View source for Luganda

{{short description|Bantu language of Uganda}}
{{Infobox language
| name             = Ganda
| nativename       = {{lang|lg|Oluganda}}
| states           = [[Uganda]]
| region           = [[Buganda]]
| ethnicity        = [[Baganda]]
| speakers         = [[first language|L1]]: {{sigfig|5.614750|2}} million
| date             = 2014
| ref              = e25
| speakers2        = [[second language|L2]]: {{sigfig|5.390000|2}} million (2014)<ref name=e25/>
| speakers_label   = Speakers
| familycolor      = Niger-Congo
| fam2             = [[Atlantic–Congo languages|Atlantic–Congo]]
| fam3             = [[Volta-Congo languages|Volta-Congo]]
| fam4             = [[Benue–Congo languages|Benue–Congo]]
| fam5             = [[Bantoid languages|Bantoid]]
| fam6             = [[Southern Bantoid languages|Southern Bantoid]]
| fam7             = [[Bantu languages|Bantu]]
| fam8             = [[Northeast Bantu languages|Northeast Bantu]]
| fam9             = [[Great Lakes Bantu languages|Great Lakes Bantu]]
| fam10            = [[West Nyanza languages|West Nyanza]]
| fam11            = [[North Nyanza languages|North Nyanza]]
| protoname        = '''early-Luganda'''<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ntJup_O_mDwC&q=early%20luganda&pg=PA24|title = A History of African Motherhood: The Case of Uganda, 700-1900|isbn = 9781107030800|last1 = Stephens|first1 = Rhiannon|date = 2 September 2013| publisher=Cambridge University Press }}</ref>
| dia1             = Ludiope
| dia2             = Luvuma
| dia3             = Sese
| iso1             = lg
| iso2             = lug
| iso3             = lug
| glotto           = gand1255
| glottorefname    = Ganda
| guthrie          = JE.15
| script           = [[Latin script]] ([[Ganda alphabet]])<br />[[Ganda Braille]]
| notice           = IPA
}}
{{Infobox ethnonym|root=Ganda|person='''Omu'''Ganda|people=[[Baganda|'''Aba'''Ganda]]|language='''Olu'''Ganda|country=[[Buganda|'''Bu'''Ganda]]|Ganda}}

'''Ganda''' or '''Luganda'''<ref>{{OED|Ganda}}</ref> ({{IPAc-en|l|uː|ˈ|ɡ|æ|n|d|ə}} {{respell|loo|GAN|də}};<ref>Laurie Bauer, 2007, ''The Linguistics Student’s Handbook'', Edinburgh</ref> {{lang|lg|Oluganda}} {{IPA|lg|oluɡâːndá|}})<ref>''Luganda Basic Course'', p.144.</ref> is a [[Bantu language]] spoken in the [[African Great Lakes]] region. It is one of the major languages in [[Uganda]] and is spoken by more than 5.56 million Ugandans [[Ganda people|Baganda]]<ref>{{cite web |author1=Uganda Bureau of Statistics |title=National Population and Housing Census 2014 - Main Report |url=https://www.ubos.org/wp-content/uploads/publications/03_20182014_National_Census_Main_Report.pdf}}</ref> and other people principally in central Uganda, including the country's capital, [[Kampala]]. [[Linguistic typology|Typologically]], it is an [[agglutinative]], [[Tone (linguistics)|tonal language]] with [[subject–verb–object]] word order and [[nominative–accusative language|nominative–accusative]] [[morphosyntactic alignment]].

With at least 5.6 million first-language speakers in the [[Buganda]] region and 5.4 million second language speakers fluent elsewhere<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.newvision.co.ug/articledetails/90236 | title=20 million people can speak Luganda - linguists }}</ref> in different regions especially in major urban areas like [[Mbale]], [[Tororo]], [[Jinja, Uganda|Jinja]], [[Gulu]], [[Mbarara]], [[Hoima]], [[Kasese]] etc. Luganda is Uganda's de facto language of national identity as it is the most widely spoken Ugandan language used mostly in trade in urban areas. The language is also the most-spoken unofficial language in [[Rwanda]]'s capital [[Kigali]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://allafrica.com/stories/200904010788.html |title=Rwanda: Country's Unofficial Second Language - Luganda |author=Sam Ruburika |date=1 April 2009 |work=Focus Media |place=Kigali |via=[[AllAfrica]] |access-date=25 August 2022}}</ref> As a second language, it follows [[English language|English]] and  precedes [[Swahili language|Swahili]] in Uganda.

[[Soga language|Lusoga]], the language spoken in [[Busoga]] to the east of Buganda, is very closely related to Luganda. The two languages are almost [[Mutual intelligibility|mutually intelligible]],<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hyman |first=Larry |url=https://zenodo.org/records/3972850 |title=Syntactic architecture and its consequences I: Syntax inside the grammar |date=2020-09-15 |publisher=Language Science Press |isbn=978-3-96110-275-4 |edition=1st |location=Berlin |pages=253–276 |language=en |chapter=In search of prosodic domains in Lusoga |doi=10.5281/zenodo.4041229}}</ref> and have an estimated [[lexical similarity]] of between 82% and 86%.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Nabirye |first1=Minah |last2=Schryver |first2=Gilles-Maurice de |last3=Verhoeven |first3=Jo |date=August 2016 |title=Lusoga (Lutenga) |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-the-international-phonetic-association/article/lusoga-lutenga/FC46D10D16A57ACEC1F3E12C32CA371E |journal=Journal of the International Phonetic Association |language=en |volume=46 |issue=2 |pages=219–228 |doi=10.1017/S0025100315000249 |issn=0025-1003|hdl=10067/1344810151162165141 |hdl-access=free }}</ref>
    
== History ==
Luganda, a Bantu language, shares its roots with other Bantu languages spoken in the African Great Lakes region. Its specific origins remain a subject of scholarly debate, but it's generally accepted that it evolved from Proto-Bantu, the ancestral language of all Bantu languages.
During the 18th -19th century, due to interaction with foreign communities, Luganda borrowed a number of loan words from the incoming peoples (Arab traders, missionaries and colonialists), mostly for things that were inexistent in the land, such as a number of words from Arabic like chai from Arabic shay (tea), ddiini (religion), ssala (prayer), and from English, for example ssaati (shirt) or emotoka (car). 

== Phonology ==
A notable feature of Luganda phonology is its [[geminate consonant]]s and distinctions between [[long vowel|long]] and [[short vowel|short]] vowels. Speakers generally consider consonantal gemination and vowel lengthening to be two manifestations of the same effect, which they call simply "doubling" or "stressing".

Luganda is also a [[tonal language]]; the change in the pitch of a syllable can change the meaning of a word.  For example, the word {{lang|lg|kabaka}} means 'king' if all three syllables are given the same pitch.  If the first syllable is high then the meaning changes to 'the little one catches' (third person singular present tense Class VI {{lang|lg|ka}}- of -{{lang|lg|baka}} 'to catch').  This feature makes Luganda a difficult language for speakers of non-tonal languages to learn. A non-native speaker has to learn the variations of pitch by prolonged listening.<ref>{{Harvcoltxt|Stevick|Kamoga|1970}}</ref>

Unlike some other Bantu languages, there is no tendency in Luganda for penultimate vowels to become long; in fact they are very frequently short, as in the city name [[Kampala]] {{lang|lg|Kámpalâ}}, pronounced {{IPA|[káámpálâ]}}, in which the second vowel is short in Luganda.<ref>''Luganda Basic Course'', p.105.</ref>

=== Vowels ===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|+Luganda vowels
!
! scope="col" | [[Front vowel|Front]]
! scope="col" | [[Back vowel|Back]]
|- align=center
! scope="row" | [[Close vowel|Close]]
| {{IPA link|i}}
| {{IPA link|u}}
|- align=center
! scope="row" | [[Close-mid vowel|Close-mid]]
| {{IPA link|e}}
| {{IPA link|o}}
|- align=center
! scope="row" | [[Open vowel|Open]]
|colspan=2| {{IPA link|a}}
|}

All five vowels have two forms: [[long vowel|long]] and [[short vowel|short]]. The distinction is phonemic but can occur only in certain positions. After two consonants, the latter being a [[semivowel]], all vowels are long. The [[vowel quality|quality]] of a vowel is not affected by its length.

Long vowels in Luganda are very long, more than twice the length of a short vowel. A vowel before a [[prenasalised consonant]], as in {{lang|lg|Bugáńda}} '[[Buganda]]' is also lengthened, although it is not as long as a long vowel; laboratory measurements show that the vowel + nasal takes the same length of time to say as a long vowel.<ref>Hubbard (1995), p.183.</ref> Before a [[geminate consonant|geminate]], all vowels are short. A segment such as {{lang|lg|tugg}}, where a short vowel is followed by a geminate consonant, is very slightly shorter than {{lang|lg|tuuk}} or {{lang|lg|tung}}.

=== Consonants ===
The table below gives the consonant set of Luganda, grouping [[voiceless consonant|voiceless]] and [[voiced consonant|voiced]] consonants together in a cell where appropriate, in that order.
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
!
! scope="col" | [[bilabial consonant|Labial]]
! scope="col" | [[alveolar consonant|Alveolar]]
! scope="col" | [[palatal consonant|Palatal]]
! scope="col" | [[velar consonant|Velar]]
|-
! scope="row" | [[Plosive consonant|Plosive]]
|{{IPA link|p}} {{IPA link|b}}
|{{IPA link|t}} {{IPA link|d}}
|{{IPA link|c}} {{IPA link|ɟ}} {{r|footnote3|group=decimal}}
|{{IPA link|k}} {{IPA link|ɡ}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[Fricative consonant|Fricative]]
|{{IPA link|f}} {{IPA link|v}} {{r|footnote2|group=decimal}}
|{{IPA link|s}} {{IPA link|z}}
|
|
|-
! scope="row" | [[Nasal stop|Nasal]]
|{{IPA link|m}}
|{{IPA link|n}}
|{{IPA link|ɲ}}
|{{IPA link|ŋ}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[Approximant consonant|Approximant]]
|
|rowspan=2|{{IPA link|l}}~{{IPA link|r}} {{r|footnote1|group=decimal}}
|{{IPA link|j}}
|{{IPA link|w}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[Trill consonant|Trill]]
|
|
|
|}
{{reflist|group=decimal|refs=
<ref name=footnote1>The [[liquid consonant|liquids]] {{IPA|[l]}} and {{IPA|[r]}} are [[allophones]] of a single [[phoneme]] {{IPA|/l~r/}}, although the distinction is reflected in the orthography.</ref>
<ref name=footnote2>The [[labiodental consonant|labiodental]] [[fricative consonant|fricatives]] {{IPA|/f/}} and {{IPA|/v/}} are slightly [[labialization|labialised]] and so could also be transcribed {{IPA|[fʷ]}} and {{IPA|[vʷ]}} respectively.</ref>
<ref name=footnote3>The [[palatal consonant|palatal]] [[plosive consonant|plosives]] {{IPA|/c/}} and {{IPA|/ɟ/}} may be realised with some [[affricate consonant|affrication]]—either as {{IPA|[cç]}} and {{IPA|[ɟʝ]}} or as [[postalveolar consonant|postalveolars]] {{IPA|[tʃ]}} and {{IPA|[dʒ]}}</ref> respectively.}}

Apart from {{IPA|/l~r/}}, all these consonants can be [[gemination|geminated]], even at the start of a word: {{lang|lg|bbiri}} {{IPA|/bːíri/}} 'two', ''{{lang|lg|kitto}}'' {{IPA|/cítːo/}} 'cold'. The [[approximant consonant|approximants]] {{IPA|/w/}} and {{IPA|/j/}} are geminated as {{IPA|/ɡːw/}} and {{IPA|/ɟː/}}: {{lang|lg|eggwanga}} {{IPA|/eɡːwáːŋɡa/}} 'country'; {{lang|lg|jjenje}} {{IPA|/ɟːéːɲɟe/}} 'cricket'—from the roots -{{lang|lg|wanga}} {{IPA|/wáːŋɡa/}} and -{{lang|lg|yenje}} {{IPA|/jéːɲɟe/}} respectively, with the singular noun prefix {{lang|lg|e}}- that doubles the following consonant.

Historically, geminated consonants appear to have arisen when a very close {{IPA|[i]}} between two consonants dropped out; for example -{{lang|lg|dduka}} from *-{{lang|lg|jiduka}} 'run'.<ref>Dutcher & Paster (2008), p.130.</ref>

Apart from {{IPA|/l~r/}}, {{IPA|/w/}} and {{IPA|/j/}}, all consonants can also be [[prenasalised stop|prenasalised]] (prefixed with a [[nasal stop]]). This consonant will be {{IPA|[m]}}, {{IPA|[n]}}, {{IPA|[ɲ]}} {{IPA|[ɱ]}} or {{IPA|[ŋ]}} according to the [[place of articulation]] of the consonant which follows, and belongs to the same syllable as that consonant.

The [[liquid consonant|liquid]] {{IPA|/l~r/}} becomes {{IPA|/d/}} when [[gemination|geminated]] or [[prenasalised stop|prenasalised]]. For example, {{lang|lg|ndaba}} {{IPA|/n̩dába/}} 'I see' (from the root -{{lang|lg|laba}} with the subject prefix {{lang|lg|n}}-); {{lang|lg|eddagala}} {{IPA|/edːáɡala/}} 'leaf' (from the root -{{lang|lg|lagala}} with the singular noun prefix {{lang|lg|e}}-, which doubles the following consonant).

A consonant cannot be both geminated and prenasalised. When [[morphology (linguistics)|morphological]] processes require this, the gemination is dropped and the syllable {{IPA|/zi/}} is inserted, which can then be prenasalised. For example, when the prefix {{lang|lg|en}}- is added to the adjective -{{lang|lg|ddugavu}} 'black' the result is {{lang|lg|enzirugavu}} {{IPA|/eːnzíruɡavu/}}.

