Looking for practical Kikongo to Luganda phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Kikongo 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 Kikongo 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.
Mbote
Oli otya?(Oli otya?)
Mele
Webale(Webale)
Mokolo mayele
Osiibye otya?(Osiibye otya?)
Mokolo ya ntango
Osiibye bulungi?(Osiibye bulungi?)
Mokolo ya mambu
Osiibye otya?(Osiibye otya?)
Mokolo ya mpembe
Lwaki olugendo?(Lwaki olugendo?)
Tala mosi
Tugenda kutya?(Tugenda kutya?)
Tata
Nkwagala(Nkwagala)
Nki yina nzo?
Erinnya lyo ani?(Erinnya lyo ani?)
Nzo yami ke John
Erinnya lyange nze John(Erinnya lyange nze John)
Oko wanga?
Oli otya?(Oli otya?)
Nki ya mosi na yo
Nkwagala okukulaba(Nkwagala okukulaba)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Oyo o zola kutu English?
Okwogera mu Lungereza?
Nkeni kutu Hindi na mosi.
Sikozesa Hindi bulungi.
Nkeni kanga.
Sijja kumanya.
Mokolo, zola kutu na mosi.
Nnyonnyola bulungi.
Oyo o zola kutu na mosi?
Osobola okwogera buno buno?
Kutu wapi banzela?
Ekitanda kiki?
Nki zola kuenda na kati ya mbanza?
Nteekateeka owa city center?
Tanda na luma.
Genda ku kkono.
Tanda na mambu.
Genda ku mwoyo.
Enda na mosi.
Genda mu maaso.
Nki mbongo ya ndako?
Ekitundu kiki?
Ticket mosi, mokolo.
Ticket emu, please.
Nki feti na wapi?
Kiki kirekera wano?
Nkeni zola.
Ndi mu bubi.
Kutu wapi nki zola ku tanga SIM?
Nneeyisa SIM card wano?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ewe
Ye
Te
Nedda
Kasi
Okwagala
Nkiadi
Nnaakuwandiika
Nkiadi te
Sikuwandiika
Oyo ke nkiadi malamu
Kyo kyekirungi
Nkiadi nini?
Otekayo ki?
Okanza kudi nki?
Osobola okundabira?
Nkiadi kudi nki
Nfuna obuyambi
Lela na nki
Saba omukutu
Nkiadi na nki
Nsaba
Te na nki
Tewali kibadde
Tata na nki
Okwagaliza
Mokolo ya mbote
Okwagaliza ku lunaku lw'okuzaala
Tala na nzala ya malamu
Genda bulungi
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Wana wanga na tanga ya nzo?
Ekitangaala ky'ekitanda?(ekitangaala ky'ekitanda)
Wana wanga na bus?
Ekitangaala ky'ekitanda?(ekitangaala ky'ekitanda)
Nki platform yai?
Ekitangaala ki?(ekitangaala ki)
Soki nki ntangu yina yenda?
Bwe ki ssaawa esigala?(bwe ki ssaawa esigala)
Yai ke nzila ya nki?
Okwetegeka kwe?(okwetegeka kwe)
Eza na nsi ya nzo
Kiri wano wansi(kiri wano wansi)
Eza na mosi ya nzo
Kiri mangu(kiri mangu)
Okanisa ngai na mape?
Osobola okundabira ku kaddde?(osobola okundabira ku kaddde)
Tanga wana, s'il vous plaît
Ggenda wano, please(ggenda wano, please)
Nki ntangu yina yenda?
Tewali bungi ki?(tewali bungi ki)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Nki yina kudi?
Kiki ky'ekitundu?(Kiki ky'ekitundu?)
Yina kele na nsi
Ekitundu kyo kireetese.(yina kele na nsi)
Ona kima ki nsi?
Oli n'ekikadde ekirala?(ona kima ki nsi)
Ncanza kudi na kadi?
Nneetaaga okwefuga ku kadi?(ncanza kudi na kadi)
Nkena na mesa ya mosi na mosi
Nneetaaga akatale ka abantu babiri.(nkena na mesa ya mosi na mosi)
Kadi, ndakisa
Ekitabo, please.(kadi, ndakisa)
Kasi nsi ya mpasi ke na?
Okwetegereza kukyusiddwa?(kasi nsi ya mpasi ke na)