Back to Level 1 Index

Lesson 15 – Afternoon or evening greetings


A: Osiibye otya nno, Nyabo? ♫ (literally: How did you pass the day, Madam?)
B: Nasiibye bulungi ♫ (I have ‘passed’ well) or simply: Bulungi ♫ (I’m well)
A: Mmm ♫ or Eee
B: Nawe, osiibye otya nno, Ssebo? ♫ (And you, have you ‘passed’ well, Sir?)
A: Bulungi ♫ (I’m well)
B: Mmm
A: Mmm

More formal greetings, morning or evening, one adds “Nyabo/ Bannyabo” for the lady(ies) and for men; “Ssebo / Bassebo”. If “B” are many ladies, “A” would say: Musiibye mutya nno, bannyabo? ♫

Tuning the Ear to Tonality
Omunnyo guli ludda wa? ♫ (Where is the salt?) , Guli ku mmeeza. ♫ (It’s on the table) , Guli wali. ♫ (It’s over there) , Guli wano. ♫ (It’s here.) , Guli mu ffumbiro. ♫ (It’s in the kitchen)

Building Vocabulary [lu/n - class]
Oluguudo. ♫ (A road.) , Enguudo. ♫ (Roads.) , Olwala ♫ (A fingernail) , Enjala ♫ (Fingernails) , Olugoye. ♫ (a cloth, a dress) , Engoye ♫ (clothes.)