By
Sukuma language is the native tongue of my people, the Wasukuma people, the largest ethnic group in Tanzania.
I have compiled a list of commonly used Sukuma words and the equivalent English translations for someone just starting out learning the Sukuma language.
GREETINGS IN SUKUMA
ENGLISH |
SUKUMA |
Good morning. |
Ng’wangaluka. |
Good afternoon. |
Mwadila. |
How are you doing? |
Mwadila mhola? |
How are you today? |
Ulidila ghinehe ilelo? |
How was your day? |
Ja magwa limi ? |
I am fine |
Nali mhola ? |
Have a good day |
Ubhize na lushiku lwa wiza |
I am doing great |
Nalidila jisoga |
Hi/Hello |
Ulimola ? |
Nice to meet you |
Natogwa kugubhona |
See you soon |
Tukwibhona makanza |
See you later |
Tukwibhona badae |
Good evening. |
Mwadila. |
How have you been? |
Ja myaka ? |
How is your family? |
Bha mhola ha ng’wigwano ? |
We are good |
Dhuli mhola pye |
We are doing fine |
Dhuli jisoga gete |
How are you? |
Dhuli mhola ? |
How have you woken up? |
Wamishaga ginehe ? |
I woke up safe |
Namishaga mhola |
LOVE WORDS IN SUKUMA
ENGLISH |
SUKUMA |
I love you |
Nakutogilwe |
I miss you |
Nagukumbulile |
Love you so much |
Nakutogilwe no/gete |
I want to see you |
Nalihaya kugubhona |
I love you with all my heart |
Nakutogilwe mu ng’holo |
I love you too |
Nakutogilwe nane |
I like you |
Nakutogilwe |
You are beautiful |
Uling’wiza |
My love |
Ng’witogwi wane |
I miss you so much darling. |
Nakukumbulaga nong'witogwi wane. |
I need you |
Nalikudaka |
You will miss me |
ugunikumbula |
Goodbye my love |
Tungwibhona ng’witogwi wane |
See you tomorrow |
Tungwibhona ntondo |
I will marry you |
Nagukutola |
I want some space |
Ninhaghe makanza |
I need your love |
Nalidaka witogwi bhoko |
You are mine |
Uli one |
I love my wife |
Nantogilwe nke wane |
I love my husband |
Nantogilwe ngoshi wane |
My lovely wife |
Nke wane ng’witogwi |
My lovely husband |
Ngoshi wane ng’witogwi |
The rib of my heart |
Lhubhazu lo nh’olo yane |
I am attracted to you |
Nadutilwa nang’ho |
You are the happiness of my heart |
Uli bhuyegi bho ng’holo yane |
You are my rib |
Uli lhubhazu lone |
Hug me my love |
Nibhugaghe ng’witogwi |
Good night my love |
Bhujiku wiza ng’witogwi wane |
DIRECTIONS IN SUKUMA
ENGLISH |
SUKUMA |
Where are you? |
Uli hali ? |
Where did you go? |
Oliojaga he ? |
Where do you live? |
Ugikalaga hali ? |
Where are you going? |
Ulija he ? |
Where were you? |
Oli hali ? |
Pass through the left |
Bhitaga ghumoso |
Pass through the right |
Bhitaga ghunila |
COMMON QUESTIONS IN CONVERSATIONS IN SUKUMA
ENGLISH |
SUKUMA |
How much? |
Hela jinga ? |
How are you feeling? |
Ugwisikiaga ghinehe ? |
How have you been? |
Ulidila ghinehe ? |
What is your name? |
Ulitanwa nani ? |
What are you doing? |
Ulita ki ? |
What are you cooking/eating? |
Ulizuga ki ulilya ki ? |
Are you okay dear? |
Ulimbola ng’witogwa ? |
When are you coming? |
Uliza na nali ? |
How was your night? |
Ubhujiku bhulighenehe ? |
How was your day |
Luli ghinehe ulushiku lwako ? |
How are you doing |
Ulidila ghinehe ? |
How is your family |
U ng’wigwano ghili mhola ? |
What is wrong |
Shida ki ? |
What do you mean |
Ulimaanisha ki ? |
How’s the weather over there |
Ghinehe ihali ya hewa ukunuko? |
Have you gone to church |
Ulijaga ugwisalila ? |
What is this |
Kiyi iji ? |
What’s going on |
Jilendelea ki ? |
Are you listening |
Ulidegeleka ? |
Have you heard |
wigwaga ? |
Can I go home |
Nadula kuja kaya ? |
Can I ask something |
Nakubhuje gintu ? |
