IsiZulu Language
Zulu Language|
#Expressions |
#Greetings |
#South Africanisms |
#Useful Xhosa words and phrases |
#Useful Zulu words and phrases
Some Commonly used South African words and phrases
Just now - Sometime soon, shortly
play play - pretend
Now now - sooner than just now!!
Bakkie - pick up truck
Lift - elevator
Flat - apartment
Boot - trunk of a car
Robot - traffic lights
Mate - pal or buddy
Bundu - bushveld
Howzit - hello, a greeting
Kloof - ravine
Koppie - rocky hill
Braai - bar-b-que
How are you? - Kunjani? I am fine. And you? - Ndiphilile. Nawe?
Goodbye (go well) - Hamba kahuhle Goodbye (stay well) - Sala kahuhle
Yes - Ewe No - Hayi
Please - Nceda Thank you - Enkosi
Good, fine - Kulungile How much? - Yimalini?
How are you? - Unjani? Ninjani? (Plural) I am fine. And you? - Ngiya phila. Wena?
Goodbye (go well) - Hamba Kahle Goodbye (stay well) - Sala Kahle
Yes - Yebo No - Ca
Good, fine - Kuhle How much? - Malini?
General Words and Phrases
Hello - Sawubona (First person singular) / Sanibona (First person plural)
How are you? - Unjani?
I am well. - Ngisaphila.
I am fine, thank you. - Ngisaphila ngiyabonga.
Goodbye - Hamba kahle (go well) / Sala kahle (stay well)
Good luck - Ngikufisela inhlanhla
Have a safe journey. - Ube nohambo oluhle.
yes - yebo
no - cha
please - ngiyakucela
thank you - ngiyabonga
help - siza
danger - ingozi
emergency - kuyaphuthuma
Excuse me - Uxolo
I am sorry. - Ngiyaxolisa.
I love you. - Ngiyakuthanda.
Do you accept (credit cards/traveler's cheques)? - Uyawamukela (amakhredithi khadi/amasheke ezivakashi)?
How much is this? - Kuyimalini lokhu?
I want ... - Ngifuna ...
What are you doing? - Wenzani?
What is the time? - Yisikhathisini manje?
Where are you going? - Uyaphi?
Expressions in daily use which may bewilder the visitor
Aikôna - never,not on your life
Baie dankie - thank you very much
Biltong - dried meat
Boerewors - a spicy sausage
Braaivleis - a barbecue
Dorp - a country town
Fanagalo - mixture of English, Afrikaans and Zulu
Fundi - expert
Hamba kahle - 'go well'
Howzit? - How are you?
Indaba - a tribal conference
Induna - a headman
Izzit? - Oh really?
Ja-nee - maybe
Just now - recently, in a while/ could refer to the past or present
Knobkierie - stick with knobbed head
Kraal - an enclosure for sheep, cattle, crayfish
Kwaito - African pop music
Kwela - form of African jazz using a pennywhistle
Lekker - nice, enjoyable
Mampara - a fool
Muti - medicine
Now now - in a little while, more immediate than 'just now' - also refers to past or present
Rondavel - circular shaped hut
Tokoloshe - evil spirit
Totsiens - goodbye
Toyi toyi - a dance of protest or celebration
Umfaan - a young African boy
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