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