Looking for practical Santali (Ol Chiki) to Luo phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Santali (Ol Chiki) 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: when a Luo phrase looks unfamiliar, compare it with the Santali (Ol Chiki) 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 Santali (Ol Chiki) 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.
ᱨᱤᱡᱤᱭ
Naki(Naki)
ᱟᱹᱦᱚᱜᱟ
Asante(Asante)
ᱟᱦᱟᱹᱭ ᱵᱟᱨᱚ
Naki chuo(Naki chuo)
ᱟᱦᱟᱹᱭ ᱟᱯᱟᱭ
Naki ng'ato(Naki ng'ato)
ᱟᱦᱟᱹᱭ ᱟᱢᱟᱭ
Naki owadgi(Naki owadgi)
ᱟᱦᱟᱹᱭ ᱟᱢᱟᱭ ᱟᱹᱱᱟ
Naki buya(Naki buya)
ᱟᱹᱦᱟᱹᱭ ᱟᱹᱱᱟ
Ting' kendo(Ting' kendo)
ᱟᱹᱦᱟᱹᱭ ᱟᱹᱱᱟ
Naki(Naki)
ᱟᱹᱦᱟᱹᱭ ᱟᱹᱱᱟ ᱟᱹᱲᱟ?
Ine ng'ama in?(Ine ng'ama in?)
ᱟᱹᱱᱟ ᱟᱹᱲᱟ ᱟᱹᱱᱟ ᱟᱹᱲᱟ
Inyalo John(Inyalo John)
ᱟᱹᱦᱟᱹᱭ ᱟᱹᱱᱟ?
Okwere?(Okwere?)
ᱟᱹᱦᱟᱹᱭ ᱡᱚᱱᱟ
Naki konyo(Naki konyo)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Tuhun English bolang?
Naki konyo English?(tuhun English bolang)
Maan Hindi bhal nahi bolang
Naki konyo Hindi mako.(maan Hindi bhal nahi bolang)
Maan samjha nahi
Nyingi.(maan samjha nahi)
Dohar dhire bolang
Tende konyo chalo.(dohar dhire bolang)
Tuhun ohu bar bar bolang?
Naki konyo to?(tuhun ohu bar bar bolang)
Ghar gela kaha?
Ith gi toilet?(ghar gela kaha)
Maan nagar kendraka katha jabo?
Ning'eyo konyo city center?(maan nagar kendraka katha jabo)
Bamra gela
Konyo chike.(bamra gela)
Dahra gela
Konyo duto.(dahra gela)
Sidha jabo
Yie chalo.(sidha jabo)
Kota kharch?
Ning'eyo koro?(kota kharch)
Ek ticket, dohar
Ticket moko, ndalo.(ek ticket, dohar)
Ika duraka?
Nia ng'ato kendo?(ika duraka)
Maan khoya gelam
Nin gi chalo.(maan khoya gelam)
Maan SIM card kahan kinabo?
Ith gi SIM card?(maan SIM card kahan kinabo)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
ᱟᱹᱨᱟᱹ
Ee
ᱟᱹᱨᱟ
Ayi
ᱟᱹᱨᱟ ᱟᱹᱨᱟᱹᱨ
Kaka
ᱟᱹᱨᱟ ᱟᱹᱨᱟᱹᱨ ᱟᱹᱨᱟ
Akwong'
ᱟᱹᱨᱟ ᱟᱹᱨᱟᱹᱨ ᱟᱹᱨᱟ ᱟᱹᱨᱟᱹᱨ
Ayi Akwong'
ᱟᱹᱨᱟ ᱟᱹᱨᱟᱹᱨ ᱟᱹᱨᱟ ᱟᱹᱨᱟᱹᱨ
Ong'eyo
ᱟᱹᱨᱟ ᱟᱹᱨᱟᱹᱨ ᱟᱹᱨᱟ ᱟᱹᱨᱟᱹᱨ?
Ine owuon?
ᱟᱹᱨᱟ ᱟᱹᱨᱟᱹᱨ ᱟᱹᱨᱟᱹᱨ ᱟᱹᱨᱟ?
Naki gi chalo?
ᱟᱹᱨᱟ ᱟᱹᱨᱟᱹᱨ ᱟᱹᱨᱟ
Nind gi chalo
ᱟᱹᱨᱟ ᱟᱹᱨᱟᱹᱨ ᱟᱹᱨᱟ
Chakre
ᱟᱹᱨᱟ ᱟᱹᱨᱟᱹᱨ ᱟᱹᱨᱟ
Naki
ᱟᱹᱨᱟ ᱟᱹᱨᱟᱹᱨ ᱟᱹᱨᱟ
Ayi koro
ᱟᱹᱨᱟ ᱟᱹᱨᱟᱹᱨ ᱟᱹᱨᱟ
Naki chalo
ᱟᱹᱨᱟ ᱟᱹᱨᱟᱹᱨ ᱟᱹᱨᱟ
Naki buo
ᱟᱹᱨᱟ ᱟᱹᱨᱟᱹᱨ ᱟᱹᱨᱟ
Naki chalo gi chalo
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
ᱟᱨᱩᱞ ᱟᱨᱩᱛᱤ ᱟᱹᱨᱩᱞᱤ?
Naki yieng' ma train?(aruḷ aruṭi arulī?)
ᱟᱨᱩᱞ ᱟᱨᱩᱛᱤ ᱵᱚᱥ ᱟᱹᱨᱩᱞᱤ?
Naki yieng' ma bus?(aruḷ aruṭi bos arulī?)
ᱟᱨᱩᱞ ᱟᱨᱩᱛᱤ ᱡᱤᱡᱤ?
