Useful Phrases

• Hi – Ki Kati
• Good morning (literally, How was your night?) – Wasuze otya?
• Good afternoon or
• Good evening (literally, How was your day?) – Osiibye otya?
• How are you? – Oli Otya
• I am ok – Gyendi
• My name is… – Nze…
• Goodbye (to one person) – Weeraba
• Goodbye (to more than one person) – Mweraba
• Please – Mwattu
• Thank you – Weebale
• Sir – Ssebo
• Madam – Nnyabo
• Excuse me (to get someone’s attention) – Owange
• Ok – Kale
• No thanks – Nedda
• I don’t know – Simanyi
• How much money is it? – Ssente mmekka?
• Do you speak English? – Omanyi luzungu?
• I understand – Ntegeera
• I do not understand – Sitegeera
• I want – Njagala

Pronunciation:
Luganda is phonetically similar to Spanish – so “i” is pronounced like the “ee” in “see”, and the “e” at the end of a word is pronounced similar to the “ay” in “say” or the “e” in “wet”, and not left silent as in English.
Thus, “weebale” (thank you) is pronounced “way-ba-lay”.

Using Luganda
Ugandans are generally very friendly and extremely polite – saying “weebale Ssebo” will be much appreciated by your waiter, guide or driver.