Looking for practical Tsonga to Luo phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Tsonga 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: pick five Luo phrases from the greetings section and use them in a real message today. Small daily practice beats cramming before a trip.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Tsonga 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.
Xewani
Naki(Naki)
Ndza khensa
Asante(Asante)
Xewani xitulu
Naki chuo(Naki chuo)
Xewani ntlhanu
Naki ng'ato(Naki ng'ato)
Xewani nhloko
Naki owadgi(Naki owadgi)
Xewani xihlayo
Naki buya(Naki buya)
Tshamisa
Ting' kendo(Ting' kendo)
Sala kahle
Naki(Naki)
U vitaniwani?
Ine ng'ama in?(Ine ng'ama in?)
Ndzina i John
Inyalo John(Inyalo John)
U njhani?
Okwere?(Okwere?)
Ku rhandza ku hlangana na wena
Naki konyo(Naki konyo)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
U vulavula Xitsonga?
Naki konyo English?
A ndzi vulavula Hindi kahle.
Naki konyo Hindi mako.
A ndzi twisisi.
Nyingi.
Ndza kombela u vulavula hi ku hatlisa.
Tende konyo chalo.
U nga vula sweswo na ku tlhela?
Naki konyo to?
Xikombiso xihi?
Ith gi toilet?
Ndza famba njhani ku ya etikweni?
Ning'eyo konyo city center?
Khandziya ekhaya.
Konyo chike.
Khandziya ekunene.
Konyo duto.
Famba u ya emahlweni.
Yie chalo.
Mafambiselo ma yini?
Ning'eyo koro?
Nhlamulo imwe, ndza kombela.
Ticket moko, ndalo.
I yini ku tlula kona?
Nia ng'ato kendo?
Ndzi khomiwe.
Nin gi chalo.
Xina ndzi nga teka SIM card?
Ith gi SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Inhlawulo
Ee
A hi kona
Ayi
Swi nga va tano
Kaka
Ndzi amukela
Akwong'
Ndzi nga amukeli
Ayi Akwong'
Iku na switlhavelo
Ong'eyo
U ehleketa yini?
Ine owuon?
U nga ndzi pfuna?
Naki gi chalo?
Ndzi lava mpfuno
Nind gi chalo
Hlayisa nkarhi
Chakre
Ndzi tsundzuka
Naki
A hi na xiphiqo
Ayi koro
Ndzakuva
Naki chalo
Mavongele yo tsakela
Naki buo
U va na ndlela yo olova
Naki chalo gi chalo
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Ku wihi xitlhavelo xa mabhazi?
Naki yieng' ma train?
Ku wihi xitlhavelo xa mabhazi?
Naki yieng' ma bus?
I platform yihi?
Naki platform ng'eyo?
I nkarhi muni yi hamba?
Naki koro ng'ato?
I ndlela leyi nga right?
Ning'eyo ni ng'ato?
I kona edzongeni.
Niko neno.
I le n'hweti.
Niko piny.
U nga ndzi kombisa eka mappu?
Okwong' ni on map?
Tshika lapha, ndza kombela.
Dhi here, please.
I nkarhi muni ku taka?
Naki koro ng'ato?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
I ku humelela njhani?
Nia ni?(i ku humelela njhani?)
I kona ku phindzelela.
Owino ni gi chalo.
U na na yini leyi endlaka ku phindzelela?
I konyo kanyo?
Ndzaku ta hlayisa hi khadi?
Inyalo nind gi kad?
Ndza rhandza tafula ya vumbirhi.
Nin gi chula mar duong'.
Ndzaku ya le mfunghwini.
Chakruok, plis.
I ku kumiwa ka ntirho?
Isango ni gi?
Ndza va vegetarian.
Nin gi vegeterian.
A hi na swakudya leswi khumbaka.
Naki chalo chalo, plis.
Leswi i switlhavi.
Owino ni gi dho.
Ndzaku na menu?
Inyalo nind gi menu?
Ndzaku ya vhuvhu.
Gik konyo mar maji, plis.
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Tivisa mapolisa
Nedhi polisi
Tivisa ambalansi
Nedhi ambulance
Ndzi lava dokotela
Aneedo daktari
Ndzi khoma ku vava
Akwong' gi chalo
Ndza va na ku vava hi mapfuri
An gi allergy kuom peanuts
Hospital leyi nga ekule i wihi?
Naki hospital mar koro?
Ku vava laha
Okwong' mana
Ndzi lahlekeriwe hi passport ya mina
Nying' my passport
U nga tivisa hotel ya mina?
Inyalo nedhi hotel ang'wen?
Shelp!
Konyo!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Ku tsakela ku hlangana na wena
Naki konyo(Naki konyo)
A hi endla xihlanganiso
Nying' konyo joma(Nying' konyo joma)
Ntiyiso wo sungula ku tirha na wena?
Naki konyo nigi?(Naki konyo nigi?)
Ndzi ta rhumela xitlhavelo namuntlha
Ng'ato nind gi report nyaka(Ng'ato nind gi report nyaka)
Kambe hi nga vulavula sweswi?
Ning'eyo konyo nyaka?(Ning'eyo konyo nyaka?)
Ndza kombela u kuma faayela ku hlanganisiwa
Chieng' ni file ni(Chieng' ni file ni)
Ndza nkhensa hi nkarhi wa wena
Asante gi chako(Asante gi chako)
Ndza langutela ku tirha na wena
Nying' konyo gi nyaka(Nying' konyo gi nyaka)
U nga ku hlamusela xiphemu lexi?
Ning'eyo konyo ni?(Ning'eyo konyo ni?)
A ndzi ta vuya eka wena
Ning'eyo konyo nind gi(Ning'eyo konyo nind gi)
Nkarhi wo heta i 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.