The [[nasal stop|nasals]] {{IPA|/m/}}, {{IPA|/n/}}, {{IPA|/ɲ/}} and {{IPA|/ŋ/}} can be [[syllable|syllabic]] at the start of a word: {{lang|lg|nkima}} {{IPA|/ɲ̩címa/}} (or {{IPA|[n̩tʃíma]}}) 'monkey', {{lang|lg|mpa}} {{IPA|/m̩pá/}} 'I give', {{lang|lg|nnyinyonnyola}} {{IPA|/ɲ̩ɲiɲóɲːola/}} or {{IPA|/ɲːiɲóɲːola/}} 'I explain'. Note that this last example can be analysed in two ways, reflecting the fact that there is no distinction between prenasalisation and gemination when applied to nasal stops.

===Tone===
{{Main|Luganda tones}}

Luganda is a [[tonal language]], with three tones: high ({{IPA|á}}), low ({{IPA|à}}) and falling ({{IPA|â}}). There are, however, no syllables in Luganda with rising tone {{IPA|[àá]}}, since these automatically become {{IPA|[áá]}}.<ref>''Luganda Basic Course'', p.xiii.</ref><ref>Hyman & Katamba (1993), p.56.</ref>

There are various types of tones: (a) lexical tones, which are always present in a word, e.g. {{lang|lg|ekib'''ú'''ga}} 'city'; (b) phrasal tones, which are automatically added to a word in certain contexts, but which are absent in other contexts (e.g. {{lang|lg|ekítábó}} or {{lang|lg|ekitabo}} 'book'); (c) plateaux tones, where the pitch remains high between two lexical tones, e.g. {{lang|lg|<u>k'''í'''rí mú Úg'''áń'''</u>da}} 'it is in Uganda'; (d) grammatical tones, which are associated with certain tenses or uses of the verb; (e) boundary tones, which affect the last syllable of a word or phrase and can indicate such things as interrogation.

According to one analysis, tones are carried on [[mora (linguistics)|morae]]. In Luganda, a short vowel has one mora and a long vowel has two morae. A geminate or prenasalised consonant has one mora. A consonant + semivowel (e.g. {{lang|lg|gw}} or {{lang|lg|ly}}) also has one mora. A vowel followed by a prenasalised consonant has two morae ''including'' the one belonging to the prenasalised consonant. The initial vowel of words like {{lang|lg|ekitabo}} 'book' is considered to have one mora, even though such vowels are often pronounced long. No syllable can have more than two morae.

Falling tones can be heard in syllables which have two morae, e.g. those with a long vowel ({{lang|lg|okukóoká}} 'to cry'),<ref name=DP125>Dutcher & Paster (2008), p.125.</ref> those with a short vowel followed by a geminate consonant ({{lang|lg|okubôbbá}} 'to throb'),<ref name=DP125 /> those with a vowel followed by a prenasalised consonant ({{lang|lg|Abagândá}} 'Baganda people'), and those following a consonant plus semivowel ({{lang|lg|okulwâlá}} {{IPA|[okulwáalá]}} 'to fall sick').<ref name=DP125 /> They can also be heard on final vowels, e.g. {{lang|lg|ensî}} 'country'.

Words in Luganda commonly belong to one of three patterns (other patterns are less common): (a) without lexical tone, e.g. {{lang|lg|ekitabo}} 'book'; (b) with one high lexical tone, e.g. {{lang|lg|ekib'''ú'''ga}} 'city'; (c) with two high lexical tones, e.g. {{lang|lg|K'''á'''mpal'''á'''}} which link together to make HHH, i.e. {{IPA|[Kámpálá]}} or {{lang|lg|[Kámpálâ]}}. At the end of a sentence, a final lexical tone becomes a falling tone, i.e. [Kámpálâ], but in other contexts, e.g. when the word is used as the subject of a sentence, it remains high: {{lang|lg|Kámpálá kibúga}} 'Kampala is a city'.<ref>Luganda Basic Course, p.105</ref>

Although words like {{lang|lg|ekitabo}} are theoretically toneless, they are generally subject to a tone-raising rule whereby all but the first mora automatically acquire a high tone. Thus {{lang|lg|ekitabo}} 'book' is usually pronounced {{IPA|[e:kítábó]}} and {{lang|lg|ssomero}} 'school' is pronounced {{IPA|[ssóméró]}} (where the long consonant {{IPA|/ss/}} counts as the first mora).<ref>Luganda Pretraining Program, p.82.</ref> These tones automatically added to toneless words are called 'phrasal tones'. The tone-raising rule also applies to the toneless syllables at the end of words like {{lang|lg|eddw'''â'''liro}} {{IPA|[eddwáalíró]}} 'hospital' and {{lang|lg|t'''ú'''genda}} {{IPA|[túgeendá]}} 'we are going', provided that there is at least one low-toned mora after the lexical tone. When this happens, the high tones which follow the low tone are slightly lower than the one which precedes it.

However, there are certain contexts, such as when a toneless word is used as the subject of a sentence or before a numeral, when this tone-raising rule does not apply: {{lang|lg|Masindi kib'''ú'''ga}} 'Masindi is a city'; {{lang|lg|ebitabo kk'''ú'''mi}} 'ten books'.<ref>Luganda Basic Course, pp.xviii, xix.</ref>

In a sentence, the lexical tones (that is, the high tones of individual words) tend to fall gradually in a series of steps from high to low. For example, in the sentence {{lang|lg|kye kib'''ú'''ga ekik'''ú'''lu mu Ug'''áń'''da}} 'it is the chief city in Uganda', the lexical high tones of the syllables {{lang|lg|bú}}, {{lang|lg|kú}} and {{lang|lg|gá}} stand out and gradually descend in pitch, the toneless syllables in between being lower.<ref>Luganda Basic Course, p.105.</ref> This phenomenon is called '[[downdrift]]'.

However, there are certain types of phrase, notably those in the form 'noun + of + noun', or 'verb + location', where downdrift does not occur, and instead all the syllables in between the two lexical high tones link together into a 'tonal plateau', in which all the vowels have tones of equal height, for example {{lang|lg|mu mas<u>'''é'''réngétá g'''á''' Úg'''áń'''</u>da}} 'in the south of Uganda' or {{lang|lg|<u>k'''í'''rí mú Úg'''áń'''</u>da}} 'it is in Uganda'.<ref>Luganda Basic Course, pp.26, 31.</ref> Plateauing also occurs within a word, as in {{lang|lg|<u>K'''á'''mpál'''â'''</u>}} (see above).

A plateau cannot be formed between a lexical tone and a following phrasal tone; so in the sentence {{lang|lg|k'''í'''ri mu Bunyóró}} 'it is in Bunyoro' there is downdrift, since the tones of {{lang|lg|Bunyóró}} are phrasal. But a phrasal tone can and frequently does form a plateau with a following lexical tone or phrasal tone. So in {{lang|lg|a<u>bántú mú Úg'''áń'''</u>da}} 'people in Uganda', there is a plateau from the phrasal tone of {{lang|lg|abántú}} to the lexical tone of {{lang|lg|Ug'''áń'''da}}, and in {{lang|lg|t'''ú'''gen<u>dá mú lúgúú</u>dó}} 'we are going into the street', there is a plateau from the phrasal tone of {{lang|lg|t'''ú'''gendá}} to the phrasal tone of {{lang|lg|lugúúdó}}.<ref>Luganda Basic Course, p.xiii.</ref> Again there are certain exceptions; for example, there is no plateau before the words {{lang|lg|ono}} 'this' or {{lang|lg|bonn'''â'''}} 'all': {{lang|lg|muntú onó}} 'this person', {{lang|lg|abántú bonn'''â'''}} 'all the people'.<ref>Luganda Basic Course, p.xx.</ref>

Prefixes sometimes change the tones in a word. For example, {{lang|lg|Bag'''áń'''da}} {{IPA|[baɡá:nda]}} 'they are Baganda' has LHHL, but adding the initial vowel {{lang|lg|a-}} {{IPA|[a]}} gives {{lang|lg|Abag'''â'''ndá}} {{IPA|[abaɡâ:ndá]}} 'Baganda people' with a falling tone on ''ga'' and phrasal tone on the final syllable.

Different verb tenses have different tonal patterns. The tones of verbs are made more complicated by the fact that some verbs have a high lexical tone on the first syllable of the root, while others do not, and also by the fact that the sequence HH generally becomes HL by a rule called [[Meeussen's rule]]. Thus {{lang|lg|asóma}} means 'he reads', but when the toneless prefix {{lang|lg|a-}} 'he/she' is replaced by the high-toned prefix {{lang|lg|bá-}} 'they', instead of {{lang|lg|básóma}} it becomes {{lang|lg|básomá}} 'they read'.<ref>Luganda Pretraining Program, p.94.</ref> The tones of verbs in relative clauses and in negative sentences differ from those in ordinary positive sentences and the addition of an object-marker such as {{lang|lg|mu}} 'him' adds further complications.

In addition to lexical tones, phrasal tones, and the tonal patterns of tenses, there are also intonational tones in Luganda, for example, tones of questions. One rather unexpected phenomenon for English speakers is that if a yes–no question ends in a toneless word, instead of a rise, there is a sharp drop in pitch, e.g. {{lang|lg|lúnó lúgúúdò?}} 'is this a road?'.<ref>Luganda Pretraining Program, p.99.</ref>

=== Phonotactics ===
[[Syllable]]s can take any of the following forms:
* V (only as the first syllable of a word)
* CV
* GV
* NCV
* CSV
* GSV
* NCSV
where V = [[vowel]], C = single [[consonant]] (including nasals and semivowels but excluding geminates), G = [[geminate consonant]], N = [[nasal stop]], S = [[semivowel]]

These forms are subject to certain [[phonotactics|phonotactic]] restrictions:
* Two vowels may not appear adjacent to one another. When [[morphology (linguistics)|morphological]] or [[grammar|grammatical]] rules cause two vowels to meet, the first vowel is [[elision|elided]] or reduced to a [[semivowel]] and the second is [[long vowel|lengthened]] if possible.
* A vowel following a consonant–semivowel combination (except {{IPA|[ɡːw]}}) is always long, except at the end of a word. After {{IPA|[ɡːw]}} a vowel can be either long or short. At the end of a word, all vowels are pronounced short.<ref>Luganda Basic Course, p.xi.</ref>
* A vowel followed by a nasal–plosive combination is always long.
* A vowel followed by a geminate is always short. This rule takes precedence over all the above rules.
* The [[velar consonant|velar]] [[plosive consonant|plosives]] {{IPA|/k/}} and {{IPA|/ɡ/}} may not appear before the vowel {{IPA|[i]}} or the semivowel {{IPA|[j]}}. In this position they become the corresponding [[postalveolar consonant|postalveolar]] [[affricate consonant|affricates]] {{IPA|[tʃ]}} and {{IPA|[dʒ]}} respectively.
* The consonants {{IPA|/j/}}, {{IPA|/w/}} and {{IPA|/l~r/}} cannot be [[gemination|geminated]] or [[prenasalised stop|prenasalised]].
* A consonant cannot be both geminated and prenasalised.

The net effect of this is that all Luganda words follow the general pattern of alternating [[consonant cluster]]s and [[vowel]]s, beginning with either but always ending in a vowel:
* (V)XVXV...XV
where V = [[vowel]], X = [[consonant cluster]], (V) = optional vowel

This is reflected in the [[syllabification]] rule that in writing, words are always hyphenated after a vowel (when breaking a word over two lines). For example, {{lang|lg|Emmotoka yange ezze}} 'My car has arrived' would be split into syllables as {{lang|lg|E‧mmo‧to‧ka ya‧nge e‧zze}}.

=== Variant pronunciations ===
The [[palatal consonant|palatal]] [[plosive consonant|plosives]] {{IPA|/c/}} and {{IPA|/ɟ/}} may be realised with some [[affricate consonant|affrication]] — either as {{IPA|[cç]}} and {{IPA|[ɟʝ]}} or as [[postalveolar consonant|postalveolars]] {{IPA|/tʃ/}} and {{IPA|/dʒ/}} respectively.

In speech, word-final [[vowel]]s are often [[elision|elided]] in these conditioning environments:
* Word-final {{IPA|/u/}} can be silent after {{IPA|/f/}}, {{IPA|/fː/}}, {{IPA|/v/}} or {{IPA|/vː/}}
* Word-final {{IPA|/i/}} can be silent after {{IPA|/c/}}, {{IPA|/cː/}}, {{IPA|/ɟ/}} or {{IPA|/ɟː/}}

For example, {{lang|lg|ekiddugavu}} {{IPA|/ecídːuɡavu/}} 'black' may be pronounced {{IPA|[ecídːuɡavʷu]}} or {{IPA|[ecídːuɡavʷ]}}. Similarly {{lang|lg|lwaki}} {{IPA|/lwáːci/}} 'why' may be pronounced {{IPA|[lwáːci]}}, {{IPA|[lwáːc]}} or {{IPA|[lwáːtʃ]}}.

