Useful phrases in Lozi

A collection of useful phrases in Lozi, a Bantu language spoken mainly in southwestern Zambia, and also in Zimbabwe, Bostwana, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Namibia. It is also known as seRotse.

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See these phrases in any combination of two languages in the Phrase Finder. If you can provide recordings, corrections or additional translations, please contact me.

Key to abbreviations: sg = singular (said to one person), pl = plural (said to more than one person).

English siLozi (Lozi)
Welcome Mu amuhezwi
Hello (General greeting) Lumela (sg)
Mlumeleng (pl)
How are you? U pila cwang?
U zuhile cwang?
Reply to 'How are you?' Na pila hande, wena u pila cwang?
Ni zuhile sesinde
Long time no see Ki kale lusa bonani
What's your name? U mang'i?
Libizo lahao ki mang'i?
My name is ... Libizo laka ki ...
Ki na ...
Where are you from? Kwa hae ki kai?
U zwa kai?
I'm from ... Ni zwa kwa ...
Pleased to meet you Ki buitumela ku zibana
Good morning
(Morning greeting)
Lumela; U zuhile cwang'i?
Good afternoon
(Afternoon greeting)
Ki musihali
Good evening
(Evening greeting)
Lobala ka kozo
Good night Lobala ka kozo
Goodbye
(Parting phrases)
Zamaya sesinde (Go well - said to the those leaving)
Msiyaleng'I sesinde (Stay well - said to the those staying)
U siyale/ Ni ta kubona (see you)
Ni ta kubôna kamuso (see you tomorrow)
Ni ta kubona hape (see you later)
Good luck! Ni ku lakaleza litohonolo
Cheers! Good Health!
(Toasts used when drinking)
Have a nice day Ube ni lizazi lelinde
Bon appetit /
Have a nice meal
Bon voyage /
Have a good journey
U zamaye hande
zamaya ka kozo
I understand
I don't understand Ni ni utwisisi
I don't know
Please speak more slowly Bulela ka bunya
Please say that again Ni kupa u bulele hape
Please write it down Ni kupa u bulele hape
Do you speak English? Na wa bulela sikuwa?
Do you speak Lozi? Na wa bulela seRotse?
Yes, a little
(reply to 'Do you speak ...?')
Ee
Speak to me in Lozi
How do you say ... in Lozi? U bulela cwang'i ... ka seRotse
Excuse me Ni kupa swalelo
How much is this? Ki bukai?
Sorry Ni swalele
Please
Thank you Ni itumezi, mme/ndate
Reply to thank you U amuhezwi
Where's the toilet / bathroom? Simbuzi si kai?
This gentleman will pay for everything Ndate yo uta lifa tifo kaufela
This lady will pay for everything Kalibe yo uta lifa tifo kaufela
Would you like to dance with me? Wa bata ku bina ni na?
I miss you
I love you Na ku lata
Get well soon U fole ka putako/ka pili
Go away! Zwa! Zamaya kafoo!
Leave me alone! U ni tuhele
Help! Ni tuse!
Fire! Mulilo!
Stop! Yema!
Call the police! Biza mapolisa!
Christmas greetings Kilisimusi ye munati ni matohonolo a silimo/mwaha o munca
Easter greetings
Birthday greetings Lizazi la zwalo/sipepo leli munati
One language is never enough Lulimi lu lilimwi
My hovercraft is full of eels Mukolo w aka u tezi litapi

Phrases supplied by Patrick Nawa

If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, or if you can provide recordings, please contact me.

Information about Lozi | Phrases | Numbers | Tower of Babel

Phrases in Bantu languages

Bemba, Chichewa, Chokwe, Duala, Herero, Kikuyu, Kinyarwanda, Lingala, Lozi, Luganda, Ndebele (Northern - South Africa), Ndebele (Northern - Zimbabwe), Ndebele (Southern) Nkore, Northern Sotho, Oshiwambo, Shona, Southern Sotho (seSotho), Swahili, Swati, Tsonga, Tswana, Tumbuka, Umbundu, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu

Phrases in other languages

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