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Common Tumbuka to Luganda phrases

100 practical Tumbuka to Luganda phrases for travel, study, work, and daily conversation.

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Looking for practical Tumbuka to Luganda phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Tumbuka 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 Tumbuka 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 Tumbuka 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.

  1. Moni

    Oli otya? (Oli otya?)

  2. Zikomo

    Webale (Webale)

  3. Muli bwanji

    Osiibye otya? (Osiibye otya?)

  4. Muli bwanji

    Osiibye bulungi? (Osiibye bulungi?)

  5. Muli bwanji

    Osiibye otya? (Osiibye otya?)

  6. Usiku wabwino

    Lwaki olugendo? (Lwaki olugendo?)

  7. Tiwonana

    Tugenda kutya? (Tugenda kutya?)

  8. Tsalani bwino

    Nkwagala (Nkwagala)

  9. Dzina lanu ndi ndani?

    Erinnya lyo ani? (Erinnya lyo ani?)

  10. Dzina langa ndi John

    Erinnya lyange nze John (Erinnya lyange nze John)

  11. Muli bwanji?

    Oli otya? (Oli otya?)

  12. Ndine wokondwa kukumana nanu

    Nkwagala okukulaba (Nkwagala okukulaba)

Useful phrases for travellers

Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.

  1. Muli ndi Chingerezi?

    Okwogera mu Lungereza? (muli ndi chingerezi)

  2. Sikuyankhula Hindi bwino

    Sikozesa Hindi bulungi. (sikuyankhula hindi bwino)

  3. Sindikumva

    Sijja kumanya. (sindikumva)

  4. Chonde yankhulani pang'ono

    Nnyonnyola bulungi. (chonde yankhulani pang'ono)

  5. Mungandiyankhulepo?

    Osobola okwogera buno buno? (mungandiyankhulepo)

  6. Kuti ndi kuti?

    Ekitanda kiki? (kuti ndi kuti)

  7. Ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu?

    Nteekateeka owa city center? (ndingafike bwanji ku msewu waukulu)

  8. Pita kumanzere

    Genda ku kkono. (pita kumanzere)

  9. Pita kumanja

    Genda ku mwoyo. (pita kumanja)

  10. Pita mwendo

    Genda mu maaso. (pita mwendo)

  11. Ndi ndalama zingati?

    Ekitundu kiki? (ndi ndalama zingati)

  12. Tiketi imodzi, chonde

    Ticket emu, please. (tiketi imodzi, chonde)

  13. Ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano?

    Kiki kirekera wano? (ndi mtunda wautali kuchokera pano)

  14. Ndakhalapo

    Ndi mu bubi. (ndakhalapo)

  15. Ndingatengere kuti kuti SIM card?

    Nneeyisa SIM card wano? (ndingatengere kuti kuti sim card)

Everyday conversation

Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.

  1. Iye

    Ye

  2. Ayi

    Nedda

  3. Pang'ono

    Okwagala

  4. Ndikugwirizana

    Nnaakuwandiika

  5. Sindikugwirizana

    Sikuwandiika

  6. Ichi chimaoneka bwino

    Kyo kyekirungi

  7. Muli ndi chiyani choti mumaganize?

    Otekayo ki?

  8. Mungandithandize?

    Osobola okundabira?

  9. Ndikufuna thandizo

    Nfuna obuyambi

  10. Dikirani pang’ono

    Saba omukutu

  11. Ndikupemphera

    Nsaba

  12. Palibe vutoli

    Tewali kibadde

  13. Zikomo

    Okwagaliza

  14. Tsiku lobadwa labwino

    Okwagaliza ku lunaku lw'okuzaala

  15. Pita bwino pa ulendo

    Genda bulungi

Directions and getting around

Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.

  1. Kukakhala kuti chiteshi cha njinga?

    Ekitangaala ky'ekitanda? (ekitangaala ky'ekitanda)

  2. Kukakhala kuti malo otchinga basi?

    Ekitangaala ky'ekitanda? (ekitangaala ky'ekitanda)

  3. Ndi chigawo chiti?

    Ekitangaala ki? (ekitangaala ki)

  4. Nanga nthawi itangopita?

    Bwe ki ssaawa esigala? (bwe ki ssaawa esigala)

  5. Kodi iyi ndi njira yoyenera?

    Okwetegeka kwe? (okwetegeka kwe)

  6. Iyi ndi pafupi apa

    Kiri wano wansi (kiri wano wansi)

  7. Iyi ndi kutali ndi apa

    Kiri mangu (kiri mangu)

  8. Mungandionetse pa chithunzi?

    Osobola okundabira ku kaddde? (osobola okundabira ku kaddde)

  9. Chimitsa apa, chonde

    Ggenda wano, please (ggenda wano, please)

  10. Zimatenga nthawi yaitali bwanji?

    Tewali bungi ki? (tewali bungi ki)

Shopping and dining

Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.

