Amazzi
Water
Usage
To ask for drinking water say "Njagala amazzi".
Grammar Note
An ama- class noun used only in the plural form; "zz" is a doubled consonant. Evidence: dictionary (water: amazzi); Tatoeba "Tom anywa amazzi."
Emmere
Food
Usage
Means food and meals in general.
Grammar Note
Evidence: dictionary (food: emmere); Tatoeba "Emmere ebadde ewooma." (The food was delicious).
Ssente
Money
Usage
Money and small change. Ask a price with "Ssente mmeka?".
Grammar Note
Always used in this plural-looking form; "ss" is a doubled consonant. Evidence: Tatoeba "Ssente mmeka?", "Nneetaaga ku ssente."
Kabuyonjo
Toilet
Usage
The word on signs; ask where it is with "Kabuyonjo eri ludda wa?".
Grammar Note
Written on the Wikivoyage sign list (TOILET: Kabuyonjo) and used eight times on lg.wikipedia. The same list gives "Buyonjo" in a question, so sign wording is the safer one to copy.
Eddagala
Medicine
Usage
At a pharmacy or clinic. Taken with the verb okumira (to swallow): "Ng'enda kumira eddagala".
Grammar Note
The "dd" is a doubled consonant. Evidence: dictionary (medicine: eddagala); Tatoeba "Ng'enda kumira eddagala."
Emigugu
Luggage
Usage
Travel luggage; "ebintu" (things) is also used.
Grammar Note
A plural of the mi- class. Evidence: dictionary (luggage: ebintu, emigugu); 14 hits on lg.wikipedia.
Ekisumuluzo
Key
Usage
For asking for a room key.
Grammar Note
Evidence: dictionary (key: ekisumuluzo; the other sense of key is "explanation"); 8 hits on lg.wikipedia.
Tikiti
Ticket
Usage
Bus or entry ticket.
Grammar Note
A loanword from English "ticket". The dictionary spells it "ttikiti"; Wikivoyage and most lg.wikipedia text write "tikiti" (128 hits vs 4), which is used here.
Essimu
Phone
Usage
Used in "Nsobola okukozesa ko essimu yo?" (may I use your phone?).
Grammar Note
Evidence: dictionary (telephone: essimu); Tatoeba "Nsobola okukozesa ko essimu yo?".
Ekitebe kya bbaasi
Bus station
Usage
For finding where buses leave from.
Grammar Note
"bbaasi" is a loan from English "bus"; "kya" is the ki- class "of". Evidence: Tatoeba "Neetaaga okugenda ku ekitebe kya bbaasi." (I need to go to the bus station).
Eddwaliro
Hospital
Usage
When you feel ill. "Njagala kugenda mu ddwaaliro" means "I want to go to the hospital".
Grammar Note
The dictionary spells it eddwaliro, Tatoeba ddwaaliro; both occur on lg.wikipedia (112 vs 95 hits).
Poliisi
Police
Usage
In an emergency: "Ng'enda kuyita poliisi" (I will call the police).
Grammar Note
A loan from English "police". Evidence: Tatoeba "Ng'enda kuyita poliisi."; Wikivoyage "polisi!"; 202 hits on lg.wikipedia for poliisi.
Edduuka
Shop
Usage
"Ngenda ku dduuka" means "I am going to the shop".
Grammar Note
After "ku" the initial vowel drops, giving "ku dduuka". Evidence: dictionary (shop: edduuka); Tatoeba "Ngenda ku dduuka.".
Ekisenge
Room
Usage
A room at a guesthouse; "Njagala okulaba ekisenge" means "I would like to see the room".
Grammar Note
Evidence: dictionary (room: ekisenge); Tatoeba "Njagala okilaba ekisenge."; Wikivoyage.
Oluguudo
Road
Usage
When asking about a road.
Grammar Note
The dictionary lists both oluguudo and ekkubo for road. Evidence: dictionary; Wikivoyage "Luguudo" (street); 121 hits on lg.wikipedia.
Eŋŋanda
Family
Usage
Family and relatives, for instance when introducing someone: "Ono ye mutabani wange" (this is my son).
Grammar Note
"ŋŋ" is the doubled velar nasal letter. The dictionary lists eŋŋanda among the words for family; lg.wikipedia writes it with ŋ three times and with plain "ng" six times.
Erinnya
Name
Usage
When giving your name: "Erinnya lyange nze ...".
Grammar Note
The "r" is the spelling of l after e or i. Evidence: dictionary (name: erinnya); Tatoeba "Erinnya lyange nze Jack.".
Omutwe
Head
Usage
Describing symptoms: "Omutwe gunnuma" (I have a headache).
Grammar Note
The word appears in Tatoeba "Omutwe gunnuma." (my head hurts); dictionary (head: omutwe).
Eriiso
Eye
Usage
The plural is "amaaso" (eyes).
Grammar Note
Evidence: dictionary (eye: eriiso); Tatoeba uses the plural "amaaso" in "Alina amaaso maddugavu."
Erinnyo
Tooth
Usage
The plural is "amannyo", as in "Nsenya amannyo gange" (I brush my teeth).
Grammar Note
Evidence: dictionary (tooth: erinnyo); Tatoeba plural "amannyo".
Olubuto
Stomach / Belly
Usage
"Olubuto lunnuma" means "my stomach hurts".