Long vowels before [[prenasalised consonant|prenasalised]] [[fricative]]s (that is, before {{IPA|/nf/}}, {{IPA|/nv/}}, {{IPA|/ns/}} or {{IPA|/nz/}}) may be [[nasal vowel|nasalised]], and the nasal is then often elided. Additionally, when not elided (for example phrase-initially), the {{IPA|/n/}} usually becomes a [[labiodental consonant|labiodental]] in {{IPA|/nf/}}, {{IPA|/nv/}}. For example:
* {{lang|lg|nfa}} {{IPA|/nfa/}} 'I'm dying' is pronounced {{IPA|[ɱfʷa]}}
* {{lang|lg|musanvu}} {{IPA|/musáːnvu/}} 'seven' may be pronounced {{IPA|[musáːɱvʷu]}}, {{IPA|[musãːɱvʷu]}}, {{IPA|[musãːvʷu]}} or {{IPA|[musãːɱvʷ]}}
* {{lang|lg|tonsaba}} {{IPA|/toːnsába/}} 'don't ask me' may be pronounced {{IPA|[toːnsába]}}, {{IPA|[tõːsába]}} or {{IPA|[tõːnsába]}}

The [[liquid consonant|liquid]] {{IPA|/l~r/}} has two [[allophones]] {{IPA|[l]}} and {{IPA|[r]}}, conditioned by the preceding vowel. It is usually realised as a [[tap consonant|tap]] or [[flap consonant|flap]] {{IPA|[ɾ]}} after a [[front vowel|front]] [[unrounded vowel]] (''i.e.'' after {{IPA|/e/}}, {{IPA|/eː/}}, {{IPA|/i/}} or {{IPA|/iː/}}), and as a [[lateral approximant]] {{IPA|[l]}} elsewhere. However, there is considerable variation in this, and using one allophone instead of the other causes no ambiguity. So {{lang|lg|lwaki}} {{IPA|/lwáːci/}} 'why' may also be pronounced {{IPA|[rwáːci]}}, {{IPA|[ɾwáːci]}}, {{IPA|[ɹwáːtʃi]}} ''etc''.

=== Alternative analysis ===
Treating the [[geminate consonant|geminate]] and [[prenasalised consonant|prenasalised]] consonants as separate [[phoneme]]s yields the expanded consonant set below:
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
!
! scope="col" | [[bilabial consonant|Labial]]
! scope="col" | [[alveolar consonant|Alveolar]]
! scope="col" | [[palatal consonant|Palatal]]
! scope="col" | [[velar consonant|Velar]]
|-
! scope="row" | Simple [[Plosive consonant|plosive]]
|{{IPA link|p}} {{IPA link|b}}
|{{IPA link|t}} {{IPA link|d}}
|{{IPA link|c}} {{IPA link|ɟ}}
|{{IPA link|k}} {{IPA link|ɡ}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[Geminate consonant|Geminate]] plosive
|{{IPA link|pː}} {{IPA link|bː}}
|{{IPA link|tː}} {{IPA link|dː}}
|{{IPA link|cː}} {{IPA link|ɟː}}
|{{IPA link|kː}} {{IPA link|ɡː}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[Prenasalised consonant|Prenasalised]] plosive
|{{IPA link|ᵐp}} {{IPA link|ᵐb}}
|{{IPA link|ⁿt}} {{IPA link|ⁿd}}
|{{IPA link|ᶮc}} {{IPA link|ᶮɟ}}
|{{IPA link|ᵑk}} {{IPA link|ᵑɡ}}
|-
! scope="row" | Simple [[Fricative consonant|fricative]]
|{{IPA link|f}} {{IPA link|v}}
|{{IPA link|s}} {{IPA link|z}}
|
|
|-
! scope="row" | Geminate fricative
|{{IPA link|fː}} {{IPA link|vː}}
|{{IPA link|sː}} {{IPA link|zː}}
|
|
|-
! scope="row" | Prenasalised fricative
|{{IPA link|ᶬf}} {{IPA link|ᶬv}}
|{{IPA link|ⁿs}} {{IPA link|ⁿz}}
|
|
|-
! scope="row" | Simple [[Nasal stop|nasal]]
|{{IPA link|m}}
|{{IPA link|n}}
|{{IPA link|ɲ}}
|{{IPA link|ŋ}}
|-
! scope="row" | Geminate nasal
|{{IPA link|mː}}
|{{IPA link|nː}}
|{{IPA link|ɲː}}
|{{IPA link|ŋː}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[Approximant consonant|Approximant]]
|
|
|{{IPA link|j}}
|{{IPA link|w}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[Liquid consonant|Liquid]]
|
|{{IPA link|l}}
|
|
|}

This simplifies the phonotactic rules so that all syllables are of one of three forms:
* V (only as the first syllable of a word)
* CV
* CSV
where V = [[vowel]], C = [[consonant]] (including geminate and prenasalised consonants), N = [[nasal stop]], S = [[semivowel]] (''i.e.'' either {{IPA|/j/}} or {{IPA|/w/}}).

[[Vowel length]] is then only distinctive before simple consonants (''i.e.'' simple plosives, simple fricatives, simple nasals, approximants and liquids)—not before geminate or nasalised consonants or at the end of a word.

== Orthography ==

Luganda [[orthography|spelling]], which has been standardized since 1947, uses a [[Latin alphabet]], augmented with one new letter {{lang|lg|[[Eng (letter)|ŋ]]}} and a [[Digraph (orthography)|digraph]] {{lang|lg|[[ny (digraph)|ny]]}}, which is treated as a single letter. It has a very high sound-to-letter correspondence: one letter usually represents one sound and vice versa.

The distinction between simple and [[geminate consonant|geminate]] consonants is always represented explicitly: simple consonants are written single, and geminates are written double. The distinction between [[vowel length|long and short vowels]] is always made clear from the spelling but not always explicitly: short vowels are always written single; long vowels are written double only if their length cannot be inferred from the context. [[Stress (linguistics)|Stress]] and [[tone (linguistics)|tones]] are not represented in the spelling.

The following [[phonemes]] are always represented with the same letter or combination of letters:
* Short vowels (always spelt {{lang|lg|a}}, {{lang|lg|e}}, {{lang|lg|i}}, {{lang|lg|o}}, {{lang|lg|u}})
* All consonants apart from {{IPA|/l~r/}}, {{IPA|/c/}} and {{IPA|/ɟ/}}
* The [[palatal consonant|palatals]] {{IPA|/c/}} and {{IPA|/ɟ/}}, when followed by a short vowel (always spelt {{lang|lg|c}}, {{lang|lg|j}}), except when the short vowel is itself followed by a geminate consonant, or when the vowel is {{IPA|/i/}}

The following phonemes can be represented with two letters or combinations of letters, with the alternation predictable from the context:
* Long vowels (spelt {{lang|lg|a}}, {{lang|lg|e}}, {{lang|lg|i}}, {{lang|lg|o}}, {{lang|lg|u}} where short vowels are impossible; {{lang|lg|aa}}, {{lang|lg|ee}}, {{lang|lg|ii}}, {{lang|lg|oo}}, {{lang|lg|uu}} elsewhere)
* The [[liquid consonant|liquid]] {{IPA|/l~r/}} (spelt {{lang|lg|r}} after {{lang|lg|e}} or {{lang|lg|i}}; {{lang|lg|l}} elsewhere)

The following phonemes can be represented with two letters or combinations of letters, with unpredictable alternation between the two:
* The palatals {{IPA|/c/}} and {{IPA|/ɟ/}}, when followed by a long vowel, or by a short vowel and a geminate consonant, or by an {{lang|lg|i}} sound ({{IPA|/i/}} or {{IPA|/iː/}}) (spelt with {{lang|lg|c}}, {{lang|lg|j}}, with {{lang|lg|ky}}, {{lang|lg|gy}}, or, before {{lang|lg|i}}, with {{lang|lg|k}}, {{lang|lg|g}}).

It is therefore possible to predict the pronunciation of any word (with the exception of stress and tones) from the spelling. It is also usually possible to predict the spelling of a word from the pronunciation. The only words where this is not possible are those that include one of the affricate–vowel combinations discussed above.

Note, however, that some proper names are not spelled as they are pronounced. For example, {{lang|lg|Uganda}} is pronounced as though written {{lang|lg|Yuganda}} and {{lang|lg|Teso}} is pronounced {{lang|lg|Tteeso}}.<ref name="Luganda Basic Course, p.20">''Luganda Basic Course'', p.20.</ref>

=== Vowels ===

The five [[vowel]]s in Luganda are spelt with the same letters as in many other languages (for example [[Spanish language|Spanish]]):

* {{lang|lg|a}} {{IPA|/a/}}
* {{lang|lg|e}} {{IPA|/e/}}
* {{lang|lg|i}} {{IPA|/i/}}
* {{lang|lg|o}} {{IPA|/o/}}
* {{lang|lg|u}} {{IPA|/u/}}

As mentioned above, the distinction between [[long vowel|long]] and [[short vowel|short]] vowels is [[phoneme|phonemic]] and is therefore represented in the alphabet. Long vowels are written as double (when length cannot be inferred from the context) and short vowels are written single. For example:

* {{lang|lg|bana}} {{IPA|/bana/}} 'four (''e.g.'' people)' vs {{lang|lg|baana}} {{IPA|/baːna/}} 'children'
* {{lang|lg|sera}} {{IPA|/sela/}} 'dance' vs {{lang|lg|seera}} {{IPA|/seːla/}} 'overcharge'
* {{lang|lg|sira}} {{IPA|/sila/}} 'mingle' vs {{lang|lg|siira}} {{IPA|/siːla/}} 'walk slowly'
* {{lang|lg|kola}} {{IPA|/kola/}} 'do' vs {{lang|lg|koola}} {{IPA|/koːla/}} '(to) weed'
* {{lang|lg|tuma}} {{IPA|/tuma/}} 'send' vs {{lang|lg|tuuma}} {{IPA|/tuːma/}} '(to) name'

In certain contexts, [[phonotactics|phonotactic]] constraints mean that a vowel must be long, and in these cases it is not written double:
* A vowel followed by a [[prenasalised consonant]]
* A vowel that comes after a consonant–semivowel combination—apart from {{lang|lg|ggw}} which can be thought of as a geminated ''w'', and {{lang|lg|ggy}} which can be thought of as a geminated ''y'' (although the latter is less common as this combination is more often spelt ''jj'')

For example:
* {{lang|lg|ekyuma}} {{IPA|/ecúːma/}} 'metal'
* {{lang|lg|ŋŋenda}} {{IPA|/ŋ̍ŋéːnda/}} 'I go'
But
* {{lang|lg|eggwolezo}} {{IPA|/eɡːwólezo/}} 'court house'
* {{lang|lg|eggwoolezo}} {{IPA|/eɡːwóːlezo/}} 'customs office'

Vowels at the start or end of the word are not written double, even if they are long. The only exception to this (apart from all-vowel interjections such as {{lang|lg|eee}} and {{lang|lg|uu}}) is {{lang|lg|yee}} 'yes'.

=== Consonants ===
With the exception of {{lang|lg|ny}} {{IPA|[ɲ]}}, each [[consonant]] sound in Luganda corresponds to a single letter. The {{lang|lg|ny}} combination is treated as a single letter and therefore does not have any effect on vowel length (see the previous subsection).

The following letters are pronounced approximately as in [[English language|English]]:
* {{lang|lg|b}} {{IPA|/b/}} (sometimes softened to {{IPA|/β/}})<ref name="Luganda Basic Course, p.20"/>
* ''d'' {{IPA|/d/}}
* {{lang|lg|f}} {{IPA|/f/}} ("'{{lang|lg|f|italic=unset}}' and '{{lang|lg|v|italic=unset}}' are pronounced with the lips slightly pouted")<ref name=Crabtree>Crabtree, William A. (1902) ''Elements of Luganda Grammar'', p.13.</ref>
* {{lang|lg|l}} {{IPA|/l/}}
* {{lang|lg|m}} {{IPA|/m/}}
* {{lang|lg|n}} {{IPA|/n/}}
* {{lang|lg|p}} {{IPA|/p/}}
* {{lang|lg|s}} {{IPA|/s/}}
* {{lang|lg|t}} {{IPA|/t/}}
* {{lang|lg|v}} {{IPA|/v/}}
* {{lang|lg|w}} {{IPA|/w/}} ("'{{lang|lg|w|italic=unset}}' differs from the English 'w' being much softer")<ref name=Crabtree />
* {{lang|lg|y}} {{IPA|/j/}}
* {{lang|lg|z}} {{IPA|/z/}}

A few letters have unusual values:
* {{lang|lg|c}} {{IPA|/c/}}
* {{lang|lg|j}} {{IPA|/ɟ/}}
* {{lang|lg|ny}} {{IPA|/ɲ/}}
* {{lang|lg|ŋ}} {{IPA|/ŋ/}}

The letters {{lang|lg|l}} and {{lang|lg|r}} represent the same sound in Luganda—{{IPA|/l/}}—but the orthography requires {{lang|lg|r}} after {{lang|lg|e}} or {{lang|lg|i}}, and {{lang|lg|l}} elsewhere:
* {{lang|lg|alinda}} {{IPA|/alíːnda/}} 'she's waiting'
* {{lang|lg|akirinda}} {{IPA|/acilíːnda/}} (or {{IPA|[aciríːnda]}}) 'she's waiting for it'

There are also two letters whose pronunciation depends on the following letter:
* {{lang|lg|k}} is pronounced {{IPA|[c]}} (or {{IPA|[tʃ]}}) before {{lang|lg|i}} or {{lang|lg|y}}, {{IPA|[k]}} elsewhere
* {{lang|lg|g}} is pronounced {{IPA|[ɟ]}} (or {{IPA|[dʒ]}}) before {{lang|lg|i}} or {{lang|lg|y}}, {{IPA|[ɡ]}} elsewhere
Compare this to the pronunciation of {{lang|roa|c}} and {{lang|roa|g}} in many [[Romance language]]s. As in the Romance languages the 'softening letter' (in [[Italian language|Italian]] {{lang|it|i}}, in [[French language|French]] {{lang|fr|e}}, in Luganda {{lang|lg|y}}) is not itself pronounced, although in Luganda it does have the effect of lengthening the following vowel (see the previous subsection).

