Looking for practical Luganda to Wolof phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Luganda phrase first, then the Wolof translation (Wolof) — 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 Wolof.
Tip: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Wolof-speaking trip in a few weeks.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Luganda to Wolof 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?
Nanga def(nanga def)
Webale
Jërëjëf(jerejef)
Osiibye otya?
Ba beneen yoon(ba beneen yoon)
Osiibye bulungi?
Ba pare(ba pare)
Osiibye otya?
Ba suuf(ba suuf)
Lwaki olugendo?
Ba ci kanam(ba ci kanam)
Tugenda kutya?
Naka la(naka la)
Nkwagala
Ba beneen(ba beneen)
Erinnya lyo ani?
Naka sa tur?(naka sa tur)
Erinnya lyange nze John
Sa tur mooy John(sa tur mooy John)
Oli otya?
Naka nga def?(naka nga def)
Nkwagala okukulaba
Nuyoo na la(nuyoo na la)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Okwogera mu Lungereza?
Naka la jàngi anglé?
Sikozesa Hindi bulungi.
Maanu jàngi Hindi bu baax.
Sijja kumanya.
Dama xamul.
Nnyonnyola bulungi.
S'il vous plaît, jàngi bu wéy.
Osobola okwogera buno buno?
Naka la waxe ko jëkk?
Ekitanda kiki?
Fàww la bathroom?
Nteekateeka owa city center?
Naka la jëm ci centre ville?
Genda ku kkono.
Jàpp ci jàmm.
Genda ku mwoyo.
Jàpp ci nguur.
Genda mu maaso.
Jëm ci géej.
Ekitundu kiki?
Naka la mbir mi?
Ticket emu, please.
Benn ticket, s'il vous plaît.
Kiki kirekera wano?
Ndax am na loolu ci biir?
Ndi mu bubi.
Dama jàpp.
Nneeyisa SIM card wano?
Fàww laa jënd SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ye
Waaw
Nedda
Déedéet
Okwagala
Moom
Nnaakuwandiika
Maa ngi ci kanam
Sikuwandiika
Maa ngi ci biir
Kyo kyekirungi
Loolu dafa am jamm
Otekayo ki?
Lu tax nga?
Osobola okundabira?
Ndax nga ma jëfandikoo?
Nfuna obuyambi
Maa ngi bëgg jëfandikoo
Saba omukutu
Teg a jàmm
Nsaba
Naka la?
Tewali kibadde
Dama jàmm
Okwagaliza
Jamm rekk
Okwagaliza ku lunaku lw'okuzaala
Bés bu nekk yaakaar
Genda bulungi
Dama la jàmm ci yoon
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Ekitangaala ky'ekitanda?
Fekk na ciy tànk?(fekk na chee tânk)
Ekitangaala ky'ekitanda?
Fekk na ciy bus?(fekk na chee boos)
Ekitangaala ki?
Naka platform bi?(naka platform bee)
Bwe ki ssaawa esigala?
Naka at la mu jàpp?(naka at la moo jàpp)
Okwetegeka kwe?
Ndax loolu mooy way bi?(ndax loolu mooy wee bi)
Kiri wano wansi
Dafa jàmm ci biir(dafa jàmm chee beer)
Kiri mangu
Dafa jàmm ci kaw(dafa jàmm chee kaw)
Osobola okundabira ku kaddde?
Ndax nga ma jox ci carte bi?(ndax nga ma jox chee kart bee)
Ggenda wano, please
Soppi ci bi, ndax jëf?(soppi chee bee, ndax jëf)
Tewali bungi ki?
Naka waxtaan la?(naka waxtaan la)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Kiki ky'ekitundu?
Naka la cost bi?(naka la cost bi)
Ekitundu kyo kireetese.
Loolu am na jafe-jafe(loolu am na jafe-jafe)
Oli n'ekikadde ekirala?
Ndax am nga lu jàpp?(ndax am nga lu jàpp)
Nneetaaga okwefuga ku kadi?
Ndax mën naa jox kaar?(ndax mën naa jox kaar)
Nneetaaga akatale ka abantu babiri.
Maa ngi bëgg table bu jëkk(maa ngi bëgg table bu jëkk)
Ekitabo, please.
Bokk, s'il vous plaît(bokk, s'il vous plaît)
Okwetegereza kukyusiddwa?
Ndax service bi am na?(ndax service bi am na)
Nze ndi omukazi wa mboga.
Maa ngi vegetarian(maa ngi vegetarian)
Tewali emmere eya kinyama, please.
Sama jëfandikoo, s'il vous plaît(sama jëfandikoo, s'il vous plaît)
Ono mulungi.
Loolu am na yomb(loolu am na yomb)
Nneetaaga menu?
Ndax mën naa jox menu bi?(ndax mën naa jox menu bi)
Ekikopo ky'amata, please.
Bott bu ndox, s'il vous plaît(bott bu ndox, s'il vous plaît)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Mpozzi polisi
Naka police bi(Naka police bee)
Mpozzi ambulance
Naka ambulance bi(Naka ambulance bee)
Nfuna daktari
Mangi nekk doctor(Mangi nek doctor)
Ndi mu mbeera mbi
Mangi xam nekk(Mangi xam nek)
Ndi mu bbeera ya nfuzi
Mangi am allergie ci karité(Mangi am allergie see karité)
Okwetegereza hospital ey'ekyama?
Fii na hospital bu am solo?(Fii na hospital boo am solo?)
Bikozesa wano
Moom na fi(Moom na fee)
Nfuuse passport yange
Mangi jàpp passport ma(Mangi japp passport ma)
Osobola okumpa mpozzi hotel yange?
Ndax nga nanga jàpp hotel ma?(Ndax nga nanga japp hotel ma?)
Mbadde!
Jàmm rekk!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Nkwagala okubaako
Nuyul na ci sa bopp(Nuyul na ci sa bopp)
Tugende mu nteekateeka
Nuyul nañu jàmm ci wàllu(Nuyul nañu jàmm ci wàllu)
Okwesiga ki?
Naka sa waxtaan?(Naka sa waxtaan?)
Nja kutandika okutuusa ebiragiro leero
Dama sendi rapòrt bi leegi(Dama sendi rapòrt bi leegi)
Tusobola okubaako oluvannyuma?
Nuyul nañu wax ak sañse?(Nuyul nañu wax ak sañse?)