Looking for practical Tsonga to Luganda phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Tsonga 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 Tsonga 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 Tsonga 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.
Xewani
Oli otya?(Oli otya?)
Ndza khensa
Webale(Webale)
Xewani xitulu
Osiibye otya?(Osiibye otya?)
Xewani ntlhanu
Osiibye bulungi?(Osiibye bulungi?)
Xewani nhloko
Osiibye otya?(Osiibye otya?)
Xewani xihlayo
Lwaki olugendo?(Lwaki olugendo?)
Tshamisa
Tugenda kutya?(Tugenda kutya?)
Sala kahle
Nkwagala(Nkwagala)
U vitaniwani?
Erinnya lyo ani?(Erinnya lyo ani?)
Ndzina i John
Erinnya lyange nze John(Erinnya lyange nze John)
U njhani?
Oli otya?(Oli otya?)
Ku rhandza ku hlangana na wena
Nkwagala okukulaba(Nkwagala okukulaba)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
U vulavula Xitsonga?
Okwogera mu Lungereza?
A ndzi vulavula Hindi kahle.
Sikozesa Hindi bulungi.
A ndzi twisisi.
Sijja kumanya.
Ndza kombela u vulavula hi ku hatlisa.
Nnyonnyola bulungi.
U nga vula sweswo na ku tlhela?
Osobola okwogera buno buno?
Xikombiso xihi?
Ekitanda kiki?
Ndza famba njhani ku ya etikweni?
Nteekateeka owa city center?
Khandziya ekhaya.
Genda ku kkono.
Khandziya ekunene.
Genda ku mwoyo.
Famba u ya emahlweni.
Genda mu maaso.
Mafambiselo ma yini?
Ekitundu kiki?
Nhlamulo imwe, ndza kombela.
Ticket emu, please.
I yini ku tlula kona?
Kiki kirekera wano?
Ndzi khomiwe.
Ndi mu bubi.
Xina ndzi nga teka SIM card?
Nneeyisa SIM card wano?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Inhlawulo
Ye
A hi kona
Nedda
Swi nga va tano
Okwagala
Ndzi amukela
Nnaakuwandiika
Ndzi nga amukeli
Sikuwandiika
Iku na switlhavelo
Kyo kyekirungi
U ehleketa yini?
Otekayo ki?
U nga ndzi pfuna?
Osobola okundabira?
Ndzi lava mpfuno
Nfuna obuyambi
Hlayisa nkarhi
Saba omukutu
Ndzi tsundzuka
Nsaba
A hi na xiphiqo
Tewali kibadde
Ndzakuva
Okwagaliza
Mavongele yo tsakela
Okwagaliza ku lunaku lw'okuzaala
U va na ndlela yo olova
Genda bulungi
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Ku wihi xitlhavelo xa mabhazi?
Ekitangaala ky'ekitanda?(ekitangaala ky'ekitanda)
Ku wihi xitlhavelo xa mabhazi?
Ekitangaala ky'ekitanda?(ekitangaala ky'ekitanda)
I platform yihi?
Ekitangaala ki?(ekitangaala ki)
I nkarhi muni yi hamba?
Bwe ki ssaawa esigala?(bwe ki ssaawa esigala)
I ndlela leyi nga right?
Okwetegeka kwe?(okwetegeka kwe)
I kona edzongeni.
Kiri wano wansi(kiri wano wansi)
I le n'hweti.
Kiri mangu(kiri mangu)
U nga ndzi kombisa eka mappu?
Osobola okundabira ku kaddde?(osobola okundabira ku kaddde)
Tshika lapha, ndza kombela.
Ggenda wano, please(ggenda wano, please)
I nkarhi muni ku taka?
Tewali bungi ki?(tewali bungi ki)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
I ku humelela njhani?
Kiki ky'ekitundu?(Kiki ky'ekitundu?)
I kona ku phindzelela.
Ekitundu kyo kireetese.
U na na yini leyi endlaka ku phindzelela?
Oli n'ekikadde ekirala?
Ndzaku ta hlayisa hi khadi?
Nneetaaga okwefuga ku kadi?
Ndza rhandza tafula ya vumbirhi.
Nneetaaga akatale ka abantu babiri.
Ndzaku ya le mfunghwini.
Ekitabo, please.
I ku kumiwa ka ntirho?
Okwetegereza kukyusiddwa?
Ndza va vegetarian.
Nze ndi omukazi wa mboga.
A hi na swakudya leswi khumbaka.
Tewali emmere eya kinyama, please.
Leswi i switlhavi.
Ono mulungi.
Ndzaku na menu?
Nneetaaga menu?
Ndzaku ya vhuvhu.
Ekikopo ky'amata, please.
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Tivisa mapolisa
Mpozzi polisi
Tivisa ambalansi
Mpozzi ambulance
Ndzi lava dokotela
Nfuna daktari
Ndzi khoma ku vava
Ndi mu mbeera mbi
Ndza va na ku vava hi mapfuri
Ndi mu bbeera ya nfuzi
Hospital leyi nga ekule i wihi?
Okwetegereza hospital ey'ekyama?
Ku vava laha
Bikozesa wano
Ndzi lahlekeriwe hi passport ya mina
Nfuuse passport yange
U nga tivisa hotel ya mina?
Osobola okumpa mpozzi hotel yange?
Shelp!
Mbadde!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.