If you're trying to learn Zulu Phrases which is also called isiZulu, check our courses about phrases and daily expressions... to help you with your Zulu grammar. Try to concentrate on the lesson and notice the pattern that occurs each time the word changes its place. Also don't forget to check the rest of our other lessons listed on Learn Zulu. Enjoy the rest of the lesson!
Learning the Zulu Phrases is very important because its structure is used in every day conversation. The more you master it the more you get closer to mastering the Zulu language. But first we need to know what the role of Phrases is in the structure of the grammar in Zulu.
Zulu phrases are a group of words functioning as a single unit in the syntax of a sentence. Here are some examples:
| English Phrases | Zulu Phrases |
|---|---|
| Hello, to one person | Sawubona |
| Hello, to a group of people | Sanibonani |
| How are you (sing.)? / How are you (pl.)? | Unjani? / Ninjani? |
| I'm okay / We're okay | Ngisaphila / Sisaphila |
| Thanks (a lot) | Ngiyabonga (kakhulu) |
| What is your name? | Ngubani igama lakho? |
| My name is... | Igama lami ngu... |
| What's the time? | Isikhathi sithini? |
| Can I help you? | Ngingakusiza? |
| Where do you stay? | Uhlala kuphi? |
| Where are you from? | Uphumaphi? |
| Go well / Stay well (used as goodbye) | Hamba kahle / Sala kahle |
| Go well / Stay well, to a group of people | Hambani kahle / Salani kahle |
| Wow! | Eish! |
| No! / Stop! / No way! (used in South African English too) | Hhayibo |
| Yes | Yebo |
| No | Cha |
| I don't know | Angazi |
| Do you speak English? | Ukhuluma isiNgisi na? |
| I've just started learning Zulu | Ngisaqala ukufunda isiZulu |
Notice the structure of the Phrases in Zulu.
Below is a list of the phrases and daily expressions in Zulu placed in a table. Memorizing this table will help you add very useful and important words to your Zulu vocabulary.
| English Phrases | Zulu Phrases |
|---|---|
| Good/ Bad/ So-So. | Kuhle / Kubi |
| Big/ Small | Kukhulu / Kuncane |
| Today/ Now | Namhlanje / Manje |
| Tomorrow/ Yesterday | Kusasa / Izolo |
| Yes/ No | Yebo / Cha |
| Here you go! (when giving something) | Nazo-ke! |
| Do you like it? | Uyakuthanda na? |
| I really like it! | Ngiyakuthanda ngempela! |
| I'm hungry/ thirsty. | Ngilambile. / Ngomile! |
| In The Morning/ Evening/ At Night. | Ekuseni / kusihlwa / ebusuku |
| This/ That. Here/There | Lokhu / lokho. Lapha / Lapho. |
| Me/ You. Him/ Her. | Mina / wena. Yena / yena. |
| Really! | Ngempela! |
| Look! | Bheka! |
| Hurry up! | Jahela! |
| What? Where? | Yini? Ngaphi? |
| What time is it? | Sikhathi sini? |
| It's 10 o'clock. 07:30pm. | Isikhathi ngu10. Isikhathi ngu7.30 kusihlwa. |
| Give me this! | Ngibize le! |
| I love you! | Ngiyakuthanda! |
| I feel sick. | Ngiyagula. |
| I need a doctor | Ngidinga udokotela. |
| One, Two, Three | kunye, isibili, kuthathu |
| Four, Five, Six | okune, isihlanu, isithupha |
| Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten | isikhombisa, isishiyagalombili, isishiyagalolunye, ishumi |
Phrases and daily expressions have a very important role in Zulu. Once you're done with the isiZulu Phrases, you might want to check the rest of our Zulu lessons here: Learn Zulu. Don't forget to bookmark this page.
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