Finally the sounds {{IPA|/ɲ/}} and {{IPA|/ŋ/}} are spelt {{lang|lg|n}} before another consonant with the same [[place of articulation]] (in other words, before other [[palatal consonant|palatals]] and [[velar consonant|velars]] respectively) rather than {{lang|lg|ny}} and {{lang|lg|ŋ}}:
* The combinations {{IPA|/ɲ̩ɲ/}} and {{IPA|/ɲː/}} are spelt {{lang|lg|nny}}
* The combination {{IPA|/ɲj/}} is spelt {{lang|lg|nÿ}} (the [[Diaeresis (diacritic)|diaeresis]] shows that the {{lang|lg|y}} is a separate letter rather than part of the {{lang|lg|ny}} digraph, and the {{IPA|/ɲ/}} is spelt {{lang|lg|n}} before {{lang|lg|y}} as in the above rule; in practice this combination is very rare)
* {{IPA|/ŋ/}} is spelt {{lang|lg|n}} before {{lang|lg|k}} or {{lang|lg|g}} (but not before another {{lang|lg|ŋ}})
* {{IPA|/ɲ/}} is spelt {{lang|lg|n}} before {{lang|lg|c}} or {{lang|lg|j}}, or before a soft {{lang|lg|k}} or {{lang|lg|g}}

=== Alphabet ===

The standard Luganda alphabet is composed of twenty-four letters:
* 18 consonants: {{lang|lg|b}}, {{lang|lg|p}}, {{lang|lg|v}}, {{lang|lg|f}}, {{lang|lg|m}}, {{lang|lg|d}}, {{lang|lg|t}}, {{lang|lg|l}}, {{lang|lg|r}}, {{lang|lg|n}}, {{lang|lg|z}}, {{lang|lg|s}}, {{lang|lg|j}}, {{lang|lg|c}}, {{lang|lg|g}}, {{lang|lg|k}}, {{lang|lg|ny}}, {{lang|lg|ŋ}}
* 5 vowels: {{lang|lg|a}}, {{lang|lg|e}}, {{lang|lg|i}}, {{lang|lg|o}}, {{lang|lg|u}}
* 2 semi-vowels: {{lang|lg|w}}, {{lang|lg|y}}

Since the last consonant {{lang|lg|ŋ}} does not appear on standard typewriters or computer keyboards, it is often replaced by the combination {{lang|lg|ng}}' (including the apostrophe). In some non-standard orthographies, the apostrophe is not used, which can lead to confusion with the letter combination {{lang|lg|ng}}, which is different from {{lang|lg|ŋ}}.

In addition, the letter combination {{lang|lg|ny}} is treated as a unique consonant. When the letters {{lang|lg|n}} and {{lang|lg|y}} appear next to each other, they are written as {{lang|lg|nÿ}}, with the [[Diaeresis (diacritic)|diaeresis]] mark to distinguish this combination from {{lang|lg|ny}}.

Other letters ({{lang|lg|h}}, {{lang|lg|q}}, {{lang|lg|x}}) are not used in the alphabet, but are often used to write [[loanword]]s from other languages. Most such loanwords have standardised spellings consistent with Luganda orthography (and therefore not using these letters), but these spelling are not often used, particularly for [[English language|English]] words.

The full alphabet, including both standard Luganda letters and those used only for loanwords, is as follows:
* Aa, {{lang|lg|a}}
* Bb, {{lang|lg|bba}}
* Cc, {{lang|lg|cca}}
* Dd, {{lang|lg|dda}}
* Ee, {{lang|lg|e}}
* Ff, {{lang|lg|ffa}}
* Gg, {{lang|lg|gga}}
* (Hh, {{lang|lg|ha}} {{r|footnote1|group=decimal}})
* Ii, {{lang|lg|yi}}
* Jj, {{lang|lg|jja}}
* Kk, {{lang|lg|kka}}
* Ll, {{lang|lg|la}}
* Mm, {{lang|lg|mma}}
* Nn, {{lang|lg|nna}}
* (NY Ny ny, {{lang|lg|nnya}} or {{lang|lg|nna-ya}}) {{r|footnote2|group=decimal}}
* Ŋŋ, {{lang|lg|ŋŋa}}
* Oo, {{lang|lg|o}}
* Pp, {{lang|lg|ppa}}
* (Qq {{r|footnote1|group=decimal}})
* Rr, {{lang|lg|eri}}
* Ss, {{lang|lg|ssa}}
* Tt, {{lang|lg|tta}}
* Uu, {{lang|lg|wu}}
* Vv, {{lang|lg|vva}}
* Ww, {{lang|lg|wa}}
* (Xx {{r|footnote1|group=decimal}})
* Yy, {{lang|lg|ya}}
* Zz, {{lang|lg|zza}}

{{reflist |group=decimal |refs=
<ref name=footnote1>The letters {{lang|lg|h}}, {{lang|lg|q}} and {{lang|lg|x}} are included when reciting the alphabet and are usually given their English names (apart from {{lang|lg|ha}}).</ref>
<ref name=footnote2>The [[Digraph (orthography)|digraph]] {{lang|lg|ny}}, although considered a separate letter for orthographic purposes, is generally treated as a combination of {{lang|lg|n}} and {{lang|lg|y}} for other purposes. It is not included when reciting the alphabet.</ref>
}}

== Grammar ==
Like most [[Bantu languages]], Luganda's grammar can be said to be ''noun-centric'', as most words in a sentence agree with a noun. Agreement is by [[grammatical gender|gender]] and [[grammatical number|number]] and is indicated with prefixes attached to the start of word stems.
The following parts of speech agree with nouns in class and number:
* [[adjective]]
* [[verb]] (for subject and object roles)
* [[pronoun]]
* [[Possession (linguistics)|possessive]]

===Noun classes===
NB: In the study of [[Bantu language]]s the term ''noun class'' is often used to refer to what is called [[grammatical gender|gender]] in comparative linguistics and in the study of certain other languages. Hereafter, both terms may be used.

There is some disagreement as to how to count Luganda's [[noun class]]es. Some authorities count [[Grammatical number|singular]] and [[plural]] forms as two separate noun classes, but others treat the singular-plural pairs as [[grammatical gender|gender]]s. By the former method, there are 17 classes, and by the latter there are 10 since there are two pairs of classes with identical plurals and one class with no singular-plural distinction. The latter method is consistent with the study of non-Bantu languages. Applying the method to Luganda gives ten noun classes, nine of which have separate singular and plural forms. This is the usual way to discuss Luganda but not when discussing Bantu languages, generally. In addition, Luganda has four locative classes, {{lang|lg|e}}, {{lang|lg|ku}}, {{lang|lg|mu}}, and {{lang|lg|wa}}.

The following table shows how the ten traditional classes of Luganda map onto the [[Proto-Bantu]] noun classes:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Luganda Class
! Number
! Proto-Bantu Class
|-
| rowspan=2 | I (MU-BA)
| Singular
| 1, 1a
|-
| Plural
| 2
|-
| rowspan=2 | II (MU-MI)
| Singular
| 3
|-
| Plural
| 4
|-
| rowspan=2 | III (N)
| Singular
| 9
|-
| Plural
| 10
|-
| rowspan=2 | IV (KI-BI)
| Singular
| 7
|-
| Plural
| 8
|-
| rowspan=2 | V (LI-MA)
| Singular
| 5
|-
| Plural
| 6
|-
| rowspan=2 | VI (KA-BU)
| Singular
| 12
|-
| Plural
| 14
|-
| rowspan=2 | VII (LU-N)
| Singular
| 11
|-
| Plural
| 10
|-
| rowspan=2 | VIII (GU-GA)
| Singular
| 20
|-
| Plural
| 22
|-
| rowspan=2 | IX (KU-MA)
| Singular
| 15
|-
| Plural
| 6
|-
| X (TU)
| (no distinction)
| 13
|}

As the table shows, Proto-Bantu's [[Polyplural noun class|polyplural classes]] (6 and 10) are treated as separate in this article.

As is the case with most languages, the distribution of nouns among the classes is essentially arbitrary, but there are some loose patterns:
* Class I contains mainly people, although some inanimate nouns can be found in this class: {{lang|lg|musajja}} 'man', {{lang|lg|kaawa}} 'coffee'
* Class II contains all sorts of nouns but most of the concrete nouns in Class II are long or cylindrical. Most trees fall into this class: {{lang|lg|muti}} 'tree'
* Class III also contains many different types of concepts but most animals fall into this class: {{lang|lg|embwa}} 'dog'
* Class IV contains inanimate objects and is the class used for the impersonal 'it': {{lang|lg|ekitabo}} 'book'
* Class V contains mainly (but not exclusively) large things and liquids, and can also be used to create [[augmentative]]s: {{lang|lg|ebbeere}} 'breast', {{lang|lg|lintu}} 'giant' (from {{lang|lg|muntu}} 'person')
* Class VI contains mainly small things and can be used to create diminutives, adjectival [[abstract noun]]s and (in the plural) [[Negation (linguistics)|negative]] [[verbal noun]]s and countries: {{lang|lg|kabwa}} 'puppy' (from {{lang|lg|embwa}} 'dog'), {{lang|lg|mkanafu}} 'laziness' (from {{lang|lg|munafu}} 'lazy'), {{lang|lg|bukola}} 'inaction, not to do' (from {{lang|lg|kukola}} 'to do, act'), {{lang|lg|Bungereza}} 'Britain, England' (from {{lang|lg|Mungereza}} 'British, English person')
* Class VII contains many different things including the names of most languages: {{lang|lg|Oluganda}} 'Ganda language', {{lang|lg|Oluzungu}} 'English language' (from {{lang|lg|muzungu}} 'European, white person')
* Class VIII is rarely used but can be used to create [[pejorative]] forms: {{lang|lg|gubwa}} 'mutt' (from {{lang|lg|embwa}} 'dog')
* Class IX is mainly used for [[infinitive]]s or [[affirmative (linguistics)|affirmative]] [[verbal noun]]s: {{lang|lg|kukola}} 'action, to do' (from the [[verb]] {{lang|lg|kola}} 'do, act')
* Class X, which has no singular–plural distinction, is used for mass nouns, usually in the sense of 'a drop' or 'precious little': {{lang|lg|tuzzi}} 'drop of water' (from {{lang|lg|mazzi}} 'water'), {{lang|lg|tubaka}} 'sleep'

The class that a noun belongs to can usually be determined by its prefix:
* Class I: singular {{lang|lg|(o)mu-}}, plural {{lang|lg|(a)ba-}}
* Class II: singular {{lang|lg|(o)mu-}}, plural {{lang|lg|(e)mi-}}
* Class III: singular {{lang|lg|(e)n-}}, plural {{lang|lg|(e)n-}}
* Class IV: singular {{lang|lg|(e)ki-}}, plural {{lang|lg|(e)bi-}}
* Class V: singular {{lang|lg|li-}}, {{lang|lg|eri-}}, plural {{lang|lg|(a)ma-}}
* Class VI: singular {{lang|lg|(a)ka-}}, plural {{lang|lg|(o)bu-}}
* Class VII: singular {{lang|lg|(o)lu-}}, plural {{lang|lg|(e)n-}}
* Class VIII: singular {{lang|lg|(o)gu-}}, plural {{lang|lg|(a)ga-}}
* Class IX: singular {{lang|lg|(o)ku-}}, plural {{lang|lg|(a)ma-}}
* Class X: {{lang|lg|(o)tu-}}

There are a few cases where prefixes overlap: the singulars of Classes I and II (both beginning with {{lang|lg|mu-}}); the singular of Class III and plurals of Classes III and VII (all beginning with {{lang|lg|n-}}); and the plurals of Classes V and IX (both {{lang|lg|ma-}}). Genuine ambiguity, however, is rare, since even where the noun prefixes are the same, the other prefixes are often different. For example, there can be no confusion between {{lang|lg|omuntu}} (Class I) 'person' and {{lang|lg|omuntu}} (Class II) 'seat' in the sentences {{lang|lg|Omuntu ali wano}} 'The person is here' and {{lang|lg|Omuntu guli wano}} 'The seat is here' because the verb prefixes {{lang|lg|a-}} (Class I) and {{lang|lg|gu-}} (Class II) are different, even if the noun prefixes are the same. The same is true with the singular and plural of Class III: {{lang|lg|Embwa erya}} 'The dog is eating' vs {{lang|lg|Embwa zirya}} 'The dogs are eating' (compare English ''The sheep is eating'' vs ''The sheep are eating'' where the noun is invariant but the verb distinguishes singular from plural).

In fact, the plurals of Classes III and VII, and those of Classes V and IX, are identical in all their prefixes (noun, verb, adjective ''etc.'').

Class V uses its noun prefixes somewhat differently from the other classes. The singular noun prefix, {{lang|lg|eri-}}, is often reduced to {{lang|lg|e-}} with an accompanying doubling of the stem's initial consonant. This happens when the stem begins with a single plosive, or a single nasal stop{{inconsistent|date=June 2021|reason=In the examples below of this shape, the stem begins with a semivowel.}} followed by a long vowel, a nasal stop and then a plosive (called a ''nasalised stem''). For example:
* {{lang|lg|eggi}} 'egg'; plural {{lang|lg|amagi}} (from stem {{lang|lg|gi}})
* {{lang|lg|eggwanga}} 'country'; plural {{lang|lg|amawanga}} (from nasalised stem {{lang|lg|wanga}}—the {{lang|lg|w}} becomes {{lang|lg|ggw}} when doubled)
* {{lang|lg|ejjinja}} 'cricket'; plural {{lang|lg|amayinja}} (from nasalised stem {{lang|lg|yinja}}—the {{lang|lg|y}} becomes {{lang|lg|jj}} when doubled)

Other stems use the full prefix:
* {{lang|lg|erinnya}} 'name'; plural {{lang|lg|amannya}} (from stem {{lang|lg|nnya}})
* {{lang|lg|eriiso}} 'eye'; plural {{lang|lg|amaaso}} (from stem {{lang|lg|yiso}})
* {{lang|lg|eryanda}} 'battery'; plural {{lang|lg|amanda}} (from stem {{lang|lg|anda}})

There are also some nouns that have no prefix. Their genders must simply be learnt by rote:
* Class I: {{lang|lg|ssebo}} 'gentleman, sir', {{lang|lg|nnyabo}} 'madam', {{lang|lg|Katonda}} 'god', {{lang|lg|kabaka}} 'king', {{lang|lg|kyayi}} (or '{{lang|lg|caayi}}) 'tea', {{lang|lg|kaawa}} 'coffee'
* Class III: {{lang|lg|kkapa}} 'cat', {{lang|lg|gomesi}} '[[gomesi]] (traditional East African women's formal dress)'

[[Adjective]]s, [[verb]]s, certain [[adverb]]s, the [[possessive (linguistics)|possessive]] and a few special forms of [[Grammatical conjunction|conjunctions]] are [[inflexion|inflected]] to agree with nouns in Luganda.

