Yee
Yes
Usage
Yes. "No" is "Nedda".
Grammar Note
A stronger "indeed" is "Weewaawo"; the reply when someone calls you is "Wangi". Evidence: dictionary (yes: weewaawo, yee, kale), Wikivoyage, Tatoeba "Yee, tugende!".
Nedda
No
Usage
Plain "no". Also usable to turn down a vendor's offer.
Grammar Note
"Yes" is "Yee". The "dd" is a long consonant and part of the spelling. Evidence: dictionary (nay: aaa, nedda), Wikivoyage; about 50 uses on lg.wikipedia.
Mwattu
Please
Usage
Added to a request, as in "Mwattu ggalawo oluggi" (please close the door).
Grammar Note
Politeness is also shown by greeting first and by adding "Ssebo" (sir) or "Nnyabo" (madam). Evidence: Tatoeba "Mwattu ggalawo oluggi!" and Wikivoyage "Mwattu"; not the same word as "Nsaba" (I ask/pray).
Weebale
Thank you
Usage
Thanks. To several people or to a respected elder say "Mwebale".
Grammar Note
The long vowel "ee" is part of the spelling. For emphasis add "nnyo": "Weebale nnyo". Evidence: dictionary (thank: weebale! pl. mwebale!), Tatoeba "Weebale!".
Nsonyiwa
Excuse me / I am sorry
Usage
Used both to apologise and to get someone's attention; literally "forgive me".
Grammar Note
From okusonyiwa "to forgive, pardon, excuse"; the "me" is inside the one-word verb. Evidence: dictionary (excuse, pardon and forgive all give okusonyiwa), Wikivoyage, lg.wikipedia.
Tewali buzibu
No problem
Usage
Said when someone apologises, or to reassure a worried person.
Grammar Note
"Tofaayo" (never mind, don't worry) fits the same situations. Evidence: Tatoeba "Tewali buzibu." and "Tofaayo.".
Sitegeera
I don't understand
Usage
Say it when you did not follow; it prompts the other person to rephrase.
Grammar Note
Negation is a prefix si- ("I do not") on the verb okutegeera "to understand". Evidence: Tatoeba "Sitegeera."; dictionary (understand: okutegeera). Wikivoyage writes it "Sitegera".
Ntegedde
I understand
Usage
Confirms that you followed the explanation.
Grammar Note
The dictionary gives the perfect form "ntegedde" for "I understand / I know". Composed from a dictionary-verified form; no running-text example was found, so a native check is advisable.
Simanyi
I don't know
Usage
When you do not know the answer. "I don't understand" is "Sitegeera".
Grammar Note
The negative prefix si- plus the "know" form -manyi (dictionary: "know ... mmanyi"). Evidence: Tatoeba "Simanyi.".
Lindako
Just a moment
Usage
For a short wait, for instance while you look for your wallet.
Grammar Note
The imperative of okulinda "to wait" with the suffix -ko "a little". Evidence: dictionary (wait a bit! lindako!); lg.wikipedia has the form twice.
Mwattu, lindako
Please wait
Usage
A politer version of "Lindako".
Grammar Note
Composed from two verified items: "Mwattu" (Tatoeba, Wikivoyage) and "lindako" (dictionary). The exact pairing was not found in running text.
Nnyamba
Help me
Usage
Shout it in an emergency.
Grammar Note
Imperative of okuyamba "to help" with "me" built in; "nn" is a doubled consonant. Evidence: Tatoeba "Nnyamba.", Wikivoyage "Nnyamba!", dictionary (help: okuyamba).
Osobola okunnyamba?
Can you help me?
Usage
To ask for help. To a respected person the plural "Musobola ...?" can be used.
Grammar Note
The Tatoeba sentence "Osobola okunyamba?" respelled with the geminate that the object "me" takes before y (nny-), as in "Nnyamba". Mostly attested; the spelling is the composed part.
Ddamu mpulire
Once more, please
Usage
For asking someone to repeat; pairs well with "Sitegeera".
