ssente mmeka
ssente mmeka is how you say "how much" in Luganda when asking about the cost or price of something.
This phrase is used as a determiner to ask for the price of an item.
Meaning: what is the cost/price? (det)
Did you know?
- In Ugandan markets, simply saying ssente mmeka may be seen as too direct. It is customary to first greet the vendor with a polite exchange before asking for the price.
- Luganda is a tonal language, meaning the pitch used when saying ssente mmeka can change the nuance of the question from a simple inquiry to a genuine expression of shock at a price.
- While ssente mmeka asks for a price, the word ssente is also used in idioms to describe someone's social status or 'worth' within a community.
Examples in context
- Njagala kugula kitabo kino. Kya ssente mmeka?I want to buy this book. How much is it?This example shows how to use ssente mmeka when expressing interest in buying a specific object.Tatoeba #13838652 by ecorralest101, translation #13838650 by ecorralest101
- Ssente mmeka?How much is it?This sentence shows a direct way to ask the price using ssente mmeka.Tatoeba #13444113 by ecorralest101, translation #2418 by brauliobezerra
- Osaba ssente mmeka?How much do you charge?This example demonstrates using ssente mmeka to ask how much a person charges for something.Tatoeba #12956805 by ecorralest101, translation #2912101 by CK
Example conversation
Mukasa is buying fruit from Namono at the market.
- MukasaNamono, enkola kino kya ssente mmeka?Namono, how much is this banana?
- NamonoKigula ssente ebikumi bbiri.It costs two thousand shillings.
- MukasaKino kinyuvu, ssente mmeka ku bintu bino?This is expensive, how much for these things?
- NamonoNkubwa ssente ebikumi tano.I will give them to you for five thousand.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
