Looking for practical Tiv to Luganda phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Tiv 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 Tiv 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 Tiv 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.
Mgbakpa
Oli otya?(Oli otya?)
Ior na
Webale(Webale)
Mgbakpa u sha
Osiibye otya?(Osiibye otya?)
Mgbakpa u kpa
Osiibye bulungi?(Osiibye bulungi?)
Mgbakpa u ter
Osiibye otya?(Osiibye otya?)
Mgbakpa u ter sha
Lwaki olugendo?(Lwaki olugendo?)
Kpa a joo
Tugenda kutya?(Tugenda kutya?)
Ior a joo
Nkwagala(Nkwagala)
Ior m ngu?
Erinnya lyo ani?(Erinnya lyo ani?)
M ngu John
Erinnya lyange nze John(Erinnya lyange nze John)
Ior m nande?
Oli otya?(Oli otya?)
Ior m nande a joo
Nkwagala okukulaba(Nkwagala okukulaba)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
I kpa English?
Okwogera mu Lungereza?
M nahan Hindi nahan.
Sikozesa Hindi bulungi.
M nahan usha.
Sijja kumanya.
M nahan usha kpa.
Nnyonnyola bulungi.
I kpa a sha?
Osobola okwogera buno buno?
I we a joo?
Ekitanda kiki?
Nenge a kpa a city center?
Nteekateeka owa city center?
Kpa a joo.
Genda ku kkono.
Kpa a nahan.
Genda ku mwoyo.
Kpa a sha.
Genda mu maaso.
Nenge a kpa a fare?
Ekitundu kiki?
I kpa a ticket, please.
Ticket emu, please.
I we a nahan a nahan?
Kiki kirekera wano?
M nahan sha.
Ndi mu bubi.
I we a kpa a SIM card?
Nneeyisa SIM card wano?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ee
Ye
Naa
Nedda
Iye
Okwagala
M na a kpa
Nnaakuwandiika
M na a kpa nahan
Sikuwandiika
I kpa a kpa
Kyo kyekirungi
U kpa a nahan?
Otekayo ki?
U kpa m nahan?
Osobola okundabira?
M na a kpa nahan
Nfuna obuyambi
Kpa a kpa
Saba omukutu
M na a kpa
Nsaba
Naa a kpa
Tewali kibadde
I kpa a kpa
Okwagaliza
A kpa a kpa
Okwagaliza ku lunaku lw'okuzaala
U kpa a kpa
Genda bulungi
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Ior a kpa?
Ekitangaala ky'ekitanda?(ekitangaala ky'ekitanda)
Ior a nyam?
Ekitangaala ky'ekitanda?(ekitangaala ky'ekitanda)
Ior a gande?
Ekitangaala ki?(ekitangaala ki)
Nenge a kpa?
Bwe ki ssaawa esigala?(bwe ki ssaawa esigala)
Ior a nenge a?
Okwetegeka kwe?(okwetegeka kwe)
I na kpa a.
Kiri wano wansi(kiri wano wansi)
I na kpa a kpa.
Kiri mangu(kiri mangu)
I ma ior a gande?
Osobola okundabira ku kaddde?(osobola okundabira ku kaddde)
Kpa a, please.
Ggenda wano, please(ggenda wano, please)
Nenge a kpa?
Tewali bungi ki?(tewali bungi ki)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Ior kwagh nahan?
Kiki ky'ekitundu?(Kiki ky'ekitundu?)
Ior u kpa a kpa
Ekitundu kyo kireetese.(ior u kpa a kpa)
Ior m ngu u kpa?
Oli n'ekikadde ekirala?(ior m ngu u kpa)
Ior m gban a card?
Nneetaaga okwefuga ku kadi?(ior m gban a card)
A doo a table m ngu a yô
Nneetaaga akatale ka abantu babiri.(a doo a table m ngu a yô)
Ior a bill, please
Ekitabo, please.(ior a bill, please)
Ior a service m nahan?
Okwetegereza kukyusiddwa?(ior a service m nahan)
A m vegetarian
Nze ndi omukazi wa mboga.(a m vegetarian)
A m nahan a spicy food
Tewali emmere eya kinyama, please.(a m nahan a spicy food)
Ior a kpa
Ono mulungi.(ior a kpa)
Ior m gban a menu?
Nneetaaga menu?(ior m gban a menu)
A glass a water, please
Ekikopo ky'amata, please.(a glass a water)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Kpa a police
Mpozzi polisi
Kpa a ambulance
Mpozzi ambulance
M ba a doctor
Nfuna daktari
M kpa a kpa
Ndi mu mbeera mbi
M kpa a nyam
Ndi mu bbeera ya nfuzi
I kpa a hospital mza?
Okwetegereza hospital ey'ekyama?
I kpa a sha
Bikozesa wano
M kpa a passport m
Nfuuse passport yange
I kpa a hotel m?
Osobola okumpa mpozzi hotel yange?
Kpa!
Mbadde!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.