Looking for practical Wolof to Luganda phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Wolof 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: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Luganda-speaking trip in a few weeks.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Wolof 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.
Nanga def
Oli otya?(Oli otya?)
Jërëjëf
Webale(Webale)
Ba beneen yoon
Osiibye otya?(Osiibye otya?)
Ba pare
Osiibye bulungi?(Osiibye bulungi?)
Ba suuf
Osiibye otya?(Osiibye otya?)
Ba ci kanam
Lwaki olugendo?(Lwaki olugendo?)
Naka la
Tugenda kutya?(Tugenda kutya?)
Ba beneen
Nkwagala(Nkwagala)
Naka sa tur?
Erinnya lyo ani?(Erinnya lyo ani?)
Sa tur mooy John
Erinnya lyange nze John(Erinnya lyange nze John)
Naka nga def?
Oli otya?(Oli otya?)
Nuyoo na la
Nkwagala okukulaba(Nkwagala okukulaba)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Naka la jàngi anglé?
Okwogera mu Lungereza?
Maanu jàngi Hindi bu baax.
Sikozesa Hindi bulungi.
Dama xamul.
Sijja kumanya.
S'il vous plaît, jàngi bu wéy.
Nnyonnyola bulungi.
Naka la waxe ko jëkk?
Osobola okwogera buno buno?
Fàww la bathroom?
Ekitanda kiki?
Naka la jëm ci centre ville?
Nteekateeka owa city center?
Jàpp ci jàmm.
Genda ku kkono.
Jàpp ci nguur.
Genda ku mwoyo.
Jëm ci géej.
Genda mu maaso.
Naka la mbir mi?
Ekitundu kiki?
Benn ticket, s'il vous plaît.
Ticket emu, please.
Ndax am na loolu ci biir?
Kiki kirekera wano?
Dama jàpp.
Ndi mu bubi.
Fàww laa jënd SIM card?
Nneeyisa SIM card wano?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Waaw
Ye
Déedéet
Nedda
Moom
Okwagala
Maa ngi ci kanam
Nnaakuwandiika
Maa ngi ci biir
Sikuwandiika
Loolu dafa am jamm
Kyo kyekirungi
Lu tax nga?
Otekayo ki?
Ndax nga ma jëfandikoo?
Osobola okundabira?
Maa ngi bëgg jëfandikoo
Nfuna obuyambi
Teg a jàmm
Saba omukutu
Naka la?
Nsaba
Dama jàmm
Tewali kibadde
Jamm rekk
Okwagaliza
Bés bu nekk yaakaar
Okwagaliza ku lunaku lw'okuzaala
Dama la jàmm ci yoon
Genda bulungi
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Fekk na ciy tànk?
Ekitangaala ky'ekitanda?(ekitangaala ky'ekitanda)
Fekk na ciy bus?
Ekitangaala ky'ekitanda?(ekitangaala ky'ekitanda)
Naka platform bi?
Ekitangaala ki?(ekitangaala ki)
Naka at la mu jàpp?
Bwe ki ssaawa esigala?(bwe ki ssaawa esigala)
Ndax loolu mooy way bi?
Okwetegeka kwe?(okwetegeka kwe)
Dafa jàmm ci biir
Kiri wano wansi(kiri wano wansi)
Dafa jàmm ci kaw
Kiri mangu(kiri mangu)
Ndax nga ma jox ci carte bi?
Osobola okundabira ku kaddde?(osobola okundabira ku kaddde)
Soppi ci bi, ndax jëf?
Ggenda wano, please(ggenda wano, please)
Naka waxtaan la?
Tewali bungi ki?(tewali bungi ki)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Naka la cost bi?
Kiki ky'ekitundu?(Kiki ky'ekitundu?)
Loolu am na jafe-jafe
Ekitundu kyo kireetese.(loolu am na jafe-jafe)
Ndax am nga lu jàpp?
Oli n'ekikadde ekirala?(ndax am nga lu jàpp)
Ndax mën naa jox kaar?
Nneetaaga okwefuga ku kadi?(ndax mën naa jox kaar)
Maa ngi bëgg table bu jëkk
Nneetaaga akatale ka abantu babiri.(maa ngi bëgg table bu jëkk)