Colloquial Zulu Colloquial Series 1nbsped 0415837170 9780415837170 Compress

Colloquial
Zulu
Colloquial Zulu is an easy-to-use and up-to-date guide to the Zulu
language. Specially written for self-study or class use, the course
offers you a step-by-step approach to written and spoken Zulu. No prior
knowledge of the language is required.
What makes Colloquial Zulu your best choice in language learning?
• It’s interactive – it has lots of exercises for regular practice.

• It’s clear – it has concise grammar notes.
• It’s practical – it has useful vocabulary and a pronunciation guide.
• It’s complete – it includes an answer key and reference section.
Whether you’re a business traveller or you work for an NGO, whether

you’re studying to teach or are looking forward to a holiday – if you’d
like to get up and running with Zulu, this rewarding course will take you
from complete beginner to confdently putting your language skills to
use in a wide range of everyday situations. This course is also ideal for
an institution-based setting with its clear language pedagogy, cultural
information and notes.
Accompanying audio material, recorded by native speakers, is
available free online. The audio material will help develop your listening
and pronunciation skills.
Sandra Sanneh is Senior Lector II Emerita at Yale University.
Mary Hammond-Bloem is Lecturer at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

THE COLLOQUIAL SERIES
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COLLOQUIAL 2s series: The Next Step in Language Learning
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Colloquials are now supported by FREE AUDIO available online. All audio tracks
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cw/colloquials.
Colloquial
Zulu
The Complete Course
for Beginners
Sandra Sanneh and

Mary Hammond-Bloem
First published 2021
by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
and by Routledge
605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa
business
© 2021 Sandra Sanneh and Mary Hammond-Bloem
The right of Sandra Sanneh and Mary Hammond-Bloem to be
identifed as authors of this work has been asserted by them in
accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and
Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or
reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or
other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying
and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system,
without permission in writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks
or registered trademarks, and are used only for identifcation and
explanation without intent to infringe.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
A catalog record is available for this title
ISBN: 978-0-415-83717-0 (pbk)

ISBN: 978-0-203-38017-8 (ebk)
Typeset in Avant Garde and Helvetica

by Apex CoVantage, LLC
Access the companion website: www.routledge.com/cw/colloquials
For Professor Msawakhe Hlengwa, "Mashasha", who taught us so
much through his love of the Zulu language, his kindness and his
nobility of spirit. Siyabonga Baba.
Contents
Introduction 1
Pronunciation guide 4
1 Ukubingelela 9
Greetings
In this unit:
Saying hello and goodbye
Greeting names
Linkers
Talking about oneself
Present tense
2 Uvelaphi? 19
Where are you from?
In this unit:
Talking about oneself
More on present tense
Subject markers
Emphatic pronouns
3 Uyaphi? 29
Where are you going?
In this unit:
Where is it?
Going places
Times of day
Saying goodbye
viii Contents
4 Impilo yomndeni 39
Family life
In this unit:
Family routines
Negating
Talking about the future
Days of the week
Week and weekend
5 Kubiza malini? 51
How much does it cost?
In this unit:
How much is it?
Rands and cents
Noun groups: UMU-/ABA-
Noun groups: ILI-/AMA-
Counting 1–10
Wanting and requesting
6 Ukuhlangana nabangane 61
Social life
In this unit:
Being hungry or thirsty
Making a purchase
Object markers
Likes and dislikes
Affirming and negating
7 Umndeni nabangane 71
Family and friends
In this unit:
Family members
Noun subgroups U-/O-
Identifying people by name/occupation
Noun groups: ISI-/IZI-
Describing people
Working
Noun classes
Contents ix
8 Ukugula nokwelapha 85
Being ill and getting treated
In this unit:
Talking about symptoms
Parts of the body
More noun groups
I can’t. . .
You must /mustn’t. . .
Instructions and requests
Using object markers
9 Ukuthenga 99
Shopping
In this unit:
Making requests
Obligations
Precise place adverbs
Making suggestions
10 Ukuthatha uhambo 114
Taking a trip
In this unit:
Weather
Recent past progressive
Common adjectives: predicative
Taking a trip
In the countryside
11 Ukungcebeleka 130
Leisure
In this unit:
Celebrations (birthdays)
Sports
Colour adjectives
Talking about recent past
Passive voice
x Contents
12 Ukuvakashela esiqiwini 143

