Looking for practical Dinka to Luganda phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Dinka 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: pick five Luganda phrases from the greetings section and use them in a real message today. Small daily practice beats cramming before a trip.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Dinka 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.
Yaaŋ
Oli otya?(Oli otya?)
Ajak
Webale(Webale)
Bäny äyö
Osiibye otya?(Osiibye otya?)
Bäny kɛ̈l
Osiibye bulungi?(Osiibye bulungi?)
Bäny nyin
Osiibye otya?(Osiibye otya?)
Bäny kɛ̈l
Lwaki olugendo?(Lwaki olugendo?)
Yin kɛ̈l
Tugenda kutya?(Tugenda kutya?)
Yin kɛ̈l
Nkwagala(Nkwagala)
Nin kɛ̈l yïn?
Erinnya lyo ani?(Erinnya lyo ani?)
Nin yïn John
Erinnya lyange nze John(Erinnya lyange nze John)
Kɛ̈l yïn?
Oli otya?(Oli otya?)
Bäny kɛ̈l yïn
Nkwagala okukulaba(Nkwagala okukulaba)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Nyaac ke wic ku English?
Okwogera mu Lungereza?
Aye nyin wic Hindi kɔc.
Sikozesa Hindi bulungi.
Aye nyin kɔc.
Sijja kumanya.
Yin kɔc ke nyin.
Nnyonnyola bulungi.
Yin wic ke nyin?
Osobola okwogera buno buno?
Cɔl kɛ thon?
Ekitanda kiki?
Nyaac kɛ jɛt ke cɛl?
Nteekateeka owa city center?
Yin tɛŋ ke thok.
Genda ku kkono.
Yin tɛŋ ke kɛl.
Genda ku mwoyo.
Yin tɛŋ ke cɛl.
Genda mu maaso.
Cɔl kɛ thon?
Ekitundu kiki?
Kɛl thok, yin.
Ticket emu, please.
Cɔl kɛ jɔk ke cɛl?
Kiki kirekera wano?
Aye nyin thok.
Ndi mu bubi.
Cɔl kɛ jɛt ke SIM?
Nneeyisa SIM card wano?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Aye
Ye
Naa
Nedda
Cok
Okwagala
Aye nyin
Nnaakuwandiika
Naa nyin
Sikuwandiika
Käth aŋöör
Kyo kyekirungi
Käŋ aŋöör?
Otekayo ki?
Nyaŋ aŋöör?
Osobola okundabira?
Aye bɛ̈t aŋöör
Nfuna obuyambi
Käŋ aŋöör
Saba omukutu
Aye kɛ̈l
Nsaba
Naa kɛ̈l
Tewali kibadde
Bɛ̈t aŋöör
Okwagaliza
Bɛ̈t aŋöör kuɔr
Okwagaliza ku lunaku lw'okuzaala
Käth aŋöör kuɔr
Genda bulungi
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Cïïr yïnë kël?
Ekitangaala ky'ekitanda?(ekitangaala ky'ekitanda)
Cïïr yïnë kël jëŋ?
Ekitangaala ky'ekitanda?(ekitangaala ky'ekitanda)
Këc yïnë kël?
Ekitangaala ki?(ekitangaala ki)
Këc kël yïnë?
Bwe ki ssaawa esigala?(bwe ki ssaawa esigala)
Këc yïnë kël wël?
Okwetegeka kwe?(okwetegeka kwe)
Këc yïnë kël jëŋ?
Kiri wano wansi(kiri wano wansi)
Këc yïnë kël wël?
Kiri mangu(kiri mangu)
Aŋë yïnë kël kɔc?
Osobola okundabira ku kaddde?(osobola okundabira ku kaddde)
Nye kël jëŋ, jëŋ?
Ggenda wano, please(ggenda wano, please)
Këc yïnë kël jëŋ?
Tewali bungi ki?(tewali bungi ki)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Kuoth ke nyin?
Kiki ky'ekitundu?(Kiki ky'ekitundu?)
Nyaak ke thok kɛ̈r
Ekitundu kyo kireetese.(nyaak ke thok kɛ̈r)
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r?
Oli n'ekikadde ekirala?(aye ke nyin kɛ̈r)
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɔc?
Nneetaaga okwefuga ku kadi?(aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɔc)
Aye ke nyin a tɛ́bɛl kɛ̈r duɔŋ
Nneetaaga akatale ka abantu babiri.(aye ke nyin a tɛ́bɛl kɛ̈r duɔŋ)
Kɛ́l, please
Ekitabo, please.(kɛ́l, please)
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɛ́l?
Okwetegereza kukyusiddwa?(aye ke nyin kɛ̈r kɛ́l)
Aye ke nyin a kɔc
Nze ndi omukazi wa mboga.(aye ke nyin a kɔc)
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r aŋɔr, please
Tewali emmere eya kinyama, please.(aye ke nyin kɛ̈r aŋɔr, please)
Nyaak ke aŋɔr
Ono mulungi.(nyaak ke aŋɔr)
Aye ke nyin kɛ̈r a menu?
Nneetaaga menu?(aye ke nyin kɛ̈r a menu)
Aye ke nyin a kɔl aŋɔr, please
Ekikopo ky'amata, please.(aye ke nyin a kɔl aŋɔr, please)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Bɛɛr kɔl pɔlɪs
Mpozzi polisi
Bɛɛr kɔl ambʊlɛns
Mpozzi ambulance
A pɛɛr dɔkta
Nfuna daktari
A jɛt kɔc
Ndi mu mbeera mbi
A kɛl kɔc bɛɛr pɛɛnʊt
Ndi mu bbeera ya nfuzi
Cɛɛr kɛ bɛɛr hɔspɪtɔl?
Okwetegereza hospital ey'ekyama?
Kɔc kɛ tɛŋ
Bikozesa wano
A lɔst pɑspɔt
Nfuuse passport yange
Kɛl bɛɛr kɔl hɔtɛl a?
Osobola okumpa mpozzi hotel yange?
Yɛɛr!
Mbadde!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.