Useful phrases in Luganda

A collection of useful phrases in Luganda / Ganda, a Bantu language spoken mainly in Uganda

Jump to phrases

See these phrases in any combination of two languages in the Phrase Finder. If you can provide recordings, corrections or additional translations, please contact me.

Key to abbreviations: inf = informal, sg = singular (said to one person), pl = plural (said to more than one person).

Phrase Oluganda (Luganda)
Welcome Tukusanyukidde (sg)
Nsanyuse okukulaba (sg)
Tubasanyukidde (pl)
Tusanyuse okubalaba (pl)
Hello (General greeting) Gyebale ko (Thanks for your work)
Gyebale ko, nnyabo (Hello mother)
Gyebale ko, ssebo (Hello sir)
Ki kati?
Oli otya (sg)
Muli mutya (pl)
Ka jambo (inf)
Ogamba ki? (inf - What do you say?)
Ogamba otya? (inf - How do you say?)
Hello (on phone)
How are you? Oli otya? (sg)
Muli mutya? (pl)
Reply to 'How are you?' Gyendi. Ate ggwe?
Bulungi. Ate ggwe?
Ndi bulungi. Ate ggwe?
Long time no see
What's your name? Erinnya lyo ggwe ani?
My name is ... Erinnya lyange nze ...
Where are you from? Ova ludda wa?
I'm from ... Nva ...
Pleased to meet you
Good morning
(Morning greeting)
Wasuze otya nno? (How was your night?)
Bulungi, wasuze otya nno? (reply)
Good afternoon
(Afternoon greeting)
Osiibye otya nno? (How was your day?)
Bulungi, osiibye otya nno? (reply)
Good evening
(Evening greeting)
Osiibye otya nno? (How was your day?)
Bulungi, osiibye otya nno? (reply)
Good night Sula bulungi
Kale, naawe sula bulungi (reply)
Goodbye
(Parting phrases)
Weeraba (sg)
Kale, naawe weeraba (reply)
Mweraba (pl)
Tunaalabagana (See you later)
Ka ngende! (I beg to leave!)
Kale, tambula bulungi (Okay, travel safely)
Good luck!
Cheers! Good Health!
(Toasts used when drinking)
Have a nice day Siiba bulungi (sg)
Musiibe bulungi (pl)
Bon appetit /
Have a nice meal
Bon voyage /
Have a good journey
Tambula bulungi (sg)
Tuuka bulungi (sg)
Mutuuke bulungi (pl)
Yes Yee
Mm
No Nedda
Maybe
I don't know Simanye
I understand Ntegeera
I don't understand Sitegeera
Please speak more slowly Mwattu yogera mpolampola
Please say that again Mwattu kiddemu
Please write it down Ekigambo ekyo kimpandiikire
Do you speak English? Omanyi olungereza?
Do you speak Luganda? Oyogera oluganda?
Yes, a little
(reply to 'Do you speak ...?')
Weewawo. Oluganda mmanyi lutonotono
Speak to me in Luganda
How do you say ... in Luganda? Mu Luganda ogamba otya nti ...?
Excuse me Owange
How much is this? Kigula ssente mmeka?
Mmekka Ssente?
Sorry Nsonyiwa
Please Mwattu
Thank you Weebale (sg)
Weebale nnyo (sg)
Neyanzizza (sg - I'm grateful)
Weebale nnyo, weebale endala
Omulala aganye
Mwebale (pl)
Mwebale nnyo (pl)
Tweyanzizza (pl - We're grateful)
Reply to thank you Kale
Si nnyo (not much)
Si ky'amaanyi (nothing important)
Where's the toilet / bathroom?
This gentleman will pay for everything
This lady will pay for everything
Would you like to dance with me?
Do you come here often?
I miss you
I love you Nkwagala
Get well soon
Go away! Genda eri!
Leave me alone!
Help! Munnyambe!
Fire! Omuliro!
Stop! Yimirira!
Call the police!
Christmas greetings Mbagaliza Christmass Enungi Nomwaka Omugya Gubaberere Gwamirembe
New Year greetings
Easter greetings
Birthday greetings Nkwagaliza amazalibwa go amalungi
One language is never enough
My hovercraft is full of eels

If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, or if you can provide recordings, please contact me.

Hear some phrases in Luganda:

Information about Luganda | Phrases | Numbers | Tower of Babel

Links

Other collections of Luganda phrases
http://www.buganda.com/phrasebk.htm
https://quizlet.com/45128737/luganda-words-phrases-flash-cards/
http://files.peacecorps.gov/multimedia/audio/languagelessons/uganda/UG_Luganda_Language_Lessons.PDF
https://kabiza.com/luganda-101-simple-lugandan-phrases-for-travelers-to-uganda/
https://volunteertherealuganda.com/luganda-phrase-book/

Phrases in Bantu languages

Bemba, Chichewa, Chokwe, Duala, Herero, Ibinda, Kikuyu, Kinyarwanda, Lingala, Lozi, Luganda, Ndebele (Northern - South Africa), Ndebele (Northern - Zimbabwe), Ndebele (Southern) Nkore, Northern Sotho, Oshiwambo, Shona, Southern Sotho (seSotho), Swahili, Swati, Tsonga, Tswana, Tumbuka, Umbundu, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu

Phrases in other languages

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