Useful phrases in Southern Ndebele

A collection of useful phrases in Southern Ndebele, a Bantu language spoken by in South Africa.

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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).

Phrase isiNdebele (Southern Ndebele)
Welcome Siyalemukela (sg)
Ngiyak'wamukela (pl)
Hello (General greeting) Lotjhani
How are you? Kunjani?
Reply to 'How are you?' Ngikhona ngiyathokoza
What's your name? Ibizo lakho ngubani?
My name is ... Ibizo lami ngu...
Where are you from? Uvela ngaphi?
I'm from ... Ngivela e...
Pleased to meet you Ngiyathaba ukukwazi
Nami godu ngiyathaba (reply)
Good morning
(Morning greeting)
Ngivukile
Good afternoon
(Afternoon greeting)
Litjhingile
Good night Lala kuhle (sleep well)
Lilale
Kuhlwile
Goodbye
(Parting phrases)
Khamba kuhle (go well - to person leaving)
Sala kuhle (stay well - to person staying)
Good luck! Iba netjhudu
Cheers! Good Health!
(Toasts used when drinking)
Ye usale kuhle!
Have a nice day Ube nelanga elimnandi
Bon appetit /
Have a nice meal
Uthokozele ukudla kwakho
Bon voyage /
Have a good journey
Ube nekhambo eliphephileko
Yes Iye
No Awa
Maybe Mhlamunye
I don't know Angazi
I understand Ngiyazwsisi
I don't understand Angizwsisi
Please speak more slowly Ngibawa ukhulume kabuthaka
Please say that again Ngibawa ubuyelele lokho
Please write it down Ngibawa uyitlole phasi
Do you speak English? Ukhuluma isiNgisi?
Do you speak Southern Ndebele? Ukhuluma isiNdebele?
Yes, a little
(reply to 'Do you speak ...?')
Iye, kancancani kwaphela
Do you speak a language
other than
Southern Ndebele?
Likhona elinye ilimi olukhulumako ngaphandle kwesiNdebele?
Speak to me in Southern Ndebele Khuluma nami ngesiNdebele
How do you say ... in Southern Ndebele? Ukutjho njani lokhu ... ngesiNdebele?
Excuse me Uxolo
Ngitshidele
I would like ... Uxolo
Ngitshidele
How much is this? Yimalini?
Kubiza malini?
Sorry Ngiyancancabeza
Please Ngibawa (I am asking)
Akhu ... (Would you please ...)
Ngiyabawa
Thank you Ngiyathokoza (I am thanking)
Ngithokza khulu
Siyathokoza (We are thanking)
e[surname of person being thanked]
Reply to thank you Wamukelekile
Where's the toilet / bathroom? Ikuphi indlu encani?
This gentleman will pay for everything LoBaba uzakubhadela yoke into
This lady will pay for everything LoMma uzakubhadela yoke into
Would you like to dance with me? Ungathanda ukugida nami?
Do you come here often? Ujayele ukuza lapha
I miss you Ngikukhumbule
I love you Ngiyakuthanda
Get well soon Uphole
Go away! Khambela le!
Ngilise!
Leave me alone! Ngilise!
Help! Rhelebha!
Fire! Umlilo!
Stop! Jama!
Call the police! Ngibawa ubize amapholisa!
Christmas greetings Ukresimusi omnandi
Easter greetings Ube negudi emnandi
Birthday greetings Langelihle lokuzalwa
Ilanga elimnandi lamabeletho
One language is never enough Ilimi elinye kwaphela alikaneli

Corrections and additions by Bongani Mahlangu

Hear some of these phraeses

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

Information about Southern Ndebele | Phrases | Numbers | Tower of Babel

Links

Other collections of Southern Ndebele phrases
http://www.salanguages.com/isindebele/ndewrd.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUp07Rd_zGs

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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