Looking for practical Bemba to Luganda phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Bemba 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: when a Luganda phrase looks unfamiliar, compare it with the Bemba wording — noticing word order differences helps you understand grammar naturally.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Bemba 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.
Shani
Oli otya?(Oli otya?)
Natotela
Webale(Webale)
Muli shani
Osiibye otya?(Osiibye otya?)
Muli shani
Osiibye bulungi?(Osiibye bulungi?)
Muli shani
Osiibye otya?(Osiibye otya?)
Shalenipo bwino
Lwaki olugendo?(Lwaki olugendo?)
Tukakutana
Tugenda kutya?(Tugenda kutya?)
Twalumba
Nkwagala(Nkwagala)
Iwe ulishani?
Erinnya lyo ani?(Erinnya lyo ani?)
Ndefwaya John
Erinnya lyange nze John(Erinnya lyange nze John)
Uli bwanji?
Oli otya?(Oli otya?)
Nashitasha kukumona
Nkwagala okukulaba(Nkwagala okukulaba)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Ulyashi ulukanda mu Chingereza?
Okwogera mu Lungereza?
Ndefwaya ukulanda Hindi bwino
Sikozesa Hindi bulungi.
Ndefwaya kumfwa
Sijja kumanya.
Nimwandi ulukanda buteko
Nnyonnyola bulungi.
Ningaloleleko?
Osobola okwogera buno buno?
Ili kuti ikalamba?
Ekitanda kiki?
Ningalileka shani ku city center?
Nteekateeka owa city center?
Fumya kumwendo
Genda ku kkono.
Fumya kumwendo
Genda ku mwoyo.
Enda pamo
Genda mu maaso.
Kuli shani ifyabukata?
Ekitundu kiki?
Ticket imwe, nomba
Ticket emu, please.
Kuli lishilu ukulya?
Kiki kirekera wano?
Ndi lost
Ndi mu bubi.
Ili kuti nindeke SIM card?
Nneeyisa SIM card wano?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Eya
Ye
Awe
Nedda
Panga
Okwagala
Ndi bwino
Nnaakuwandiika
Ndi bwino na
Sikuwandiika
Ilyo lishibukile
Kyo kyekirungi
Uchite shani?
Otekayo ki?
Ushakufwa?
Osobola okundabira?
Ndefwaya ifyakufwa
Nfuna obuyambi
Leka ifi
Saba omukutu
Nshakufwa
Nsaba
Takwaba shani
Tewali kibadde
Nshakufwa bwino
Okwagaliza
Nashala bwino mu mwaka
Okwagaliza ku lunaku lw'okuzaala
Ube na mulimo wabwino
Genda bulungi
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Uli kuti ikalamba ya chitima?
Ekitangaala ky'ekitanda?(ekitangaala ky'ekitanda)
Uli kuti icikalo ca bisi?
Ekitangaala ky'ekitanda?(ekitangaala ky'ekitanda)
Ninshi ni platform iyi?
Ekitangaala ki?(ekitangaala ki)
Ninshi ikalamba?
Bwe ki ssaawa esigala?(bwe ki ssaawa esigala)
Ninshi iyi ni njira shabwino?
Okwetegeka kwe?(okwetegeka kwe)
Ili pamo na pano.
Kiri wano wansi(kiri wano wansi)
Ili lishilu na pano.
Kiri mangu(kiri mangu)
Ushibukishe pa mape?
Osobola okundabira ku kaddde?(osobola okundabira ku kaddde)
Leka pano, chonde.
Ggenda wano, please(ggenda wano, please)
Kuli shani?
Tewali bungi ki?(tewali bungi ki)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Ili shani?
Kiki ky'ekitundu?(Kiki ky'ekitundu?)
Ili lya kuli
Ekitundu kyo kireetese.(Ili lya kuli)
Muli na chimo chibulu?
Oli n'ekikadde ekirala?(Muli na chimo chibulu?)
Ningakupanga na kadi?
Nneetaaga okwefuga ku kadi?(Ningakupanga na kadi?)
Ningakonda itabo lyakupanga abali babili
Nneetaaga akatale ka abantu babiri.(Ningakonda itabo lyakupanga abali babili)
Icilanga, tapali
Ekitabo, please.(Icilanga, tapali)
Ubufyashi bwakupanga?
Okwetegereza kukyusiddwa?(Ubufyashi bwakupanga?)
Ndi mvegetarian
Nze ndi omukazi wa mboga.(Ndi mvegetarian)
Nshikala na fya spicy, tapali
Tewali emmere eya kinyama, please.(Nshikala na fya spicy, tapali)
Ili lya bwino
Ono mulungi.(Ili lya bwino)
Ningakonda ifyalo?
Nneetaaga menu?(Ningakonda ifyalo?)
Icupa ca mvula, tapali
Ekikopo ky'amata, please.(Icupa ca mvula, tapali)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Tuma abashitisha
Mpozzi polisi
Tuma ambulance
Mpozzi ambulance
Nshikala na doctor
Nfuna daktari
Nshikala bwino
Ndi mu mbeera mbi
Ndi na allergy ku nsalu
Ndi mu bbeera ya nfuzi
Ili kuti hospital ya pafupi?
Okwetegereza hospital ey'ekyama?
Kuli ububi pano
Bikozesa wano
Nashitile passport yangu
Nfuuse passport yange
Nawe tuma hotel yangu?
Osobola okumpa mpozzi hotel yange?
Chikondi!
Mbadde!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.