Phrases |
'Useful' phrases |
Idioms |
Tongue twisters |
Language-related proverbs
A collection of useful phrases in Zulu. Click on the English phrases to see them in many other languages.
Key to abbreviations: frm = formal, inf = informal, sg = singular (said to one person), pl = plural (said to more than one person).
| English | isiZulu (Zulu) |
|---|---|
| Welcome | Ngiyakwemukela (sg) Ngiyanemukela (pl) |
| Hello general greeting used for Good morning, Good afternoon and Good evening |
Sawubona (sg) Sawubonani (pl) |
| How are you? I'm fine, thanks. And you? |
Unjani? (sg) Ninjani? (pl) |
| Ngikhona, ngiyabonga. Wena unjani? (sg) Sikhona, siyabonga. Wena ninjani? (pl) |
|
| What's your name? My name is ... |
Ngubani igama lakho? |
| Igama lami ngu... | |
| Where are you from? I'm from ... |
Ubuyaphi? |
| Ngibuya e... | |
| Pleased to meet you | Ngiyajabula ukukwazi |
| Good night | Lala kahle! (sg) Lalani kahle! (pl) |
| Goodbye | Sala kahle (sg) Salani kahle (pl) >people staying Hamba kahle (sg) Hambani kahle (pl) >people leaving |
| Good luck | Ngikufisela iwela! |
| Cheers/Good health! | Oogy wawa! |
| Bon appetit | Thokoleza ukudla! |
| Bon voyage | Ube nohambo oluhle! |
| I don't understand | Angizwa |
| Please speak more slowly | Ngicela ukhulume kancane |
| Please say that again | Ukwazi ukukuthi futhi na? |
| Please write it down | Ngicela ukubhale |
| Do you speak Zulu? Yes, a little |
Ukhuluma isiZulu na? |
| Yebo, ingcosana | |
| Do you speak English? | Ukhuluma isiNgisi na? |
| How do you say ... in Zulu? | ... ukusho kanjani ngesiZulu? |
| Excuse me/Sorry | Uxolo! |
| How much is this? | Kubiza malini? |
| Thank you Response (You're welcome) |
Ngiyabona /
Ngiyabonga kakhulu (sg) Siyabonga (pl) |
| Uyamukelwa (sg) Niyamukelwa (pl) | |
| Where's the toilet? | Likuphi ikamelo lokugezela? Likuphi itholethe? |
| This gentleman/lady will pay for everything |
Umnumzana uzokhokha konke (gentleman) Inenekazi lizokhokha konke (lady) |
| Would you like to dance with me? |
Uthanda ukudansa nami? |
| I love you | Ngiyakuthanda |
| Get well soon | Phila masinya |
| Leave me alone! | Ndiyekele! |
| Help! Fire! Stop! |
Usizo! Umlilo! Ma! |
| Call the police! | Biza amaphoyisa! |
| Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year |
Sinifesela uKhisimusi oMuhle noNyaka oMusha oNempumelelo |
| Happy Easter | IPhasika elijabulayo / IPhasika elithokozayo |
| Happy Birthday | Halala ngosuku lokuzalwa |
If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, please contact me.
Information about the Zulu language
Other collections of Zulu phrases
http://www.phrasebase.com/forum/read.php?TID=7760
http://www.linguanaut.com/english_zulu.htm
http://www.cyberserv.co.za/users/~jako/lang/zulwrd.htm
http://africanlanguages.com/zulu/
http://www.codezulu.com/isizulu.asp
http://saharanvibe.blogspot.com/2007/03/zulu-language.html
Copyright 1998- Simon Ager