Luganda

20 Luganda phrases for greetings and everyday courtesy, from Hello (Oli otya) to I don't understand (Sitegeera).

Hello

Oli otya, pronounced O-li O-tya

Good morning

Wasuze otya, pronounced wa-SU-ze O-tya

Good afternoon

Osiibye otya, pronounced o-SII-bye O-tya

Good evening

Osiibire otya, pronounced o-sii-BI-re O-tya

Goodbye

Weraba, pronounced we-RA-ba

Please

Nsaba, pronounced nSA-ba

Thank you

Webale, pronounced we-BA-le

You're welcome

Kale, pronounced KA-le

Yes

Yee, pronounced YEE

No

Nedda, pronounced NED-da

Sorry

Nsonyiwa, pronounced nso-NYI-wa

Excuse me

Mbeera, pronounced mBEE-ra

My name is

Erinnya lyange nze, pronounced e-RIN-nya LYAN-ge nze

What is your name?

Erinnya lyo nze ani?, pronounced e-RIN-nya LYO nze A-ni

How are you?

Oli otya?, pronounced O-li O-tya

I'm fine

Ndi bulungi, pronounced ndi bu-LUN-gi

Nice to meet you

Nsiima okukumana naawe, pronounced nSII-ma o-ku-ku-MA-na NAA-we

See you later

Tulaabagana, pronounced tu-laa-ba-GA-na

Do you speak English?

Oyogera Olungereza?, pronounced o-yo-GE-ra o-lun-ge-RE-za

I don't understand

Sitegeera, pronounced si-te-GEE-ra

20 Luganda phrases for getting around, from Where is the hotel? (Hoteli eri ludda lwa?) to Ticket (Tikiti).

Where is the hotel?

Hoteli eri ludda lwa?, pronounced ho-TE-li E-ri LUD-da lwa

How much does this cost?

Kino kiweesa shillingi mmeka?, pronounced KI-no ki-WEE-sa shil-LIN-gi mME-ka

Where is the airport?

Oluggya lw'ennyonyi luli wa?, pronounced o-LUG-gya lwen-NYO-nyi LU-li wa

I need a taxi

Neetaaga takisi, pronounced nee-TAA-ga ta-KI-si

Where is the bus stop?

Esitaabu y'ebaasi eri wa?, pronounced e-si-TAA-bu ye-BAA-si E-ri wa

I am lost

Nzisaanye, pronounced nzi-SAA-nye

Help me please

Nnyamba nsaba, pronounced nNYAM-ba nSA-ba

I need a doctor

Neetaaga omusawo, pronounced nee-TAA-ga o-mu-SA-wo

Where is the hospital?

