Looking for practical Tetum to Luo phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Tetum 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 Tetum 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.
Olá
Naki(Naki)
Obrigadu
Asante(Asante)
Bondia
Naki chuo(Naki chuo)
Bona tarde
Naki ng'ato(Naki ng'ato)
Bona noite
Naki owadgi(Naki owadgi)
Bona noite
Naki buya(Naki buya)
Ami hanesan
Ting' kendo(Ting' kendo)
Adeus
Naki(Naki)
Quale naran ida?
Ine ng'ama in?(Ine ng'ama in?)
Naran hau John.
Inyalo John(Inyalo John)
Kona ba o?
Okwere?(Okwere?)
Diak ba halo ho o.
Naki konyo(Naki konyo)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Keta fala Inglês?
Naki konyo English?
Hau la fala Hindi diak.
Naki konyo Hindi mako.
Hau la hatene.
Nyingi.
Favor fala ba moris.
Tende konyo chalo.
Keta bele fala fali?
Naki konyo to?
Onde mak banheira?
Ith gi toilet?
Kona ne'ebe hau bele baa sentru cidade?
Ning'eyo konyo city center?
Virar ba hadau.
Konyo chike.
Virar ba direita.
Konyo duto.
Baa diretamente.
Yie chalo.
Iha ne'e barak?
Ning'eyo koro?
Ticket ida, favor.
Ticket moko, ndalo.
Iha ne'e laran ka?
Nia ng'ato kendo?
Hau nune'e.
Nin gi chalo.
Onde mak hau bele compra SIM card?
Ith gi SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Sim
Ee
La
Ayi
Talvez
Kaka
Hau hakarak
Akwong'
Hau la hakarak
Ayi Akwong'
Nia mak diak
Ong'eyo
Ita nian ideia sa?
Ine owuon?
Mak bele ajuda hau?
Naki gi chalo?
Hau precisa ajuda
Nind gi chalo
Hakarak momentu
Chakre
Hau mós
Naki
La problema
Ayi koro
Parabens
Naki chalo
Parabens ba aniversario
Naki buo
Hau haruka viagen diak
Naki chalo gi chalo
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Onde está a estacão de trem?
Naki yieng' ma train?(Onde está a estacão de trem?)
Onde está a paragem de autocarro?
Naki yieng' ma bus?(Onde está a paragem de autocarro?)
Iha ne'e plataforma sa'e?
Naki platform ng'eyo?(Iha ne'e plataforma sa'e?)
Hora ne'e sai?
Naki koro ng'ato?(Hora ne'e sai?)
Ema ne'e dalan certo ka?
Ning'eyo ni ng'ato?(Ema ne'e dalan certo ka?)
Iha ne'e perto
Niko neno.(Iha ne'e perto)
Iha ne'e laran
Niko piny.(Iha ne'e laran)
Kona ba mapa?
Okwong' ni on map?(Kona ba mapa?)
Parar iha ne'e, favor
Dhi here, please.(Parar iha ne'e, favor)
Kona tempu hira?
Naki koro ng'ato?(Kona tempu hira?)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Ita nia presu sa'o?
Nia ni?(ita nia presu sao?)
Esa mak baratu demais.
Owino ni gi chalo.
Ita iha coisa baratu seluk?
I konyo kanyo?
Posu ka la, hau bele paga ba kart?
Inyalo nind gi kad?
Hau hakarak mesa ba rua.
Nin gi chula mar duong'.
Fatu, por favor.
Chakruok, plis.
Servisu iha ka?
Isango ni gi?
Hau vegetarian.
Nin gi vegeterian.
Labele comida spicy, por favor.
Naki chalo chalo, plis.
Esa mak saboru.
Owino ni gi dho.
Posu ka la, hau bele hakarak menu?
Inyalo nind gi menu?
Kopa agua, por favor.
Gik konyo mar maji, plis.
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Liga ba polícia
Nedhi polisi
Liga ba ambulansia
Nedhi ambulance
Hau precisa doutor
Aneedo daktari
Hau sente sick
Akwong' gi chalo
Hau iha alergia ba karu
An gi allergy kuom peanuts
Onde iha ospitál ne'ebe mais perto?
Naki hospital mar koro?
Ita hakarak iha ne'e
Okwong' mana
Hau hasai passport
Nying' my passport
O pode liga ba hotel hau?
Inyalo nedhi hotel ang'wen?
Help!
Konyo!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Hau kontente hatoo ho ita
Naki konyo(Naki konyo)
Kita halo reunião
Nying' konyo joma(Nying' konyo joma)
Hora ne'ebe mak diak ba ita?
Naki konyo nigi?(Naki konyo nigi?)
Hau sei hatoo relatoriu ona
Ng'ato nind gi report nyaka(Ng'ato nind gi report nyaka)
Ita bele halo conversa fali?
Ning'eyo konyo nyaka?(Ning'eyo konyo nyaka?)
Favor buka arquivo ne'e iha
Chieng' ni file ni(Chieng' ni file ni)
Obrigadu ba ita-nia tempu
Asante gi chako(Asante gi chako)
Hau hakarak trabalha ho ita
Nying' konyo gi nyaka(Nying' konyo gi nyaka)
Ita bele klarifika ponto ne'e?
Ning'eyo konyo ni?(Ning'eyo konyo ni?)
Hau sei volta ba ita
Ning'eyo konyo nind gi(Ning'eyo konyo nind gi)
Prazo mak sexta-feira
Dede ni Friday(Dede ni Friday)
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.