Luganda Phrasebook
Getting Around

Outline

Finding Your Way
Directions
Travelling By Air
Travelling By Bus
Travelling By Train
Travelling By Taxi
Travelling By Car
Instructions
Bargaining
Some Useful Phrases
Some Useful Words

Finding Your Way

Where is the "___"? ................ "___" eri ludda wa?

What time does the "___" leave? ............. "___" egenda ssaawa mmeka?

Back to outline

Directions

How can I get to "___"? ..............Ngenda ntya okutuuka e "___"?
Is it far?.......................................Kiri wala?
Is it near?.....................................Kiri kumpi?
Is it near here?..............................Kiri kumpi na wano?
Go straight ahead!........................Genda butereevu!
Turn left........................................Kyama ku kkono
Turn right......................................Kyama ku ddyo
At the traffic lights.........................Ku bitaala
At the junction..............................Mu masang'aanzira
In front of.....................................Mu maaso ga
Next to.........................................Okuddirila
Behind..........................................Emabega
North............................................Bukiikakkono/ Mambuka
South............................................Bukiikaddyo/ Maserengeta
East..............................................Buvanjuba
West............................................Bugwanjuba
North-west...................................Bukiikakkono (bwa)-Bugwanjuba
North-east....................................Bukiikakkono (bwa)-Buvanjuba
South-west...................................Bukiikaddyo (bwa)-Bugwanjuba
South-east....................................Bukiikaddyo (bwa)-Buvanjuba

Back to outline

Travelling By Air

Do you have any flights to Nairobi?... ..........Mulina ennyonyi ezigenda e Nairobi?
What days are the flights?............................Ennyonyi zigenda ku nnaku ki?
How much is a one-way ticket?...................Tikiti ey'amagenda gokka ya mmeka?
How much is a return ticket.........................Tikiti ey'amagenda n'amadda ya mmeka?
Is there a flight to Harare on Monday?.........Waliwo ennyonyi egenda e Harare ku Bbalaza?
What time is the flight?.................................Ennyonyi esitula ssaawa mmeka?
Do you have any direct flights?.....................Mulina ennyonyi ezigenda obutereevu?
How many stops does the plane make?........Ennyonyi eyimirira emirundi emeka?
What is the arrival time?...............................Etuuka ssaawa mmeka?
When are the return flights?..........................Ennyonyi ezikomawo zivaayo ddi?
What is the baggage allowance.....................Mukkiriza emigugu gyenkana wa?
I would like to buy a return ticket.................Njagala kugula tikiti ey'amagenda n'amadda.
I will be leaving on Friday............................Nja kugenda ku Lwakutaano
I will return after two weeks.........................Nkomawo oluvannyuma lwa sabbiiti bbiri
What time do I have to be at the airport?......Ku kisaawe nina kubeerayo ku ssaawa mmeka?

Back to outline

Travelling By Bus

Where can I buy a bus ticket?.................Tikiti ya baasi nnyinza kugigula wa?
Is there an overnight bus?.......................Waliwo baasi egenda eggulolimu?
What time does the bus arrive?...............Baasi etuuka ku ssaawa mmeka?
Will the bus stop at a restaurant?.............Baasi eneyimirila awali eby'okulya?
I would like to book a seat for Friday......Njagala kwekwata kifo kya ku Lwakutaano
Two tickets to "___" ..............................Tikiti bbiri okugenda e "___"
Does this bus go to "___" ?.....................Eno baasi egenda e "___" ?
Which bus goes to "___" ?......................Baasi ki egenda e "___" ?
How long does it take to get there?.........Kitwala bbanga ki okutuukayo?
What is the cost to go to "___"?..............Kitwala ssente mmeka okugenda e "___" ?
Tell me when we get to"___" ..... ............Mbuulira nga tutuuse e "___"
I want to get off here!..............................Njagala kuviiramu wano!
What time is the next bus?.......................Baasi eddako ya ku ssaawa mmeka?
What time is the last bus?........................Baasi esembayo ya ku ssaawa mmeka?

Travelling By Train

Please give me two tickets..........................Mwattu mpa tikiti bbiri
Is this seat free?..........................................Kino ekifo kirimu omuntu?
This seat is taken.........................................Kino ekifo kirimu omuntu
Would you mind if I open the window?........Ofaayo singa nzigulawo eddirisa?
What is this station called?...........................Eno sitenseni bagiyita batya?
What station is this?.....................................Eno sitenseni ki?
What is the next station................................Sitenseni ki eddako?

Travelling By Taxi

There are two kinds of taxis in Uganda. The open/public taxis take more than one person using a designated route to a specific destination; and taxis for special hire by an individual or group of people. Taxi do not use meters but a predetermined fixed rate which is negotiable for special hire taxis.

