Looking for practical Somali to Luo phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Somali 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 Somali 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.
Salaan
Naki(Naki)
Mahadsanid
Asante(Asante)
Subax wanaagsan
Naki chuo(Naki chuo)
Duhur wanaagsan
Naki ng'ato(Naki ng'ato)
Habeen wanaagsan
Naki owadgi(Naki owadgi)
Habeen wanaagsan
Naki buya(Naki buya)
Ilaa dambe
Ting' kendo(Ting' kendo)
Nabad gelyo
Naki(Naki)
Magacaa maxay tahay?
Ine ng'ama in?(Ine ng'ama in?)
Magacaygu waa John
Inyalo John(Inyalo John)
Sidee tahay?
Okwere?(Okwere?)
Aad ayaan ugu faraxsanahay in aan ku arko
Naki konyo(Naki konyo)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Ma ku hadashaa Ingiriisi?
Naki konyo English?(Ma ku hadashaa Ingiriisi?)
Hindi si fiican uma hadlo
Naki konyo Hindi mako.
Ma fahmin
Nyingi.
Fadlan si tartiib ah u hadal
Tende konyo chalo.
Ma ku celin kartaa?
Naki konyo to?
Musqusha xaggee buu yaalaa?
Ith gi toilet?
Sideen ku gaari karaa xarunta magaalada?
Ning'eyo konyo city center?
Bidix u leexo
Konyo chike.
Midig u leexo
Konyo duto.
Toos u soco
Yie chalo.
Immisa ayey tahay lacagta?
Ning'eyo koro?
Hal tigidh, fadlan
Ticket moko, ndalo.
Ma fog tahay halkan?
Nia ng'ato kendo?
Waan lumay
Nin gi chalo.
Xaggee ka iibsan karaa kaarka SIM?
Ith gi SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Haa
Ee
Maya
Ayi
Malaha
Kaka
Waan ku raacsanahay
Akwong'
Waan ku raacsaneyn
Ayi Akwong'
Taasi waa wax fiican
Ong'eyo
Maxaad u malaynaysaa?
Ine owuon?
Ma i caawin kartaa?
Naki gi chalo?
Waxaan u baahanahay caawimaad
Nind gi chalo
Sug daqiiqad
Chakre
Waan ka xumahay
Naki
Dhib malahan
Ayi koro
Hambalyo
Naki chalo
Dhalasho wacan
Naki buo
Safar wanaagsan
Naki chalo gi chalo
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Xagee buu tareenka jooga?
Naki yieng' ma train?
Xagee buu basaska jooga?
Naki yieng' ma bus?
Keenka sidee buu yahay?
Naki platform ng'eyo?
Goormee ayuu baxayaa?
Naki koro ng'ato?
Ma tan saxda ah?
Ning'eyo ni ng'ato?
Waa halkan u dhow
Niko neno.
Waa halkan fog
Niko piny.
Ma ii muujin kartaa khariidada?
Okwong' ni on map?
Halkan joog, fadlan
Dhi here, please.
Immisa waqti ayey qaadaneysaa?
Naki koro ng'ato?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Imisa ayuu ku kacayaa?
Nia ni?
Taasi waa qaali aad u badan.
Owino ni gi chalo.
Ma haysta wax ka jaban?
I konyo kanyo?
Ma bixin karaa kaarka?
Inyalo nind gi kad?
Waxaan jeclaan lahaa miis laba qof ah.
Nin gi chula mar duong'.
Fadlan, biilka.
Chakruok, plis.
Ma ku jirtaa adeegga?
Isango ni gi?
Anigu waxaan ahay khudradeed.
Nin gi vegeterian.
Fadlan, cunto aan xawaash lahayn.
Naki chalo chalo, plis.
Tani waa macaan.
Owino ni gi dho.
Ma heli karaa menu?
Inyalo nind gi menu?
Fadlan, koob biyo ah.
Gik konyo mar maji, plis.
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Wac booliiska
Nedhi polisi
Wac ambalaas
Nedhi ambulance
Waxaan u baahanahay dhakhtar
Aneedo daktari
Waxaan dareemayaa xanuun
Akwong' gi chalo
Waxaan leeyahay xasaasiyad lowska
An gi allergy kuom peanuts
Isbitaalka ugu dhow xagee buu yaalaa?
Naki hospital mar koro?
Halkaan ayaa i xanuunaya
Okwong' mana
Dukumeentigayga safarka ayaan lumiyay
Nying' my passport
Ma wici kartaa hoteelkeyga?
Inyalo nedhi hotel ang'wen?
Caawimaad!
Konyo!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Aad baan ugu faraxsanahay in aan ku arko
Naki konyo(Naki konyo)
Aan qorshayno kulan
Nying' konyo joma(Nying' konyo joma)
Waa maxay waqtiga ku habboon adiga?
Naki konyo nigi?(Naki konyo nigi?)
Waxaan maanta soo diri doonaa warbixinta
Ng'ato nind gi report nyaka(Ng'ato nind gi report nyaka)
Ma ka hadli karnaa berri?
Ning'eyo konyo nyaka?(Ning'eyo konyo nyaka?)
Fadlan eeg faylka ku lifaaqan
Chieng' ni file ni(Chieng' ni file ni)
Waad ku mahadsan tahay waqtigaaga
Asante gi chako(Asante gi chako)
Waxaan rajeynayaa in aan kula shaqeeyo
Nying' konyo gi nyaka(Nying' konyo gi nyaka)
Ma faahfaahin kartaa dhibicdaas?
Ning'eyo konyo ni?(Ning'eyo konyo ni?)
Aan ku soo laabto
Ning'eyo konyo nind gi(Ning'eyo konyo nind gi)
Waqtiga kama dambaysta ah waa Jimcaha
Dede ni Friday(Dede ni Friday)
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.