Looking for practical Shona to Luganda phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Shona 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: read the Luganda line out loud three times, then cover the Shona side and try to recall the meaning — repetition builds memory faster than silent reading.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Shona 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.
Mhoro
Oli otya?(Oli otya?)
Ndatenda
Webale(Webale)
Mangwanani akanaka
Osiibye otya?(Osiibye otya?)
Masikati akanaka
Osiibye bulungi?(Osiibye bulungi?)
Manheru akanaka
Osiibye otya?(Osiibye otya?)
Usiku hwakanaka
Lwaki olugendo?(Lwaki olugendo?)
Tichasangana gare gare
Tugenda kutya?(Tugenda kutya?)
Sara zvakanaka
Nkwagala(Nkwagala)
Zita rako ndiani?
Erinnya lyo ani?(Erinnya lyo ani?)
Zita rangu ndiri John
Erinnya lyange nze John(Erinnya lyange nze John)
Uri sei?
Oli otya?(Oli otya?)
Ndinofara kukuziva
Nkwagala okukulaba(Nkwagala okukulaba)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Unotaura Chirungu here?
Okwogera mu Lungereza?(unotaura chirungu here)
Handitauri Hindi zvakanaka
Sikozesa Hindi bulungi.(handitauri hindi zvakanaka)