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Common Tumbuka to Luo phrases

100 practical Tumbuka to Luo phrases for travel, study, work, and daily conversation.

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Looking for practical Tumbuka to Luo phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Tumbuka 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 Tumbuka 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.

  1. Moni

    Naki (Naki)

  2. Zikomo

    Asante (Asante)

  3. Muli bwanji

    Naki chuo (Naki chuo)

  4. Muli bwanji

    Naki ng'ato (Naki ng'ato)

  5. Muli bwanji

    Naki owadgi (Naki owadgi)

  6. Usiku wabwino

    Naki buya (Naki buya)

  7. Tiwonana

    Ting' kendo (Ting' kendo)

  8. Tsalani bwino

    Naki (Naki)

  9. Dzina lanu ndi ndani?

    Ine ng'ama in? (Ine ng'ama in?)

  10. Dzina langa ndi John

    Inyalo John (Inyalo John)

  11. Muli bwanji?

    Okwere? (Okwere?)

  12. Ndine wokondwa kukumana nanu

    Naki konyo (Naki konyo)

Useful phrases for travellers

Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.

  1. Muli ndi Chingerezi?

    Naki konyo English? (muli ndi chingerezi)

  2. Sikuyankhula Hindi bwino

    Naki konyo Hindi mako. (sikuyankhula hindi bwino)

  3. Sindikumva

    Nyingi. (sindikumva)

  4. Chonde yankhulani pang'ono

    Tende konyo chalo. (chonde yankhulani pang'ono)

  5. Mungandiyankhulepo?

    Naki konyo to? (mungandiyankhulepo)

  6. Kuti ndi kuti?

    Ith gi toilet? (kuti ndi kuti)

  7. Ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu?

    Ning'eyo konyo city center? (ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu)

  8. Pita kumanzere

    Konyo chike. (pita kumanzere)

  9. Pita kumanja

    Konyo duto. (pita kumanja)

  10. Pita mwendo

    Yie chalo. (pita mwendo)

  11. Ndi ndalama zingati?

    Ning'eyo koro? (ndi ndalama zingati)

  12. Tiketi imodzi, chonde

    Ticket moko, ndalo. (tiketi imodzi, chonde)

  13. Ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano?

    Nia ng'ato kendo? (ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano)

  14. Ndakhalapo

    Nin gi chalo. (ndakhalapo)

  15. Ndingatengere kuti kuti SIM card?

    Ith gi SIM card? (ndingatengere kuti kuti sim card)

Everyday conversation

Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.

  1. Iye

    Ee

  2. Ayi

    Ayi

  3. Pang'ono

    Kaka

  4. Ndikugwirizana

    Akwong'

  5. Sindikugwirizana

    Ayi Akwong'

  6. Ichi chimaoneka bwino

    Ong'eyo

  7. Muli ndi chiyani choti mumaganize?

    Ine owuon?

  8. Mungandithandize?

    Naki gi chalo?

  9. Ndikufuna thandizo

    Nind gi chalo

  10. Dikirani pang’ono

    Chakre

  11. Ndikupemphera

    Naki

  12. Palibe vutoli

    Ayi koro

  13. Zikomo

    Naki chalo

  14. Tsiku lobadwa labwino

    Naki buo

  15. Pita bwino pa ulendo

    Naki chalo gi chalo

Directions and getting around

Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.

  1. Kukakhala kuti chiteshi cha njinga?

    Naki yieng' ma train?

  2. Kukakhala kuti malo otchinga basi?

    Naki yieng' ma bus?

  3. Ndi chigawo chiti?

    Naki platform ng'eyo?

  4. Nanga nthawi itangopita?

    Naki koro ng'ato?

  5. Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera?

    Ning'eyo ni ng'ato?

  6. Iyi ndi pafupi apa

    Niko neno.

  7. Iyi ndi kutali ndi apa

    Niko piny.

  8. Mungandionetse pa chithunzi?

    Okwong' ni on map?

  9. Chimitsa apa, chonde

    Dhi here, please.

  10. Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji?

    Naki koro ng'ato?

Shopping and dining

Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.

