Phrasebase language enthusiast Phrasebase members online Native English - Existing Members, Please Sign In Foreign Language Learning Learning English - Existing Members, Please Sign In Register | Sign In 
COMMUNITY ZULU Some Zulu phrases

Home Search
Members Faq
Online Login
Register

  « First Post | Last Post »  
  joziboy
 
Specialist

 
 
 
 
Posts: 1294
 
Joined: 6 Oct 04
 From: Edinburgh
Some Zulu phrases
Hello - Sawubona (sing) sanibonani (pl)

How are you? - Unjani? (sing) Ninjani? (pl) - although it's more polite to ask ninjani, because that means you're enquiring after not only your friends health, but also that of his family and loved ones

How's work? - Kunjani umsebenzi?

Where do you live? - Uhlalaphi?

I come from... - Ngiphuma e...

Johannesburg - eGoli
Durban - eThekwini
America - eMelika
Overseas - phesheya

Do you speak English? - Uyakwazi ukukhuluma isiNgisi?

I'm just a beginner at Zulu - Ngisaqala ukufunda isiZulu

I don't know - Angazi

Thank you - Ngiyabonga
Thanks a lot! - Ngibonga kakhulu

Please - Ngicela (lit. I would like)

Sorry! - Uxolo!

Nice to meet you - Ngiyajabula ukukwazi

Can I help you with something? - Ngingakusiza ngani?

I'll take one - Ngizothatha munye

Are we going now? - Sihamba manje na?

See you soon - Sobonani

Goodbye: Stay well - Sala kahle (sing) Salani kahle (pl)
Go well - Hamba kahle (sing) Hambani kahle (pl)


Last edited by: joziboy on 25 Jul 05
IP: Hidden
  22 Jul 05
  Rion
 
Senior Member

 
 
 
 
Posts: 605
 
Joined: 5 Feb 05
 From: Tel Aviv

Oh wow it's starting to come back! I need to spend more time in this forum... *Adds Zulu to the list of languages he's currently learning*

_________________________
עמד, והתבונן נפלאות אל
情けは人の為ならず
اذا كان الكلام من فضة فالسُّكوت من ذهب
Des femmes bizarres, habitant des étangs et distribuant des épées, n'est point une base appropriée pour un système de gouvernement.

IP: Hidden
  8 Nov 05
  joziboy
 
Specialist

 
 
 
 
Posts: 1294
 
Joined: 6 Oct 04
 From: Edinburgh

Lol, excellent :D siyakwemukela! (welcome)

IP: Hidden
  8 Nov 05
  PlaceboZA
 
Contributor

 
 
 
 
Posts: 16
 
Joined: 4 Dec 05
 From: Gauteng
A few more..
I'm still pretty bad with zulu, but I have a few more phrases.
Excuse the spelling, this is strictly conversational.

Siyabonga buba/sisi/gogo = We thank you. buba=a man of similar standing/age. sisi=a female of similar standing/age. gogo=senior citizen. They use 'we' for this because they're traditionally very family oriented, and they respectfully refer to their family. Keep in mind that their family is often fogged with 'family' that are not really related. SOme communities are very closely knit.

'How are you' can also be 'Kunjani', which is how people greet at work here. For example, the tea lady is fondly greeted with kunjani mamdi (pet name from 'doreen') or kunjani mamorena (queen or minor diety. had conflicting answers. They use this because she rules the kitchen with an iron fist :D)

Sizobanane - See you later/again

There was also a phrase my dad taught me, but it's probably not appropriate for this forum :D


_________________________
- I don't have stress, I'm a carrier -

Last edited by: PlaceboZA on 5 Dec 05
IP: Hidden
  5 Dec 05
  PlaceboZA
 
Contributor

 
 
 
 
Posts: 16
 
Joined: 4 Dec 05
 From: Gauteng

Oh, and what's the difference between Sizobonane and Sobonani I wonder.. :

_________________________
- I don't have stress, I'm a carrier -

IP: Hidden
  5 Dec 05
  joziboy
 
Specialist

 
 
 
 
Posts: 1294
 
Joined: 6 Oct 04
 From: Edinburgh

Well sizobonani would literally be 'We'll see each other', so I presume sobonani is just the contraction of that - in the way that sawubona is the contraction of siyakubona :)

IP: Hidden
  5 Dec 05
  PlaceboZA
 
Contributor

 
 
 
 
Posts: 16
 
Joined: 4 Dec 05
 From: Gauteng

Ah right. Thanks :)
By the way, one of my work colleagues is a dinkum zulu, not just a zulu speaker. He's gratiously agreed to help me/us.


_________________________
- I don't have stress, I'm a carrier -

IP: Hidden
  5 Dec 05
Pages:  1 
Post a reply to this topic
  
Forum Jump:


Open Bulletin Board 1.0.0© 2002 Forum in conjunction with Prolix Media Group
All Material Copyright © 2000 - 2009Phrasebase. All Rights Reserved.
Home | About Us | Principles | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Document Translations | Blog | FAQ | Archive 1 |Archive 2
Live Webcam Language Classroom | Language Exchange Partners | E-Phrasebook | Country Information | Language Information