Looking for practical Luganda to Krio phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Luganda phrase first, then the Krio translation (Krio) — 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 Krio.
Tip: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Krio-speaking trip in a few weeks.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Luganda to Krio 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?
Hello(Oli otya?)
Webale
Tenki(Webale)
Osiibye otya?
Gud mɔnin(Osiibye otya?)
Osiibye bulungi?
Gud aftanun(Osiibye bulungi?)
Osiibye otya?
Gud ivnin(Osiibye otya?)
Lwaki olugendo?
Gud nait(Lwaki olugendo?)
Tugenda kutya?
Si yu leta(Tugenda kutya?)
Nkwagala
Bai(Nkwagala)
Erinnya lyo ani?
Wetɛn na yu neym?(Erinnya lyo ani?)
Erinnya lyange nze John
Ma neym na John(Erinnya lyange nze John)
Oli otya?
Ow yu de?(Oli otya?)
Nkwagala okukulaba
Naes fo mit yu(Nkwagala okukulaba)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Okwogera mu Lungereza?
Yu sabi English?
Sikozesa Hindi bulungi.
A no sabi Hindi well.
Sijja kumanya.
A no sabi.
Nnyonnyola bulungi.
Plis, tok slow.
Osobola okwogera buno buno?
Yu fit tok dat again?
Ekitanda kiki?
Weh na di toilet?
Nteekateeka owa city center?
Ow A go fit reach di city center?
Genda ku kkono.
Turn left.
Genda ku mwoyo.
Turn right.
Genda mu maaso.
Go straight.
Ekitundu kiki?
Ow much na di fare?
Ticket emu, please.
One ticket, plis.
Kiki kirekera wano?
E far from ya?
Ndi mu bubi.
A don lost.
Nneeyisa SIM card wano?
Weh A go fit buy SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ye
Yes
Nedda
No
Okwagala
Maybe
Nnaakuwandiika
A mi agree
Sikuwandiika
A no agree
Kyo kyekirungi
Dat na fine
Otekayo ki?
Wet in you tink?
Osobola okundabira?
You fit help me?
Nfuna obuyambi
A need help
Saba omukutu
Wait small
Nsaba
A sorry
Tewali kibadde
No problem
Okwagaliza
Congratulations
Okwagaliza ku lunaku lw'okuzaala
Happy birthday
Genda bulungi
Get safe trip
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Ekitangaala ky'ekitanda?
Weh na di train station?(ekitangaala ky'ekitanda)
Ekitangaala ky'ekitanda?
Weh na di bus stop?(ekitangaala ky'ekitanda)
Ekitangaala ki?
Which platform na im?(ekitangaala ki)
Bwe ki ssaawa esigala?
Wetin time e go lef?(bwe ki ssaawa esigala)
Okwetegeka kwe?
Dis na di right way?(okwetegeka kwe)
Kiri wano wansi
E dey near here(kiri wano wansi)
Kiri mangu
E far from here(kiri mangu)
Osobola okundabira ku kaddde?
Yu fit show me pan di map?(osobola okundabira ku kaddde)
Ggenda wano, please
Stop here, pliz(ggenda wano, please)
Tewali bungi ki?
How long e go tek?(tewali bungi ki)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Kiki ky'ekitundu?
How much dis cost?(Kiki ky'ekitundu?)
Ekitundu kyo kireetese.
Dat too expensive.
Oli n'ekikadde ekirala?
You get anytin wey cheaper?
Nneetaaga okwefuga ku kadi?
I fit pay by card?
Nneetaaga akatale ka abantu babiri.
I wan table for two.
Ekitabo, please.
Di bill, please.
Okwetegereza kukyusiddwa?
Service dey include?
Nze ndi omukazi wa mboga.
I na vegetarian.
Tewali emmere eya kinyama, please.
No spicy food, please.
Ono mulungi.
Dis dey sweet.
Nneetaaga menu?
I fit get di menu?
Ekikopo ky'amata, please.
A glass of water, please.
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Mpozzi polisi
Call di police
Mpozzi ambulance
Call ambulance
Nfuna daktari
A need doctor
Ndi mu mbeera mbi
A dey feel sick
Ndi mu bbeera ya nfuzi
A get allergy for peanuts
Okwetegereza hospital ey'ekyama?
Weh di nearest hospital de?
Bikozesa wano
E dey pain here
Nfuuse passport yange
A don lose mi passport
Osobola okumpa mpozzi hotel yange?
You fit call mi hotel?
Mbadde!
Help!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Nkwagala okubaako
Na nice for meet you(Nkwagala okubaako)
Tugende mu nteekateeka
Make we plan wan meeting(Tugende mu nteekateeka)
Okwesiga ki?
Wetin time go work for you?(Okwesiga ki?)
Nja kutandika okutuusa ebiragiro leero
A go send di report tiday(Nja kutandika okutuusa ebiragiro leero)
Tusobola okubaako oluvannyuma?
We go fit talk tomorrow?(Tusobola okubaako oluvannyuma?)
Nsaba osanga fayiro eyakwatiddwa
Abeg find di file wey attach(Nsaba osanga fayiro eyakwatiddwa)
Webale ku ssaawa yo
Tenki for your time(Webale ku ssaawa yo)
Ntegedde okubaako na ggwe
A dey look forward for work with you(Ntegedde okubaako na ggwe)
Osobola okuddamu ekifaananyi?
You fit clarify dat point?(Osobola okuddamu ekifaananyi?)
Nja kukuwandiikira
Make I get back to you(Nja kukuwandiikira)
Ekitundu ky’okusaba kiki ku Lwokutaano
Di deadline na Friday(Ekitundu ky’okusaba kiki ku Lwokutaano)
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.