Looking for practical Xhosa to Luo phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Xhosa 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 Xhosa 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 Xhosa 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.
Molo
Naki(Naki)
Enkosi
Asante(Asante)
Ubusuku obuhle
Naki chuo(Naki chuo)
Ubusuku obuhle
Naki ng'ato(Naki ng'ato)
Ubusuku obuhle
Naki owadgi(Naki owadgi)
Lala ngoxolo
Naki buya(Naki buya)
Ndiza kubonana kamva
Ting' kendo(Ting' kendo)
Hamba kakuhle
Naki(Naki)
Ngubani igama lakho?
Ine ng'ama in?(Ine ng'ama in?)
Igama lam nguJohn
Inyalo John(Inyalo John)
Unjani?
Okwere?(Okwere?)
Kuhle ukukwazi
Naki konyo(Naki konyo)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Uthetha isiNgesi?
Naki konyo English?
Andithethi isiHindi kakuhle
Naki konyo Hindi mako.
Andiqondi
Nyingi.
Nceda thethe kancinci
Tende konyo chalo.
Ungakuphinda lokho?
Naki konyo to?
Iphi ibhafu?
Ith gi toilet?
Ndingafika njani kwi mveliso ye dolophu?
Ning'eyo konyo city center?
Jolisa kwesokunxele
Konyo chike.
Jolisa kwesokudla
Konyo duto.
Hamba ngqo
Yie chalo.
Iholo ingakanani?
Ning'eyo koro?
Ithikithi elinye, nceda
Ticket moko, ndalo.
Ingakanani ukusuka apha?
Nia ng'ato kendo?
Ndilahlekile
Nin gi chalo.
Nphi endinokuthenga khona iSIM card?
Ith gi SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ewe
Ee
Hayi
Ayi
Mhlawumbi
Kaka
Ndiyavuma
Akwong'
Andivumi
Ayi Akwong'
Okuhle
Ong'eyo
Ucinga ntoni?
Ine owuon?
Ungandinceda?
Naki gi chalo?
Ndidinga uncedo
Nind gi chalo
Linda umzuzu
Chakre
Ndicela uxolo
Naki
Akukho ngxaki
Ayi koro
Wamkelekile
Naki chalo
Usuku olumnandi lokuzalwa
Naki buo
Uhambo olukhuselekileyo
Naki chalo gi chalo
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Uphi umphakathi wemithwalo?
Naki yieng' ma train?(uphi umphakathi wemithwalo)
Uphi umphakathi weebhasi?
Naki yieng' ma bus?(uphi umphakathi weebhasi)
Yeyiphi iphondo?
Naki platform ng'eyo?(yeyiphi iphondo)
Ihamba ngexesha elingakanani?
Naki koro ng'ato?(ihamba ngexesha elingakanani)
Ngaba le yindlela efanelekileyo?
Ning'eyo ni ng'ato?(ngaba le yindlela efanelekileyo)
Ikho kufutshane apha
Niko neno.
Ikude apha
Niko piny.
Ungandibonisa kwiimeko?
Okwong' ni on map?(ungandibonisa kwiimeko)
Misa apha, nceda
Dhi here, please.
Ithatha ixesha elingakanani?
Naki koro ng'ato?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Ithini le mali?
Nia ni?
Le mali ibiza kakhulu.
Owino ni gi chalo.
Unayo into engabizi?
I konyo kanyo?
Ndingakhokha ngekhadi?
Inyalo nind gi kad?
Ndicela itafula lempahla ezimbini.
Nin gi chula mar duong'.
Ibhili, nceda.
Chakruok, plis.
Ingaba inkonzo ibandakanyekile?
Isango ni gi?
Ndiyavegetarian.
Nin gi vegeterian.
Akukho ukutya okunobhotolo, nceda.
Naki chalo chalo, plis.
Oku kumnandi.
Owino ni gi dho.
Ndingafumana imenyu?
Inyalo nind gi menu?
Ingxube ye water, nceda.
Gik konyo mar maji, plis.
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Biza uphondo
Nedhi polisi
Biza i-ambulensi
Nedhi ambulance
Ndifuna ugqirha
Aneedo daktari
Ndiziva ndingalunganga
Akwong' gi chalo
Ndine-allergy kwi-peanuts
An gi allergy kuom peanuts
Uphi umphakathi oseduze?
Naki hospital mar koro?
Kubuhlungu apha
Okwong' mana
Ndilahlekelwe yi passport yam
Nying' my passport
Ungabiza ihotele yam?
Inyalo nedhi hotel ang'wen?
Uncedo!
Konyo!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Kuhle ukukwazi
Naki konyo(Naki konyo)
Masihlele umhlangano
Nying' konyo joma(Nying' konyo joma)
Yiphi ixesha elikufaneleyo?
Naki konyo nigi?(Naki konyo nigi?)
Ndiza kuthumela ingxelo namhlanje
Ng'ato nind gi report nyaka(Ng'ato nind gi report nyaka)
Singathetha ngomso?
Ning'eyo konyo nyaka?(Ning'eyo konyo nyaka?)
Nceda ufumane ifayile ehlanganisiweyo
Chieng' ni file ni(Chieng' ni file ni)
Enkosi ngexesha lakho
Asante gi chako(Asante gi chako)
Ndijonge phambili ekusebenzeni nawe
Nying' konyo gi nyaka(Nying' konyo gi nyaka)
Ungacacisa le ndawo?
Ning'eyo konyo ni?(Ning'eyo konyo ni?)
Mna ndiza kubuyela kuwe
Ning'eyo konyo nind gi(Ning'eyo konyo nind gi)
Umhla wokugqibela nguLwesihlanu
Dede ni Friday(Dede ni Friday)
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.