Grammar Note
Evidence: dictionary (stomach, belly: olubuto); Tatoeba "Olubuto lunnuma.".
Omugongo
Back
Usage
For describing back pain.
Grammar Note
Evidence: dictionary (back n.: omugongo).
Omukono
Hand / Arm
Usage
One word covers hand and arm.
Grammar Note
Evidence: dictionary (hand, arm: omukono); Wikivoyage plural "emikono".
Ekigere
Foot
Usage
The foot itself.
Grammar Note
Evidence: dictionary (foot: ekigere); Wikivoyage (foot: kigere).
Okugulu
Leg
Usage
For describing leg pain.
Grammar Note
Evidence: dictionary (leg: okugulu). Only the dictionary was found, so the plural is by regular class rule.
Ekifuba
Chest
Usage
"Ekifuba kinuma" means "I have a chest pain".
Grammar Note
The dictionary gives ekifuba for chest, and Tatoeba uses it both for chest pain and for a cold ("Nnina ekifuba"), so context decides.
Wooteeri
Hotel
Usage
When looking for a place to stay.
Grammar Note
A loan from English "hotel". The spelling varies (wooteeri, wooteeli, wooteli); wooteeri has 66 hits on lg.wikipedia and appears on the Wikivoyage list.
Ekisaawe ky'ennyonyi
Airport
Usage
When asking how to get to the airport.
Grammar Note
"ky'ennyonyi" is "kya ennyonyi" with the vowel elided. Evidence: Wikivoyage ("...Ekisaawe ky'ennyonyi?"); lg.wikipedia has "Ekisaawe ky'ennyonyi Entebbe" (14 hits).
Omusawo
Doctor
Usage
"Nneetaaga omusawo" means "I need a doctor".
Grammar Note
In negative sentences the augment drops: "Siri musawo" (I am not a doctor). Evidence: Tatoeba "Neetaga omusawo.", "Siri musawo."; Wikivoyage.
Emmotoka
Car
Usage
As in Tatoeba "Olina mmotoka." (you have a car).
Grammar Note
A loan from English "motor". After another word the initial vowel drops ("mmotoka"). Evidence: Tatoeba "Olina mmotoka."; dictionary (drive: okuvuga mmotoka); 66 hits on lg.wikipedia.
Ennyumba
House
Usage
A house or building.
Grammar Note
The "nn" is a doubled consonant. Evidence: Tatoeba "Ennyumba yange nnene." (my house is big).
Ekitabo
Book
Usage
The plural is "ebitabo".
Grammar Note
Evidence: dictionary (book: ekitabo); Tatoeba "Ekitabo kikadde.", "Ebitabo bino bipya.".
Emmeeza
Table
Usage
Used for table requests: "Emmeeza y'omuntu omu" (a table for one).
Grammar Note
Evidence: Tatoeba "Emmeeza nkadde."; Wikivoyage "Emmeeza y'omuntu omu".
Essomero
School
Usage
As in "Ennyumba yange eri kumpi n'essomero" (my house is near the school).
Grammar Note
"n'essomero" is "na essomero" ("with the school") with the vowel elided. Evidence: Tatoeba "Ennyumba yange eri kumpi n'essomero."
Ekibuga
Town
Usage
"mu kibuga" means "in town".
Grammar Note
The initial vowel drops after a preposition. Evidence: Tatoeba "Sigenda mu kibuga."; Wikivoyage "mu kibuga wakati" (downtown).
Mukwano
Friend
Usage
"Ono ye mukwano gwange" means "this is my friend".
Grammar Note
Evidence: Tatoeba "Ono ye mukwano gwange.", "Mukwano gwo ali wano."; 134 hits on lg.wikipedia.
Omukazi
Woman
Usage
The plural is "abakazi" (as on the Wikivoyage WOMEN sign).
Grammar Note
Evidence: Tatoeba "Omukazi muwanvu."; Wikivoyage sign "Abakazi".
Omusajja
Man
Usage
The plural is "abasajja" (as on the Wikivoyage MEN sign).
Grammar Note
Evidence: Wikivoyage sign "Abasajja"; Tatoeba "Omusajja azannya omupiira buli lunaku." (translated there as "the boy").
More Luganda phrases
- Basic Words
- Basic Verbs
- Adjectives
- Question Words
- Greetings
- Food & Drinks
- Transportation
- Shopping
- Numbers
- Hotel
- Emergency
- Sightseeing
- Flirting
- Nightlife
- Massage & Spa
- Compliments
- Contacts & SNS
- Beach & Activities
- Places & Areas
- Useful Phrases
- Airport & Customs
- Weather & Climate
- Pharmacy & Health
- Directions
- Money & Exchange
- Health & Hospital
- Internet & WiFi
- Nature & Outdoors
- Religion & Temples
- Café & Drinks
- Schedule & Booking
- Culture & Etiquette
- Traveling with Kids
- Sports & Activities
- Public Transport
- Accommodation
- Banking & ATM
- Visa & Immigration
- Business & Work
- School & Education
- Cooking & Markets
- Music & Entertainment
- Festivals & Events
- Photography
- Laundry
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- Dating & Romance
- Dating Apps
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- Fruits
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- Time & Dates
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- Body Parts
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- Local Dishes
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- Indulgences