Looking for practical Luganda to Malagasy phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Luganda phrase first, then the Malagasy translation (Malagasy) — 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 Malagasy.
Tip: when a Malagasy 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 Malagasy 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?
Salama(Oli otya?)
Webale
Misaotra(Webale)
Osiibye otya?
Salama maraina(Osiibye otya?)
Osiibye bulungi?
Salama tolakandro(Osiibye bulungi?)
Osiibye otya?
Salama hariva(Osiibye otya?)
Lwaki olugendo?
Alina tsara(Lwaki olugendo?)
Tugenda kutya?
Hizara indray(Tugenda kutya?)
Nkwagala
Veloma(Nkwagala)
Erinnya lyo ani?
Inona no anaranao?(Erinnya lyo ani?)
Erinnya lyange nze John
Ny anarako dia John(Erinnya lyange nze John)
Oli otya?
Inona ny vaovao?(Oli otya?)
Nkwagala okukulaba
Faly mihaona aminao(Nkwagala okukulaba)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Okwogera mu Lungereza?
Miteny anglisy ve ianao?(Miteny anglisy ve ianao?)
Sikozesa Hindi bulungi.
Tsy mahay tsara Hindi aho(Tsy mahay tsara Hindi aho)
Sijja kumanya.
Tsy azoko(Tsy azoko)
Nnyonnyola bulungi.
Azafady, miteny moramora
Osobola okwogera buno buno?
Azonao averina ve izany?
Ekitanda kiki?
Aiza ny trano fidiovana?
Nteekateeka owa city center?
Ahoana no ahatongavako any amin'ny foibe?
Genda ku kkono.
Mivadika ankavia
Genda ku mwoyo.
Mivadika ankavanana
Genda mu maaso.
Mandehana mivantana
Ekitundu kiki?
Ohatrinona ny saran-dalana?
Ticket emu, please.
Tapakila iray, azafady
Kiki kirekera wano?
Lavitra ve izany avy eto?
Ndi mu bubi.
Very very
Nneeyisa SIM card wano?
Aiza no ahafahako mividy SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ye
Eny
Nedda
Tsia
Okwagala
Angamba
Nnaakuwandiika
Manaiky aho
Sikuwandiika
Tsy manaiky aho
Kyo kyekirungi
Tsara izany
Otekayo ki?
Inona ny hevitrao?
Osobola okundabira?
Afaka manampy ahy ve ianao?
Nfuna obuyambi
Mila fanampiana aho
Saba omukutu
Miandrasa kely
Nsaba
Miala tsiny aho
Tewali kibadde
Tsy olana
Okwagaliza
Arahabaina
Okwagaliza ku lunaku lw'okuzaala
Tratry ny tsingerintaona nahaterahana
Genda bulungi
Mandehana soa aman-tsara
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Ekitangaala ky'ekitanda?
Aiza ny gara?(ekitangaala ky'ekitanda)
Ekitangaala ky'ekitanda?
Aiza ny fiantsonan'ny bus?(ekitangaala ky'ekitanda)
Ekitangaala ki?
Iza ny sehatra?(ekitangaala ki)
Bwe ki ssaawa esigala?
Amin'ny firy no miala izy?(bwe ki ssaawa esigala)
Okwetegeka kwe?
Ity ve ny làlana marina?(okwetegeka kwe)
Kiri wano wansi
Eto akaiky izy.(kiri wano wansi)
Kiri mangu
Lavitra eto izy.(kiri mangu)
Osobola okundabira ku kaddde?
Afaka mampiseho ahy ve ianao amin'ny sarintany?(osobola okundabira ku kaddde)
Ggenda wano, please
Mijanona eto, azafady.(ggenda wano, please)
Tewali bungi ki?
Mandra-pahoviana no maharitra?(tewali bungi ki)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Kiki ky'ekitundu?
Ohatrinona ity?(ohatrinona ity)
Ekitundu kyo kireetese.
Maharitra be loatra izany(maharitra be loatra izany)
Oli n'ekikadde ekirala?
Manana zavatra mora ve ianao?(manana zavatra mora ve ianao)
Nneetaaga okwefuga ku kadi?
Afaka mandoa amin'ny karatra ve aho?(afaka mandoa amin'ny karatra ve aho)
Nneetaaga akatale ka abantu babiri.
Te-hanana latabatra ho an'ny roa aho(te-hanana latabatra ho an'ny roa aho)