Naki chalo chalo, plis.
Kò sí onjẹ tó ní ìkà, jọwọ(ko si onje to ni ika jowo)
Owino ni gi dho.
Eyi dára(eyi dara)
Inyalo nind gi menu?
Ṣe mo le ní àtòjọ onjẹ?(se mo le ni atojo onje)
Gik konyo mar maji, plis.
Gilaasi omi, jọwọ(gilaasi omi jowo)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Nedhi polisi
Pe iroyin ọlọpa(pe iroyin olopa)
Nedhi ambulance
Pe ambulance(pe ambulance)
Aneedo daktari
Mo nilo dokita(mo nilo dokita)
Akwong' gi chalo
Mo n ni irora(mo n ni irora)
An gi allergy kuom peanuts
Mo ni àkúnya sí ẹ̀fọ́(mo ni akunya si efo)
Naki hospital mar koro?
Nibo ni ile-iwosan to sunmo?(nibo ni ile-iwosan to sunmo)
Okwong' mana
O n dun nibi(o n dun nibi)
Nying' my passport
Mo padanu iwe irinna mi(mo padanu iwe irinna mi)
Inyalo nedhi hotel ang'wen?
Se o le pe hotẹẹli mi?(se o le pe hoteeli mi)
Konyo!
I ranlọwọ!(i ranlọwọ)
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Naki konyo
Inu mi dun lati pade e(Inu mi dun lati pade e)
Nying' konyo joma
Jẹ ki a ṣe ipade(Nying' konyo joma)
Naki konyo nigi?
Iwo, wo ni akoko ti o ba mu?(Naki konyo nigi?)
Ng'ato nind gi report nyaka
Mo maa fi iroyin ranṣẹ loni(Ng'ato nind gi report nyaka)
Ning'eyo konyo nyaka?
Se a le ba ara wa sọrọ ni ọla?(Ning'eyo konyo nyaka?)
Chieng' ni file ni
Jọwọ ri faili ti a so mọ́(Chieng' ni file ni)
Asante gi chako
O seun fun akoko rẹ(Asante gi chako)
Nying' konyo gi nyaka
Mo n reti lati ṣiṣẹ pẹlu rẹ(Nying' konyo gi nyaka)
Ning'eyo konyo ni?
Se o le ṣalaye aaye yẹn?(Ning'eyo konyo ni?)
Ning'eyo konyo nind gi
Jẹ ki n pada sọrọ si ọ(Ning'eyo konyo nind gi)
Dede ni Friday
Akoko ipari ni Friday(Dede ni Friday)
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.