Looking for practical Nuer to Luganda phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Nuer 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: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Luganda-speaking trip in a few weeks.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Nuer 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.
Nhiar
Oli otya?(Oli otya?)
Nyaak
Webale(Webale)
Nhiar gɔ̈ɔ̈r
Osiibye otya?(Osiibye otya?)
Nhiar aŋɔ̈r
Osiibye bulungi?(Osiibye bulungi?)
Nhiar aŋɔ̈r
Osiibye otya?(Osiibye otya?)
Nhiar kɔ̈c
Lwaki olugendo?(Lwaki olugendo?)
Aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n
Tugenda kutya?(Tugenda kutya?)
Kɛ̈n
Nkwagala(Nkwagala)
Cɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n?
Erinnya lyo ani?(Erinnya lyo ani?)
Cɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r John
Erinnya lyange nze John(Erinnya lyange nze John)
Cɛ̈l kɛ̈n?
Oli otya?(Oli otya?)
Kɛ̈l aŋɔ̈r kɛ̈n
Nkwagala okukulaba(Nkwagala okukulaba)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Nyaac ke nyin English?
Okwogera mu Lungereza?
Nyaac ma nyin Hindi ke nyin.
Sikozesa Hindi bulungi.
Nyaac ma nyin.
Sijja kumanya.
Yin ke nyin kɛl.
Nnyonnyola bulungi.
Yin ke nyin kɛl a thok?
Osobola okwogera buno buno?
Yin thok a kɛl?
Ekitanda kiki?
Nyaac ke nyin a city center?
Nteekateeka owa city center?
Yin ke nyin a laar.
Genda ku kkono.
Yin ke nyin a jɛŋ.
Genda ku mwoyo.
Yin ke nyin a thok.
Genda mu maaso.
Yin ke nyin a kɛl?
Ekitundu kiki?
Yin ke nyin a ticket.
Ticket emu, please.
Yin ke nyin a thok?
Kiki kirekera wano?
Nyaac ke nyin.
Ndi mu bubi.
Yin thok a kɛl a SIM card?
Nneeyisa SIM card wano?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Aye
Ye
Naa
Nedda
Nyaak
Okwagala
Nyeek a kech
Nnaakuwandiika
Nyeek a kech naa
Sikuwandiika
Iye kech kɛl
Kyo kyekirungi
Nyaak a kech?
Otekayo ki?
Nyaak a kech a jɔɔr?
Osobola okundabira?
Nyeek a jɔɔr kɛl
Nfuna obuyambi
Kɛl a jɔɔr
Saba omukutu
Nyeek a kech
Nsaba
Naa a kech kɛl
Tewali kibadde
Aye kɛl
Okwagaliza
Aye kɛl a wɛr
Okwagaliza ku lunaku lw'okuzaala
Kɛl a jɔɔr a jɛɛr
Genda bulungi
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Känyë kɛ́l wɛ́l?
Ekitangaala ky'ekitanda?(ekitangaala ky'ekitanda)
Känyë kɛ́l bɔ́l?
Ekitangaala ky'ekitanda?(ekitangaala ky'ekitanda)
Kɛ́l bɛ́t kɛ́t?
Ekitangaala ki?(ekitangaala ki)
Kɛ́l wɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́t?
Bwe ki ssaawa esigala?(bwe ki ssaawa esigala)
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l wɛ́l?
Okwetegeka kwe?(okwetegeka kwe)
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l kɛ́l?
Kiri wano wansi(kiri wano wansi)
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l jɔ́l?
Kiri mangu(kiri mangu)
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l pɛ́t kɛ́t?
Osobola okundabira ku kaddde?(osobola okundabira ku kaddde)
Kɛ́l jɛ́l kɛ́l, pɛ́l?
Ggenda wano, please(ggenda wano, please)
Kɛ́l ɪ́t kɛ́l jɔ́l kɛ́t?
Tewali bungi ki?(tewali bungi ki)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Nyaak cɛl?
Kiki ky'ekitundu?(Kiki ky'ekitundu?)
Kɛl yic kɛc
Ekitundu kyo kireetese.(kel yich kech)
Yin kɛl nyin cɛl?
Oli n'ekikadde ekirala?(yin kel nyin chel)
Nyaak tɛr kɛl kɛc?
Nneetaaga okwefuga ku kadi?(nyaak ter kel kech)
Nyaak cɛl kɛl tɛbɛl kɛl nyin
Nneetaaga akatale ka abantu babiri.(nyaak chel kel tebel kel nyin)
Nyaak cɛl kɛl bɛl
Ekitabo, please.(nyaak chel kel bel)
Yin kɛl cɛl kɛl tɛr?
Okwetegereza kukyusiddwa?(yin kel chel kel ter)
Nyaak cɛl wɛr
Nze ndi omukazi wa mboga.(nyaak chel wer)
Nyaak cɛl kɛl wɛr kɛc
Tewali emmere eya kinyama, please.(nyaak chel kel wer kech)
Kɛl cɛl kɛl nyin
Ono mulungi.(kel chel kel nyin)
Nyaak cɛl kɛl mɛn?
Nneetaaga menu?(nyaak chel kel men)
Nyaak cɛl kɛl gɛl wɛt
Ekikopo ky'amata, please.(nyaak chel kel gel wet)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Cïl wïr
Mpozzi polisi(cil wir)
Cïl an ambulance
Mpozzi ambulance(cil an ambulance)
Aŋ thïr a doctor
Nfuna daktari(ang thir a doctor)
Aŋ kɔc
Ndi mu mbeera mbi(ang koc)
Aŋ kɔc a pïyït
Ndi mu bbeera ya nfuzi(ang koc a piyit)
Cït kɛ̈n hospital?
Okwetegereza hospital ey'ekyama?(cit ken hospital)
Cïk bɛ̈t
Bikozesa wano(cik bet)
Aŋ kɛ̈n passport
Nfuuse passport yange(ang ken passport)
Aŋ kɛ̈n cïl my hotel?
Osobola okumpa mpozzi hotel yange?(ang ken cil my hotel)
Kɛ̈n!
Mbadde!(ken)
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.