  1. Iyi ikuguliradi chingwe?

    Kiki ky'ekitundu? (Kiki ky'ekitundu?)

  2. Iyi ndi mtengo wopusa

    Ekitundu kyo kireetese. (iyi ndi mtengo wopusa)

  3. Muli ndi chinthu chochepa mtengo?

    Oli n'ekikadde ekirala? (muli ndi chinthu chochepa mtengo)

  4. Ningathe kulipira ndi khadi?

    Nneetaaga okwefuga ku kadi? (ningathe kulipira ndi khadi)

  5. Ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri

    Nneetaaga akatale ka abantu babiri. (ndikufuna tebulo la anthu awiri)

  6. Chikalata, chonde

    Ekitabo, please. (chikalata, chonde)

  7. Ntchito ikuphatikizidwa?

    Okwetegereza kukyusiddwa? (ntchito ikuphatikizidwa)

  8. Ndine wopanda nyama

    Nze ndi omukazi wa mboga. (ndine wopanda nyama)

  9. Chonde, osati chakudya chothira

    Tewali emmere eya kinyama, please. (chonde, osati chakudya chothira)

  10. Iyi ndi yokoma

    Ono mulungi. (iyi ndi yokoma)

  11. Ningathe kupeza menyu?

    Nneetaaga menu? (ningathe kupeza menyu)

  12. Galasi ya madzi, chonde

    Ekikopo ky'amata, please. (galasi ya madzi, chonde)

Emergencies and health

Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.

  1. Fufuzani polisi

    Mpozzi polisi

  2. Fufuzani ambulansi

    Mpozzi ambulance

  3. Ndikufuna dokotala

    Nfuna daktari

  4. Ndikuwona bwino

    Ndi mu mbeera mbi

  5. Ndine wosowa ma groundnuts

    Ndi mu bbeera ya nfuzi

  6. Kuti ndi chiyani chachikondi?

    Okwetegereza hospital ey'ekyama?

  7. Kuli kuuma apa

    Bikozesa wano

  8. Ndasowa pasipoti yangu

    Nfuuse passport yange

  9. Mungafufuze hotelo yanga?

    Osobola okumpa mpozzi hotel yange?

  10. Thandizani!

    Mbadde!

Work and business

Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.

  1. Ndalumba kukumana nanu

    Nkwagala okubaako (Nkwagala okubaako)

  2. Tiyeni tiwoneke pa nthawi

    Tugende mu nteekateeka (Tugende mu nteekateeka)

  3. Nthawi yiti ikukugwirirani ntchito?

    Okwesiga ki? (Okwesiga ki?)

  4. Ndidzatumiza lipoti lero

    Nja kutandika okutuusa ebiragiro leero (Nja kutandika okutuusa ebiragiro leero)

  5. Tingathe kulankhula mawa?

    Tusobola okubaako oluvannyuma? (Tusobola okubaako oluvannyuma?)

  6. Chonde onani fayilo yolembedwa

    Nsaba osanga fayiro eyakwatiddwa (Nsaba osanga fayiro eyakwatiddwa)

  7. Zikomo chifukwa cha nthawi yanu

    Webale ku ssaawa yo (Webale ku ssaawa yo)

  8. Ndikuyembekezera kugwira ntchito nanu

    Ntegedde okubaako na ggwe (Ntegedde okubaako na ggwe)

  9. Mungathe kuthetsa mfundo imeneyi?

    Osobola okuddamu ekifaananyi? (Osobola okuddamu ekifaananyi?)

  10. Nditenge nthawi ndikubwerereni

    Nja kukuwandiikira (Nja kukuwandiikira)

  11. Nthawi yomaliza ndi Lachisanu

    Ekitundu ky’okusaba kiki ku Lwokutaano (Ekitundu ky’okusaba kiki ku Lwokutaano)

Time, days and numbers

Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.

  1. Ndi chiyani nthawi?

    Ki nsonga? (ki nsonga)

  2. Ndi saa tatu

    Kiri saawa ssatu (kiri saawa ssatu)

  3. Lero

    Leero (leero)

  4. Maŵa

    Nne (nne)

  5. Kale

    Yaka (yaka)

  6. Lolemba

    Mmande (mmande)

  7. Lachiwiri

    Olwokubiri (olwokubiri)

  8. Lachitatu

    Olwokutaano (olwokutaano)

  9. Mmodzi

    Emu (emu)

  10. Awiri

    Bbiri (bbiri)

  11. Atatu

    Ssatu (ssatu)

  12. Kumi

    Kkumi (kkumi)

  13. Zana

    Kikumi (kikumi)

  14. Pachikhalidwe

    Okwetaba (okwetaba)

  15. Zambiri

    Mungeri (mungeri)

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