=== Nouns ===
Nouns are inflected for [[grammatical number|number]] and state.

Number is indicated by replacing the singular prefix with the plural prefix. For example, {{lang|lg|omusajja}} 'man', {{lang|lg|abasajja}} 'men'; {{lang|lg|ekisanirizo}} 'comb', {{lang|lg|ebisanirizo}} 'combs'. All word classes agree with nouns in number and class.

State is similar to [[grammatical case|case]] but applies to verbs and other parts of speech as well as nouns, pronouns and adjectives. There are two states in Luganda, which may be called the base state and the topic state. The base state is unmarked and the topic state is indicated by the presence of the [[Augment (Bantu languages)|initial vowel]].

The topic state is used for nouns in the following conditions:
* Subject of a sentence
* Object of an affirmative verb (other than the verb 'to be')

The base state is used for the following conditions:
* Object of a negative verb
* Object of a preposition
* Noun predicate (whether or not there is an explicit copula or verb 'to be')

=== Pronouns ===
Luganda has a closed set of pronouns.

==== Personal Pronouns ====
Luganda can have self-standing/independent personal pronouns and pronouns that are prefixed to the verb stem.

===== Self-Standing Pronouns =====
These include {{lang|lg|nze}}, {{lang|lg|ggwe}}, {{lang|lg|ye}}, {{lang|lg|ffe}}, {{lang|lg|mmwe}}, {{lang|lg|bo}}, {{lang|lg|gwo}}, {{lang|lg|gyo}}, {{lang|lg|yo}}, {{lang|lg|zo}}, {{lang|lg|kyo}}, {{lang|lg|byo}}, {{lang|lg|lyo}}, {{lang|lg|go}}, {{lang|lg|ko}}, {{lang|lg|bwo}}, {{lang|lg|lwo}}, {{lang|lg|kwo}}, {{lang|lg|two}}, {{lang|lg|wo}} and {{lang|lg|mwo}}.
*{{lang|lg|nze}} 'I,me'
*{{lang|lg|ggwe}} 'you'
*{{lang|lg|ye}} 'he/she,him/her'
*{{lang|lg|ffe}} 'we,us'
*{{lang|lg|mmwe}} 'you'
*{{lang|lg|bo}} 'they,them'

Note that the sex/gender of referents is not distinguished so one has to be very careful how one translates Luganda pronouns into languages like English. For instance ''Ye musawo'' can be translated as "She is a doctor" or as "He is a doctor".

=== Adjectives ===
As in other [[Niger–Congo languages]] (as well as most [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] and [[Afro-Asiatic languages]]), [[adjective]]s must [[Agreement (linguistics)|agree]] in [[grammatical gender|gender]] and [[grammatical number|number]] with the [[noun]] they qualify. For example:
* {{lang|lg|omuwala omulungi}} 'beautiful girl' (Class I, [[Grammatical number|singular]])
* {{lang|lg|abawala abalungi}} 'beautiful girls' (Class I, [[plural]])
* {{lang|lg|omuti omulungi}} 'beautiful tree' (Class II, singular)
* {{lang|lg|emiti emirungi}} 'beautiful trees' (Class II, plural)
* {{lang|lg|emmotoka ennungi}} 'beautiful/good car(s)' (Class V, singular/plural)
In these examples the adjective {{lang|lg|-lungi}} changes its prefix according to the gender (Class I or II) and number (singular or plural) of the noun it is qualifying (compare [[Italian language|Italian]] {{lang|it|bella ragazza}}, {{lang|it|belle ragazze}}, {{lang|it|bel ragazzo}}, {{lang|it|bei ragazzi}}). In some cases the prefix causes the initial {{lang|lg|l}} of the stem to change to {{lang|lg|n}} or {{lang|lg|r}}.

[[Attributive adjective]]s agree in state with the noun they qualify, but [[predicative adjective]]s never take the initial vowel. Similarly, the subject [[relative clause|relative]] is formed by adding the initial vowel to the verb (because a main verb is a predicate).

=== Adverbs ===
True [[adverb]]s in the [[grammar|grammatical]] sense are far rarer in Luganda than in, say, [[English language|English]], being mostly translated by other parts of speech—for example [[adjective]]s or [[grammatical particle|particles]].
When the adverb is qualifying a [[verb]], it is usually translated by an adjective, which then agrees with the [[subject (grammar)|subject]] of the verb. For example:
* {{lang|lg|Ankonjera bubi}} 'She slanders me badly'
* {{lang|lg|Bankonjera bubi}} 'They slander me badly'
Here, 'badly' is translated with the adjective {{lang|lg|-bi}} 'bad, ugly', which is [[declension|declined]] to agree with the subject.

Other concepts can be translated by invariant [[grammatical particle|particles]]. for example the intensifying [[grammatical particle|particle]] {{lang|lg|nnyo}} is attached to an adjective or verb to mean 'very', 'a lot'. For example: {{lang|lg|Lukwago anywa nnyo}} 'Lukwago drinks a lot'.

There are also two groups of true adverb in Luganda, both of which agree with the verbal subject or qualified noun (not just in [[grammatical gender|gender]] and [[grammatical number|number]] but also in [[grammatical person|person]]), but which are [[inflexion|inflected]] differently. The first group is [[Grammatical conjugation|conjugated]] in the same way as [[verb]]s and contains only a few words: {{lang|lg|tya}} 'how', {{lang|lg|ti}} 'like this', {{lang|lg|tyo}} 'like that':
* {{lang|lg|Njogera bwe nti}} 'I speak like this'
* {{lang|lg|Abasiraamu basaba bwebati}} 'Muslims pray like this'
* {{lang|lg|Enkima erya bweti}} 'The monkey eats like this'
* {{lang|lg|Enkima zirya bweziti}} 'Monkeys eat like this'
The adverb {{lang|lg|ti}} 'like this' (the last word in each of the above sentences) is conjugated as a verb to agree with the subject of the sentence in gender, number and person.

The second group takes a different set of prefixes, based on the pronouns. Adverbs in this group include {{lang|lg|-nna}} 'all' (or, with the singular, 'any'), {{lang|lg|-kka}} 'only', {{lang|lg|-mbi}}, {{lang|lg|-mbiriri}} 'both' and {{lang|lg|-nsatule}} 'all three':
* {{lang|lg|Nkola nzekka}} 'I work alone'
* {{lang|lg|Nzekka nze nkola}} 'Only I work'
* {{lang|lg|Ggwe wekka ggwe okola}} 'Only you work'
* {{lang|lg|Nze nzekka nze ndigula emmotoka}} 'Only I will buy the car'
* {{lang|lg|Ndigula mmotoka yokka}} 'I will only buy the car'
Note how, in the last two examples, the adverb {{lang|lg|-kka}} agrees with whichever [[antecedent (grammar)|antecedent]] it is qualifying — either the implicit {{lang|lg|nze}} 'I' or the explicit {{lang|lg|emmotoka}} 'the car'.

Note also, in the first two examples, how the placement of {{lang|lg|nzekka}} before or after the verb makes the difference between 'only' (when the adverb qualifies and agrees with the subject—the implicit {{lang|lg|nze}} 'I') and 'alone' (when it qualifies the verb {{lang|lg|nkola}} 'I work' but agrees with the subject).

=== Possessive ===
The [[possessive (linguistics)|possessive]] in Luganda is indicated with a different [[particle (grammar)|particle]] for each [[grammatical number|singular and plural]] [[grammatical gender|noun class]] (according to the possessed noun). An alternative way of thinking about the Luganda possessive is as a single word whose initial [[consonant cluster]] is altered to agree with the possessed noun in class and number.

Depending on the possessed noun, the possessive takes one of the following forms:
* Singular {{lang|lg|wa}}, plural {{lang|lg|ba}} (Class I)
* Singular {{lang|lg|gwa}}, plural {{lang|lg|gya}} (Class II)
* Singular {{lang|lg|ya}}, plural {{lang|lg|za}} (Class III)
* Singular {{lang|lg|kya}}, plural {{lang|lg|bya}} (Class IV)
* Singular {{lang|lg|lya}}, plural {{lang|lg|ga}} (Class V)
* Singular {{lang|lg|ka}}, plural {{lang|lg|bwa}} (Class VI)
* Singular {{lang|lg|lwa}}, plural {{lang|lg|za}} (Class VII)
* Singular {{lang|lg|gwa}}, plural {{lang|lg|ga}} (Class VIII)
* Singular {{lang|lg|kwa}}, plural {{lang|lg|ga}} (Class IX)
* {{lang|lg|Twa}} (Class X)

If the possessor is a [[personal pronoun]], the separate possessive form is not used. Instead, the following [[possessive adjective|personal possessives]] are used:
* {{lang|lg|Wange}} 'my', {{lang|lg|wo}} 'your (singular possessor)', {{lang|lg|we}} 'his, her'; {{lang|lg|waffe}} 'our', {{lang|lg|wammwe}} 'your (plural possessor)', {{lang|lg|waabwe}} 'their' (Class I, singular possessed noun)
* {{lang|lg|Bange}} 'my', {{lang|lg|bo}} 'your (singular possessor)', {{lang|lg|be}} 'his, her'; {{lang|lg|baffe}} 'our', {{lang|lg|bammwe}} 'your (plural possessor)', {{lang|lg|baabwe}} 'their' (Class I, plural possessed noun)
* {{lang|lg|Gwange}} 'my', {{lang|lg|gwo}} 'your (singular possessor)', {{lang|lg|gwe}} 'his, her'; {{lang|lg|gwaffe}} 'our', {{lang|lg|gwammwe}} 'your (plural possessor)', {{lang|lg|gwabwe}} 'their' (Class II, singular possessed noun)
* {{lang|lg|Gyange}} 'my', {{lang|lg|gyo}} 'your (singular possessor)', {{lang|lg|gye}} 'his, her'; {{lang|lg|gyaffe}} 'our', {{lang|lg|gyammwe}} 'your (plural possessor)' {{lang|lg|gyabwe}} 'their' (Class II, plural possessed noun)
* {{lang|lg|Yange}} 'my', {{lang|lg|yo}} 'your', ''etc.'' (Class III, singular possessed noun)
* ''Etc.''

There are also a few [[noun]]s that take special forms when used with a possessive:
* {{lang|lg|Kitange}} 'my father', {{lang|lg|kitaawo}} 'your (singular) father', {{lang|lg|kitaawe}} 'his/her father'

=== Verbs ===

====Subjects====
As in other [[Bantu language]]s, every [[verb]] must also [[Agreement (linguistics)|agree]] with its [[subject (grammar)|subject]] in gender and number (as opposed to number only as in Indo-European languages). For example:
* {{lang|lg|omusajja anywa}} 'the man is drinking' (Class I, singular)
* {{lang|lg|abasajja banywa}} 'the men are drinking' (Class I, plural)
* {{lang|lg|embuzi enywa}} 'the goat is drinking' (Class III, singular)
* {{lang|lg|embuzi zinywa}} 'the goats are drinking' (Class III, plural)
* {{lang|lg|akaana kanywa}} 'the baby/infant is drinking' (Class VI, singular)
* {{lang|lg|obwana bunywa}} 'the babies/infants are drinking' (Class VI, plural)
Here, the verb {{lang|lg|nywa}} changes its prefix according to the gender and number of its subject.

Note, in the third and fourth examples, how the verb agrees with the [[grammatical number|number]] of the noun even when the noun does not explicitly reflect the number distinction.

The subject prefixes for the [[personal pronoun]]s are:
* First person: singular {{lang|lg|n-}} 'I', plural {{lang|lg|tu-}} 'we'
* Second person: singular {{lang|lg|o-}} 'you (singular)', {{lang|lg|mu-}} 'you (plural)'
* Third person: singular {{lang|lg|a-}} 'he, she', {{lang|lg|ba-}} 'they (Class I)'

For [[impersonal pronoun]]s the subject prefixes are:
* Class I: singular {{lang|lg|a-}}, plural {{lang|lg|ba-}} (''i.e.'' the third person prefixes shown directly above)
* Class II: singular {{lang|lg|gu-}}, plural {{lang|lg|gi-}}
* Class III: singular {{lang|lg|e-}}, plural {{lang|lg|zi-}}
* Class IV: singular {{lang|lg|ki-}}, plural {{lang|lg|bi-}}
* Class V: singular {{lang|lg|li-}}, plural {{lang|lg|ga-}}
* Class VI: singular {{lang|lg|ka-}}, plural {{lang|lg|bu-}}
* Class VII: singular {{lang|lg|lu-}}, plural {{lang|lg|zi-}}
* Class VIII: singular {{lang|lg|gu-}}, plural {{lang|lg|ga-}}
* Class IX: singular {{lang|lg|ku-}}, plural {{lang|lg|ga-}}
* Class X: {{lang|lg|tu-}}

====Objects====
When the verb governs one or more objects, there is also an agreement between the object prefixes and the gender and number of their [[antecedent (grammar)|antecedents]]:
* {{lang|lg|m'''mu'''nywa}} 'I drink it (''e.g.'' coffee)' ({{lang|lg|kaawa}} 'coffee', Class I singular)
* {{lang|lg|n'''ga'''nywa}} 'I drink it (''e.g.'' water)' ({{lang|lg|amazzi}} 'water', Class IX plural)

As with the subject prefix, the [[Grammatical person|third person]] prefixes also agree with their antecedents in [[grammatical person|person]]. The personal object prefixes are:
* First person: singular {{lang|lg|n-}} 'me', plural {{lang|lg|tu-}} 'us'
* Second person: singular {{lang|lg|ku-}} 'you (singular)', {{lang|lg|ba-}} 'you (plural)'
* Third person: singular {{lang|lg|mu-}} 'him, her', {{lang|lg|ba-}} 'them (Class I)'

For the impersonal [[Grammatical person|third person]] the object prefixes are:
* Class I: singular {{lang|lg|mu-}}, plural {{lang|lg|ba-}} (''i.e.'' the third person prefixes shown directly above)
* Class II: singular {{lang|lg|gu-}}, plural {{lang|lg|gi-}}
* Class III: singular {{lang|lg|gi-}}, plural {{lang|lg|zi-}}
* Class IV: singular {{lang|lg|ki-}}, plural {{lang|lg|bi-}}
* Class V: singular {{lang|lg|li-}}, plural {{lang|lg|ga-}}
* Class VI: singular {{lang|lg|ka-}}, plural {{lang|lg|bu-}}
* Class VII: singular {{lang|lg|lu-}}, plural {{lang|lg|zi-}}
* Class VIII: singular {{lang|lg|gu-}}, plural {{lang|lg|ga-}}
* Class IX: singular {{lang|lg|ku-}}, plural {{lang|lg|ga-}}
* Class X: {{lang|lg|tu-}}

Note the similarity between each subject prefix and the corresponding object prefix: they are the same in all cases except Class I and the singular of Class III. Note also the correspondence between the object prefixes and the noun prefixes (see Nouns above): when every {{lang|lg|m-}} in the noun prefix is replaced by a {{lang|lg|g-}} in the object prefix, the only differences are in Classes I and III.

