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Common Chichewa to Luganda phrases

100 practical Chichewa to Luganda phrases for travel, study, work, and daily conversation.

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Looking for practical Chichewa to Luganda phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Chichewa 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 Chichewa 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.

  1. Moni

    Oli otya? (Oli otya?)

  2. Zikomo

    Webale (Webale)

  3. M'mawa wabwino

    Osiibye otya? (Osiibye otya?)

  4. Masana abwino

    Osiibye bulungi? (Osiibye bulungi?)

  5. Madziwabwino

    Osiibye otya? (Osiibye otya?)

  6. Usiku wabwino

    Lwaki olugendo? (Lwaki olugendo?)

  7. Tiwonana

    Tugenda kutya? (Tugenda kutya?)

  8. Tsalani bwino

    Nkwagala (Nkwagala)

  9. Dzina lako ndi ndani?

    Erinnya lyo ani? (Erinnya lyo ani?)

  10. Dzina langa ndi John

    Erinnya lyange nze John (Erinnya lyange nze John)

  11. Muli bwanji?

    Oli otya? (Oli otya?)

  12. Ndikufuna kukumana nanu

    Nkwagala okukulaba (Nkwagala okukulaba)

Useful phrases for travellers

Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.

  1. Mukulankhula Chingerezi?

    Okwogera mu Lungereza? (Mukulankhula Chingerezi?)

  2. Sindikulankhula Hindi bwino

    Sikozesa Hindi bulungi. (Sindikulankhula Hindi bwino)

  3. Sindikumva

    Sijja kumanya. (Sindikumva)

  4. Chonde lukani pang'onopang'ono

    Nnyonnyola bulungi. (Chonde lukani pang'onopang'ono)

  5. Mungathe kutero kwachiwiri?

    Osobola okwogera buno buno? (Mungathe kutero kwachiwiri?)

  6. Kuti ndi kuti chimbudzi?

    Ekitanda kiki? (Kuti ndi kuti chimbudzi?)

  7. Ndingapite bwanji ku mseu wa mzinda?

    Nteekateeka owa city center? (Ndingapite bwanji ku mseu wa mzinda?)

  8. Pangani kumanzere

    Genda ku kkono. (Pangani kumanzere)

  9. Pangani kumanzere

    Genda ku mwoyo. (Pangani kumanzere)

  10. Pitani mwachindunji

    Genda mu maaso. (Pitani mwachindunji)

  11. Ndi ndalama zingati?

    Ekitundu kiki? (Ndi ndalama zingati?)

  12. Tiket imodzi, chonde

    Ticket emu, please. (Tiket imodzi, chonde)

  13. Ndi kutali bwanji kuchokera pano?

    Kiki kirekera wano? (Ndi kutali bwanji kuchokera pano?)

  14. Ndakhalapo

    Ndi mu bubi. (Ndakhalapo)

  15. Ndingatengere kuti SIM card?

    Nneeyisa SIM card wano? (Ndingatengere kuti SIM card?)

Everyday conversation

Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.

  1. Inde

    Ye

  2. Ayi

    Nedda

  3. Mwina

    Okwagala

  4. Ndikugwirizana

    Nnaakuwandiika

  5. Sindikugwirizana

    Sikuwandiika

  6. Zimakoma

    Kyo kyekirungi

  7. Mumaganiza chiyani?

    Otekayo ki?

  8. Mungandithandize?

    Osobola okundabira?

  9. Ndikufuna thandizo

    Nfuna obuyambi

  10. Dikirani pang'ono

    Saba omukutu

  11. Ndikupemphera

    Nsaba

  12. Palibe vuto

    Tewali kibadde

  13. Zikomo

    Okwagaliza

  14. Tsiku lobadwa labwino

    Okwagaliza ku lunaku lw'okuzaala

  15. Pita bwino

    Genda bulungi

Directions and getting around

Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.

  1. Kuti ndi kuti sitima?

    Ekitangaala ky'ekitanda? (ekitangaala ky'ekitanda)

  2. Kuti ndi kuti malo otsetsereka?

    Ekitangaala ky'ekitanda? (ekitangaala ky'ekitanda)

  3. Ndi chigawo chiti?

    Ekitangaala ki? (ekitangaala ki)

  4. Ndi nthawi iti imatenga?

    Bwe ki ssaawa esigala? (bwe ki ssaawa esigala)

  5. Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera?

    Okwetegeka kwe? (okwetegeka kwe)

  6. Ili pafupi pano

    Kiri wano wansi (kiri wano wansi)

  7. Ili kutali pano

    Kiri mangu (kiri mangu)

  8. Kodi mungandionetse pa mapu?

    Osobola okundabira ku kaddde? (osobola okundabira ku kaddde)

  9. Khalani pano, chonde

    Ggenda wano, please (ggenda wano, please)

  10. Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji?

