Looking for practical Jawi (جاوي) to Luganda phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Jawi 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: read the Luganda line out loud three times, then cover the Jawi side and try to recall the meaning — repetition builds memory faster than silent reading.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Jawi (جاوي) 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.
هلا
Oli otya?(Oli otya?)
ترما كاسي
Webale(Webale)
سلamat pagi
Osiibye otya?(Osiibye otya?)
سلamat tengahري
Osiibye bulungi?(Osiibye bulungi?)
سلamat سوري
Osiibye otya?(Osiibye otya?)
سلamat مالام
Lwaki olugendo?(Lwaki olugendo?)
جمبا لاغي
Tugenda kutya?(Tugenda kutya?)
سلامت
Nkwagala(Nkwagala)
سيا بربا ناما؟
Erinnya lyo ani?(Erinnya lyo ani?)
ناما سياه جان
Erinnya lyange nze John(Erinnya lyange nze John)
بغاي مان؟
Oli otya?(Oli otya?)
سنغار بربا سياه
Nkwagala okukulaba(Nkwagala okukulaba)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
أنت تتحدث الإنجليزية؟
Okwogera mu Lungereza?(anta tatahaddath al-ingliziyah?)
أنا لا أتحدث الهندية جيدًا
Sikozesa Hindi bulungi.(ana la atahaddath al-hindiyah jayyidan)