Visiting a game reserve
In this unit:
Talking about animals
Review of noun groups
Describing characteristics, habits and states
Negative instructions
13 Kudala 156
Long ago
In this unit:
Talking about the remote past
Describing remote times
Talking about childhood
Folk tales
14 Ukuthuthela eGoli 173
Moving to Johannesburg
In this unit:
Talking about future events
Demonstratives
Ka- possessives
15 Amaholidi nezingozi 187
Holidays and accidents
In this unit:
Describing in recent past time
Describing with relative construction
Seasons and months
Impersonal ku- + passive
Describing with ideophones
Reference grammar 198
Key to exercises 239
Glossary Zulu–English 305

Glossary English–Zulu 310
Recorded dialogues 315
Index 317
Introduction
Colloquial Zulu is intended for adult beginners who have little or no

prior knowledge of Zulu. It is designed for learners who wish to study at
home at their own pace, and it can also be used in a classroom setting.
Colloquial Zulu focuses on spoken Zulu and covers the structures
and vocabulary of the everyday situations that you are likely to encoun-
ter in South Africa or other southern African countries, whether you are
on vacation, doing research or engaged in business. In other words, it
is designed to help you to develop communication skills.
The authors have kept the grammatical explanations as clear and as
simple as possible, which means that we have used some of our own
terms and have avoided some contemporary linguistic terminology. We
have aimed throughout to be user-friendly so that you can gradually
gain confdence and establish a solid understanding of the language.
Colloquial Zulu consists of a book with free online audio material
containing dialogues and oral activities.
How the course is organized

The book begins with a pronunciation guide, and this is followed by 15
units, each based on a situational theme. There is a key to the exer-
cises, a reference grammar, Zulu–English and English–Zulu glossaries
and an index of grammatical topics.
2 Introduction
Contents of each unit

• Dialogues – Each unit contains between two and fve dialogues.
These are designed to introduce the key grammar and vocabulary of
the unit. Translations are provided in the key. We recommend that you
listen to each dialogue several times until you can play the role of all
speakers.
• Language points – These give explanations of new structures, with
examples. A more detailed explanation of some topics is given in the
reference grammar. We hope that associating each point with the
unit theme will help you to remember them.
• Exercises – There are exercises associated with the dialogues and
the language points. A key to all exercises is given at the end of the
book.
• Culture points – In each unit, there are brief explanations of cul-
tural conventions and historical background associated with the unit
theme.
Using the recordings

The recordings contain the dialogues and a variety of exercises
designed to build your pronunciation, intonation and communication
skills.
When you frst listen to a dialogue, we recommend that you do so
without looking at the transcription or the translation. Focus your listen-
ing on the following questions:
• Who is talking?
• Where is the dialogue taking place?
• What is the purpose of the conversation?
When you can answer these questions, listen again and focus on words
that you don’t understand. Stop and write them down, and then return
to listening. Then listen with the transcription and compare with the
words you have written. Only look at the translation when you have
tested yourself as far as you can.
We recommend that you also listen to the dialogues when doing
some other activity, so that the phrases and intonation become familiar
to you. You should try to memorize the sentences of each speaker.
Introduction 3
Tips for learning Zulu

Zulu is a language with a grammar system that is quite different from
English, and unlike, say German or French, it has relatively few vocab-
ulary items that are similar to English. However, like any language, Zulu
has names for items and actions, words to describe things and actions
or events, and ways of showing who is acting and who is receiving the
action. It has ways of referring to past events and to events yet to take
place. The more aware you are of how English does these things, the
easier it will be for you to understand how they are done in Zulu.
Here are some tips:
• Set reasonable goals for yourself. Aim to make some progress each
week rather than aiming to complete a unit.
• Short and frequent sessions are better than long and infrequent
ones.
• Go through each unit thoroughly, spending time on the dialogues
and completing all the exercises.
• Organize your notes:
o Create your own fash cards, using library cards or a computer/
smartphone app. The act of writing/typing them will help you to
remember.
o Keep your exercises and notes in labelled folders on your com-
puter or in tabbed sections in a notebook
o Use different colours for different kinds of information, for exam-
ple, parts of speech.
• Look for opportunities to use what you have learned:
o Find another learner to meet or communicate with online.
o Find a Zulu speaker to meet or communicate with online.
o Listen to spoken Zulu on YouTube or elsewhere. You will not un-
derstand at frst, but you’ll get used to the sound of the language.
o Look at online Zulu newspapers. At frst you’ll only recognize a
few words, but gradually you’ll be able to understand the head-
lines.
Sinifsela inhlanhla!
We wish you good luck!
Pronunciation guide
Orthography
Zulu uses the Roman alphabet. The orthography was standard-
ized in the early 20th century and is based on phonetic principles,
which means that each letter – or in some cases each group of
letters – represents a single sound. Letters that are phonetically
redundant (‘c,’ ‘q,’ ‘x’) are used to convey click consonants. Once
you have learned to pronounce these sounds, you will not have
difficulty reading Zulu.
Words and afxes