Naki platform ng'eyo?(aruḷ aruṭi jiji?)
ᱟᱨᱩᱞ ᱟᱨᱩᱛᱤ ᱟᱹᱨᱩᱞ ᱟᱹᱨᱩᱞ ᱥᱤᱡᱤ?
Naki koro ng'ato?(aruḷ aruṭi aruḷ arul siḱi?)
ᱟᱨᱩᱞ ᱟᱨᱩᱛᱤ ᱡᱩᱭᱤ ᱟᱹᱨᱩᱞ?
Ning'eyo ni ng'ato?(aruḷ aruṭi cuyi arul?)
ᱟᱨᱩᱞ ᱟᱹᱨᱩᱞ ᱟᱹᱨᱩᱞ ᱟᱹᱨᱩᱞ.
Niko neno.(aruḷ arul arul arul.)
ᱟᱨᱩᱞ ᱟᱹᱨᱩᱞ ᱟᱹᱨᱩᱞ ᱥᱟᱦᱤ.
Niko piny.(aruḷ arul arul sahi.)
ᱟᱨᱩᱞ ᱟᱨᱩᱛᱤ ᱢᱟᱯ ᱟᱹᱨᱩᱞ ᱟᱹᱨᱩᱞ?
Okwong' ni on map?(aruḷ aruṭi map arul arul?)
ᱟᱨᱩᱞ ᱟᱹᱨᱩᱞ ᱟᱹᱨᱩᱞ, ᱵᱟᱹᱨᱤ.
Dhi here, please.(aruḷ arul arul, bari.)
ᱟᱨᱩᱞ ᱟᱨᱩᱛᱤ ᱟᱹᱨᱩᱞ ᱟᱹᱨᱩᱞ ᱟᱹᱨᱩᱞ?
Naki koro ng'ato?(aruḷ aruṭi arul arul arul?)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Ika menak kothi?
Nia ni?(ika menak kothi)
Ika aji badi kothi
Owino ni gi chalo.(ika aji badi kothi)
Ika menak kothi nena?
I konyo kanyo?(ika menak kothi nena)
Ika card re pay kora?
Inyalo nind gi kad?(ika card re pay kora)
Ika do jona table chahi
Nin gi chula mar duong'.(ika do jona table chahi)
Bill, please
Chakruok, plis.(Bill, please)
Service aji sarak?
Isango ni gi?(Service aji sarak)
Ika vegetarian ahe
Nin gi vegeterian.(ika vegetarian ahe)
Aji masala khana nahi, please
Naki chalo chalo, plis.(aji masala khana nahi)
Ika badi ahe
Owino ni gi dho.(ika badi ahe)
Ika menu chahi?
Inyalo nind gi menu?(ika menu chahi)
Ek glass pani, please
Gik konyo mar maji, plis.(ek glass pani)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Polis re bāhāra
Nedhi polisi
Ambulance re bāhāra
Nedhi ambulance
Ainḍa doctor re chāhi
Aneedo daktari
Ainḍa bāhāra
Akwong' gi chalo
Ainḍa moḍa bāhāra
An gi allergy kuom peanuts
Nekā hospital kothā?
Naki hospital mar koro?
Iṭa hāṭa
Okwong' mana
Ainḍa passport hāṭā
Nying' my passport
Tūṅ hotel re bāhāra?
Inyalo nedhi hotel ang'wen?
Sāhāy!
Konyo!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
ᱚᱞ ᱟᱹᱜᱟᱜ ᱟᱹᱜᱟᱜᱟ
Naki konyo(Naki konyo)
ᱛᱮᱱᱟ ᱟᱹᱜᱟᱜ ᱟᱹᱜᱟᱜᱟ
Nying' konyo joma(Nying' konyo joma)
ᱟᱹᱜᱟ ᱥᱟᱹᱜᱟ ᱟᱹᱜᱟᱜᱟ?
Naki konyo nigi?(Naki konyo nigi?)
ᱟᱹᱜᱟ ᱟᱹᱜᱟᱜᱟ ᱟᱹᱜᱟᱜᱟ
Ng'ato nind gi report nyaka(Ng'ato nind gi report nyaka)
ᱟᱹᱜᱟ ᱟᱹᱜᱟᱜᱟ ᱠᱟᱹᱜᱟ?
Ning'eyo konyo nyaka?(Ning'eyo konyo nyaka?)
ᱟᱹᱜᱟ ᱟᱹᱜᱟᱜᱟ ᱟᱹᱜᱟᱜᱟ
Chieng' ni file ni(Chieng' ni file ni)
ᱟᱹᱜᱟ ᱟᱹᱜᱟᱜᱟ ᱟᱹᱜᱟᱜᱟ
Asante gi chako(Asante gi chako)
ᱟᱹᱜᱟ ᱟᱹᱜᱟᱜᱟ ᱟᱹᱜᱟᱜᱟ
Nying' konyo gi nyaka(Nying' konyo gi nyaka)
ᱟᱹᱜᱟ ᱟᱹᱜᱟᱜᱟ ᱠᱟᱹᱜᱟ?
Ning'eyo konyo ni?(Ning'eyo konyo ni?)
ᱛᱮᱱᱟ ᱟᱹᱜᱟᱜᱟ ᱟᱹᱜᱟᱜᱟ
Ning'eyo konyo nind gi(Ning'eyo konyo nind gi)
ᱟᱹᱜᱟ ᱟᱹᱜᱟᱜᱟ ᱟᱹᱜᱟᱜᱟ
Dede ni Friday(Dede ni Friday)
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.