Looking for practical Kinyarwanda to Luganda phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Kinyarwanda 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 Kinyarwanda 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 Kinyarwanda 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.
Muraho
Oli otya?(Oli otya?)
Urakoze
Webale(Webale)
Bwakire bwiza
Osiibye otya?(Osiibye otya?)
Nimugoroba mwiza
Osiibye bulungi?(Osiibye bulungi?)
Mwaramutse mwiza
Osiibye otya?(Osiibye otya?)
Ijoro ryiza
Lwaki olugendo?(Lwaki olugendo?)
Tuzabonana nyuma
Tugenda kutya?(Tugenda kutya?)
Murabeho
Nkwagala(Nkwagala)
Witwa nde?
Erinnya lyo ani?(Erinnya lyo ani?)
Nitwa John
Erinnya lyange nze John(Erinnya lyange nze John)
Umeze ute?
Oli otya?(Oli otya?)
Nishimiye kukumenya
Nkwagala okukulaba(Nkwagala okukulaba)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Uravuga Icyongereza?
Okwogera mu Lungereza?
Sinavuga Hindi neza
Sikozesa Hindi bulungi.
Sinumva
Sijja kumanya.
Nyabuneka vuga buhoro
Nnyonnyola bulungi.
Wabivuga ukundi?
Osobola okwogera buno buno?
Aho ubwiherero buri he?
Ekitanda kiki?
Nagenda nte ku mugi?
Nteekateeka owa city center?
Hindukira ibumoso
Genda ku kkono.
Hindukira iburyo
Genda ku mwoyo.
Genda imbere
Genda mu maaso.
Igiciro ni ikihe?
Ekitundu kiki?
Itike imwe, nyabuneka
Ticket emu, please.
Ni kure hano?
Kiki kirekera wano?
Ndi mu kaga
Ndi mu bubi.
Nshobora kugura SIM card he?
Nneeyisa SIM card wano?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Yego
Ye
Oya
Nedda
Birashoboka
Okwagala
Ndemeranya
Nnaakuwandiika
Sinemeranya
Sikuwandiika
Birumvikana neza
Kyo kyekirungi
Ubitekerezaho iki?
Otekayo ki?
Urashobora kumfasha?
Osobola okundabira?
Nkeneye ubufasha
Nfuna obuyambi
Tegereza gato
Saba omukutu
Ndakwinginze
Nsaba
Nta kibazo
Tewali kibadde
Ibyishimo
Okwagaliza
Isabukuru nziza
Okwagaliza ku lunaku lw'okuzaala
Ugire urugendo rwiza
Genda bulungi
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Aho ikigo cy'igariyamoshi kiri?
Ekitangaala ky'ekitanda?(ekitangaala ky'ekitanda)
Aho ahagarara bisi?
Ekitangaala ky'ekitanda?(ekitangaala ky'ekitanda)
Ni iyihe platform?
Ekitangaala ki?(ekitangaala ki)
Igihe izava ryari?
Bwe ki ssaawa esigala?(bwe ki ssaawa esigala)
Ese iyi niyo nzira nziza?
Okwetegeka kwe?(okwetegeka kwe)
Iri hafi hano
Kiri wano wansi(kiri wano wansi)
Iri kure hano
Kiri mangu(kiri mangu)
Ushobora kumfasha ku ikarita?
Osobola okundabira ku kaddde?(osobola okundabira ku kaddde)
Hagarara hano, nyabuneka
Ggenda wano, please(ggenda wano, please)
Bifata igihe kingana iki?
Tewali bungi ki?(tewali bungi ki)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Iyi igura angahe?
Kiki ky'ekitundu?(Kiki ky'ekitundu?)
Ibyo ni ibihenze cyane.
Ekitundu kyo kireetese.
Ufite ikintu cyoroheje?
Oli n'ekikadde ekirala?
Nshobora kwishyura n'ikarita?
Nneetaaga okwefuga ku kadi?
Nashaka ameza y'abantu babiri.
Nneetaaga akatale ka abantu babiri.
Ndagusabye, umwenda.
Ekitabo, please.
Serivisi irimo?
Okwetegereza kukyusiddwa?
Ndi umunyvegetari.
Nze ndi omukazi wa mboga.
Ntimukanyuze ibiryo birimo umunyu.
Tewali emmere eya kinyama, please.
Ibi biraryoshye.
Ono mulungi.
Nshobora kubona urutonde rw'ibiryo?
Nneetaaga menu?
Ndagusabye, igikombe cy'amazi.
Ekikopo ky'amata, please.
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Hamagara polisi
Mpozzi polisi
Hamagara ambulance
Mpozzi ambulance
Nkeneye umuganga
Nfuna daktari
Ndumva ndwaye
Ndi mu mbeera mbi
Mfite allergie ku mbuto z'ihene
Ndi mu bbeera ya nfuzi
Ihagararanye ry'ubuvuzi rihe?
Okwetegereza hospital ey'ekyama?
Birambabaza hano
Bikozesa wano
Nabuze pasiporo yanjye
Nfuuse passport yange
Urashobora guhamagara hoteli yanjye?
Osobola okumpa mpozzi hotel yange?
Fasha!
Mbadde!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.