Luganda phrasebook

Luganda, along with English and Swahili, is an official language of Uganda. It is spoken primarily in Kampala and surrounding regions but may be understood in much of the country.

Pronunciation guide Vowels Luganda has five vowels: a, e, i, o, u. pronounced the same as in Spanish:

A - ah (Like the "a" in "father")

E - eh (Like the "a" in "say")

I - ee (Like the "ee" in "see")

O - oh (Like the "o" in "cot")

U - oo (Like the "oo" in "doom")

Consonants Common diphthongs

Learning more This phrasebook is an outline and needs more content. It has an introduction and a template, but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow!

Pronunciation guide

Vowels

Luganda has five vowels: a, e, i, o, u. pronounced the same as in Spanish:

A - ah (Like the "a" in "father")

E - eh (Like the "a" in "say")

I - ee (Like the "ee" in "see")

O - oh (Like the "o" in "cot")

U - oo (Like the "oo" in "doom")

Phrase list

Some phrases in this phrasebook still need to be translated. If you know anything about this language, you can help by plunging forward and translating a phrase.

Basics

Hello. 

(oli otya to one person, muli mutya to more)

Hello. (informal) 

. (ki kati)

How are you? 

oli otya or together olyotya? (?)

Fine, thank you. 

bulungi . ( )

What is your name? 

 ? (Erinnya lyo ggwe ani?  ?)

My name is ______ . 

_erinnya lyange nze-

nze:- i am _____ . ( _____ .)

Nice to meet you. 

.nsanyuse okukulaba

( )

Please. 

. (Mwattu )

Thank you (very much). 

Webale (nnyo).

You're welcome. 

. (Tukwanirizza)

Yes. 

. (iye )

No. 

. (nedda )

Excuse me. (getting attention) 

. (Ssebo! / Nnyabo)

Excuse me. (begging pardon) 

. (ogambye ki? )

I'm sorry. 

. (nsonyiwa )

Goodbye 

. (welaaba )

Goodbye (informal) 

. ( )

I can't speak name of language [well]. 

[ soogera bulungi "luganda"])

Do you speak English? 

 ? (Omanyi oluzungu ?)

Is there someone here who speaks English? 

 ? (waliwo wano ayogera oluzungu ?)

Help! 

 ! (nnyamba !)

Look out! 

 ! (Laba!)

be careful

(wegendereze)

Good morning. 

. (Wasuze otya )

Good evening. 

. (Osiibye otya nno? )

Good night. 

. ( )

Good night (to sleep) 

. (sula bulungi )

I don't understand. 

. (Sitegera )

Where is the toilet? 

 ? ( kabuyonjo eli wa?)

===Problems===ebizibu

Numbers

1 

emu

2 

bbiri

3 

ssatu

4 

nnya

5 

ttaano

6 

mukaaga

7 

musanvu

8 

munaana

9 

mwenda

10

kkumi

11 

kkumi nemu

12 

kkumi na bbiri

13 

kkumi na ssatu

20 

amakumi abiri (literally two tens, often shortened to 'abiri')

30 

amakumi asatu (literally three tens, often shortened to 'asatu')

40 

amakumi ana (literally four tens, often shortened to 'ana')

50 

amakumi ataano (literally five tens, often shortened to 'ataano')

60 

nkaaga

70 

nsanvu

80 

kinaana

90 

kyenda

100 

kikumi

Time

• When saying time and you want to say 12 you go opposite of the clock so 6, 1 = 7, 2 = 8 etc)

sawa

Days

ennaku

Months

emyezi

month- omwezi (also means “moon”)

Writing time and date

okuwandika esawa n'enaku

Colors

black 

nzirugavu

white 

njeru

gray 

kivuvvu

red 

kimyufu

blue 

bululu

yellow 

kyenvu

green 

kiragala

orange 

kacungwa

purple 

kakobe

brown 

kitaka

dark 

nkwafu

light 

ntangaavu

Transportation

Bus and train

Where can I buy a bus ticket? 

Tikiti ya baasi nnyinza kugigula wa?

Is there an overnight bus? 

Waliwo baasi egenda eggulolimu?

What time does the bus arrive? 

Baasi etuuka ku ssaawa mmeka?

Will the bus stop at a restaurant? 

Baasi eneyimirila awali eby'okulya?

I would like to book a seat for Friday. 

Njagala kwekwata kifo kya ku Lwakutaano

Two tickets to _____ . 

Tikiti bbiri okugenda e _____ .

Does this bus go to _____ ? 

Eno baasi egenda e _____ ?

Which bus goes to _____ ? 

Baasi ki egenda e _____ ?

How long does it take to get there? 

Kitwala bbanga ki okutuukayo?

What is the cost to go to _____ ? 

Kitwala ssente mmeka okugenda e _____ ?

Tell me when we get to _____ . 

Mbuulira nga tutuuse e _____ .

I want to get off here! 

Njagala kuviiramu wano!

What time is the next bus? 

