Emergency

29 phrases · Luganda with romanization, English and audio

  1. Nnyamba! Nnyamba!

    Help! Help!

    Usage

    Shout it when in danger; literally "help me".

    Grammar Note

    The command form of okuyamba "to help" with the "me" marker n-. Evidence: Tatoeba "Nnyamba" and Wikivoyage "Nnyamba!".

  2. Yita poliisi!

    Call the police!

    Usage

    To the people around you in a crime or accident.

    Grammar Note

    The command form of okuyita "to call". Tatoeba has "Ng'enda kuyita poliisi" (I'll call the police). To several people say "Muyite poliisi". Composed from this pattern.

  3. Nneetaaga omusawo

    I need a doctor

    Usage

    For injury or sudden illness; omusawo is a doctor or health worker.

    Grammar Note

    The same sentence as Tatoeba "Neetaga omusawo" and Wikivoyage "Nneetaaga omusawo"; the spelling follows Wikivoyage.

  4. Nfunye ekiwundu

    I am wounded

    Usage

    Saying you are hurt; literally "I have got a wound".

    Grammar Note

    Wikivoyage has "Nfunye obuvune"; this card uses the dictionary word ekiwundu (wound) with Nfunye (perfect of okufuna "to get"). Composed from verified parts.

  5. Omuliro!

    Fire!

    Usage

    A shout to warn of a fire; omuliro means "fire".

    Grammar Note

    Dictionary: fire omuliro (single word card, single source).

  6. Omubbi! Omubbi!

    Thief! Thief!

    Usage

    A shout to alert others right after a theft.

    Grammar Note

    Omubbi "thief" comes from okubba "to steal"; the bb is a long consonant. Dictionary: thief omubbi.

  7. Mukwate omubbi!

    Catch the thief!

    Usage

    To have bystanders stop a fleeing thief; addressed to several people.

    Grammar Note

    The mu- prefix addresses several people. Okukwata is "catch" in the dictionary; Wikivoyage has the similar "mukomye omubbi" (stop the thief). Composed from verified parts.

  8. Ensawo yange ebbiddwa

    My bag was stolen

    Usage

    To report a theft. Ensawo covers bag, purse and wallet.

    Grammar Note

    Ebbiddwa is the passive perfect of okubba "to steal"; yange agrees with ensawo. Composed from dictionary-verified words (steal, bag); the passive form should be checked by a native speaker.

  9. Ensawo yange ebuze

    I lost my bag

    Usage

    To report a lost item.

    Grammar Note

    The perfect of okubula "to be lost", so literally "my bag is lost". Dictionary: lose / be lost okubula. Wikivoyage uses "Nnabula ensawo yange" for the same idea.

  10. Mbuze

    I am lost

    Usage

    When you are lost; literally "I have gone astray".

    Grammar Note

    The perfect of okubula; the dictionary lists it under "go astray". Wikivoyage has "Nze mbuze" for "I'm lost".

  11. Eddwaliro liri ludda wa?

    Where is the hospital?

    Usage

    To ask where the hospital is.

    Grammar Note

    Eddwaliro takes li-. Tatoeba has "Nkolera mu ddwaaliro", the dictionary hospital eddwaliro; the frame is that of "Ennyumba ya Tom eri ludda wa?".

  12. Ntwale mu ddwaliro, mwattu

    Please take me to the hospital

    Usage

    To a driver or a bystander.

    Grammar Note

    The command form of okutwala "to take" with the "me" marker n-, the same build as "Ntwale ku kitebe kya bbaasi, mwattu". Composed from dictionary-verified words.

  13. Ekitebe kya poliisi kiri ludda wa?

    Where is the police station?

    Usage

    To report a theft or accident. Ekitebe is also used for a bus station.

    Grammar Note

    Ekitebe is in the eki- class, so "of" is kya and "is" is kiri, as in "ekitebe kya bbaasi". Composed from the frame of Tatoeba "Ennyumba ya Tom eri ludda wa?".

  14. Tonkwatako!

    Don't touch me!

    Usage

    A firm refusal when someone touches you.

    Grammar Note

    To- makes a negative command, n- is "me", and okukwatako is "to touch". Same as Wikivoyage "Tonkwatako !". Dictionary: touch okukwatako.

