Looking for practical Swati to Luganda phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Swati 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 Swati 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 Swati 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.
Sawubona
Oli otya?(Oli otya?)
Ngiyabonga
Webale(Webale)
Siyaphila
Osiibye otya?(Osiibye otya?)
Siyaphila
Osiibye bulungi?(Osiibye bulungi?)
Siyaphila
Osiibye otya?(Osiibye otya?)
Lalani kahle
Lwaki olugendo?(Lwaki olugendo?)
Sizobonana
Tugenda kutya?(Tugenda kutya?)
Hamba kahle
Nkwagala(Nkwagala)
Ubani igama lakho?
Erinnya lyo ani?(Erinnya lyo ani?)
Igama lami nguJohn
Erinnya lyange nze John(Erinnya lyange nze John)
Unjani?
Oli otya?(Oli otya?)
Kuhle ukuhlangana nawe
Nkwagala okukulaba(Nkwagala okukulaba)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Ukhuluma ngesiNgisi?
Okwogera mu Lungereza?
Angikhulumi kahle ngesiHindi.
Sikozesa Hindi bulungi.
Angiqondi.
Sijja kumanya.
Ngiyacela, khuluma kancane.
Nnyonnyola bulungi.
Ungakuphindze lokho?
Osobola okwogera buno buno?
Iphi indlu yangasese?
Ekitanda kiki?
Ngiyawufika kanjani emkhatsini?
Nteekateeka owa city center?
Phendukela kwesobunxele.
Genda ku kkono.
Phendukela kwesokudla.
Genda ku mwoyo.
Hamba phambili.
Genda mu maaso.
Kubiza malini?
Ekitundu kiki?
Ithikithi linye, ngiyacela.
Ticket emu, please.
Kude lapha?
Kiki kirekera wano?
Ngilahlekile.
Ndi mu bubi.
Ngingathenga kuphi ikhadi le-SIM?
Nneeyisa SIM card wano?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Yebo
Ye
Cha
Nedda
Mhlawumbe
Okwagala
Ngiyavuma
Nnaakuwandiika
Ngiyaphikisa
Sikuwandiika
Lokho kuhle
Kyo kyekirungi
Ucabanga ukuthini?
Otekayo ki?
Ungangisiza?
Osobola okundabira?
Ngidinga usizo
Nfuna obuyambi
Linda umzuzu
Saba omukutu
Ngiyaxolisa
Nsaba
Akukho nkinga
Tewali kibadde
Siyabonga
Okwagaliza
Siyavuma usuku lokuzalwa
Okwagaliza ku lunaku lw'okuzaala
Uhambe kahle
Genda bulungi
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Kuphi isiteshi sebhasi?
Ekitangaala ky'ekitanda?(ekitangaala ky'ekitanda)
Kuphi umphakatsi webhasi?
Ekitangaala ky'ekitanda?(ekitangaala ky'ekitanda)
Iyiphi i-platform?
Ekitangaala ki?(ekitangaala ki)
Ngasiphi isikhathi iyahamba?
Bwe ki ssaawa esigala?(bwe ki ssaawa esigala)
Ngabe le yindlela efanele?
Okwetegeka kwe?(okwetegeka kwe)
Kusondela lapha
Kiri wano wansi(kiri wano wansi)
Kude lapha
Kiri mangu(kiri mangu)
Ungangikhombisa emmaphweni?
Osobola okundabira ku kaddde?(osobola okundabira ku kaddde)
Misa lapha, ngiyacela
Ggenda wano, please(ggenda wano, please)
Kuthathe isikhathi esingaki?
Tewali bungi ki?(tewali bungi ki)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Kubiza malini le?
Kiki ky'ekitundu?(Kiki ky'ekitundu?)
Lokhu kubiza kakhulu
Ekitundu kyo kireetese.(lo-khu ku-bi-za ka-khulu)
Unayo yini leyo ephansi?
Oli n'ekikadde ekirala?(u-na-yo yi-ni le-yo e-phan-si)
Ngiyakwazi ukukhokha ngekhadi?
Nneetaaga okwefuga ku kadi?(ngi-ya-kwa-zi u-ku-kho-kha nge-kha-di)
Ngithanda itafula lababili
Nneetaaga akatale ka abantu babiri.(ngi-than-da i-ta-fu-la la-ba-bi-li)