Looking for practical Xhosa to Luganda phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Xhosa 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 Xhosa 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.
Molo
Oli otya?(Oli otya?)
Enkosi
Webale(Webale)
Ubusuku obuhle
Osiibye otya?(Osiibye otya?)
Ubusuku obuhle
Osiibye bulungi?(Osiibye bulungi?)
Ubusuku obuhle
Osiibye otya?(Osiibye otya?)
Lala ngoxolo
Lwaki olugendo?(Lwaki olugendo?)
Ndiza kubonana kamva
Tugenda kutya?(Tugenda kutya?)
Hamba kakuhle
Nkwagala(Nkwagala)
Ngubani igama lakho?
Erinnya lyo ani?(Erinnya lyo ani?)
Igama lam nguJohn
Erinnya lyange nze John(Erinnya lyange nze John)
Unjani?
Oli otya?(Oli otya?)
Kuhle ukukwazi
Nkwagala okukulaba(Nkwagala okukulaba)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Uthetha isiNgesi?
Okwogera mu Lungereza?
Andithethi isiHindi kakuhle
Sikozesa Hindi bulungi.
Andiqondi
Sijja kumanya.
Nceda thethe kancinci
Nnyonnyola bulungi.
Ungakuphinda lokho?
Osobola okwogera buno buno?
Iphi ibhafu?
Ekitanda kiki?
Ndingafika njani kwi mveliso ye dolophu?
Nteekateeka owa city center?
Jolisa kwesokunxele
Genda ku kkono.
Jolisa kwesokudla
Genda ku mwoyo.
Hamba ngqo
Genda mu maaso.
Iholo ingakanani?
Ekitundu kiki?
Ithikithi elinye, nceda
Ticket emu, please.
Ingakanani ukusuka apha?
Kiki kirekera wano?
Ndilahlekile
Ndi mu bubi.
Nphi endinokuthenga khona iSIM card?
Nneeyisa SIM card wano?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ewe
Ye
Hayi
Nedda
Mhlawumbi
Okwagala
Ndiyavuma
Nnaakuwandiika
Andivumi
Sikuwandiika
Okuhle
Kyo kyekirungi
Ucinga ntoni?
Otekayo ki?
Ungandinceda?
Osobola okundabira?
Ndidinga uncedo
Nfuna obuyambi
Linda umzuzu
Saba omukutu
Ndicela uxolo
Nsaba
Akukho ngxaki
Tewali kibadde
Wamkelekile
Okwagaliza
Usuku olumnandi lokuzalwa
Okwagaliza ku lunaku lw'okuzaala
Uhambo olukhuselekileyo
Genda bulungi
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Uphi umphakathi wemithwalo?
Ekitangaala ky'ekitanda?(ekitangaala ky'ekitanda)
Uphi umphakathi weebhasi?
Ekitangaala ky'ekitanda?(ekitangaala ky'ekitanda)
Yeyiphi iphondo?
Ekitangaala ki?(ekitangaala ki)
Ihamba ngexesha elingakanani?
Bwe ki ssaawa esigala?(bwe ki ssaawa esigala)
Ngaba le yindlela efanelekileyo?
Okwetegeka kwe?(okwetegeka kwe)
Ikho kufutshane apha
Kiri wano wansi(kiri wano wansi)
Ikude apha
Kiri mangu(kiri mangu)
Ungandibonisa kwiimeko?
Osobola okundabira ku kaddde?(osobola okundabira ku kaddde)
Misa apha, nceda
Ggenda wano, please(ggenda wano, please)
Ithatha ixesha elingakanani?
Tewali bungi ki?(tewali bungi ki)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Ithini le mali?
Kiki ky'ekitundu?(Kiki ky'ekitundu?)
Le mali ibiza kakhulu.
Ekitundu kyo kireetese.
Unayo into engabizi?
Oli n'ekikadde ekirala?
Ndingakhokha ngekhadi?
Nneetaaga okwefuga ku kadi?
Ndicela itafula lempahla ezimbini.
Nneetaaga akatale ka abantu babiri.
Ibhili, nceda.
Ekitabo, please.
Ingaba inkonzo ibandakanyekile?
Okwetegereza kukyusiddwa?
Ndiyavegetarian.
Nze ndi omukazi wa mboga.
Akukho ukutya okunobhotolo, nceda.
Tewali emmere eya kinyama, please.
Oku kumnandi.
Ono mulungi.
Ndingafumana imenyu?
Nneetaaga menu?
Ingxube ye water, nceda.
Ekikopo ky'amata, please.
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Biza uphondo
Mpozzi polisi
Biza i-ambulensi
Mpozzi ambulance
Ndifuna ugqirha
Nfuna daktari
Ndiziva ndingalunganga
Ndi mu mbeera mbi
Ndine-allergy kwi-peanuts
Ndi mu bbeera ya nfuzi
Uphi umphakathi oseduze?
Okwetegereza hospital ey'ekyama?
Kubuhlungu apha
Bikozesa wano
Ndilahlekelwe yi passport yam
Nfuuse passport yange
Ungabiza ihotele yam?
Osobola okumpa mpozzi hotel yange?
Uncedo!
Mbadde!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.