Looking for practical Somali to Luganda phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Somali 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 Somali 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.
Salaan
Oli otya?(Oli otya?)
Mahadsanid
Webale(Webale)
Subax wanaagsan
Osiibye otya?(Osiibye otya?)
Duhur wanaagsan
Osiibye bulungi?(Osiibye bulungi?)
Habeen wanaagsan
Osiibye otya?(Osiibye otya?)
Habeen wanaagsan
Lwaki olugendo?(Lwaki olugendo?)
Ilaa dambe
Tugenda kutya?(Tugenda kutya?)
Nabad gelyo
Nkwagala(Nkwagala)
Magacaa maxay tahay?
Erinnya lyo ani?(Erinnya lyo ani?)
Magacaygu waa John
Erinnya lyange nze John(Erinnya lyange nze John)
Sidee tahay?
Oli otya?(Oli otya?)
Aad ayaan ugu faraxsanahay in aan ku arko
Nkwagala okukulaba(Nkwagala okukulaba)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Ma ku hadashaa Ingiriisi?
Okwogera mu Lungereza?(Ma ku hadashaa Ingiriisi?)
Hindi si fiican uma hadlo
Sikozesa Hindi bulungi.
Ma fahmin
Sijja kumanya.
Fadlan si tartiib ah u hadal
Nnyonnyola bulungi.
Ma ku celin kartaa?
Osobola okwogera buno buno?
Musqusha xaggee buu yaalaa?
Ekitanda kiki?
Sideen ku gaari karaa xarunta magaalada?
Nteekateeka owa city center?
Bidix u leexo
Genda ku kkono.
Midig u leexo
Genda ku mwoyo.
Toos u soco
Genda mu maaso.
Immisa ayey tahay lacagta?
Ekitundu kiki?
Hal tigidh, fadlan
Ticket emu, please.
Ma fog tahay halkan?
Kiki kirekera wano?
Waan lumay
Ndi mu bubi.
Xaggee ka iibsan karaa kaarka SIM?
Nneeyisa SIM card wano?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Haa
Ye
Maya
Nedda
Malaha
Okwagala
Waan ku raacsanahay
Nnaakuwandiika
Waan ku raacsaneyn
Sikuwandiika
Taasi waa wax fiican
Kyo kyekirungi
Maxaad u malaynaysaa?
Otekayo ki?
Ma i caawin kartaa?
Osobola okundabira?
Waxaan u baahanahay caawimaad
Nfuna obuyambi
Sug daqiiqad
Saba omukutu
Waan ka xumahay
Nsaba
Dhib malahan
Tewali kibadde
Hambalyo
Okwagaliza
Dhalasho wacan
Okwagaliza ku lunaku lw'okuzaala
Safar wanaagsan
Genda bulungi
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Xagee buu tareenka jooga?
Ekitangaala ky'ekitanda?(ekitangaala ky'ekitanda)
Xagee buu basaska jooga?
Ekitangaala ky'ekitanda?(ekitangaala ky'ekitanda)
Keenka sidee buu yahay?
Ekitangaala ki?(ekitangaala ki)
Goormee ayuu baxayaa?
Bwe ki ssaawa esigala?(bwe ki ssaawa esigala)
Ma tan saxda ah?
Okwetegeka kwe?(okwetegeka kwe)
Waa halkan u dhow
Kiri wano wansi(kiri wano wansi)
Waa halkan fog
Kiri mangu(kiri mangu)
Ma ii muujin kartaa khariidada?
Osobola okundabira ku kaddde?(osobola okundabira ku kaddde)
Halkan joog, fadlan
Ggenda wano, please(ggenda wano, please)
Immisa waqti ayey qaadaneysaa?
Tewali bungi ki?(tewali bungi ki)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Imisa ayuu ku kacayaa?
Kiki ky'ekitundu?(Kiki ky'ekitundu?)
Taasi waa qaali aad u badan.
Ekitundu kyo kireetese.
Ma haysta wax ka jaban?
Oli n'ekikadde ekirala?
Ma bixin karaa kaarka?
Nneetaaga okwefuga ku kadi?
Waxaan jeclaan lahaa miis laba qof ah.
Nneetaaga akatale ka abantu babiri.
Fadlan, biilka.
Ekitabo, please.
Ma ku jirtaa adeegga?
Okwetegereza kukyusiddwa?
Anigu waxaan ahay khudradeed.
Nze ndi omukazi wa mboga.
Fadlan, cunto aan xawaash lahayn.
Tewali emmere eya kinyama, please.
Tani waa macaan.
Ono mulungi.
Ma heli karaa menu?
Nneetaaga menu?
Fadlan, koob biyo ah.
Ekikopo ky'amata, please.
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Wac booliiska
Mpozzi polisi
Wac ambalaas
Mpozzi ambulance
Waxaan u baahanahay dhakhtar
Nfuna daktari
Waxaan dareemayaa xanuun
Ndi mu mbeera mbi
Waxaan leeyahay xasaasiyad lowska
Ndi mu bbeera ya nfuzi
Isbitaalka ugu dhow xagee buu yaalaa?
Okwetegereza hospital ey'ekyama?
Halkaan ayaa i xanuunaya
Bikozesa wano
Dukumeentigayga safarka ayaan lumiyay
Nfuuse passport yange
Ma wici kartaa hoteelkeyga?
Osobola okumpa mpozzi hotel yange?
Caawimaad!
Mbadde!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.