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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