Looking for practical Nuer to Luo phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Nuer phrase first, then the Luo translation (Luo) — 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 Luo.
Tip: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Luo-speaking trip in a few weeks.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Nuer to Luo 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.
Nhiar
Naki(Naki)
Nyaak
Asante(Asante)
Nhiar gɔ̈ɔ̈r
Naki chuo(Naki chuo)
Nhiar aŋɔ̈r
Naki ng'ato(Naki ng'ato)
Nhiar aŋɔ̈r
Naki owadgi(Naki owadgi)
Nhiar kɔ̈c
Naki buya(Naki buya)
Aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n
Ting' kendo(Ting' kendo)
Kɛ̈n
Naki(Naki)
Cɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n?
Ine ng'ama in?(Ine ng'ama in?)
Cɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r John
Inyalo John(Inyalo John)
Cɛ̈l kɛ̈n?
Okwere?(Okwere?)
Kɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n
Naki konyo(Naki konyo)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Nyaac ke nyin English?
Naki konyo English?
Nyaac ma nyin Hindi ke nyin.
Naki konyo Hindi mako.
Nyaac ma nyin.
Nyingi.
Yin ke nyin kɛl.
Tende konyo chalo.
Yin ke nyin kɛl a thok?
Naki konyo to?
Yin thok a kɛl?
Ith gi toilet?
Nyaac ke nyin a city center?
Ning'eyo konyo city center?
Yin ke nyin a laar.
Konyo chike.
Yin ke nyin a jɛŋ.
Konyo duto.
Yin ke nyin a thok.
Yie chalo.
Yin ke nyin a kɛl?
Ning'eyo koro?
Yin ke nyin a ticket.
Ticket moko, ndalo.
Yin ke nyin a thok?
Nia ng'ato kendo?
Nyaac ke nyin.
Nin gi chalo.
Yin thok a kɛl a SIM card?
Ith gi SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Aye
Ee
Naa
Ayi
Nyaak
Kaka
Nyeek a kech
Akwong'
Nyeek a kech naa
Ayi Akwong'
Iye kech kɛl
Ong'eyo
Nyaak a kech?
Ine owuon?
Nyaak a kech a jɔɔr?
Naki gi chalo?
Nyeek a jɔɔr kɛl
Nind gi chalo
Kɛl a jɔɔr
Chakre
Nyeek a kech
Naki
Naa a kech kɛl
Ayi koro
Aye kɛl
Naki chalo
Aye kɛl a wɛr
Naki buo
Kɛl a jɔɔr a jɛɛr
Naki chalo gi chalo
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Känyë kɛ́l wɛ́l?
Naki yieng' ma train?(Känyë kɛl wel)
Känyë kɛ́l bɔ́l?
Naki yieng' ma bus?(Känyë kɛl bol)
Kɛ́l bɛ́t kɛ́t?
Naki platform ng'eyo?(Kel bet ket)
Kɛ́l wɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́t?
Naki koro ng'ato?(Kel wel it ket)
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l wɛ́l?
Ning'eyo ni ng'ato?(Kel it kel wel)
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l kɛ́l?
Niko neno.(Kel it kel kel)
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l jɔ́l?
Niko piny.(Kel it kel jol)
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l pɛ́t kɛ́t?
Okwong' ni on map?(Kel it kel pet ket)
Kɛ́l jɛ́l kɛ́l, pɛ́l?
Dhi here, please.(Kel jel kel pel)
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l jɔ́l kɛ́t?
Naki koro ng'ato?(Kel it kel jol ket)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Nyaak cɛl?
Nia ni?(nyaak chel)
Kɛl yic kɛc
Owino ni gi chalo.(kel yich kech)
Yin kɛl nyin cɛl?
I konyo kanyo?(yin kel nyin chel)
Nyaak tɛr kɛl kɛc?
Inyalo nind gi kad?(nyaak ter kel kech)
Nyaak cɛl kɛl tɛbɛl kɛl nyin
Nin gi chula mar duong'.(nyaak chel kel tebel kel nyin)
Nyaak cɛl kɛl bɛl
Chakruok, plis.(nyaak chel kel bel)
Yin kɛl cɛl kɛl tɛr?
Isango ni gi?(yin kel chel kel ter)
Nyaak cɛl wɛr
Nin gi vegeterian.(nyaak chel wer)
Nyaak cɛl kɛl wɛr kɛc
Naki chalo chalo, plis.(nyaak chel kel wer kech)
Kɛl cɛl kɛl nyin
Owino ni gi dho.(kel chel kel nyin)
Nyaak cɛl kɛl mɛn?
Inyalo nind gi menu?(nyaak chel kel men)
Nyaak cɛl kɛl gɛl wɛt
Gik konyo mar maji, plis.(nyaak chel kel gel wet)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Cïl wïr
Nedhi polisi(cil wir)
Cïl an ambulance
Nedhi ambulance(cil an ambulance)
Aŋ thïr a doctor
Aneedo daktari(ang thir a doctor)
Aŋ kɔc
Akwong' gi chalo(ang koc)
Aŋ kɔc a pïyït
An gi allergy kuom peanuts(ang koc a piyit)
Cït kɛ̈n hospital?
Naki hospital mar koro?(cit ken hospital)
Cïk bɛ̈t
Okwong' mana(cik bet)
Aŋ kɛ̈n passport
Nying' my passport(ang ken passport)
Aŋ kɛ̈n cïl my hotel?
Inyalo nedhi hotel ang'wen?(ang ken cil my hotel)
Kɛ̈n!
Konyo!(ken)
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Nyeu ke nyin
Naki konyo(Naki konyo)
Nyeu ke jɔɔr ke nyin
Nying' konyo joma(Nying' konyo joma)
Kɛ kɛth jɔɔr a ke?
Naki konyo nigi?(Naki konyo nigi?)
Nyeu ke kɛc report kɛ jɔɔl
Ng'ato nind gi report nyaka(Ng'ato nind gi report nyaka)
Nyeu ke jɔɔr kɛ bɛt?
Ning'eyo konyo nyaka?(Ning'eyo konyo nyaka?)
Nyeu kɛ jɔɔr file kɛ kɛth
Chieng' ni file ni(Chieng' ni file ni)
Nyeu kɛ jɔɔr a ke kɛth
Asante gi chako(Asante gi chako)
Nyeu ke jɔɔr kɛ bɛt a ke
Nying' konyo gi nyaka(Nying' konyo gi nyaka)
A ke jɔɔr kɛ kɛth a?
Ning'eyo konyo ni?(Ning'eyo konyo ni?)
Nyeu ke jɔɔr kɛ a ke
Ning'eyo konyo nind gi(Ning'eyo konyo nind gi)
Kɛ deadline kɛ Friday
Dede ni Friday(Dede ni Friday)
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.