Looking for practical Bambara to Luganda phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Bambara phrase first, then the Luganda translation (Luganda) — so you can scan quickly before a trip, class, or video call.
The phrases are grouped into eight topics: greetings and pleasantries, useful phrases for travellers, everyday conversation, directions and getting around, shopping and dining, emergencies and health, work and business, and time, days and numbers. Use the table of contents to jump straight to greetings, directions, dining, emergencies, or numbers. You do not need perfect grammar to start — short, clear sentences often work better than silence when you are learning Luganda.
Tip: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Luganda-speaking trip in a few weeks.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Bambara to Luganda translator to paste your own messages and get an instant translation.
Greetings and pleasantries
Hello, goodbye, please, thank you, and polite introductions for meeting new people.
I ni ce
Oli otya?(Oli otya?)
I ni sogoma
Webale(Webale)
I ni bɔ
Osiibye otya?(Osiibye otya?)
I ni kɛ
Osiibye bulungi?(Osiibye bulungi?)
I ni sɔgɔ
Osiibye otya?(Osiibye otya?)
I ni tulu
Lwaki olugendo?(Lwaki olugendo?)
N bɛ se ka
Tugenda kutya?(Tugenda kutya?)
A bɛ se ka
Nkwagala(Nkwagala)
Nɛnɛ kɛ i tɛ?
Erinnya lyo ani?(Erinnya lyo ani?)
N bɛ tɔgɔ John
Erinnya lyange nze John(Erinnya lyange nze John)
I ni fɛ?
Oli otya?(Oli otya?)
N bɛ se ka i fɛ
Nkwagala okukulaba(Nkwagala okukulaba)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
I ni ce English?
Okwogera mu Lungereza?(ee nee che English)
N mɔgɔ bɛ Hindi kɛ
Sikozesa Hindi bulungi.(N mo-go beh Hindi keh)
N mɔgɔ bɛ
Sijja kumanya.(N mo-go beh)
Sɛbɛn, kɛlɛ kɛ
Nnyonnyola bulungi.(Sebene, keh-leh keh)
I ka fɔ a la?
Osobola okwogera buno buno?(Ee kah fo ah lah)
Bamanakan kɛn na?
Ekitanda kiki?(Bah-mah-nah-kahn keh nah)
N bɛ fɔ kɔrɔbɔ?
Nteekateeka owa city center?(N beh fo koh-roh-boh)
Kɛlɛn bɔ
Genda ku kkono.(Keh-lehn boh)
Kɛlɛn bɔ kɔrɔ
Genda ku mwoyo.(Keh-lehn boh koh-roh)
Fɔ kɛlɛn
Genda mu maaso.(Fo keh-lehn)
Fɛ kɛ?
Ekitundu kiki?(Feh keh)
Kɛnɛ ticket, please
Ticket emu, please.(Ken-eh ticket, please)
I kɛ fɔ kɛnɛ?
Kiki kirekera wano?(Ee keh fo keh-neh)
N tɛ bɔ
Ndi mu bubi.(N teh boh)
N bɛ fɔ SIM card kɛn?
Nneeyisa SIM card wano?(N beh fo SIM card ken)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Aye
Ye
Ala
Nedda
Bara
Okwagala
N bɛ bɔ
Nnaakuwandiika
N bɛ fɔ
Sikuwandiika
I bɛ sɛbɛn
Kyo kyekirungi
I ka fɛ kɛ?
Otekayo ki?
I bɛ ma n bɔ?
Osobola okundabira?
N bɛ fɔ n bɔ
Nfuna obuyambi
Sira kɛ
Saba omukutu
N tɛgɛ
Nsaba
Ala ka fɔ
Tewali kibadde
I ni kɛ
Okwagaliza
I ni tɔgɔ kɛ
Okwagaliza ku lunaku lw'okuzaala
I bɛ tɔgɔ kɛ
Genda bulungi
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Fôlô kôkô tîgê?
Ekitangaala ky'ekitanda?(ekitangaala ky'ekitanda)
Fôlô bôgô tîgê?
Ekitangaala ky'ekitanda?(ekitangaala ky'ekitanda)
I ni tîgê kô?
Ekitangaala ki?(ekitangaala ki)
Kô tîgê bô?
Bwe ki ssaawa esigala?(bwe ki ssaawa esigala)
I ni tîgê bô?
Okwetegeka kwe?(okwetegeka kwe)
I tîgê kâ.
Kiri wano wansi(kiri wano wansi)
I tîgê kâ fô.
Kiri mangu(kiri mangu)
I bô kô tîgê fô?
Osobola okundabira ku kaddde?(osobola okundabira ku kaddde)
Tîgê kâ, s'il vous plaît.
Ggenda wano, please(ggenda wano, please)
Kô tîgê kô?
Tewali bungi ki?(tewali bungi ki)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
I ni ce?
Kiki ky'ekitundu?(Kiki ky'ekitundu?)
O ye fɛɛrɛ.
Ekitundu kyo kireetese.
I ni ka fɛɛrɛ?
Oli n'ekikadde ekirala?
N bɛ tɔgɔ ka kɛ?
Nneetaaga okwefuga ku kadi?
N bɛ fɔlɔ kɛlɛ kɔrɔ.
Nneetaaga akatale ka abantu babiri.
Kɔrɔbaw, s'il vous plaît.
Ekitabo, please.
Sɛbɛ ka fo?
Okwetegereza kukyusiddwa?
N bɛ sɔgɔma.
Nze ndi omukazi wa mboga.
Kɔrɔ fɛɛrɛ, s'il vous plaît.
Tewali emmere eya kinyama, please.
I ye sɔgɔ.
Ono mulungi.
N bɛ fɔlɔ kɔrɔbaw?
Nneetaaga menu?
N bɛ fɔlɔ jɔrɔ.
Ekikopo ky'amata, please.
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Nɔgɔ fɔlɔ
Mpozzi polisi(nogo folo)
Nɔgɔ kɔrɔ
Mpozzi ambulance(nogo koro)
N bɛ sɔrɔ
Nfuna daktari(n be soro)
N bɛ tɛgɛn
Ndi mu mbeera mbi(n be tegen)
N bɛ fɔlɔ kɛlɛ
Ndi mu bbeera ya nfuzi(n be folokele)
N bɛ kɔrɔ fɔlɔ?
Okwetegereza hospital ey'ekyama?(n be koro folo)
I tɛgɛ fɛ
Bikozesa wano(i tege fe)
N bɛ kɛlɛ fɔlɔ
Nfuuse passport yange(n be kele folo)
I bɛ nɔgɔ kɔrɔ fɔlɔ?
Osobola okumpa mpozzi hotel yange?(i be nogo koro folo)
Tɛgɛ!
Mbadde!(tege)
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.