Zulu consists of word stems or roots that have affixes attached to them.
The stems carry semantic meaning, and the affixes modify that mean-
ing with grammatical or other information. This means that a word can
have many parts, each contributing to the meaning of the whole, and
that a word can be a full sentence.
For example:
-bona see (stem)

Ngiyakubona. I see you.
Bebebonakala. They were visible.
Asibabonanga abantwana. We didn’t see the children.
The sounds of Zulu

Zulu has few vowels and a large number of consonants, including click
sounds. Some consonants are written with up to four letters but are
nonetheless a single sound:
For example:
-tsh- English ‘ch’

-ntsh- English ‘nch’ as in ‘enchant,’ but pronounced as one
sound
-ntshw- as above, but with lips rounded
The vowels
Zulu has fve plain vowels:
/a/ as in U.S./U.K. English ‘father’

/e/ as in U.S./U.K. English ‘bed’
/i/ as in U.S./U.K. English ‘sheep’
/o/ as in U.S. English ‘caught,’ U.K. English ‘saw’
/u/ as in U.S./U.K. English ‘too’
The consonants
The following Zulu consonants are pronounced as in English:
/f/, /g/, /h/, /j/, /l/, /m/, /n/, /s/, /v/, /w/, /z/
These consonant pairs may at frst sound the same to English speak-
ers. Those with /h/ are pronounced as in English. Those without /h/
have a tight sound and are close to their voiced equivalent. In English,
these sounds occur at the end of words:
/ph/ as in English ‘put,’ ‘paint’

/p/ as in English ‘cup,’ ‘help’ (almost a /b/)
/th/ as in English ‘take,’ ‘teach’
/t/ as in English ‘hit,’ ‘shirt’ (almost a /d/)
/kh/ as in English ‘cake,’ ‘cool’
/k/ as in English ‘sick,’ ‘block’ (almost a /g/)
6 Pronunciation guide
There are two sounds representing ‘b’:
/b/ This is an implosive sound, which means you suck air in as

you say it, like drawing on a pipe.
/bh/ This is similar to the English /b/, but it is harsher and has a
voiced /h/ sound.
There are two sounds called lateral fricatives. These are produced by
placing your tongue as if for /l/ and then pushing it up towards the roof
of your mouth to create friction. If you pronounce these sounds cor-
rectly, they are continuous. The letters used can be misleading:
/hl/ No voicing
/dl/ As for /hl/ but with added voice. Be sure not to produce
/d + l/.
Some nasal consonants need special attention:
/ng/ This sound occurs in English ‘fnger’ or in ‘English’ but only

mid-word. In Zulu, it occurs at the beginning of a word as
well. Emphasize the /g/ and be careful not to add an initial
vowel: ‘ngi-,’ not ‘ingi-.’
/m/ When this consonant is followed by another consonant, it
becomes a whole syllable, so you must linger on it: ‘mkhulu,’
‘ngiyambona.’
The click consonants

These sounds were originally borrowed from speakers of the Khoe-
San languages, who lived nearby and intermarried with the people
who became known as the amaXhosa. A large number of conso-
nants in the Khoe-San languages are click sounds. Some click
sounds were absorbed into what is now known as Xhosa and later
into languages spoken by clans living farther north, including those
we now know as Zulu.
Zulu orthography uses the phonetically ‘spare’ letters of the alphabet
to indicate click sounds.
There are three click positions:
‘c’ The tongue is pushing behind your teeth; the tip of the
tongue can be seen through the lips.The sound is somewhat
similar to the English disapproval ‘Tsk-tsk.’
‘x’ The tongue is pressing on ridge behind your teeth, and air
is released at the side. The sound is similar to the English
children’s ‘giddyap.’
‘q’ The tongue is curled back with its tip pressing on the roof
your mouth; release makes a loud ‘knock’ sound.
Practice these sounds in isolation, and then practice them with each
of the vowels as follows:
ca – ce – ci – co – cu
xa – xe – xi – xo – xu
qa – qe – qi – qo – qu
The three clicks can be modifed to form other phonemes.

