Phrases › Lugbara
Phrases
Early draft: There was little reliable source material for this language, so some lines may be wrong. Check with a speaker before relying on them.
In Lugbara, hello is Ngoni? and thank you is Awa'difo mini!. Here are 11 everyday Lugbara phrases with pronunciation, for travel and a first conversation.
How to say hello in Lugbara · How to say thank you in Lugbara · How to say please in Lugbara · How to say sorry in Lugbara
| English | Lugbara |
|---|---|
| Hello | Ngoni? Literally 'how?'; the usual hello (also 'Azi mi ci!'). Time-of-day: morning 'Mi ifu ngoni?' (how did you get out?), afternoon 'Mi aa ngoni?' (how did you stay?). |
| Please | Kirikiri Put at the end of a request; also written 'kiri kiri'. |
| Thank you | Awa'difo mini! 'Awania' is used in Moyo; 'Awa'difo' alone also works. After a meal people say 'Ive ra!' (literally 'you got burnt'). |
| Yes | Ee Direct opposite of 'yo'. |
| No | Yo Also used as a suffix 'ku' to negate verbs: 'A le ku' = I do not want. |
| Excuse me / Sorry | Pole Borrowed from Swahili; 'Maye!' is an exclamation of sympathy ('oh no, I'm sorry'). |
| I don't understand | A va mi ku Literally 'I do not understand you' (phrasebook). 'va' = understand, 'ku' = not. |
| Please speak slowly | Inze i'yere Phrasebook gives 'Inze i'yere (i'yere)!'; add 'kirikiri' for 'please'. |
| How much is it? | Aje ni si? 'aje' = price; 'si' = how much. |
| Where is …? | … ngoa? Put the thing you look for before 'ngoa': 'Kanisa ngoa?' = where is the church; 'Masikiti ngoa?' mosque; 'Sukulu ngoa?' school; 'Osu ngoa?' the beans. |
| Help! | Iko ma aza! Phrasebook: 'Help me!'. 'azakoma' = help (noun). |
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