  1. Iyi ikuguliradi chingwe?

    Nia ni? (iyi ikuguliradi chingwe)

  2. Iyi ndi mtengo wopusa

    Owino ni gi chalo. (iyi ndi mtengo wopusa)

  3. Muli ndi chinthu chochepa mtengo?

    I konyo kanyo? (muli ndi chinthu chochepa mtengo)

  4. Ningathe kulipira ndi khadi?

    Inyalo nind gi kad? (ningathe kulipira ndi khadi)

  5. Ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri

    Nin gi chula mar duong'. (ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri)

  6. Chikalata, chonde

    Chakruok, plis. (chikalata, chonde)

  7. Ntchito ikuphatikizidwa?

    Isango ni gi? (ntchito ikuphatikizidwa)

  8. Ndine wopanda nyama

    Nin gi vegeterian. (ndine wopanda nyama)

  9. Chonde, osati chakudya chothira

    Naki chalo chalo, plis. (chonde, osati chakudya chothira)

  10. Iyi ndi yokoma

    Owino ni gi dho. (iyi ndi yokoma)

  11. Ningathe kupeza menyu?

    Inyalo nind gi menu? (ningathe kupeza menyu)

  12. Galasi ya madzi, chonde

    Gik konyo mar maji, plis. (galasi ya madzi, chonde)

Emergencies and health

Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.

  1. Fufuzani polisi

    Nedhi polisi

  2. Fufuzani ambulansi

    Nedhi ambulance

  3. Ndikufuna dokotala

    Aneedo daktari

  4. Ndikuwona bwino

    Akwong' gi chalo

  5. Ndine wosowa ma groundnuts

    An gi allergy kuom peanuts

  6. Kuti ndi chiyani chachikondi?

    Naki hospital mar koro?

  7. Kuli kuuma apa

    Okwong' mana

  8. Ndasowa pasipoti yangu

    Nying' my passport

  9. Mungafufuze hotelo yanga?

    Inyalo nedhi hotel ang'wen?

  10. Thandizani!

    Konyo!

Work and business

Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.

  1. Ndalumba kukumana nanu

    Naki konyo (Naki konyo)

  2. Tiyeni tiwoneke pa nthawi

    Nying' konyo joma (Nying' konyo joma)

  3. Nthawi yiti ikukugwirirani ntchito?

    Naki konyo nigi? (Naki konyo nigi?)

  4. Ndidzatumiza lipoti lero

    Ng'ato nind gi report nyaka (Ng'ato nind gi report nyaka)

  5. Tingathe kulankhula mawa?

    Ning'eyo konyo nyaka? (Ning'eyo konyo nyaka?)

  6. Chonde onani fayilo yolembedwa

    Chieng' ni file ni (Chieng' ni file ni)

  7. Zikomo chifukwa cha nthawi yanu

    Asante gi chako (Asante gi chako)

  8. Ndikuyembekezera kugwira ntchito nanu

    Nying' konyo gi nyaka (Nying' konyo gi nyaka)

  9. Mungathe kuthetsa mfundo imeneyi?

    Ning'eyo konyo ni? (Ning'eyo konyo ni?)

  10. Nditenge nthawi ndikubwerereni

    Ning'eyo konyo nind gi (Ning'eyo konyo nind gi)

  11. Nthawi yomaliza ndi Lachisanu

    Dede ni Friday (Dede ni Friday)

Time, days and numbers

Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.

  1. Ndi chiyani nthawi?

    Naki ng'ato? (Naki ng'ato?)

  2. Ndi saa tatu

    Nye kendo ng'ato tati (Nye kendo ng'ato tati)

  3. Lero

    Nia (Nia)

  4. Maŵa

    Nia ng'ato (Nia ng'ato)

  5. Kale

    Nia kendo (Nia kendo)

  6. Lolemba

    Juma (Juma)

  7. Lachiwiri

    Juma mar ariyo (Juma mar ariyo)

  8. Lachitatu

    Juma mar achiel (Juma mar achiel)

  9. Mmodzi

    Piny (Piny)

  10. Awiri

    Dhiang' (Dhiang')

  11. Atatu

    Tati (Tati)

  12. Kumi

    Polo (Polo)

  13. Zana

    Piny ng'ato (Piny ng'ato)

  14. Pachikhalidwe

    Nyang' (Nyang')

  15. Zambiri

    Dhi (Dhi)

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