Ddwaliro liri wa?, pronounced dDWA-li-ro LI-ri wa

Call the police

Yita poliisi, pronounced YI-ta po-LII-si

Passport

Pasipoti, pronounced pa-si-PO-ti

Train station

Siteshoni y'etterekezi, pronounced si-te-SHO-ni ye-tte-re-KE-zi

Left

Kkono, pronounced kKO-no

Right

Ddyo, pronounced dDYO

Straight ahead

Agenda ddiriki, pronounced a-GEN-da dDI-ri-ki

Entrance

Mwango, pronounced mWAN-go

Exit

Okuva, pronounced o-KU-va

Open

Ggulawo, pronounced gGU-la-wo

Closed

Ggalawo, pronounced gGA-la-wo

Ticket

Tikiti, pronounced ti-KI-ti

20 Luganda phrases for eating and drinking, from I am hungry (Enjala enuma) to Beer (Biya).

I am hungry

Enjala enuma, pronounced en-JA-la e-NU-ma

I am thirsty

Enzala y'amazzi enuma, pronounced en-ZA-la ya-MA-zzi e-NU-ma

Water

Amazzi, pronounced a-MA-zzi

Food

Emmere, pronounced em-ME-re

Rice

Kasooli, pronounced ka-SOO-li

Bread

Omugati, pronounced o-mu-GA-ti

Meat

Ennyama, pronounced en-NYA-ma

Fish

Ekyennyanja, pronounced e-kyen-NYA-nja

Vegetables

Ebijanjalo, pronounced e-bi-jan-JA-lo

Fruit

Ebibala, pronounced e-bi-BA-la

Menu

Menyu, pronounced ME-nyu

The bill please

Akaunti nsaba, pronounced a-KAU-nti nSA-ba

Delicious

Emmere ennungi, pronounced em-ME-re en-NUN-gi

Restaurant

Edduka ly'emmere, pronounced ed-DU-ka lyem-ME-re

Breakfast

Okulya ku makya, pronounced o-KU-lya ku MA-kya

Lunch

Okulya ku ttuntu, pronounced o-KU-lya ku tTUN-tu

Dinner

Okulya ku kiro, pronounced o-KU-lya ku KI-ro

Coffee

Kawuuwo, pronounced ka-WUU-wo

Tea

Tiyi, pronounced TI-yi

Beer

Biya, pronounced BI-ya

15 Luganda phrases for emergencies and health, from Help! (Nnyamba!) to Allergic reaction (Endwadde y'oluusi).

Help!

Nnyamba!, pronounced nNYAM-ba

Fire!

Omuliro!, pronounced o-mu-LI-ro

Stop!

Yimirira!, pronounced yi-mi-RI-ra

Call an ambulance

Yita ambulansi, pronounced YI-ta am-bu-LAN-si

I am sick

Nduwalira, pronounced ndu-wa-LI-ra

I am injured

Ndabonabona, pronounced nda-bo-na-BO-na

I need medicine

Neetaaga eddagala, pronounced nee-TAA-ga ed-DA-ga-la

Emergency

Ensonga ya maanyi, pronounced en-SON-ga ya MAA-nyi

Danger

Obuzibu, pronounced o-bu-ZI-bu

Police

Poliisi, pronounced po-LII-si

Thief!

Omubbi!, pronounced o-muB-bi

I need help

Neetaaga obuyambi, pronounced nee-TAA-ga o-bu-YAM-bi

Lost child

Omwana azisaanye, pronounced om-WA-na a-zi-SAA-nye

Accident

Ekyabila, pronounced e-kya-BI-la

Allergic reaction

Endwadde y'oluusi, pronounced en-DWA-dde yo-LUU-si

14 Luganda phrases for work and money, from Meeting (Olukuŋŋana) to Agreement (Okulaga).

Meeting

Olukuŋŋana, pronounced o-lu-kun-GA-na

Contract

Endagaano, pronounced en-da-GAA-no

Price

Omuwendo, pronounced o-mu-WEN-do

Invoice

Invoisi, pronounced in-VOI-si

Partnership

Okukola awamu, pronounced o-ku-KO-la a-WA-mu

Profit

Amagoba, pronounced a-ma-GO-ba

Manager

Omuyambi omukulu, pronounced o-mu-YAM-bi o-mu-KU-lu

Office

Biiro, pronounced BII-ro

Email

Imeyili, pronounced i-me-YI-li

Presentation

Okulagirira, pronounced o-ku-la-gi-RI-ra

Budget

Bajeti, pronounced ba-JE-ti

Schedule

Nkola enteekateeka, pronounced nKO-la en-tee-ka-TEE-ka

Client

Omugula, pronounced o-mu-GU-la

Agreement

Okulaga, pronounced o-ku-LA-ga

20 Luganda phrases for numbers, days and time, from One (Emu) to Friday (Lwakutaano).

One

Emu, pronounced E-mu

Two

Bbiri, pronounced bBI-ri

Three

Ssatu, pronounced sSA-tu

Four

Nnya, pronounced nNYA

Five

Ttaano, pronounced tTAA-no

Six

Mukaaga, pronounced mu-KAA-ga

Seven

Musanvu, pronounced mu-SAN-vu

Eight

Munaana, pronounced mu-NAA-na

Nine

Mwenda, pronounced mWEN-da

Ten

Kkumi, pronounced kKU-mi

Twenty

Amakumi abiri, pronounced a-ma-KU-mi a-BI-ri

Hundred

Kikumi, pronounced ki-KU-mi

Thousand

Lukumi, pronounced lu-KU-mi

Today

Leero, pronounced LEE-ro

Tomorrow

Enkya, pronounced en-KYA

Yesterday

Jjo, pronounced JJO

Morning

Makya, pronounced MA-kya

Evening

Akawungeezi, pronounced a-ka-wun-GEE-zi

Monday

Bbalaza, pronounced bBA-la-za

Friday

Lwakutaano, pronounced lwa-ku-TAA-no

house

enyumba, pronounced e-NYUM-ba

water

amazzi, pronounced a-MA-zzi

bread

omugati, pronounced o-mu-GA-ti

time / weather

obudde, pronounced o-BUD-de

person

omuntu, pronounced o-MUN-tu

day

olunaku, pronounced o-lu-NA-ku

road / way

ekkubo, pronounced ek-KU-bo

work

omulimu, pronounced o-mu-LI-mu

money

ensimbi, pronounced en-SIM-bi

city

ekibuga, pronounced e-ki-BU-ga

school

essomero, pronounced es-so-ME-ro

book

ekitabo, pronounced e-ki-TA-bo

name

erinnya, pronounced e-RIN-nya

child

omwana, pronounced om-WA-na

friend

omukwano, pronounced o-mu-KWA-no

food

emmere, pronounced em-ME-re

language

olulimi, pronounced o-lu-LI-mi

earth / land

ettaka, pronounced et-TA-ka

hand

omukono, pronounced o-mu-KO-no

dog

embwa, pronounced em-BWA

food

ekyokurya, pronounced e-kyo-KOOR-ya

father

kitaffe, pronounced ki-TAF-fe

mother

nnyaffe, pronounced NNAY-fe

tree

omuti, pronounced o-MOO-ti

river

omugga, pronounced o-MUGG-ga

friend

mukwano, pronounced moo-KWA-no

night

ekiro, pronounced e-KEE-ro

money

ssente, pronounced SSEN-te

home / compound

oluggya, pronounced o-LUGG-ya

fire

omuliro, pronounced o-moo-LEE-ro

to be

kuba, pronounced KU-ba

to go

kugienda, pronounced ku-gi-EN-da

to come

kuijja, pronounced ku-IJ-ja

to speak

kwogereza, pronounced kwo-ge-RE-za

to eat

kulya, pronounced KUL-ya

to drink

kunwa, pronounced KUN-wa

to see

kulaba, pronounced ku-LA-ba

to know

kumanyi, pronounced ku-MAN-yi

to want / love

kwagala, pronounced kwa-GA-la

to give

kuwa, pronounced KU-wa

to take

kutwala, pronounced ku-TWA-la

to do

kukola, pronounced ku-KO-la

to think

kufumiitiriza, pronounced ku-fu-mii-ti-RI-za

to live

kubeeramu, pronounced ku-bee-RA-mu

to read

kusoma, pronounced ku-SO-ma

to write

kuwandiika, pronounced ku-wan-DII-ka