For example:
/c/ + extra breath à /ch/

/c/ + voicing à /gc/
/c/ + nasalization à /nc/
/c/ + nasalization and voicing à /ngc/
This means there are fve different sounds/phonemes for each click
position.
Tone
Tone adds an additional layer of meaning to a word, and tonal differ-
ences can be the only difference between two Zulu words. Tones are
placed on the core of each syllable, which is usually a vowel but can be
the consonant /m/.
Zulu has two contrasting tones: high and low. The height of each
tone is relative, not absolute:
High tone (H) is relatively higher than low tone (L).

Low tone (L) is relatively lower than high tone (H).
8 Pronunciation guide
For example:
Bóna! (HL) See! (imperative)

boná (LH) they (emphatic pronoun)
/u-/ (L) indicates 2nd person sg.
/ú-/ (H) indicates 3rd person sg.
Zulu orthography does not mark tone, but we will mark high tone with
/’/ wherever we think it is important to avoid confusion. We encourage
learners to pay close attention to the melody of each word and to imi-
tate it closely.
Note: Tone is not the same as intonation, which is the melody of a
whole utterance.
Stress
In Zulu, the penultimate (second last) syllable of a word carries stress,
giving it extra length. This is the case no matter how long the word.
Hámba! Go away!
Ngikhoná. I’m here./OK.
Uyangizwá? Do you understand me?
Masihámbisáne. Let’s go together.
Unit 1
Ukubingelela
Greetings
In this unit:
• Saying hello and goodbye
• Greeting names
• Linkers
• Talking about oneself
• Present tense
Amagama amasha / New vocabulary

Sawubona/Sanibona hello, hi umntwana child
Yebo yes umntanami my child
umfowethu my brother umnumzana, UMnu. sir, Mr.
umfo brother unkosikazi, UNkk. ma’am, Mrs.
udadewethu my sister unkosazana, UNkz. miss, Miss,
udade sister Ms.
umama [my] mother uthisha teacher
ubaba [my] father
Greetings
Sawubona! Hello!/Hi/!Good day! to one person
Sanibona! Hello!/Hi!/ Good day! to more than one person
This greeting can be used at any time of day and is an acknowledge-

ment of the other person: ‘I see you!’
Greetings usually include a name:
10 Unit 1: Ukubingelela
Language point
Greeting names
All nouns in Zulu – including personal names – begin with a vowel, but
when using a noun in a greeting, omit the vowel:
umfo à Sawubona mfo.

udade à Sawubona dade.
umnumzana à Sawubona mnumzana.
uNkk. Mkhize à Sawubona Nkk. Mkhize.
Greeting 1.1
Themba and Bongani (students):
uThemba: Sawubona mfowethu. Hi, my brother.

uBongani: Yebo, sawubona mfo. Yes, hello brother.
Greeting 1.2
USibongile noZanele (students):
uSibongile: Sawubona dadewethu. Hello, my sister.

uZanele: Yebo, sawubona dade. Yes, hi sister.
Greeting 1.3
Umama nomntwana (mother and child):
The junior person greets frst.
Umntwana: Sawubona mama. Hello, Mum.

Umama: Yebo, sawubona mntanami. Yes, hello my child.
Greeting 1.4
UMnu. Mkhize noNkk. Cele (Mr. Mkhize and Mrs. Cele):
It is polite to use ‘Sir’ or ‘Ma’am’ when greeting a stranger.
uMnu. Mkhize: Sawubona nkosikazi. Hello ma’am.

uNkk. Cele: Yebo, sawubona mnumzane. Yes, hello sir.
Unit 1: Greetings 11
Exercise 1.1
Fill in the appropriate honorifc:
1. A boy greets his father: Sawubona ___________
2. A child greets his teacher: Sawubona ___________
3. A woman greets a male co-worker: Sawubona ___________
4. A girl greets an older male relative: Sawubona ___________
5. A visitor greets a female office worker: Sawubona ___________

u- 2nd person sg.(singu- ku- Impersonal subject
lar), subject marker marker (it/they)
(you) -njani? How?
ngi- 1st person sg., subject -phila be well
marker (I) -ya- Present tense Marker
ni- 2nd person pl. (plural), wena you, sg. emphatic
subject marker (you all)
nina you, pl. emphatic
si- 1st person pl. subject
marker (we)
Greeting 1.5
UBongani noThemba
uBongani: Sawubona mfowethu.

