Learning Lugisu

3-27-08

I returned to Bupoto yesterday. I like being here because the people teach me words in Lugisu. Lugisu, also called Lumasaba, is the vernacular of the Bugisu tribe here in Eastern Uganda. Learning the language fluently would take months, but gaining a few words here and there is a game for me. Interestingly enough, there are no written materials in Lugisu aside from the Bible. Spellings are relative and phonetic. Only a handful of consonants are used often and the vowel sounds are similar to Spanish vowels.

A sounds like ah.
I sounds like ee.
E – ay.
O – oh.
U – oo.

Ka – Kah
Kh – ch
Tsi – see
Tsa – sya
We – way
E – eh
Lyo – leo
Kii – ch
Nde – new

I have a book of SuDoKu and have taught a few of my friends how to play. By doing so, I’ve learned to count to nine (well, ten to top it off).

Ndwela – 1
Tsibili – 2
Tsitaru – 3
Tsine – 4
Tsirano – 5
Tsisesaba -6
Musafu – 7
Shinane – 8 (my personal favorite – hey, shi nay nay!)
Shyenda – 9
Likhumi – 10

A few phrases have come in handy:

Mazungu – unfamiliar visitor or friend (less PC – white person)
Now simili nabe – I’m very happy to see you.
Wan yala nabe – Thank you very much.
Wakhenyala – Thank you for your work or well done.
Mulembe – hello
Oriena - how are you?
Bu lyi – I’m fine, and you?
Komahoa – what’s new?
Komalyi – not much thanks.
Casala – nothing new, thanks.
Komapesa kenga - how does this cost?
Inganga – give me
Wamalye bilyo – the food is finished.
Wekure (sometimes said Nekure) – I’m satisfied or full.
Kamatore – bananas
Bilyo-bilayi – good food
Bilyo-bib – bad food
Inanasi – Pineapple
Kamachi – eggs (in Mbale they’re amaggi)
Inzala – I’m hungry
How hotsa hulia bilyo – the food is ready
Mazalla – friend
Obe mulyi – goodbye
Hokena hokena – do you want to sleep?
Itsa nano – you come
Hocanis – what do you want?
Yehalowas – sit down
Holias – why are you crying?
Hakana hulia – do you want to eat?
Warulyi – welcome back
Bahalanga barunanu – what is your name?
Hotsa wye – where are you going?
Nowkohle – I’m coming back.
Wangi – this is a respectful response when someone calls for you. It means I’m here.
Towe – no
Kale – yes
Imbawo – cold – not fine

And of course, all of these sounds and words can be different or function under different rules depending on where you are and who you’re talking to. If one person tells you how to say something, the next will tell you it is wrong and give you another mouth full to try. For example, in our village, corn, or maze, is called miande. In the north, it is called kasoli. In Mbale, it is called nabukubo.

That, my friends, is the extent of my lugisu expertise. I use most of those terms and phrases when speaking with little children and babies who don’t have to respond to my slaughtered babblings. Fortunately, English is the national language of Uganda and enough people speak it for me to not have a problem communicating. But I wish I had more time here so I could learn the lugisu. I would be far more effective if I could communicate with those around me.