Grammar Note
Literally "repeat, that I may hear". Evidence: Tatoeba "Ddamu mpulire." (Please repeat that); dictionary (repeat: okuddamu).
Yogera mpola
Please speak slowly
Usage
When speed is the problem. Put "Mwattu" in front to be politer.
Grammar Note
Composed from dictionary-verified words (imperative of okwogera "to speak" plus mpola "slowly"); "mpola" also appears in Tatoeba "Genda mpola mpola" (slow down).
Omanyi Oluzungu?
Do you speak English?
Usage
To check whether English works. English is "Oluzungu" or "Olungereza".
Grammar Note
Literally "do you know English"; language names start with Olu- (Oluganda, Oluzungu). Evidence: Tatoeba "Omanyi Oluzungu?"; Wikivoyage "Omanyi olungereza?".
Nsobola okwogera Oluzungu
I can speak English
Usage
To say you can speak English. "Simanyi Luzungu" means "I don't know English".
Grammar Note
"Nsobola" plus an infinitive means "I can ...". Evidence: Tatoeba "Nsobola okwogera Oluzungu."
Kino
This one
Usage
Point at an object in front of you and say it. "What is this?" is "Kino ki?".
Grammar Note
Demonstratives change with the noun class; "kino" is for ki- class nouns (things). Evidence: Tatoeba "Kino ki?", "Kino kituufu?".
Ekyo
That one
Usage
For something near the listener or just mentioned. "What is that?" is "Ekyo kiki?".
Grammar Note
The ki- class form of "that"; people take a different form. Evidence: Tatoeba "Ekyo kiki?", "Ekyo kituufu.".
Wano
Here
Usage
The spot you are at; useful when asking to be dropped off here.
Grammar Note
Place words do not change with noun class. Evidence: dictionary (here: wano), Tatoeba "Jangu wano." (Come here).
Eyo
There
Usage
The place where the other person is, or a place just mentioned.
Grammar Note
Evidence: dictionary (there: eri, eyo, wali, awo).
Awo
Over there
Usage
Said while pointing at a spot some distance away.
Grammar Note
Tatoeba gives "Awo!" for "Over there!"; the dictionary also lists awo among the words for "there".
Nze
I / me
Usage
Point at yourself. Used when introducing yourself: "Erinnya lyange nze ...".
Grammar Note
The free-standing pronoun; inside a verb it is the prefix n- (as in "Njagala" I want). Evidence: dictionary (I: nze), Tatoeba "Erinnya lyange nze Jack.".
Ggwe
You
Usage
For the person in front of you; for several people use "Mmwe".
Grammar Note
Inside a verb it is the prefix o- (as in "Oli" you are). Evidence: Tatoeba "Gwe asinga" (you are the best) and "Gwe okakasa?".
Awamu
Together
Usage
To say you travel together or want one combined bill.
Grammar Note
Evidence: dictionary (together: awamu).
Kati
Right now
Usage
"Now". For example "Tugende kati" means "let's go now".
Grammar Note
Evidence: Tatoeba "Tugende kati." and "Njagala okukulaba kati."; Wikivoyage (now: Kati).
Omuntu omu
One person
Usage
To state your party size at a restaurant or on a boat.
Grammar Note
Numerals 1-5 agree with the noun class; omuntu is mu- class, so "one" is omu. Evidence: Wikivoyage "Emmeeza y'omuntu omu/abantu babiri" (table for one/two people).
Abantu babiri
Two people
Usage
To state your party size, also when asking for a room.
Grammar Note
Abantu is the plural of omuntu and the numeral takes the ba- form: babiri. Evidence: Wikivoyage "abantu babiri".
Abantu basatu
Three people
Usage
To state your party size.
Grammar Note
The ba- class form of "three" is basatu (stem -satu, as in the bare numeral ssatu). Composed by regular class agreement from the attested "abantu babiri" and "ssatu"; a native check is advisable.
More Luganda phrases
- Basic Nouns
- Basic Verbs
- Adjectives
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