Looking for practical Luganda to Bemba phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Luganda phrase first, then the Bemba translation (Bemba) — 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 Bemba.
Tip: read the Bemba line out loud three times, then cover the Luganda 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 Luganda to Bemba 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.
Oli otya?
Shani(Oli otya?)
Webale
Natotela(Webale)
Osiibye otya?
Muli shani(Osiibye otya?)
Osiibye bulungi?
Muli shani(Osiibye bulungi?)
Osiibye otya?
Muli shani(Osiibye otya?)
Lwaki olugendo?
Shalenipo bwino(Lwaki olugendo?)
Tugenda kutya?
Tukakutana(Tugenda kutya?)
Nkwagala
Twalumba(Nkwagala)
Erinnya lyo ani?
Iwe ulishani?(Erinnya lyo ani?)
Erinnya lyange nze John
Ndefwaya John(Erinnya lyange nze John)
Oli otya?
Uli bwanji?(Oli otya?)
Nkwagala okukulaba
Nashitasha kukumona(Nkwagala okukulaba)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Okwogera mu Lungereza?
Ulyashi ulukanda mu Chingereza?
Sikozesa Hindi bulungi.
Ndefwaya ukulanda Hindi bwino
Sijja kumanya.
Ndefwaya kumfwa
Nnyonnyola bulungi.
Nimwandi ulukanda buteko
Osobola okwogera buno buno?
Ningaloleleko?
Ekitanda kiki?
Ili kuti ikalamba?
Nteekateeka owa city center?
Ningalileka shani ku city center?
Genda ku kkono.
Fumya kumwendo
Genda ku mwoyo.
Fumya kumwendo
Genda mu maaso.
Enda pamo
Ekitundu kiki?
Kuli shani ifyabukata?
Ticket emu, please.
Ticket imwe, nomba
Kiki kirekera wano?
Kuli lishilu ukulya?
Ndi mu bubi.
Ndi lost
Nneeyisa SIM card wano?
Ili kuti nindeke SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ye
Eya
Nedda
Awe
Okwagala
Panga
Nnaakuwandiika
Ndi bwino
Sikuwandiika
Ndi bwino na
Kyo kyekirungi
Ilyo lishibukile
Otekayo ki?
Uchite shani?
Osobola okundabira?
Ushakufwa?
Nfuna obuyambi
Ndefwaya ifyakufwa
Saba omukutu
Leka ifi
Nsaba
Nshakufwa
Tewali kibadde
Takwaba shani
Okwagaliza
Nshakufwa bwino
Okwagaliza ku lunaku lw'okuzaala
Nashala bwino mu mwaka
Genda bulungi
Ube na mulimo wabwino
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Ekitangaala ky'ekitanda?
Uli kuti ikalamba ya chitima?(ekitangaala ky'ekitanda)
Ekitangaala ky'ekitanda?
Uli kuti icikalo ca bisi?(ekitangaala ky'ekitanda)
Ekitangaala ki?
Ninshi ni platform iyi?(ekitangaala ki)
Bwe ki ssaawa esigala?
Ninshi ikalamba?(bwe ki ssaawa esigala)
Okwetegeka kwe?
Ninshi iyi ni njira shabwino?(okwetegeka kwe)
Kiri wano wansi
Ili pamo na pano.(kiri wano wansi)
Kiri mangu
Ili lishilu na pano.(kiri mangu)
Osobola okundabira ku kaddde?
Ushibukishe pa mape?(osobola okundabira ku kaddde)
Ggenda wano, please
Leka pano, chonde.(ggenda wano, please)
Tewali bungi ki?
Kuli shani?(tewali bungi ki)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.