Looking for practical Zulu to Luganda phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Zulu 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 Zulu 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.
Sawubona
Oli otya?(Oli otya?)
Ngiyabonga
Webale(Webale)
Sawubona
Osiibye otya?(Osiibye otya?)
Good afternoon
Osiibye bulungi?(Osiibye bulungi?)
Ubusuku obuhle
Osiibye otya?(Osiibye otya?)
Lala kahle
Lwaki olugendo?(Lwaki olugendo?)
Sizobonana
Tugenda kutya?(Tugenda kutya?)
Hamba kahle
Nkwagala(Nkwagala)
Ubani igama lakho?
Erinnya lyo ani?(Erinnya lyo ani?)
Igama lami nginguJohn
Erinnya lyange nze John(Erinnya lyange nze John)
Unjani?
Oli otya?(Oli otya?)
Ngiyajabula ukukwazi
Nkwagala okukulaba(Nkwagala okukulaba)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Ukhuluma isiNgisi?
Okwogera mu Lungereza?
Angikhulumi kahle isiHindi.
Sikozesa Hindi bulungi.
Angiqondi.
Sijja kumanya.
Ngiyacela, khuluma kancane.
Nnyonnyola bulungi.
Ungakuphinda lokho?
Osobola okwogera buno buno?
Iphi indlu yangasese?
Ekitanda kiki?
Ngiyawufika kanjani emaphandleni?
Nteekateeka owa city center?
Jika kwesobunxele.
Genda ku kkono.
Jika kwesokudla.
Genda ku mwoyo.
Hamba phambili.
Genda mu maaso.
Inani lokuhamba lingakanani?
Ekitundu kiki?
Ithikithi elilodwa, ngiyacela.
Ticket emu, please.
Ingabe kude lapha?
Kiki kirekera wano?
Ngilahlekile.
Ndi mu bubi.
Ngaphi engingathenga khona i-SIM card?
Nneeyisa SIM card wano?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Yebo
Ye
Cha
Nedda
Mhlawumbe
Okwagala
Ngiyavuma
Nnaakuwandiika
Angivumi
Sikuwandiika
Lokho kuzwakala kahle
Kyo kyekirungi
Ucabanga ukuthini?
Otekayo ki?
Ungangisiza?
Osobola okundabira?
Ngidinga usizo
Nfuna obuyambi
Linda umzuzu
Saba omukutu
Ngiyaxolisa
Nsaba
Akukho nkinga
Tewali kibadde
Halala
Okwagaliza
Usuku olumnandi lokuzalwa
Okwagaliza ku lunaku lw'okuzaala
Uhambo olunempilo
Genda bulungi
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Iphi isitishi sesitimela?
Ekitangaala ky'ekitanda?(ekitangaala ky'ekitanda)
Iphi indawo yokuma kwebhasi?
Ekitangaala ky'ekitanda?(ekitangaala ky'ekitanda)
Iphi ipulatifomu?
Ekitangaala ki?(ekitangaala ki)
Ithini isikhathi sokuhamba?
Bwe ki ssaawa esigala?(bwe ki ssaawa esigala)
Ingabe le yindlela efanele?
Okwetegeka kwe?(okwetegeka kwe)
Ikhaya lapha eduze
Kiri wano wansi(kiri wano wansi)
Ikude lapha
Kiri mangu(kiri mangu)
Ungangikhombisa emmaphini?
Osobola okundabira ku kaddde?(osobola okundabira ku kaddde)
Misa lapha, ngiyacela
Ggenda wano, please(ggenda wano, please)
Kuthatha isikhathi esingakanani?
Tewali bungi ki?(tewali bungi ki)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Kubiza malini lokhu?
Kiki ky'ekitundu?(Kiki ky'ekitundu?)
Lokho kubiza kakhulu.
Ekitundu kyo kireetese.
Unayo yini ethengiswa ngentengo ephansi?
Oli n'ekikadde ekirala?
Ngiyakwazi ukukhokha ngekhadi?
Nneetaaga okwefuga ku kadi?
Ngifuna itafula labantu ababili.
Nneetaaga akatale ka abantu babiri.
Ibhili, ngiyacela.
Ekitabo, please.
Inkonzo ifakiwe?
Okwetegereza kukyusiddwa?
Ngiyisithuthuthu.
Nze ndi omukazi wa mboga.
Ngicela ukudla okungashisayo.
Tewali emmere eya kinyama, please.
Lokhu kuhle.
Ono mulungi.
Ngicela imenyu?
Nneetaaga menu?
Ingilazi yamanzi, ngiyacela.
Ekikopo ky'amata, please.
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Shayela amaphoyisa
Mpozzi polisi
Shayela i-ambulensi
Mpozzi ambulance
Ngidinga udokotela
Nfuna daktari
Ngizizwa ngigula
Ndi mu mbeera mbi
Ngine-allergy kumantongomane
Ndi mu bbeera ya nfuzi
Iphi isibhedlela esiseduze?
Okwetegereza hospital ey'ekyama?
Kubuhlungu lapha
Bikozesa wano
Ngilahlekelwe ipasipoti yami
Nfuuse passport yange
Ungashayela ihhotela lami?
Osobola okumpa mpozzi hotel yange?
Usizo!
Mbadde!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.