The [[direct object]] prefix is usually inserted directly after the subject prefix:
* {{lang|lg|nkiridde}} 'I have eaten it' ({{lang|lg|n-}} subject 'I' + {{lang|lg|ki-}} object 'it' + {{lang|lg|-ridde}} verb 'ate')

The [[indirect object]] prefix comes after the direct object:
* {{lang|lg|nkimuwadde}} 'I have given it to him' ({{lang|lg|n-}} subject 'I' + {{lang|lg|ki-}} object 'it' + {{lang|lg|mu-}} object '(to) him' + {{lang|lg|-wadde}} verb 'gave')

==== Negative ====
The negative is usually formed by prefixing {{lang|lg|te-}} or {{lang|lg|t-}} to the subject prefix, or, in the case of the first person singular, replacing the prefix with {{lang|lg|si-}}. This results in the following set of personal subject prefixes:
* First person: singular {{lang|lg|si-}} 'I', plural {{lang|lg|tetu-}} 'we'
* Second person: singular {{lang|lg|to-}} 'you (singular)', {{lang|lg|temu-}} 'you (plural)'
* Third person: singular {{lang|lg|ta-}} 'he, she', {{lang|lg|teba-}} 'they (Class I)'

The negative impersonal subject prefixes are:
* Class I: singular {{lang|lg|ta-}}, plural {{lang|lg|teba-}} (''i.e.'' the third person prefixes shown directly above)
* Class II: singular {{lang|lg|tegu-}}, plural {{lang|lg|tegi-}}
* Class III: singular {{lang|lg|te-}}, plural {{lang|lg|tezi-}}
* Class IV: singular {{lang|lg|teki-}}, plural {{lang|lg|tebi-}}
* Class V: singular {{lang|lg|teri-}}, plural {{lang|lg|tega-}}
* Class VI: singular {{lang|lg|teka-}}, plural {{lang|lg|tebu-}}
* Class VII: singular {{lang|lg|telu-}}, plural {{lang|lg|tezi-}}
* Class VIII: singular {{lang|lg|tegu-}}, plural {{lang|lg|tega-}}
* Class IX: singular {{lang|lg|teku-}}, plural {{lang|lg|tega-}}
* Class X: {{lang|lg|tetu-}}

When used with object relatives or the narrative tense (see below), the negative is formed with the prefix {{lang|lg|ta-}}, which is inserted after the subject and object affixes:
* {{lang|lg|Omuntu gwe nnalabye}} 'The person whom I saw'
* {{lang|lg|Omuntu gwe ssalabye}} 'The person whom I didn't see'

====Modified stems====
To form some tenses, a special form of the verb stem, called the 'modified form', is used. This is formed by making various changes to the final syllable of the stem, usually involving either changing the final syllable to one of the following [[suffix]]es:
* {{lang|lg|-se}}
* {{lang|lg|-sse}}
* {{lang|lg|-ze}}
* {{lang|lg|-zze}}
* {{lang|lg|-izze}}
* {{lang|lg|-ezze}}
* {{lang|lg|-nye}}
* {{lang|lg|-nyi}}
* {{lang|lg|-ye}}
* {{lang|lg|-de}}
* {{lang|lg|-dde}}

The modified form of verb stems is the only real source of irregularity in Luganda's verbal system. Monosyllabic verbs, in particular, have unpredictable modified forms:
* {{lang|lg|okuba}} 'to be' {{lang|lg|-badde}}
* {{lang|lg|okufa}} 'to die' {{lang|lg|-fudde}}
* {{lang|lg|okugaana}} 'to deny, forbid' {{lang|lg|-gaanyi}}
* {{lang|lg|okuggwa}} 'to end' (intransitive) {{lang|lg|-wedde}}
* {{lang|lg|okuggya}} 'to remove' {{lang|lg|-ggye}} or {{lang|lg|-ggyidde}}
* {{lang|lg|okuggya}} 'to cook' (intransitive) {{lang|lg|-yidde}}
* {{lang|lg|okugwa}} 'to fall' {{lang|lg|-gudde}}
* {{lang|lg|okujja}} 'to come' {{lang|lg|-zze}}
* {{lang|lg|okukka}} 'to go down, come down' {{lang|lg|-sse}}
* {{lang|lg|okukwata}} 'to catch' {{lang|lg|-kutte}}
* {{lang|lg|okulwa}} 'to delay' {{lang|lg|-ludde}}
* {{lang|lg|okulya}} 'to eat' {{lang|lg|-lidde}}
* {{lang|lg|okumanyi}} 'to find out, realise' {{lang|lg|-manyi}}
* {{lang|lg|okunywa}} 'to drink' {{lang|lg|-nywedde}}
* {{lang|lg|okuta}} 'to release' {{lang|lg|-tadde}}
* {{lang|lg|okuteeka}} 'to put' {{lang|lg|-tadde}}
* {{lang|lg|okutta}} 'to kill' {{lang|lg|-sse}}
* {{lang|lg|okutwaka}} 'to take' {{lang|lg|-tutte}}
* {{lang|lg|okutya}} 'to be afraid' {{lang|lg|-tidde}}
* {{lang|lg|okuva}} 'to come from' {{lang|lg|-vudde}}
* {{lang|lg|okuwa}} 'to give' {{lang|lg|-wadde}}
* {{lang|lg|okuyita}} 'to call' {{lang|lg|-yise}}
* {{lang|lg|okuyita}} 'to pass' {{lang|lg|-yise}}

==== Tense and mood ====
[[Tense–aspect–mood]] in Luganda is explicitly marked on the verb, as it is in most other [[Bantu language]]s.

=====Present tense=====

The [[present tense]] is formed by simply adding the subject prefixes to the stem.  The negative is formed in the same way but with the negative subject prefixes (this is the usual way of forming the negative in Luganda).
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|+Examples of present tense inflection
! Inflection
! Gloss
! Negative
! Gloss
|-
| {{lang|lg|nkola}} || 'I do' || {{lang|lg|sikola}} || 'I don't do'
|-
| {{lang|lg|okola}} || 'you do' || {{lang|lg|tokola}} || 'you don't do'
|- 
| {{lang|lg|akola}} || 'he, she does' || {{lang|lg|takola}} || 'he, she doesn't do'
|- 
| {{lang|lg|tukola}} || 'we do' || {{lang|lg|tetukola}} || 'we don't do'
|-
| {{lang|lg|mukola}} || 'you (plural) do' || {{lang|lg|temukola}} || 'you (plural) don't do'
|-
| {{lang|lg|bakola}} || 'they (class I) do' || {{lang|lg|tebakola}} || 'they (class I) don't do' 
|-
| {{lang|lg|gukola}} || 'it (class II) does' || {{lang|lg|tegukola}} || 'it (class II) doesn't do' 
|-
| {{lang|lg|bikola}} || 'they (class IV) do' || {{lang|lg|tebikola}} || 'they (class IV) don't do'
|-
| {{lang|lg|zikola}} || 'they (class VII) do' || {{lang|lg|tezikola}} || 'they (class VII) don't do'
|}

The present perfect is just the subject prefix plus the modified stem:
* {{lang|lg|nkoze}} 'I have done'
* {{lang|lg|okoze}} 'you have done'
* {{lang|lg|akoze}} 'he, she has done'
* {{lang|lg|tukoze}} 'we have done'
* {{lang|lg|mukoze}} 'you (plural) have done'
* {{lang|lg|bakoze}} 'they (class I) have done'

The present perfect in Luganda is sometimes slightly weaker in its past meaning than in [[English language|English]]. It is often used with [[intransitive verb]]s with the sense of being in the state of having done something. For example, {{lang|lg|baze  azze}} means 'my husband has arrived' (using the present perfect form {{lang|lg|-zze}} of the verb {{lang|lg|jja}} 'to come'); {{lang|lg|ŋŋenze}} usually means 'I'm off' rather than 'I have gone'. But to say ''I have done'' in Muganda would usually use one of the past tenses {{lang|lg|nnakoze}} or {{lang|lg|nnakola}} 'I did' because {{lang|lg|kola}} is a transitive verb.

The present perfect is also used to show physical attitude. For example, using the verb {{lang|lg|okutuula}} 'to sit down': {{lang|lg|ntuula}} (present tense) means 'I am in the process of sitting myself down'; to say 'I'm sitting down' in the usual sense of 'I'm seated' in standard English, a [[Muganda]] would use the present perfect: {{lang|lg|ntudde}} (as in certain non-standard varieties of British English).

=====Past tenses=====
The [[hesternal past tense|near past]] is formed by inserting the prefix {{lang|lg|-a-}} before the modified form of the stem. This prefix, being a vowel, has the effect of changing the form of the subject prefixes:
* {{lang|lg|nnakoze}} 'I did'
* {{lang|lg|wakoze}} 'you did'
* {{lang|lg|yakoze}} 'he, she did'
* {{lang|lg|twakoze}} 'we did'
* {{lang|lg|mwakoze}} 'you (plural) did'
* {{lang|lg|baakoze}} 'they (class I) did'
* ...

The near past tense is used for events that have happened in the past 18 hours. The negative is formed in the usual way.

The [[prehesternal past tense|far past]] is formed with the same prefix {{lang|lg|a-}} as the near past, but using the simple form of the stem:
* {{lang|lg|nnakola}} 'I did'
* {{lang|lg|wakola}} 'you did'
* {{lang|lg|yakola}} 'he, she did'
* {{lang|lg|twakola}} 'we did'
* {{lang|lg|mwakola}} 'you (plural) did'
* {{lang|lg|baakola}} 'they (class I) did'
* ...

The far past tense is used for events that happened more than 18 hours ago, and can also be used as a weak [[pluperfect]]. This is the tense that is used in [[novel]]s and [[storytelling]].

=====Future tenses=====
The [[close future tense|near future]] is used when describing things that are going to happen within the next 18 hours. It is formed with the prefix {{lang|lg|naa-}} on the simple form of the stem:
* {{lang|lg|nnaakola}} 'I shall do'
* {{lang|lg|onookola}} 'you will do'
* {{lang|lg|anaakola}} 'he, she will do'
* {{lang|lg|tunaakola}} 'we shall do'
* {{lang|lg|munaakola}} 'you (plural) will do'
* {{lang|lg|banaakola}} 'they (class I) will do'
* {{lang|lg|eneekola}} 'they (class III) will do'
* {{lang|lg|zinaakola}} 'they (class III) will do'
* ...
In the [[Grammatical person|second person]] [[singular number|singular]] and the singular of Class III, the prefix becomes {{lang|lg|noo-}} and {{lang|lg|nee-}} in harmony with the subject prefix.

The negative form of this tense is formed by changing the final {{lang|lg|-a}} of the stem to an {{lang|lg|-e}} and using vowel-lengthened negative subject prefixes; no tense prefix is used:
* {{lang|lg|siikole}} 'I shan't do'
* {{lang|lg|tookole}} 'you won't do'
* {{lang|lg|taakole}} 'he, she won't do'
* {{lang|lg|tetuukole}} 'we shan't do'
* {{lang|lg|temuukole}} 'you (plural) won't do'
* {{lang|lg|tebaakole}} 'they (class I) won't do'
* {{lang|lg|teguukole}} 'it (class II) won't do'
* {{lang|lg|tegiikole}} 'they (class II) won't do'
* {{lang|lg|teekole}} 'he, she, it (class III) won't do'
* {{lang|lg|teziikole}} 'they (class III) won't do'
* ...

The [[remote future tense|far future]] is used for events that will take place more than 18 hours in the future. It is formed with the prefix {{lang|lg|li-}} on the simple form of the stem:
* {{lang|lg|ndikola}} 'I shall do'
* {{lang|lg|olikola}} 'you will do'
* {{lang|lg|alikola}} 'he, she will do'
* {{lang|lg|tulikola}} 'we shall do'
* {{lang|lg|mulikola}} 'you (plural) will do'
* {{lang|lg|balikola}} 'they (class I) will do'
* ...

Note how the {{lang|lg|l}} of the tense prefix becomes a {{lang|lg|d}} after the {{lang|lg|n-}} of the [[grammatical person|first person]] [[singular number|singular]] subject prefix.

