Luganda phrasebook

Luganda (Oluganda), 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 nation.

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 "cone")

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

Phrase list

{{phrase

Basics

Hello. 

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

Hello. (informal) 

. ( )

How are you? 

oli otya ? ( ?)

Fine, thank you. 

bulungi . ( )

What is your name? 

 ? (Erinnya lyo ggwe ani? ?)

My name is ______ . 

______ . ( _____ .)

Nice to meet you. 

. ( )

Please. 

. (Mwattu )

Thank you (very much). 

Webale (nyo).

You're welcome. 

. ( )

Yes. 

. ( )

No. 

. (nedda )

Excuse me. (getting attention) 

. ( )

Excuse me. (begging pardon) 

. ( )

I'm sorry. 

. ( )

Goodbye 

. ( )

Goodbye (informal) 

. ( )

I can't speak name of language [well. 

[ ]. ( [ ])

Do you speak English? 

 ? (Omanyi olungereza ?)

Is there someone here who speaks English? 

 ? ( ?)

Help! 

 ! ( !)

Look out! 

 ! ( !)

Good morning. 

. (Wasuze otya )

Good evening. 

. (Osiibye otya nno? )

Good night. 

. ( )

Good night (to sleep) 

. ( )

I don't understand. 

. (Sitegera )

Where is the toilet? 

 ? ( ?)

Eating

biringania . aubergine