to work

kukola omulimu, pronounced ku-KO-la o-mu-LI-mu

to help

kuyamba, pronounced ku-YAM-ba

to find

kulonda, pronounced ku-LON-da

to hold

kukwata, pronounced ku-KWA-ta

to go

genda, pronounced GEN-da

to come

jja, pronounced JJA

to eat

lya, pronounced lya

to drink

nywa, pronounced nywa

to sleep / sit

okutuula, pronounced o-koo-TOOL-la

to see

laba, pronounced LA-ba

to speak

yogera, pronounced yo-GE-ra

to know

manyi, pronounced MA-nyi

to work

okukola, pronounced o-koo-KO-la

to buy

gula, pronounced GOO-la

to read / study

okusoma, pronounced o-koo-SO-ma

to hear

wulira, pronounced woo-LEE-ra

to want / love

yagala, pronounced ya-GA-la

to run

dduka, pronounced DDOO-ka

to sit

tuula, pronounced TOOL-la

to stand

yimirira, pronounced yi-mee-REE-ra

to help

ponya, pronounced PON-ya

to give

wa, pronounced wa

to find / wake up

zukuka, pronounced zoo-KOO-ka

to do / make

kola, pronounced KO-la

good

ggwa, pronounced ggwa

bad

bubi, pronounced BU-bi

big

nnene, pronounced NNE-ne

small

tono, pronounced TO-no

new

mpya, pronounced mpya

old

dala, pronounced DA-la

beautiful

saawe, pronounced SAA-we

fast

wa mangu, pronounced wa MAN-gu

slow

wa mpola, pronounced wa MPO-la

long / tall

muwanvu, pronounced mu-WAN-vu

short

mufupi, pronounced mu-FU-pi

warm / hot

omuliro, pronounced o-moo-LEE-ro

cold

wa mazzi, pronounced wa MAZ-zi

strong

wa maanyi, pronounced wa MAAN-yi

easy

olwokulungi, pronounced ol-wo-ku-LUN-gi

difficult

oluzibu, pronounced o-lu-ZI-bu

important

wa buwagizi, pronounced wa bu-wa-GI-zi

interesting

wa sanyufu, pronounced wa sa-NYU-fu

happy

ssanyu, pronounced SSA-nyu

expensive

omuwendo, pronounced o-mu-WEN-do

big

-nene, pronounced NE-ne

small

-to, pronounced to

good / beautiful

-lungi, pronounced LOON-gi

bad

-bi, pronounced bi

new

-pya, pronounced pya

old / great

-kulu, pronounced KOO-loo

white / clean

-ereru, pronounced e-RE-roo

black

-ddugavu, pronounced ddoo-GA-voo

red

-myufu, pronounced MYOO-foo

cold

-titi, pronounced TEE-ti

hot

-yaka, pronounced YA-ka

hard / strong

-kakafu, pronounced ka-KA-foo

soft

-gonda, pronounced GON-da

many

-ngi, pronounced ngi

few / a little

-tono, pronounced TO-no

tall / long

-wanvu, pronounced WAN-voo

short

-dda, pronounced dda

sweet

-yetemfu, pronounced ye-TEM-foo

strong / powerful

-maanyi, pronounced MA-nyi

very beautiful

-lungi nnyo, pronounced LOON-gi nnyo

now

kaakano, pronounced kaa-KA-no

today

leero, pronounced LEE-ro

tomorrow

enkya, pronounced en-KYA

yesterday

jjo, pronounced JJO

here

wano, pronounced WA-no

there

eyo, pronounced E-yo

quickly

mangu, pronounced MAN-gu

slowly

mpola mpola, pronounced MPO-la MPO-la

well

bulungi, pronounced bu-LUN-gi

very / a lot

nnyo, pronounced nnyo

also / too

nawe, pronounced NA-we

not / no

tewali, pronounced te-WA-li

yes

yee, pronounced YEE

already

ddamu, pronounced DDA-mu

still / yet

nate, pronounced NA-te

only / just

kyokka, pronounced KYOK-ka

really

ddala, pronounced DDA-la

a lot

ennyo, pronounced EN-nyo

a little

katono, pronounced ka-TO-no

immediately

amangu, pronounced a-MAN-gu

there

wali, pronounced WA-li

already

dda, pronounced dda

always

bwesigwa, pronounced bwe-SEEG-wa

also / too

naddala, pronounced nad-DA-la

together

wamu, pronounced WA-moo

because

kubanga, pronounced koo-BAN-ga

if

singa, pronounced SEEN-ga

but

naye, pronounced NA-ye

and / also

era, pronounced E-ra

like / as / when

nga, pronounced nga

first

olubereberye, pronounced o-loo-be-re-BER-ye

after / later

oluvannyuma, pronounced o-loo-van-NYOO-ma