How is everything? |
Kinehe jose ? |
What's your phone number? |
Ilikinehe inamba yako ya simu ? |
What can I help you with? |
Nagwambilije ki ? |
How old are you? |
Uli na myaka yinga ? |
Where do you work? |
Uga tumamaga hali ? |
Where do you live? |
Ugigashaga hali ? |
You will come at what time? |
Ugwiza makanza ki ? |
When will you come? |
Ugwiza nanali ? |
Have you eaten? |
Olyaga ? |
What are you saying? |
Ulihaya ginehe ? |
Can I get food? |
Nagudula gupandika shiliwa? |
Where is the market? |
Hali ugwigulilu ? |
Can you tell me? |
Ugudula guniwila ? |
EVERYDAY CONVERSATIONS IN SUKUMA
ENGLISH |
SUKUMA |
Happy birthday |
Hongera gulushiku lwa kubyalwa |
Thank you |
wabheja |
I am sorry |
samahani |
You are welcome |
Makaribu/tuliho |
Me too |
Chene nane |
God bless you |
Sebha akukilwe |
May God protect you |
Sebha agulinde |
She is happy |
Aliyega |
Please help me |
Nambilijage |
I don’t know |
Nadamanile |
I will come tomorrow |
Nagwiza ntondo |
Come here |
Nzugu aha |
Feel at home |
Isikiage hakaya |
Be blessed |
ukulilwe |
I am coming soon |
Nagwiza |
Excuse me |
samahani |
Leave me alone |
Nitekage |
It is okay |
sawa |
I am going home |
Nalija kaya |
I don’t want |
Naduhayaga |
Love is a beautiful thing |
Witogwi ginhu cha wiza |
Let me try |
Lekaga nageme |
Welcome home |
Tuliho kaya |
I reached home safely |
Nagashiga kaya mhola |
God is good |
Sebha aling’wiza |
I don’t understand |
Nadelelwaga |
We are happy to see you |
Twayegaga kukubhona |
I have it |
Nalinayo |
Rest in peace |
Ifulage mu mhola |
I don’t have money |
Nadina hela |
I am done |
Namalaga |
I am going to the shop |
Nalija kwiduka |
Happy new year |
Ng’waka gwawiza |
Bad manners |
Tabhia mbi |
Stop using your phone |
Lekaga gutumamila simu yako |
I need a favour, please |
Nalilomba ghinu |
I haven’t seen you for ages |
Nadina kubho bho myaka |
Great to see you again |
Jitale gukubhona hangi |
I really appreciate it |
Nalilumba sana |
You made my day |
Uhubheja lushiku lone |
No problem |
Nduhu tabhu |
Let us go home |
Tujage gukaya |
I am very tired |
Nanogaga sana |
I have agreed |
Nazunyaga |
I am married |
Natolilwe |
Let's go for a walk. |
Dujage gujuyela |
A big mountain |
Lugulu tutale |
She/he is crying. |
alilila |
She/he is running. |
Alipela |
She/he is playing. |
Alibhina |
I have seen you. |
Nagubhonaga |
I am in pain. |
nalisata |
I am hungry. |
Natubhile |
Who are you? |
Uli nani? |
Who are you with? |
Uli naki? |
What are you carrying? |
Obhuchaga ki ? |
I am lost.? |
Najimilaga |
You are late. |
odila |
You are beautiful. |
Obhelaga gete |
I have dropped a phone. |
Nagwishaga simu |
I am eating. |
Nalilya |
I am cooking. |
Nalizuga |
I have slept. |
Nalalaga |
I am playing. |
Nalishinya |
She/he is cooking. |
Alizuga |
She/he is seated. |
Wigashaga |
I am seated. |
Nigashaga |
I am bathing. |
Naloga |
She/he is digging. |
Alilima |
COOKING TERMS IN SUKUMA
ENGLISH |
SUKUMA |
Prepare the tomatoes. |
Bhejaga inyanya |
Help me with an onion |
Nalilomba shitungulu |
Bring the salt. |
Enhaga munhu |
Put the lemon on the vegetable. |
Twilaga ilimau ng’wi khubhi |
Take the cooking stick. |
Solaga ndinho |
Help me with the knife. |
Nalilomba lushu |
Put little water. |
Tulaga minzi magehu |
Bring the flour. |
Enhaga bhusu |
This rice is good. |
Ubhuchele ubhu ng’wiza |
Take the cooking oil. |
Solaga maguta |
This vegetable is good. |
Ilikhubhi ili liza |
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