Looking for practical Luo to Luganda phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Luo phrase first, then the Luganda translation (Luganda) — 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 Luganda.
Tip: when a Luganda phrase looks unfamiliar, compare it with the Luo 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 Luo to Luganda 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.
Naki
Oli otya?(Oli otya?)
Asante
Webale(Webale)
Naki chuo
Osiibye otya?(Osiibye otya?)
Naki ng'ato
Osiibye bulungi?(Osiibye bulungi?)
Naki owadgi
Osiibye otya?(Osiibye otya?)
Naki buya
Lwaki olugendo?(Lwaki olugendo?)
Ting' kendo
Tugenda kutya?(Tugenda kutya?)
Naki
Nkwagala(Nkwagala)
Ine ng'ama in?
Erinnya lyo ani?(Erinnya lyo ani?)
Inyalo John
Erinnya lyange nze John(Erinnya lyange nze John)
Okwere?
Oli otya?(Oli otya?)
Naki konyo
Nkwagala okukulaba(Nkwagala okukulaba)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Naki konyo English?
Okwogera mu Lungereza?
Naki konyo Hindi mako.
Sikozesa Hindi bulungi.
Nyingi.
Sijja kumanya.
Tende konyo chalo.
Nnyonnyola bulungi.
Naki konyo to?
Osobola okwogera buno buno?
Ith gi toilet?
Ekitanda kiki?
Ning'eyo konyo city center?
Nteekateeka owa city center?
Konyo chike.
Genda ku kkono.
Konyo duto.
Genda ku mwoyo.
Yie chalo.
Genda mu maaso.
Ning'eyo koro?
Ekitundu kiki?
Ticket moko, ndalo.
Ticket emu, please.
Nia ng'ato kendo?
Kiki kirekera wano?
Nin gi chalo.
Ndi mu bubi.
Ith gi SIM card?
Nneeyisa SIM card wano?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ee
Ye
Ayi
Nedda
Kaka
Okwagala
Akwong'
Nnaakuwandiika
Ayi Akwong'
Sikuwandiika
Ong'eyo
Kyo kyekirungi
Ine owuon?
Otekayo ki?
Naki gi chalo?
Osobola okundabira?
Nind gi chalo
Nfuna obuyambi
Chakre
Saba omukutu
Naki
Nsaba
Ayi koro
Tewali kibadde
Naki chalo
Okwagaliza
Naki buo
Okwagaliza ku lunaku lw'okuzaala
Naki chalo gi chalo
Genda bulungi
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Naki yieng' ma train?
Ekitangaala ky'ekitanda?(ekitangaala ky'ekitanda)
Naki yieng' ma bus?
Ekitangaala ky'ekitanda?(ekitangaala ky'ekitanda)
Naki platform ng'eyo?
Ekitangaala ki?(ekitangaala ki)
Naki koro ng'ato?
Bwe ki ssaawa esigala?(bwe ki ssaawa esigala)
Ning'eyo ni ng'ato?
Okwetegeka kwe?(okwetegeka kwe)
Niko neno.
Kiri wano wansi(kiri wano wansi)
Niko piny.
Kiri mangu(kiri mangu)
Okwong' ni on map?
Osobola okundabira ku kaddde?(osobola okundabira ku kaddde)
Dhi here, please.
Ggenda wano, please(ggenda wano, please)
Naki koro ng'ato?
Tewali bungi ki?(tewali bungi ki)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Nia ni?
Kiki ky'ekitundu?(Kiki ky'ekitundu?)
Owino ni gi chalo.
Ekitundu kyo kireetese.
I konyo kanyo?
Oli n'ekikadde ekirala?
Inyalo nind gi kad?
Nneetaaga okwefuga ku kadi?
Nin gi chula mar duong'.
Nneetaaga akatale ka abantu babiri.
Chakruok, plis.
Ekitabo, please.
Isango ni gi?
Okwetegereza kukyusiddwa?
Nin gi vegeterian.
Nze ndi omukazi wa mboga.
Naki chalo chalo, plis.
Tewali emmere eya kinyama, please.
Owino ni gi dho.
Ono mulungi.
Inyalo nind gi menu?
Nneetaaga menu?
Gik konyo mar maji, plis.
Ekikopo ky'amata, please.
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Nedhi polisi
Mpozzi polisi
Nedhi ambulance
Mpozzi ambulance
Aneedo daktari
Nfuna daktari
Akwong' gi chalo
Ndi mu mbeera mbi
An gi allergy kuom peanuts
Ndi mu bbeera ya nfuzi
Naki hospital mar koro?
Okwetegereza hospital ey'ekyama?
Okwong' mana
Bikozesa wano
Nying' my passport
Nfuuse passport yange
Inyalo nedhi hotel ang'wen?
Osobola okumpa mpozzi hotel yange?
Konyo!
Mbadde!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.