=====Other=====
The [[conditional mood]] is formed with the prefix {{lang|lg|andi-}} and the modified form of the stem:
* {{lang|lg|nnandikoze}} 'I would do'
* {{lang|lg|wandikoze}} 'you would do'
* {{lang|lg|yandikoze}} 'he, she would do'
* {{lang|lg|twandikoze}} 'we would do'
* {{lang|lg|mwandikoze}} 'you (plural) would do'
* {{lang|lg|bandikoze}} 'they (class I) would do'

The [[subjunctive]] is formed by changing the final {{lang|lg|-a}} of the stem to an {{lang|lg|-e}}:
* {{lang|lg|nkole}} 'I may do'
* {{lang|lg|okole}} 'you may do'
* {{lang|lg|akole}} 'he, she may do'
* {{lang|lg|tukole}} 'we may do'
* {{lang|lg|mukole}} 'you may do'
* {{lang|lg|bakole}} 'they may do'

The negative is formed either with the [[auxiliary verb]] {{lang|lg|lema}} ('to fail') plus the [[infinitive]]:
* {{lang|lg|nneme kukola}} 'I may not do'
* {{lang|lg|oleme kukola}} 'you may not do'
* {{lang|lg|aleme kukola}} 'he, she may not do'
* {{lang|lg|tuleme kukola}} 'we may not do'
* {{lang|lg|muleme kukola}} 'you may not do'
* {{lang|lg|baleme kukola}} 'they may not do'

or using the same forms as the negative of the near future:
* {{lang|lg|siikole}} 'I may not do'
* {{lang|lg|tookole}} 'you may not do'
* {{lang|lg|taakole}} 'he, she may not do'
* {{lang|lg|tetuukole}} 'we may not do'
* {{lang|lg|temuukole}} 'you may not do'
* {{lang|lg|tebaakole}} 'they may not do'

Luganda has some special tenses not found in many other languages. The [[continuative aspect|'still' tense]] is used to say that something is still happening. It is formed with the prefix {{lang|lg|kya-}}:
* {{lang|lg|nkyakola}} 'I'm still doing'
* {{lang|lg|okyakola}} 'you're still doing'
* {{lang|lg|akyakola}} 'he, she is still doing'
* {{lang|lg|tukyakola}} 'we're still doing'
* {{lang|lg|mukyakola}} 'you're still doing'
* {{lang|lg|bakyakola}} 'they're still doing'

In the negative it means 'no longer':
* {{lang|lg|sikyakola}} 'I'm no longer doing'
* {{lang|lg|tokyakola}} 'you're no longer doing'
* {{lang|lg|takyakola}} 'he, she is no longer doing'
* {{lang|lg|tetukyakola}} 'we're no longer doing'
* {{lang|lg|temukyakola}} 'you're no longer doing'
* {{lang|lg|tebakyakola}} 'they're no longer doing'

With [[intransitive verb]]s, especially verbs of physical attitude (see Present Perfect above), the {{lang|lg|kya-}} prefix can also be used with the modified verb stem to give a sense of 'still being in a state'. For example, {{lang|lg|nkyatudde}} means 'I'm still seated'.

The [[recapitulative aspect|'so far' tense]] is used when talking about what has happened so far, with the implication that more is to come. It is formed with the prefix {{lang|lg|aaka-}}:
* {{lang|lg|nnaakakola}} 'I have so far done'
* {{lang|lg|waakakola}} 'you have so far done'
* {{lang|lg|yaakakola}} 'he, she has so far done'
* {{lang|lg|twaakakola}} 'we have so far done'
* {{lang|lg|mwaakakola}} 'you have so far done'
* {{lang|lg|baakakola}} 'they have so far done'

This tense is found only in the [[affirmative (linguistics)|affirmative]].

The [[efficative aspect|'not yet' tense]], on the other hand, is found only in the negative. It is used to talk about things that have not happened yet (but which may well happen in the future), and is formed with the prefix {{lang|lg|nna-}}:
* {{lang|lg|sinnakola}} 'I haven't yet done'
* {{lang|lg|tonnakola}} 'you haven't yet done'
* {{lang|lg|tannakola}} 'he, she hasn't yet done'
* {{lang|lg|tetunnakola}} 'we haven't yet done'
* {{lang|lg|temunnakola}} 'you haven't yet done'
* {{lang|lg|bannakola}} 'they haven't yet done'

When describing a series of events that happen (or will or did happen) sequentially, the [[narrative tense|narrative]] form is used for all but the first verb in the sentence. It is formed by the [[particle (grammar)|particle]] {{lang|lg|ne}} (or {{lang|lg|n’}} before a [[vowel]]) followed by the present tense:
* {{lang|lg|Nnagenda ne nkuba essimu}} 'I went and made a phone call'
* {{lang|lg|Ndigenda ne nkuba essimu}} 'I'll go and make a phone call'

The narrative can be used with any tense, as long as the events it describes are in immediate sequence. The negative is formed with the prefix {{lang|lg|si-}} placed immediately after the object prefixes (or after the subject prefix if no object prefixes are used):
* {{lang|lg|Saagenda era ssaakuba ssimu}} 'I didn't go and did not make a phone call'
* {{lang|lg|Sirigenda era ssirikuba ssimu}} 'I won't go and will not make a phone call'
* {{lang|lg|Ssigenze era ssikubye}} 'I haven't gone to make it yet'

Compare this with the negative construction used with the object relatives.

==== Auxiliary verbs ====
Other tenses can be formed [[periphrasis|periphrastically]], with the use of [[auxiliary verb]]s. Some of Luganda's auxiliary verbs can also be used as main verbs; some are always auxiliaries:
* {{lang|lg|okuba}} 'to be': used with an optional {{lang|lg|nga}} with another [[finite verb]] to form compound tenses
* {{lang|lg|okujja}} 'to come': forms a future tense when used with the infinitive of the main verb
* {{lang|lg|okulyoka}} or {{lang|lg|okulyokka}} (only used as an auxiliary): appears with another finite verb, usually translated 'and then' or (in the subjunctive) 'so that'
* {{lang|lg|okumala}} 'to finish': used with the infinitive to denote completed action, or with the stem of the main verb prefixed with {{lang|lg|ga-}} to mean 'whether one wants to or not'
* {{lang|lg|okutera}} (only used as an auxiliary): used with the infinitive of the main verb to mean (in the present tense) 'to tend to' or (in the near future) 'about to'
* {{lang|lg|okuva}} 'to come from': followed by the main verb in the infinitive, means 'just been'
* {{lang|lg|okulema}} 'to fail': used with the infinitive to form negatives

==== Derivational affixes ====
The meaning of a verb can be altered in an almost unlimited number of ways by means of modifications to the verb stem. There are only a handful of core derivational modifications, but these can be added to the verb stem in virtually any combination, resulting in hundreds of possible compound modifications.

The [[grammatical voice|passive]] is produced by replacing the final {{lang|lg|-a}} with {{lang|lg|-wa}} or {{lang|lg|-ibwa}}/{{lang|lg|-ebwa}}:
* {{lang|lg|okulaba}} 'to see' → {{lang|lg|okulabwa}} 'to be seen'

The [[reflexive verb|reflexive]] is created by adding the prefix {{lang|lg|e-}} to the verb stem (equivalent to replacing the {{lang|lg|oku-}} prefix of the [[infinitive]] with {{lang|lg|okwe-}}):
* {{lang|lg|okutta}} 'to kill' → {{lang|lg|okwetta}} 'to kill oneself'

Many verbs are used only in their reflexive form:
* {{lang|lg|okwebaka}} 'to sleep' (simple form *{{lang|lg|okubaka}} is not used)
* {{lang|lg|okwetaga}} 'to need' (simple form *{{lang|lg|okutaga}} is not used)

Reduplication is formed by doubling the stem, and generally adds the sense of repetition or intensity:
* {{lang|lg|okukuba}} 'to strike' → {{lang|lg|okukubaakuba}} 'to batter'

The [[applicative voice|applied]], or prepositional, modification, allows the verb to take an extra [[object (grammar)|object]] and gives it the meaning 'to do for or with (someone or something)'. It is formed with the suffix {{lang|lg|ir-}} inserted before the final {{lang|lg|-a}} of the verb:
* {{lang|lg|okukola}} 'to work' → {{lang|lg|okukolera}} 'to work for (an employer)'
* {{lang|lg|okwebaka}} 'to sleep' → {{lang|lg|okwebakira}} 'to sleep on (''e.g.'' a piece of furniture)'

Adding the applied suffix twice gives the 'augmentative applied' modification, which has an alternative applied sense, usually further removed from the original sense than the simple applied modification:
* {{lang|lg|okukola}} 'to work' → {{lang|lg|okukozesa}} 'to utilise, employ'

The [[causative]] is formed with various changes applied to the end of the verb, usually involving the final {{lang|lg|-a}} changing to {{lang|lg|-ya}}, {{lang|lg|-sa}} or {{lang|lg|-za}}. It gives a verb the sense of 'to cause to do', and can also make an [[intransitive verb]] [[transitive verb|transitive]]:
* {{lang|lg|okulaba}} 'to see' → {{lang|lg|okulabya}} 'to show' (more commonly "okulaga", a different verb, is used).
* {{lang|lg|okufuuka}} 'to become' → {{lang|lg|okufuusa}} 'to turn (something or someone) into (something else)'

Applying two causative modifications results in the 'second causative':
* {{lang|lg|okulaba}} 'to see' → {{lang|lg|okulabya}} 'to show' → {{lang|lg|okulabisa}} 'to cause to show'

The neuter modification, also known as the [[stative verb|stative]], is similar to the '-able' suffix in [[English language|English]], except that the result is a verb meaning 'to be ''x''-able' rather than an adjective meaning {{'}}''x''-able'. It is formed by inserting the suffix {{lang|lg|-ik}}/{{lang|lg|-ek}} before the verb's final {{lang|lg|-a}}:
* {{lang|lg|okukola}} 'to do' → {{lang|lg|okukoleka}} 'to be possible'
* {{lang|lg|okulya}} 'to eat' → {{lang|lg|okuliika}} 'to be edible'

The intransitive conversive modification reverses the meaning of an [[intransitive verb]] and leaves it intransitive, or reverses the meaning of a [[transitive verb]] and makes it intransitive, similar to [[English language|English's]] 'un-' prefix. It is formed with the prefix {{lang|lg|uk-}} inserted before the verb's final {{lang|lg|-a}}:
* {{lang|lg|okukyala}} 'to pay a visit' → {{lang|lg|okukyaluka}} 'to end one's visit, to depart'

The transitive conversive is similar to the intransitive conversive except that it results in a transitive verb. In other words, it reverses the meaning of an [[intransitive verb]] and makes it [[transitive verb|transitive]], or reverses the meaning of a transitive verb and leaves it transitive. It is formed with the suffix {{lang|lg|ul-}}:
* {{lang|lg|okukola}} 'to do' → {{lang|lg|okukolula}} 'to undo'
* {{lang|lg|okusimba}} 'to plant' → {{lang|lg|okusimbula}} 'to uproot'
* {{lang|lg|okukyala}} 'to pay a visit' → {{lang|lg|okukyalula}} 'to send off'

Two conversive suffixes create the augmentative conversive modification:
* {{lang|lg|okulimba}} 'to deceive' → {{lang|lg|okulimbulula}} 'to disabuse, set straight'

The [[reciprocal voice|reciprocal]] modification is formed with the suffix {{lang|lg|-na}} or {{lang|lg|-gana}} (or less commonly {{lang|lg|-ŋŋa}}):
* {{lang|lg|okulaba}} 'to see' → {{lang|lg|okulabagana}} 'to see one another'
* {{lang|lg|okutta}} 'to kill' → {{lang|lg|okuttaŋŋana}} 'to kill each other'

The [[Grammatical aspect|progressive]] is formed with the suffix {{lang|lg|-nga}}. It is used with [[finite verb]]s to give the sense of continuousness:
* {{lang|lg|ndimukuuma}} 'I'll look after him' → {{lang|lg|ndimukuumanga}} 'I'll always look after him'
* {{lang|lg|tosinda}} 'don't whinge' → {{lang|lg|tosindanga}} 'never whinge'
* {{lang|lg|tobba}}  'don't steal' → {{lang|lg|tobbanga}}  'thou shalt not steal'

This is not really a modification but a [[clitic]], so it is always applied 'after' any grammatical inflexions.

====Combinations of modifications ====
More than one modification can be made to a single stem:
* {{lang|lg|okukolulika}} 'to be undo-able (''i.e.'' reversible)' — conversive neuter: {{lang|lg|kola}} → {{lang|lg|kolula}} → {{lang|lg|kolulika}}
* {{lang|lg|okusimbuliza}} 'to transplant' — conversive applied causative: {{lang|lg|simba}} → {{lang|lg|simbula}} → {{lang|lg|simbulira}} → {{lang|lg|simbuliza}}
* {{lang|lg|okulabaalabana}} 'to look around oneself, be distracted' — reduplicative reciprocal: {{lang|lg|laba}} → {{lang|lg|labaalaba}} → {{lang|lg|labaalabana}}
* {{lang|lg|okulabaalabanya}} 'to distract' — reduplicative reciprocal causative: {{lang|lg|laba}} → {{lang|lg|labaalaba}} → {{lang|lg|labaalabana}} → {{lang|lg|labaalabanya}}
* {{lang|lg|okwebakiriza}} 'to pretend to sleep' — reflexive augmentative applied causative {{lang|lg|baka}} → {{lang|lg|ebaka}} → {{lang|lg|ebakira}} (applied) → {{lang|lg|ebakirira}} (augmentative applied) → {{lang|lg|ebakiriza}}

There are some restrictions that apply to the combinations in which these modifications can be made. For example, the 'applied' modification cannot be made to a causative stem; any causative modifications must first be removed, the applied modification made and the causative modifications then reapplied. And since the reflexive is formed with a prefix rather than a suffix, it is impossible to distinguish between, for example, reflexive causative and causative reflexive.

== Numbers ==
The Luganda system of [[cardinal number (linguistics)|cardinal number]]s is quite complicated. The numbers 'one' to 'five' are specialised numerical [[adjective]]s that [[agreement (linguistics)|agree]] with the [[noun]] they [[grammatical modifier|qualify]]. The words for 'six' to 'ten' are numerical nouns that do not agree with the qualified noun.

