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Swahili to Luganda translation

Most translation tools route Swahili through English before they reach Luganda, which is where the meaning goes missing. SemaSoma translates the pair directly and hands back a pronunciation guide with every result.

Swahili to Luganda: everyday phrases

Phrases that appear in both the Swahili and Luganda courses, lined up side by side with the English meaning so you can check the match.

  • HabariOli otya
    Hello/oh-lee OH-tya/
  • AsanteWeebale
    Thank you/weh-BAH-leh/
  • KaribuKaribu
    Welcome/ka-REE-boo/
  • KwaheriWeeraba
    Goodbye/weh-RAH-bah/
  • NdiyoYee
    Yes/YEH-eh/
  • HapanaNedda
    No/NEH-dah/
  • TafadhaliNkwegayiridde
    Please/n-kweh-gah-yee-REE-deh/
  • PoleNsonyiwa
    Sorry/n-son-YEE-wah/
  • Jina langu ni AmaraErinnya lyange nze Amara
    My name is Amara/eh-REE-nya LYAN-geh n-zeh a-MA-ra/
  • Jina lako ni nani?Erinnya lyo ggwe ani?
    What is your name?/eh-REE-nya lyo GWEH a-NEE/
  • Niko mzuriNdi bulungi
    I am fine/n-dee boo-LOON-gee/
  • MajiAmazzi
    Water/a-MAH-zee/
  • ChakulaEmmere
    Food/eh-MEH-reh/
  • RafikiMukwano
    Friend/moo-KWA-no/
  • NyumbaEnnyumba
    House/en-NYOOM-bah/
  • MojaEmu
    One/EH-moo/
  • MbiliBbiri
    Two/BEE-ree/
  • TatuSsatu
    Three/SAH-too/
  • TanoTtaano
    Five/TAA-noh/
  • SokoKatale
    Market/ka-TA-leh/
  • PesaSsente
    Money/SEN-teh/

What to know before you translate

About Luganda

Uganda, especially the central region and Kampalaaround 20 million including second-language speakers. Writing system: Latin alphabet.

  • Doubled consonants are pronounced longer and change meaning.
  • The letter combination ny is a single sound.
  • Noun classes shape agreement, similar to Swahili but with different prefixes.

About Swahili

Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, DR Congoaround 200 million, mostly as a second language. Writing system: Latin alphabet, spelled close to how it sounds.

How accurate is it?

Translations are produced by an AI model, so treat long or legal text as a draft and check it with a speaker. Short everyday sentences — greetings, directions, family talk — are where it is strongest, and the pronunciation guide is written for English readers. Lesson audio is AI pronunciation audio, not a recording of a native speaker.