Looking for practical Shona to Luo phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Shona 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 Shona 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 Shona 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.
Mhoro
Naki(Naki)
Ndatenda
Asante(Asante)
Mangwanani akanaka
Naki chuo(Naki chuo)
Masikati akanaka
Naki ng'ato(Naki ng'ato)
Manheru akanaka
Naki owadgi(Naki owadgi)
Usiku hwakanaka
Naki buya(Naki buya)
Tichasangana gare gare
Ting' kendo(Ting' kendo)
Sara zvakanaka
Naki(Naki)
Zita rako ndiani?
Ine ng'ama in?(Ine ng'ama in?)
Zita rangu ndiri John
Inyalo John(Inyalo John)
Uri sei?
Okwere?(Okwere?)
Ndinofara kukuziva
Naki konyo(Naki konyo)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Unotaura Chirungu here?
Naki konyo English?(unotaura chirungu here)
Handitauri Hindi zvakanaka
Naki konyo Hindi mako.(handitauri hindi zvakanaka)
Handinzwisisi
Nyingi.(handinzwisisi)
Ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma
Tende konyo chalo.(ndokumbirawo utaure zvishoma)
Ungazvitaura zvakare here?
Naki konyo to?(ungazvitaura zvakare here)
Chimbuzi chiripi?
Ith gi toilet?(chimbuzi chiripi)
Ndingasvika sei kumusoro kwemaguta?
Ning'eyo konyo city center?(ndingasvika sei kumusoro kwemaguta)
Tendeuka kuruboshwe
Konyo chike.(tendeuka kuruboshwe)
Tendeuka kurudyi
Konyo duto.(tendeuka kurudyi)
Enda mberi
Yie chalo.(enda mberi)
Mari yechikwereti ingani?
Ning'eyo koro?(mari yechikwereti ingani)
Tikiti imwe, ndapota
Ticket moko, ndalo.(tikiti imwe, ndapota)
Iko kure here kubva pano?
Nia ng'ato kendo?(iko kure here kubva pano)
Ndakakanganiswa
Nin gi chalo.(ndakakanganiswa)
Ndingatenga kupi kadhi reSIM?
Ith gi SIM card?(ndingatenga kupi kadhi reSIM)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ehe
Ee
Kwete
Ayi
Pangove
Kaka
Ndinobvumirana
Akwong'
Handibvumirane
Ayi Akwong'
Izvozvo zvinonzwika zvakanaka
Ong'eyo
Unofungei?
Ine owuon?
Unogona kundibatsira here?
Naki gi chalo?
Ndiri kuda rubatsiro
Nind gi chalo
Mirira kwechinguva
Chakre
Ndine urombo
Naki
Hapana chakaipa
Ayi koro
Makorokoto
Naki chalo
Makorokoto ezuva rekuzvarwa
Naki buo
Iva nerwendo rwakanaka
Naki chalo gi chalo
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Kupi kune chiteshi chechitima?
Naki yieng' ma train?(Kupi kune chiteshi chechitima?)
Kupi kune chiteshi chebhazi?
Naki yieng' ma bus?(Kupi kune chiteshi chebhazi?)
Ndeipi puratifomu?
Naki platform ng'eyo?(Ndeipi puratifomu?)
Inobva nenguva ipi?
Naki koro ng'ato?(Inobva nenguva ipi?)
Iyi ndiyo nzira chaiyo here?
Ning'eyo ni ng'ato?(Iyi ndiyo nzira chaiyo here?)
Iri pedyo pano
Niko neno.(Iri pedyo pano)
Iri kure nepano
Niko piny.(Iri kure nepano)
Unogona kundiratidza pamepu here?
Okwong' ni on map?(Unogona kundiratidza pamepu here?)
Mira pano, ndapota
Dhi here, please.(Mira pano, ndapota)
Zvinotora nguva yakareba sei?
Naki koro ng'ato?(Zvinotora nguva yakareba sei?)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Zvinodhura here?
Nia ni?(Zvinodhura here?)
Izvozvo zvinodhura kwazvo
Owino ni gi chalo.
Une chimwe chinhu chiri pamutengo wakaderera here?
I konyo kanyo?
Ndingabhadhara nekadhi here?
Inyalo nind gi kad?
Ndingada tafura yevaviri
Nin gi chula mar duong'.
Chikwereti, ndapota
Chakruok, plis.
Sevhisi iri mukati here?
Isango ni gi?
Ndiri muvegetarian
Nin gi vegeterian.
Hapana chikafu chinopisa, ndapota
Naki chalo chalo, plis.
Izvi zvinonaka
Owino ni gi dho.
Ndingawana menyu here?
Inyalo nind gi menu?
Girazi remvura, ndapota
Gik konyo mar maji, plis.
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Fonera mapurisa
Nedhi polisi
Fonera amburensi
Nedhi ambulance
Ndiri kuda chiremba
Aneedo daktari
Ndiri kunzwa kusuruvara
Akwong' gi chalo
Ndine allergic kumapundu
An gi allergy kuom peanuts
Chii chiri pedyo nechipatara?
Naki hospital mar koro?
Zvinorwadza pano
Okwong' mana
Ndakakanganwa pasipoti yangu
Nying' my passport
Unogona here kufonera hotera yangu?
Inyalo nedhi hotel ang'wen?
Rubatsiro!
Konyo!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Ndinofara kukusangana
Naki konyo(Naki konyo)
Ngatirongei musangano
Nying' konyo joma(Nying' konyo joma)
Ndeipi nguva inokodzera kwauri?
Naki konyo nigi?(Naki konyo nigi?)
Ndichatumira chirevo nhasi
Ng'ato nind gi report nyaka(Ng'ato nind gi report nyaka)
Tingataure mangwana here?
Ning'eyo konyo nyaka?(Ning'eyo konyo nyaka?)
Ndapota tarisai faira rakabatanidzwa
Chieng' ni file ni(Chieng' ni file ni)
Ndatenda nenguva yako
Asante gi chako(Asante gi chako)
Ndiri kutarisira kushanda newe
Nying' konyo gi nyaka(Nying' konyo gi nyaka)
Ungajekesei iyo pfungwa?
Ning'eyo konyo ni?(Ning'eyo konyo ni?)
Ndichadzoka kwauri
Ning'eyo konyo nind gi(Ning'eyo konyo nind gi)
Nguva yekupedzisira iChishanu
Dede ni Friday(Dede ni Friday)
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.