    Tewali bungi ki? (tewali bungi ki)

Shopping and dining

Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.

  1. Zimatenga ndalama zingati?

    Kiki ky'ekitundu? (Kiki ky'ekitundu?)

  2. Izi ndizokwera mtengo kwambiri.

    Ekitundu kyo kireetese.

  3. Kodi muli ndi chinthu chotsika mtengo?

    Oli n'ekikadde ekirala?

  4. Ndingathe kulipira ndi khadi?

    Nneetaaga okwefuga ku kadi?

  5. Ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri.

    Nneetaaga akatale ka abantu babiri.

  6. Chikonthe, chonde.

    Ekitabo, please.

  7. Kodi ntchito yakhala mu mtengo?

    Okwetegereza kukyusiddwa?

  8. Ndine mvegetarian.

    Nze ndi omukazi wa mboga.

  9. Osati chakudya chotentha, chonde.

    Tewali emmere eya kinyama, please.

  10. Izi ndizochuluka.

    Ono mulungi.

  11. Ndingathe kupeza menyu?

    Nneetaaga menu?

  12. Galasi ya madzi, chonde.

    Ekikopo ky'amata, please.

Emergencies and health

Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.

  1. Fufuzani apolisi

    Mpozzi polisi

  2. Fufuzani ambulansi

    Mpozzi ambulance

  3. Ndikufuna dokotala

    Nfuna daktari

  4. Ndikumva kutopa

    Ndi mu mbeera mbi

  5. Ndine wosokoneza ndi ma nuts a phala

    Ndi mu bbeera ya nfuzi

  6. Kuti ndi kuti chibadwe chachikondi?

    Okwetegereza hospital ey'ekyama?

  7. Kukonda apa

    Bikozesa wano

  8. Ndapeza pasipoti yanga

    Nfuuse passport yange

  9. Mungafufuze hotelo yanga?

    Osobola okumpa mpozzi hotel yange?

  10. Thandizani!

    Mbadde!

Work and business

Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.

  1. Ndikuyamikira kukumana nanu

    Nkwagala okubaako (Nkwagala okubaako)

  2. Tiyeni tikhazikitse meeting

    Tugende mu nteekateeka (Tugende mu nteekateeka)

  3. Ndi nthawi yanji yomwe ikugwira ntchito kwa inu?

    Okwesiga ki? (Okwesiga ki?)

  4. Ndzatumiza lipoti lero

    Nja kutandika okutuusa ebiragiro leero (Nja kutandika okutuusa ebiragiro leero)

  5. Tingathe kulankhula mawa?

    Tusobola okubaako oluvannyuma? (Tusobola okubaako oluvannyuma?)

  6. Chonde pezani fayilo yowonjezedwa

    Nsaba osanga fayiro eyakwatiddwa (Nsaba osanga fayiro eyakwatiddwa)

  7. Zikomo chifukwa cha nthawi yanu

    Webale ku ssaawa yo (Webale ku ssaawa yo)

  8. Ndikuyembekezera kugwira ntchito nanu

    Ntegedde okubaako na ggwe (Ntegedde okubaako na ggwe)

  9. Mungathe kuthetsa mfundo imeneyo?

    Osobola okuddamu ekifaananyi? (Osobola okuddamu ekifaananyi?)

  10. Nditheke kubwerera kwa inu

    Nja kukuwandiikira (Nja kukuwandiikira)

  11. Nthawi yotsiriza ndi Lachisanu

    Ekitundu ky’okusaba kiki ku Lwokutaano (Ekitundu ky’okusaba kiki ku Lwokutaano)

Time, days and numbers

Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.

  1. Ndi nthawi yanji?

    Ki nsonga? (ki nsonga)

  2. Ndi nthawi itatu.

    Kiri saawa ssatu (kiri saawa ssatu)

  3. Lero

    Leero (leero)

  4. Mawa

    Nne (nne)

  5. Ch yesterday

    Yaka (yaka)

  6. Lolemba

    Mmande (mmande)

  7. Lachiwiri

    Olwokubiri (olwokubiri)

  8. Lachitatu

    Olwokutaano (olwokutaano)

  9. Chimodzi

    Emu (emu)

  10. Chiwiri

    Bbiri (bbiri)

  11. Chitatu

    Ssatu (ssatu)

  12. Kumi

    Kkumi (kkumi)

  13. Zana

    Kikumi (kikumi)

  14. Pafupifupi

    Okwetaba (okwetaba)

  15. Zambiri

    Mungeri (mungeri)

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