Looking for practical Venda to Luo phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Venda 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 Venda 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 Venda 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.
Ndi matsheloni
Naki(Naki)
Ndi a livhuwa
Asante(Asante)
Ndi matsheloni
Naki chuo(Naki chuo)
Ndi masiari
Naki ng'ato(Naki ng'ato)
Ndi madekwana
Naki owadgi(Naki owadgi)
Ndi masiari a u fhela
Naki buya(Naki buya)
Tshilidzi
Ting' kendo(Ting' kendo)
Vhuyani
Naki(Naki)
Ndi mini dzina lenu?
Ine ng'ama in?(Ine ng'ama in?)
Dzina langa ndi John
Inyalo John(Inyalo John)
Ni khou itea?
Okwere?(Okwere?)
Ndi khou funa u vhuya na inwi
Naki konyo(Naki konyo)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Ni a ṱhota ṅwambo?
Naki konyo English?(ni a thota n'wambo)
A ndi ṱhoti Hindi zwavhudi
Naki konyo Hindi mako.(a ndi thoti Hindi zwavhudi)
A ndi ḓivhi
Nyingi.(a ndi dhiwi)
Ndi ṱhanyela u ṱhota nga ṱhoho
Tende konyo chalo.(ndi thanyela u thota nga thoho)
Ndi a ṱanga zwenezwi?
Naki konyo to?(ndi a thanga zwenezwi)
Bani hu na khotani?
Ith gi toilet?(bani hu na khotani)
Ndi ya hani u ya tsini na muṱa?
Ning'eyo konyo city center?(ndi ya hani u ya tsini na mutha)
Fhulu u ya shango
Konyo chike.(fhulu u ya shango)
Fhulu u ya ṱhoho
Konyo duto.(fhulu u ya thoho)
Ḓi ṱhota nga ṱhoho
Yie chalo.(dhi thota nga thoho)
Fhasi i na hani?
Ning'eyo koro?(fhasi i na hani)
Ticket ye ḽa, nd please
Ticket moko, ndalo.(ticket ye la, nd please)
I na fhasi u bva hone?
Nia ng'ato kendo?(i na fhasi u bva hone)
Ndi a fhedza
Nin gi chalo.(ndi a fhedza)
Ndi nga wana SIM card phi?
Ith gi SIM card?(ndi nga wana SIM card phi)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ee
Ee
Aih
Ayi
Ndi nga si
Kaka
Ndi a livhuwa
Akwong'
Ndi a sa livhuwi
Ayi Akwong'
Izwi zwine zwa ita zwavhuya
Ong'eyo
U vhona mini?
Ine owuon?
U nga nthusa?
Naki gi chalo?
Ndi na nyito
Nind gi chalo
Langa muthu
Chakre
Ndi a humbula
Naki
A hu na nḓila
Ayi koro
Ndi a livhuwa
Naki chalo
Ndi a ni ṱhonifha
Naki buo
Ndi a ni ṱhonifha na u shuma
Naki chalo gi chalo
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Uphi i-station ye-train?
Naki yieng' ma train?
Uphi i-bus stop?
Naki yieng' ma bus?
I-platform efani na?
Naki platform ng'eyo?
Iri ngafhi?
Naki koro ng'ato?
Iyi ndi ndowei efani?
Ning'eyo ni ng'ato?
Iri khathihi na.
Niko neno.
Iri khulwane na.
Niko piny.
U nga nanga u tshi khou vhona kha maphu?
Okwong' ni on map?
Dzhia fhedzi, ndi khou livhuwa.
Dhi here, please.
Zwi tshi dzhia ngafhi?
Naki koro ng'ato?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Zwi khou itea ngani?
Nia ni?
Izwi ndi zwihulu.
Owino ni gi chalo.
Ni na zwine zwa itea nga nṱha?
I konyo kanyo?
Ndi nga fhira nga khadi?
Inyalo nind gi kad?
Ndi khou ṱoḓa tafela ya vhuṱanzi.
Nin gi chula mar duong'.
Ndi ṱhoḓa muthu, ndapota.
Chakruok, plis.
Ndi na tshelete ya vhuṱanzi?
Isango ni gi?
Ndi muvegetarian.
Nin gi vegeterian.
A si na food ya vhuṱhiri, ndapota.
Naki chalo chalo, plis.
Izi ndi zwitukwama.
Owino ni gi dho.
Ndi nga ṱoḓa menu?
Inyalo nind gi menu?
Ndi ṱhoḓa glasi ya mvura, ndapota.
Gik konyo mar maji, plis.
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Fhonelela mapolisa
Nedhi polisi
Fhonelela ambulanse
Nedhi ambulance
Ndi funa ngaka
Aneedo daktari
Ndi a shota
Akwong' gi chalo
Ndi na u shota kha phiri
An gi allergy kuom peanuts
Ndi wani hoso ya vhuṱungu?
Naki hospital mar koro?
Zwi a vha na mulalo hone
Okwong' mana
Ndi fhedza pasipoti yangu
Nying' my passport
U nga fhonelela hotele yangu?
Inyalo nedhi hotel ang'wen?
Ramba!
Konyo!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Ndi khou livhuwa u vhulunga
Naki konyo(Naki konyo)
A ri vhe na thendo
Nying' konyo joma(Nying' konyo joma)
Ndi ngani ini u shuma na yone?
Naki konyo nigi?(Naki konyo nigi?)
Ndi do ruma ripoti ndayani
Ng'ato nind gi report nyaka(Ng'ato nind gi report nyaka)
A ri nga bvela phanda nga ndayo?
Ning'eyo konyo nyaka?(Ning'eyo konyo nyaka?)
Ndi khou humbela u wana faele yo thomulwaho
Chieng' ni file ni(Chieng' ni file ni)
Ndi a livhuwa nga ha u ralo
Asante gi chako(Asante gi chako)
Ndi khou takalela u shuma na inwi
Nying' konyo gi nyaka(Nying' konyo gi nyaka)
A ni nga sumbedza nḓila iṅwe?
Ning'eyo konyo ni?(Ning'eyo konyo ni?)
Ndi do bva u ya u inwi
Ning'eyo konyo nind gi(Ning'eyo konyo nind gi)
Nḓila i khou fhela nga ṋaṅwe
Dede ni Friday(Dede ni Friday)
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.