'Twenty' to 'fifty' are expressed as multiples of ten using the cardinal numbers for 'two' to 'five' with the plural of 'ten'. 'Sixty' to 'one hundred' are numerical nouns in their own right, derived from the same roots as the nouns for 'six' to 'ten' but with different class prefixes.

In a similar pattern, 'two hundred' to 'five hundred' are expressed as multiples of a hundred using the cardinal numbers with the plural of 'hundred'. Then 'six hundred' to 'one thousand' are nouns, again derived from the same roots as 'six' to 'ten'. The pattern repeats up to 'ten thousand', then standard nouns are used for 'ten thousand', 'one hundred thousand' and 'one million'.

The words used for this system are:

Numerical adjectives (declined to agree with the qualified noun):
* {{lang|lg|emu}} ({{lang|lg|omu}}, {{lang|lg|limu}}, {{lang|lg|kamu}}, {{lang|lg|kimu}}, ...) 'one'
* {{lang|lg|bbiri}} ({{lang|lg|babiri}}, {{lang|lg|abiri}}, ...) 'two'
* {{lang|lg|ssatu}} ({{lang|lg|basatu}}, {{lang|lg|asatu}}, ...) 'three'
* {{lang|lg|nnya}} ({{lang|lg|bana}}, {{lang|lg|ana}}, ...) 'four'
* {{lang|lg|ttaano}} ({{lang|lg|bataano}}, {{lang|lg|ataano}}, ...) 'five'
Numerical nouns:
* 'Six' to 'ten' (Classes II and V)
** {{lang|lg|mukaaga}} 'six' (Class II)
** {{lang|lg|musanvu}} 'seven'
** {{lang|lg|munaana}} 'eight'
** {{lang|lg|mwenda}} 'nine'
** {{lang|lg|kkumi}} 'ten'; plural {{lang|lg|amakumi}} (Class V)
* 'Sixty' to 'one hundred' (Classes III and IV)
** {{lang|lg|nkaaga}} 'sixty' (Class III)
** {{lang|lg|nsanvu}} 'seventy'
** {{lang|lg|kinaana}} 'eighty' (Class IV)
** {{lang|lg|kyenda}} 'ninety'
** {{lang|lg|kikumi}} 'one hundred'; plural {{lang|lg|bikumi}}
* 'Six hundred' to 'one thousand' (Class VII)
** {{lang|lg|lukaaga}} 'six hundred'
** {{lang|lg|lusanvu}} 'seven hundred'
** {{lang|lg|lunaana}} 'eight hundred'
** {{lang|lg|lwenda}} 'nine hundred'
** {{lang|lg|lukumi}} 'one thousand'; plural {{lang|lg|nkumi}}
* 'Six thousand' to 'ten thousand' (Class VI)
** {{lang|lg|kakaaga}} 'six thousand'
** {{lang|lg|kasanvu}} 'seven thousand'
** {{lang|lg|kanaana}} 'eight thousand'
** {{lang|lg|kenda}} 'nine thousand'
** (archaic) {{lang|lg|kakumi}} 'ten thousand'; plural {{lang|lg|bukumi}}
Standard nouns:
* {{lang|lg|omutwalo}} 'ten thousand'; plural {{lang|lg|emitwalo}} (Class II)
* {{lang|lg|akasiriivu}} 'one hundred thousand'; plural {{lang|lg|obusiriivu}} (Class VI)
* {{lang|lg|akakadde}} 'one million'; plural {{lang|lg|obukadde}} (Class VI)
* {{lang|lg|akawumbi}} 'one billion' (1,000,000,000); plural {{lang|lg|obuwumbi}} (Class VI)
* {{lang|lg|akase}} 'one trillion' (1,000,000,000,000); plural {{lang|lg|obuse}} 
* {{lang|lg|akafukunya}} 'one quintillion' (1,000,000,000,000,000,000); plural {{lang|lg|obufukunya}} (Class VI)
* {{lang|lg|akasedde}} 'one septillion' (1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000); plural {{lang|lg|obusedde}} (Class VI)

Digits are specified from left to right, combined with {{lang|lg|na}} (following {{lang|lg|kkumi}}) and {{lang|lg|mu}} (following any other word). For example:
* 12 {{lang|lg|kkumi na bbiri}} (10 + 2)
* 22 {{lang|lg|amakumi abiri mu bbiri}} (10 × 2 + 2)
* 65 {{lang|lg|nkaaga mu ttaano}} (60 + 5)
* 122 {{lang|lg|kikumi mu amakumi abiri mu bbiri}} (100 + 10 × 2 + 2)
* 222 {{lang|lg|bikumi bibiri mu amakumi abiri mu bbiri}} (100 × 2 + 10 × 2 + 2)
* 1,222 {{lang|lg|lukumi mu bikumi bibiri mu amakumi abiri mu bbiri}} (1,000 + 100 × 2 + 10 × 2 + 2)
* 1,024 {{lang|lg|lukumi mu amakumi abiri mu nnya}} (1,000 + 10 × 2 + 4)
* 2,222 {{lang|lg|nkumi bbiri mu bikumi bibiri mu amakumi abiri mu bbiri}} (1,000 × 2 + 100 × 2 + 10 × 2 + 2)
* 2,500 {{lang|lg|nkumi bbiri mu bikumi bitaano}} (1,000 × 2 + 100 × 5)
* 7,500 {{lang|lg|kasanvu mu bikumi bitaano}} (7,000 + 100 × 5)
* 7,600 {{lang|lg|kasanvu mu lukaaga}} (7,000 + 600)
* 9,999 {{lang|lg|kenda mu lwenda mu kyenda mu mwenda}} (9,000 + 900 + 90 + 9)
* 999,000 {{lang|lg|obusiriivu mwenda mu omutwalo mwenda mu kenda}}
* 1,000,000 {{lang|lg|akakadde}} (1,000,000)
* 3,000,000 {{lang|lg|obukadde busatu}} (1,000,000 × 3)
* 10,000,000 {{lang|lg|obukadde kkumi}} (1,000,000 × 10)
* 122,000,122 {{lang|lg|obukadde kikumi mu amakumi abiri mu bubiri mu kikumi mu amakumi abiri mu bbiri}} (1,000,000 * (100 + 10 × 2 + 2) + 100 + 10 × 2 + 2)

The numerical adjectives agree with the qualified noun:
* {{lang|lg|emmotoka emu}} 'one car' (Class III)
* {{lang|lg|omukazi omu}} 'one woman' (Class I)
* {{lang|lg|emmotoka taano}} 'five cars'
* {{lang|lg|abakazi bataano}} 'five women'
but
* {{lang|lg|emmotoka kikumi}} 'a hundred cars'
* {{lang|lg|abakazi kikumi}} 'a hundred women'
and
* {{lang|lg|abasajja kkumi n'omu}} 'eleven men' (Class I)
* {{lang|lg|ente kkumi n'emu}} 'eleven cattle' (Class III)

The forms {{lang|lg|emu}}, {{lang|lg|bbiri}}, {{lang|lg|ssatu}}, {{lang|lg|nnya}} and {{lang|lg|ttaano}} are used when counting (as well as when qualifying nouns of classes III and VII).

However, a complication arises from the agreement of numerical adjectives with the powers of ten. Since the words for 'ten', 'hundred', 'thousand' and so on belong to different classes, each power of ten can be inferred from the form of the adjective qualifying it, so the plural forms of the powers of ten ({{lang|lg|amakumi}} 'tens', {{lang|lg|bikumi}} 'hundreds', {{lang|lg|bukumi}} 'tens of thousands' — but not {{lang|lg|nkumi}} 'thousands') are usually omitted, as long as this does not result in ambiguity.

For example:
* 40 {{lang|lg|amakumi ana}} → {{lang|lg|ana}}
* 22 {{lang|lg|amakumi abiri mu bbiri}} → {{lang|lg|abiri mu bbiri}}
* 222 {{lang|lg|bikumi bibiri mu amakumi abiri mu bbiri}} → {{lang|lg|bibiri mu abiri mu bbiri}}
* 1,024 {{lang|lg|lukumi mu amakumi abiri mu nnya}} → {{lang|lg|lukumi mu abiri mu nnya}}
* 2,222 {{lang|lg|nkumi bbiri mu bikumi bibiri mu amakumi abiri mu bbiri}} → {{lang|lg|nkumi bbiri mu bibiri mu abiri mu bbiri}}
* 2,500 {{lang|lg|nkumi bbiri mu bikumi bitaano}} → {{lang|lg|nkumi bbiri mu bitaano}}
* 7,500 {{lang|lg|kasanvu mu bikumi bitaano}} → {{lang|lg|kasanvu mu bitaano}}
* 122,000,122 {{lang|lg|obukadde kikumi mu amakumi abiri mu bubiri mu kikumi mu amakumi abiri mu bbiri}} → {{lang|lg|obukadde kikumi mu abiri mu bubiri mu kikumi mu abiri mu bbiri}}

Note that:
* {{lang|lg|amanda amakumi ana}} '40 batteries' cannot be shortened to {{lang|lg|amanda ana}} because this means "four batteries", and {{lang|lg|embwa amakumi ana}} '40 dogs' cannot be shortened to {{lang|lg|embwa ana}} because {{lang|lg|ana}} is the form of {{lang|lg|nnya}} used with {{lang|lg|embwa}}, so this actually means 'four dogs'.
* {{lang|lg|Nkumi}} 'thousands' is also not usually omitted because the form the numerical adjectives take when qualifying it is the same as the counting form, so 3,000 will always be rendered {{lang|lg|nkumi ssatu}}.

== Sample text ==
{{lang|lg|Abantu bazaalibwa nga balina eddembe n'obuyinza ebyenkanankana, batondebwa nga balina amagezi era nga basobola okwawula ekirungi n'ekibi bwebatyo, buli omu agwana okuyisa munne nga muganda we.}}

=== Translation ===
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

''(Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)''

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* Ashton, Ethel O., and others (1954) ''A Luganda Grammar'', London: Longmans, Green.
* Barlon, W. Kimuli (2009) ''Luganda Language: A connection with Nyanja of Zambia''. pp.&nbsp;04
* Chesswas, J. D. (1963) ''Essentials of Luganda''. Oxford University Press
* Crabtree, W. A. (1902, 1923) [https://archive.org/details/elementsoflugand00crabuoft ''Elements of Luganda Grammar'']. The Uganda Bookshop/Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge
* Dutcher, Katharine & Mary Paster (2008), [http://www.lingref.com/cpp/wccfl/27/paper1824.pdf "Contour Tone Distribution in Luganda"] ''Proceedings of the 27th West Coast Conference on Formal Linguistics'', ed. Natasha Abner and Jason Bishop, 123–131. Somerville, MA: Cascadilla Proceedings Project.
* Hubbard, Kathleen (1995) "Toward a theory of phonological and phonetic timing: evidence from Bantu". In Connell, Bruce & Amalia Arvanti (eds), ''Phonology and Phonetic Evidence: Papers in Laboratory Phonology IV'' pp.&nbsp;168–187.
* Hyman, Larry & Francis Katamba (1993) "A new approach to tone in Luganda", in ''Language''. 69. 1. pp.&nbsp;33–67
* Hyman, Larry & Francis Katamba (2001) [http://www.linguistics.berkeley.edu/~hyman/Luganda_Word_Paper.pdf "The Word in Luganda"]
* Kamoga, F.K. & Stevick, E.W. (1968). [http://www.fsi-language-courses.net/languages/Luganda/Basic/FSI%20-%20Luganda%20Basic%20Course%20-%20Instructor%20and%20Student%20Text.pdf ''Luganda Basic Course''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120085721/http://www.fsi-language-courses.net/languages/Luganda/Basic/FSI%20-%20Luganda%20Basic%20Course%20-%20Instructor%20and%20Student%20Text.pdf |date=2015-11-20 }}. Foreign Service Institute, Washington. Sound files of this course are available free on the Internet.
* Kamoga, F.K & Stevick, E.W. (1968). ''Luganda Pretraining Program''. Foreign Service Institute, Washington. 
* Murphy, John D. (1972) ''Luganda-English Dictionary''. Catholic University of America Press.
* Pilkington, G.L. (1911) [https://archive.org/details/handbookoflugand00pilk ''The Hand-Book Of Luganda'']. SPCK.
* Snoxall, R.A. (1967) ''Luganda-English Dictionary''. Clarendon Press, Oxford
* {{cite book |last1=Stevick |first1=Earl W. |author1-link=Earl Stevick |last2=Kamoga |first2=Frederick Katabazi |date=1970 |title=Luganda Pretraining Program |publisher=Foreign Service Institute |location=Washington, D.C.}}

== External links ==
{{InterWiki|code=lg}}
{{Wikivoyage|Luganda phrasebook|Luganda|a phrasebook}}
* An excellent online summary of the Luganda language can be found at http://www.buganda.com/luganda.htm.
* Free online Luganda Dictionary on the Ganda Ancestry website https://web.archive.org/web/20080122111606/http://www.gandaancestry.com/dictionary/dictionary.php
* Free online talking Luganda Dictionary and Crossword Puzzle on the Ganda portal http://www.GandaSpace.com
* [https://archive.org/details/English-lugandaDictionary/ English–Luganda Dictionary for printing (24 pages, A5)]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20040411033220/http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/definition/Luganda-english/ Luganda–English Dictionary]
* The website of a team developing Luganda language capability for computers is at https://archive.today/20011115110455/http://www.kizito.uklinux.net/
* [[Paradisec]] open access [http://catalog.paradisec.org.au/collections/AC1?items_page=2&items_per_page=118 collection of recordings] in Luganda

{{Languages of Uganda}}
{{Narrow Bantu languages (Zones E–H)}}
{{Narrow Bantu languages (Zones J–M)}}

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[[Category:Ganda| ]]
[[Category:Buganda]]
[[Category:Languages of Uganda]]
[[Category:Nyoro-Ganda languages]]
[[Category:Subject–verb–object languages]]