Looking for practical Luganda to Kanuri phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Luganda phrase first, then the Kanuri translation (Kanuri) — 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 Kanuri.
Tip: when a Kanuri phrase looks unfamiliar, compare it with the Luganda 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 Luganda to Kanuri 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?
Sannu(Oli otya?)
Webale
Nagode(Webale)
Osiibye otya?
Ina kwana(Osiibye otya?)
Osiibye bulungi?
Ina yamma(Osiibye bulungi?)
Osiibye otya?
Ina dare(Osiibye otya?)
Lwaki olugendo?
Sai da safe(Lwaki olugendo?)
Tugenda kutya?
Zan ganka(Tugenda kutya?)
Nkwagala
Sai anjima(Nkwagala)
Erinnya lyo ani?
Menene sunanka?(Erinnya lyo ani?)
Erinnya lyange nze John
Sunana John(Erinnya lyange nze John)
Oli otya?
Lafiya lau?(Oli otya?)
Nkwagala okukulaba
Na ji dadin haduwa da kai(Nkwagala okukulaba)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Okwogera mu Lungereza?
Kuna magana da Turanci?
Sikozesa Hindi bulungi.
Ba na magana da Hindi sosai.
Sijja kumanya.
Ba na fahimta.
Nnyonnyola bulungi.
Don Allah, ku yi magana a hankali.
Osobola okwogera buno buno?
Za ku iya faɗin hakan sake?
Ekitanda kiki?
Ina wanka?
Nteekateeka owa city center?
Ta yaya zan isa tsakiyar birni?
Genda ku kkono.
Juya hagu.
Genda ku mwoyo.
Juya dama.
Genda mu maaso.
Tafiya kai tsaye.
Ekitundu kiki?
Nawa ne farashin?
Ticket emu, please.
Tiket ɗaya, don Allah.
Kiki kirekera wano?
Shin yana da nisa daga nan?
Ndi mu bubi.
Na ɓace.
Nneeyisa SIM card wano?
Ina zan iya sayen kati na SIM?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ye
Eey(ee-y)
Nedda
A'a(ah-ah)
Okwagala
Wata(wah-tah)
Nnaakuwandiika
Na amu(nah ah-moo)
Sikuwandiika
Na a'a amu(nah ah-ah ah-moo)
Kyo kyekirungi
Iya na(ee-yah nah)
Otekayo ki?
Kaya ka yi tunani?(kah-yah kah yee too-nah-nee)
Osobola okundabira?
Za ka iya taimaka min?(zah kah ee-yah tie-mah-kah meen)
Nfuna obuyambi
Na bukaci taimako(nah boo-kah-chee tie-mah-koh)
Saba omukutu
Duba dan lokaci(doo-bah dahn loh-kah-chee)
Nsaba
Na yi hakuri(nah yee hah-koo-ree)
Tewali kibadde
Babu matsala(bah-boo maht-sah-lah)
Okwagaliza
Taya murna(tah-yah moor-nah)
Okwagaliza ku lunaku lw'okuzaala
Barka da haihuwa(bar-kah dah hai-hoo-wah)
Genda bulungi
Ka yi tafiya lafiya(kah yee tah-fee-yah lah-fee-yah)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Ekitangaala ky'ekitanda?
Nye boko na gari?(ekitangaala ky'ekitanda)
Ekitangaala ky'ekitanda?
Nye boko na bas?(ekitangaala ky'ekitanda)
Ekitangaala ki?
Wane boko na?(ekitangaala ki)
Bwe ki ssaawa esigala?
Wane lokaci ya tafi?(bwe ki ssaawa esigala)
Okwetegeka kwe?
Shin wannan hanya ce?(okwetegeka kwe)
Kiri wano wansi
Yana kusa da nan(kiri wano wansi)
Kiri mangu
Yana nesa da nan(kiri mangu)
Osobola okundabira ku kaddde?
Za ka iya nuna mini a taswirar?(osobola okundabira ku kaddde)
Ggenda wano, please
Tsaida nan, don Allah(ggenda wano, please)
Tewali bungi ki?
Yaya tsawon lokaci?(tewali bungi ki)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Kiki ky'ekitundu?
Nayi na kudi?(Nayi na kudi?)
Ekitundu kyo kireetese.
Wannan ya yi tsada sosai.
Oli n'ekikadde ekirala?
Shin kuna da wani abu mai rahusa?
Nneetaaga okwefuga ku kadi?
Zan iya biyan kudi da kati?
Nneetaaga akatale ka abantu babiri.
Ina so tebur don biyu.
Ekitabo, please.
Lissafi, don Allah.
Okwetegereza kukyusiddwa?
Shin sabis ya haɗa?
Nze ndi omukazi wa mboga.
Ni mai ganyayyaki ne.
Tewali emmere eya kinyama, please.
Ba tare da zaki ba, don Allah.
Ono mulungi.
Wannan yana da dadi.
Nneetaaga menu?
Zan iya samun menu?
Ekikopo ky'amata, please.
Kofin ruwa, don Allah.
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Mpozzi polisi
Dawari janga(Dawari janga)
Mpozzi ambulance
Dawari ambulan(Dawari ambulan)
Nfuna daktari
Ni na doctor(Ni na doctor)
Ndi mu mbeera mbi
Ni na jaga(Ni na jaga)
Ndi mu bbeera ya nfuzi
Ni na haji goro(Ni na haji goro)
Okwetegereza hospital ey'ekyama?
Ina asibiti na kusa?(Ina asibiti na kusa?)
Bikozesa wano
Yana ciwo a nan(Yana ciwo a nan)
Nfuuse passport yange
Ni na rasa passport na(Ni na rasa passport na)
Osobola okumpa mpozzi hotel yange?
Za ka iya dawari otel na?(Za ka iya dawari otel na?)
Mbadde!
Taimako!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Nkwagala okubaako
Nde gaishe(nde gaishe)
Tugende mu nteekateeka
Mu gaishe taro(mu gaishe taro)
Okwesiga ki?
Wai gaishe lokaci?(wai gaishe lokaci)
Nja kutandika okutuusa ebiragiro leero
Zan tura rahoto yau(zan tura rahoto yau)
Tusobola okubaako oluvannyuma?
Zamu iya magana gobe?(zamu iya magana gobe)
Nsaba osanga fayiro eyakwatiddwa
Don Allah ka sami fayil din da aka makala(don Allah ka sami fayil din da aka makala)
Webale ku ssaawa yo
Na gode da lokacinka(na gode da lokacinka)
Ntegedde okubaako na ggwe
Ina fatan aiki tare da kai(ina fatan aiki tare da kai)
Osobola okuddamu ekifaananyi?
Za ka iya fayyace wannan batu?(za ka iya fayyace wannan batu)