  15. Mundeke nzekka

    Leave me alone

    Usage

    To refuse a pushy vendor or tout. The plural form addresses several people.

    Grammar Note

    Mu- addresses several people. It comes from okuleka "to leave", as in Tatoeba "Muleke". Source: Wikivoyage "Mundeke nzekka".

  16. Bankubye

    I was beaten

    Usage

    Reporting an assault; literally "they have hit me".

    Grammar Note

    ba- (they) + n- (me) + the perfect of okukuba "to hit, beat". Composed from dictionary-verified words.

  17. Bamfumise

    I was stabbed

    Usage

    Saying you were stabbed; literally "they have stabbed me".

    Grammar Note

    ba- + n- (written m- before f) + the perfect of okufumita "to stab" (dictionary: stab). Composed from dictionary-verified words.

  18. Emmotoka enkubye

    I was hit by a car

    Usage

    Reporting a traffic injury; literally "a car has hit me".

    Grammar Note

    Enkubye = e- (agrees with emmotoka) + n- (me) + perfect of okukuba. Tatoeba has "Olina mmotoka" for car. Composed from verified words.

  19. Waliwo akabenje

    There has been an accident

    Usage

    Reporting an accident; akabenje means misfortune or accident.

    Grammar Note

    The dictionary gives akabenje under misfortune and crisis; lg.wikipedia uses "akabenje k'okuluguudo" (road accident). Tatoeba's spelling "kabanje" was not followed.

  20. Omuntu ono azirise

    This person is unconscious

    Usage

    To tell others about someone who has collapsed.

    Grammar Note

    The perfect of okuzirika "to faint" (dictionary: faint, unconscious). Composed from dictionary-verified words; the perfect form should be checked by a native speaker.

  21. Waliwo afa amazzi

    Someone is drowning

    Usage

    Reporting a drowning; the dictionary form is literally "die of water".

    Grammar Note

    The dictionary gives drown as "okufa amazzi" (to die of water). "Waliwo" + a relative verb means "there is someone who ...". Composed from dictionary-verified words; native review advisable.

  22. Oyo ye mubbi

    That person is the thief

    Usage

    Pointing out the culprit to the police or bystanders.

    Grammar Note

    "A ye B" = "A is B", as in Tatoeba "Ono ye mukwano gwange"; mubbi is omubbi without the augment vowel. Composed from verified parts.

  23. Wegendereze!

    Watch out!

    Usage

    A warning, for example when a vehicle or animal comes close.

    Grammar Note

    The command form of okwegendereza "to be careful". Evidence: Tatoeba "Wegendereze!" and Wikivoyage "Wegendereze !".

  24. Yanguwa, mwattu

    Please hurry

    Usage

    To urge a driver or a helper to hurry.

    Grammar Note

    The command form of okwanguwa "to hurry"; Tatoeba has "Yanguwa ko". Mwattu "please" follows Tatoeba and Wikivoyage.

  25. Mujje mangu, mwattu

    Please come quickly

    Usage

    When calling people over; this form addresses several people.

    Grammar Note

    Mu- + the command of okujja "to come", for several people. For one person Tatoeba has "Jangu mangu". Composed from verified parts.

  26. Kiba kya mangu

    It is an emergency

    Usage

    Says the matter is urgent; literally "it is of speed".

    Grammar Note

    Single source: Wikivoyage "Kiba kya mangu". Mangu is "quickly" in the dictionary. Native review advisable.

  27. Waliwo amanyi Oluzungu?

    Is there anyone who speaks English?

    Usage

    Used when you need help and first look for someone who speaks English.

    Grammar Note

    Wikivoyage has "Wano waliwo amanyi olungereza ?". Oluzungu is the word in Tatoeba "Omanyi Oluzungu?". "Amanyi" is the relative form of okumanya "to know".

  28. Nneetaaga obuyambi

    I need help

    Usage

    A calmer way to ask for help.

    Grammar Note

    From Wikivoyage "Nneetaaga obuyambi bwammwe" (I need your help). Obuyambi is common on lg.wikipedia; Tatoeba has "Wetaaga obuyambi?".

  29. Ntidde nnyo

    I am very afraid

    Usage

    Expressing fear or anxiety.

    Grammar Note

    Tatoeba has "Ntidde" (I'm scared); nnyo is added for emphasis (dictionary: very nnyo).

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