Please take me to "___" ............................Mwattu ntwaala e "___"
How much does it cost to go to "___" ?......Otwala mmeka okugenda e "___" ?
Does that include the luggage?....................N'emigugu ogibaliddemu?

Travelling By Car

Where can I rent a car?...............................Wa wensobola okupangisa emmotoka?
How much is it daily/weekly?........................Ssente mmeka buli lunaku/wiiki?
Does that include insurance?........................ Okwo kuliko eza yinsuwa?
Where is the next gas/petrol station?..............Petulo sitenseni eddako eri ludda wa?
Is this the road to "___" ?..............................Lino lye kkubo erigenda e "___" ?
I want "__" litres of gas/petrol........................Njagala liita z'amafuta "__"
Please fill up the tank.....................................Mwattu jjuza tanka

Problems

The battery is flat/dead......................Baatule nfu
The radiator is leaking.......................Ladiyeta ettonnya
I have a flat tire/tyre..........................Nina omupiira ogwaabise
It is not working................................Tekikola
The engine is dead............................Yingini nfu

Back to outline

Instructions

Here is fine, thank you.......Wano wamala, webale nnyo.
The next street, please........Ku luguudo oluddako mwattu
Continue!..........................Weyongereyo!
Please slow down..............Mwattu genda mpolampola
Please hurry.......................Mwattu yanguwa
Please wait here.................Mwattu lindira wano
I'll be right back.................Nkomawo mangu

Bargaining

How much does it cost ?...................Kigula ssente mmeka?
Won't you take less?.........................Tosalako?
How about "___" shillings?................Ate siringi "___" ?
That's too much money......................Ezo ssente ziyitiridde
Let me give you "___"........................Ka nkuwe "___"
I only have "___" shillings ................. Ninawo siringi "___" zokka
Here is "___" shillings.........................Siringi "___" ziizino
How about my change?......................Ate kyengi wange?

Back to outline

Some Useful Phrases

The plane is delayed..................................Ennyonyi ekeereye
The plane is cancelled................................Ennyonyi esaziddwamu
The plane is on time/schedule.....................Ennyonyi eri ku budde
How long will it be delayed?......................Enekeerewa kumala bbanga ki?
Do I need to change buses?.......................Neetaaga okukyusa baasi?
You must change.... ..................................Oteekwa okukyusa
How long does the trip take?.....................Olugendo lutwala bbanga ki?
I want to get off at "___" ...........................Njagala kuviiramu "___"
I am lost....................................................Mbuze
Where is the nearest taxi park....................Paaka ya taxi eri okumpi eri ludda wa?
Where can I hire a bicycle?........................Wa wensobola okupangisa eggaali? (Bodaboda)
Where do I get off to go to the bank?.........Wa wenviiramu okugenda ku banka?
Where are we now?...................................Kati tuli ludda wa?
Where is the restroom?...............................Buyonjo eri ludda wa?

Back to outline

Some Useful Words

Battery.................................Baatule
Brakes.................................Ebiziyiza
Car......................................Motoka
Clutch..................................Kulaaci
Engine..................................Yingini
Flywheel...............................Fuluweero
Glass....................................Kirawuli
Lights....................................Amataala
Tyres/Tires............................Emipiira
Radiator................................Ladiyeeta
Shock Absorber....................Sekabuzooba
Steering Wheel......................Siteringi
Truck/Lorry...........................Loole
Articulated truck....................Loole ey'ekyana
Driver's licence......................Layisinsi y'okuvuga
Address.................................Endagiriro
Alley......................................Kikuubo
Airport...................................Kisaawe ky'ennyonyi
Station...................................Sitenseni
Cabin.....................................Kayumba/Kasiisira
Careful...................................Kwegendereza
Corner...................................Kkoona
Confirmation..........................Kukakasibwa
Danger!.................................Kabi
Early......................................Kukeera
Emergency.............................Ekizibu eky'embagirawo
Empty....................................Kikalu
Fast.......................................Mangu
Full........................................Bujjuvu
Intersection............................Masangaanzira
Landing..................................Kugwa
Late.......................................Kukeerewa
Lounge(room)........................Kisenge
Airplane/Aeroplane................Nnyonyi
Port.......................................Mwalo
Reservation office...................Wofiisi ya tikiti
River......................................Mugga
Sail.........................................Kuseyeeya
Sea....................................... Eriyanja
Seat.......................................Ekifo
Seat belt/safety belt................Omusipi gw'oku ntebe.
Stop!.....................................Yimilira!
Street.....................................Luguudo
Take off, depart......................Kusitula
Ticket.....................................Tikiti
Ticket window/wicket.............Watundirwa tikiti
Wait!......................................Linda!

Return To: | Topical Outline | Luganda Phrasebook | Buganda Home Page |