Baasi eddako ya ku ssaawa mmeka?

What time is the last bus? 

Baasi esembayo ya ku ssaawa mmeka?

Travelling By Train

Please give me two tickets. 

Mwattu mpa tikiti bbiri.

Is this seat free? 

Kino ekifo kirimu omuntu?

This seat is taken. 

Kino ekifo kirimu omuntu

Would you mind if I open the window? 

Ofaayo singa nzigulawo eddirisa?

What is this station called? 

Eno sitenseni bagiyita batya?

What station is this? 

Eno sitenseni ki?

What is the next station? 

Sitenseni ki eddako?

Directions

How can I get to _____? 

Ngenda ntya okutuuka e _____ ?

Is it far? 

Kiri wala?

Is it near? 

Kiri kumpi?

Is it near here? 

Kiri kumpi na wano?

Go straight ahead! 

Genda butereevu!

Turn left 

Kyama ku kkono

Turn right 

Kyama ku ddyo

At the traffic lights 

Ku bitaala

At the junction 

Mu masang'aanzira

In front of 

Mu maaso ga

Next to 

Okuddirila

Behind 

Emabega

North 

Bukiikakkono / Mambuka

South 

Bukiikaddyo / Maserengeta

East 

Buvanjuba

West 

Bugwanjuba

North-west 

Bukiikakkono (bwa)-Bugwanjuba

North-east 

Bukiikakkono (bwa)-Buvanjuba

South-west 

Bukiikaddyo (bwa)-Bugwanjuba

South-east 

Bukiikaddyo (bwa)-Buvanjuba

Taxi

There are two kinds of taxis in Uganda. The open/public taxis take more than one person using a designated route to a specific destination; and taxis for special hire by an individual or group of people. Taxi do not use meters but a predetermined fixed rate which is negotiable for special hire taxis.

Please take me to _____ . 

Mwattu ntwaala e _____ .

How much does it cost to go to _____ ? 

Otwala mmeka okugenda e _____ ?

Does that include the luggage? 

N'emigugu ogibaliddemu?

Lodging

Money

Ssente

How much does this cost? Kino okitunda mmeka?

Eating

Meat

Beef 

Nnyama ya nte

Chicken 

Nn yama ya nkoko

Mutton 

Nnyama ya ndiga

Pork 

Nnyama ya mbizzi

Goat meat 

Nnyama ya mbuzi

Seafood

Fish 

Kyennyanja

Catfish 

Ssemutundu

Eel 

Nsonzi

Mudfish 

Mmale

Nile perch 

Mpuuta

Snout fish 

Kasulu

Sprat 

Nkejje

Tilapia 

Ngege

Fruits and Nuts

Avocado 

Wova

Wovakedo

Kedo

Banana (ripe and yellow) 

Menvu

Gooseberry 

Ntuntunu

Jackfruit 

Ffene

Guava 

Ppeera

Lemon 

Nniimu

Mango 

Muyembe

Melon 

Wujju

Olive (type of) 

Mpafu

Orange 

Mucungwa

Pawpaw 

Paapaali

Peanuts 

Binyebwa

Pineapple 

Nnaanansi

Passion Fruit 

Katunda

Raspberry 

Nkenene

Sugar cane 

Kikajjo

Vegetables

Aubergine 

Biringania

Beans 

Bijanjaalo

Cabbage 

Mboga

Carrot 

Kalati

Corn 

Kasooli

Eggplant 

Bbiringanya

Mushroom 

Katiko

Onion 

Katungulu

Potato 

Lumonde

Powdered Vegetable 

Ggobe

Pumpkin 

Nsujju

Spinach 

Doodo

Tomato 

Nnyaanya

Miscalleneous others 

Jjobyo / Nnakati / Nsugga / Ttimpa

Staples

Plantain 

Gonja

Plantain (unripe and green) 

Matooke

Sweet Potato 

Lumonde

Cassava 

Muwogo

Rice 

Muceere

Corn flour 

Kawunga

Millet flour 

Kalo

Yam (different types) 

Ndaggu/Balugu/Jjuuni

Porridge (corn) 

Buugi

Porridge (millet) 

Busera

Spices and Condiments

Chilli 

Kaamulali

Cinnamon 

Budalasini

Cloves.......

Curry powder 

Bunzaali

Garlic 

Katungulu Ccumu

Ginger

Ntangawuzi

Cooking Oil 

Butto

Pepper 

Kaamulali

Salt 

Munnyo

Sugar 

Sukaali

Tumeric........

Vinegar........

Drinks

Beer 

Bbiya

Juice 

Mubisi

Milk 

Mata

Pop 

Sooda

Coffee 

Kaawa

Tea 

Caayi

-with milk.............. -owa mata -without milk......... -okutali mata -with sugar........... -omuli sukaali -without sugar....... -omutali sukaali

Bars

amabara

Driving

Drive 

vuga

Stop 

lekela

Learning more

This phrasebook is an outline and needs more content. It has an introduction and a template, but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow!