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