Looking for practical Tiv to Luo phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Tiv 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 Tiv 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 Tiv 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.
Mgbakpa
Naki(Naki)
Ior na
Asante(Asante)
Mgbakpa u sha
Naki chuo(Naki chuo)
Mgbakpa u kpa
Naki ng'ato(Naki ng'ato)
Mgbakpa u ter
Naki owadgi(Naki owadgi)
Mgbakpa u ter sha
Naki buya(Naki buya)
Kpa a joo
Ting' kendo(Ting' kendo)
Ior a joo
Naki(Naki)
Ior m ngu?
Ine ng'ama in?(Ine ng'ama in?)
M ngu John
Inyalo John(Inyalo John)
Ior m nande?
Okwere?(Okwere?)
Ior m nande a joo
Naki konyo(Naki konyo)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
I kpa English?
Naki konyo English?
M nahan Hindi nahan.
Naki konyo Hindi mako.
M nahan usha.
Nyingi.
M nahan usha kpa.
Tende konyo chalo.
I kpa a sha?
Naki konyo to?
I we a joo?
Ith gi toilet?
Nenge a kpa a city center?
Ning'eyo konyo city center?
Kpa a joo.
Konyo chike.
Kpa a nahan.
Konyo duto.
Kpa a sha.
Yie chalo.
Nenge a kpa a fare?
Ning'eyo koro?
I kpa a ticket, please.
Ticket moko, ndalo.
I we a nahan a nahan?
Nia ng'ato kendo?
M nahan sha.
Nin gi chalo.
I we a kpa a SIM card?
Ith gi SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ee
Ee
Naa
Ayi
Iye
Kaka
M na a kpa
Akwong'
M na a kpa nahan
Ayi Akwong'
I kpa a kpa
Ong'eyo
U kpa a nahan?
Ine owuon?
U kpa m nahan?
Naki gi chalo?
M na a kpa nahan
Nind gi chalo
Kpa a kpa
Chakre
M na a kpa
Naki
Naa a kpa
Ayi koro
I kpa a kpa
Naki chalo
A kpa a kpa
Naki buo
U kpa a kpa
Naki chalo gi chalo
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Ior a kpa?
Naki yieng' ma train?
Ior a nyam?
Naki yieng' ma bus?
Ior a gande?
Naki platform ng'eyo?
Nenge a kpa?
Naki koro ng'ato?
Ior a nenge a?
Ning'eyo ni ng'ato?
I na kpa a.
Niko neno.
I na kpa a kpa.
Niko piny.
I ma ior a gande?
Okwong' ni on map?
Kpa a, please.
Dhi here, please.
Nenge a kpa?
Naki koro ng'ato?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Ior kwagh nahan?
Nia ni?(ior kwagh nahan)
Ior u kpa a kpa
Owino ni gi chalo.(ior u kpa a kpa)
Ior m ngu u kpa?
I konyo kanyo?(ior m ngu u kpa)
Ior m gban a card?
Inyalo nind gi kad?(ior m gban a card)
A doo a table m ngu a yô
Nin gi chula mar duong'.(a doo a table m ngu a yô)
Ior a bill, please
Chakruok, plis.(ior a bill, please)
Ior a service m nahan?
Isango ni gi?(ior a service m nahan)
A m vegetarian
Nin gi vegeterian.(a m vegetarian)
A m nahan a spicy food
Naki chalo chalo, plis.(a m nahan a spicy food)
Ior a kpa
Owino ni gi dho.(ior a kpa)
Ior m gban a menu?
Inyalo nind gi menu?(ior m gban a menu)
A glass a water, please
Gik konyo mar maji, plis.(a glass a water)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Kpa a police
Nedhi polisi
Kpa a ambulance
Nedhi ambulance
M ba a doctor
Aneedo daktari
M kpa a kpa
Akwong' gi chalo
M kpa a nyam
An gi allergy kuom peanuts
I kpa a hospital mza?
Naki hospital mar koro?
I kpa a sha
Okwong' mana
M kpa a passport m
Nying' my passport
I kpa a hotel m?
Inyalo nedhi hotel ang'wen?
Kpa!
Konyo!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Ior u kpa.
Naki konyo(Naki konyo)
Ka a hia ikyô.
Nying' konyo joma(Nying' konyo joma)
Nî kpa u kpa?
Naki konyo nigi?(Naki konyo nigi?)
M gbanor u kpe.
Ng'ato nind gi report nyaka(Ng'ato nind gi report nyaka)
A hia nî u hia?
Ning'eyo konyo nyaka?(Ning'eyo konyo nyaka?)
M kpa u venge.
Chieng' ni file ni(Chieng' ni file ni)
Ior u nenge.
Asante gi chako(Asante gi chako)
M hia u kpa.
Nying' konyo gi nyaka(Nying' konyo gi nyaka)
Ior a hia u mba?
Ning'eyo konyo ni?(Ning'eyo konyo ni?)
Ka m hia u.
Ning'eyo konyo nind gi(Ning'eyo konyo nind gi)
Ikyô u kpa a 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.