uThemba: Yebo, sawubona mfo.
uBongani: Unjani mfo?
uThemba: Ngiyaphila. Wena unjani?
uBongani: Ngiyaphila.
Greeting 1.6
Abafundi nothisha Pupils and teacher
Abafundi: Sawubona thisha.
Uthisha: Sanibona bantabami. Ninjani?
Abafundi: Siyaphila thisha
Greeting 1.7
UNkk. Mkhize noMnu. Cele Mrs. Mkhize and Mr. Cele
uNkk. Mkhize: Sawubona mnumzane.
uMnu. Cele: Yebo, sawubona nkosikazi.
uNkk. Mkhize: Ninjani mnumzane?
uMnu. Cele: Siyaphila nkosikazi. Nina ninjani?
uNkk. Mkhize: Siyaphila mnumzane.
Exercise 1.2
Complete the following greeting dialogues:
1. UThemba noZanele:
uThemba: Sawubona sisi.

uZanele:
uThemba: Unjani sisi?
uZanele:
uThemba: Ngiyaphila.
2. Umntwana nomama
Umntwana:
Uthisha: Sawubona mntanami. Unjani?
Umntwana:
3. UNkk. Mkhize nothisha
uNkk. Mkhize: Sawubona nkosazana.

Uthisha:
uNkk. Mkhize: Unjani?
Uthisha: ?
uNkk, Mkhize: Sikhona nkosazana.
4. Ubaba nabafana
Ubaba: Sanibona bafana.

Abafana:
Ubaba: Ninjani bafana?
Abafana:
Language point
Subject markers
The subject noun is indicated by prefxing a subject marker (SM) to

the verb:
u-njani? How are you?

ngi-ya-phila I’m well, OK.
ni-njani? How are you (pl.)?

si-ya-phila We’re well, OK.
An informal greeting uses the impersonal SM –ku-:
ku-njani? How’s it?

kulungile It’s OK, alright.
Dialogue 1.1
UBongani noJason (Audio 1.1)
Bongani and Jason, both in their 20s, are in line at the coffee shop:

uJason: Yebo, sawubona mfo.
uBongani: NginguBongani. Ngivela eThekwini. Ngiyisitshudeni.
uJason: Hho, nginguJason. Ngivela eMelika. Nami
ngiyisitshudeni.
uBongani: Ngiyajabula ukukwazi Jason.
uJason: Nami ngiyajabula ukukwazi Bongani.

-vela come from isitshudeni student
eThekwini in/at/to Durban nami I too
eMelika in/at/from America -jabula be happy, glad
eGoli in/at/from Johan- ukukwazi to know you
nesburg umshayeli driver
eSoweto in/at/from Soweto kodwa but
eNgilandi in/at/from the U.K.
eKapa in/at/from Cape
Town
Language points
Linkers
To identify a person or item, add the subject marker to the identifying
noun:
SM + noun
In Zulu, there are no double vowels (*au, *ii, *ui, etc.), so add a linker
to separate the vowels. The linker has two forms:
-ng- before a, e, o, u
-y- before i
SM-linker-{noun}
Ngi-ng-uBongani. à I’m Bongani.

Ngi-y-isitshudeni. à I’m a student.
UBongani u-y-isitshudeni. à Bongani’s a student.
Did you notice?

Zulu does not use the verb to be in this structure.
Exercise 1.3
Join the two nouns using the linker:
1. ngi- umshayeli
2. u- umntwana
3. uSipho u- isitshudeni
4. udadewethu u- uthisha
5. umama u- unesi
Exercise 1.4
Where do they come from?
Example: uSipho Cape Town

USipho uvela eKapa
1. ubaba Soweto
2. umfowethu Johannesburg
3. uBongani Durban
4. ngi- U.K.
5. uJason U.S.A.
Exercise 1.5
Complete the dialogue between Bongani and Vusi. Use the following
information about Vusi:
Name: Vusi Ngcobo

Place of origin: Johannesburg
Occupation: driver
uVusi:
uBongani: NginguBongani Cele. Ngivela eThekwini.
Ngiyisitshudeni.
uVusi:
uBongani: Ngiyajabula ukukwazi Vusi.
uVusi:
Dialogue 1.2
UZanele uhlangana noSibongile (Audio 1.2)
Two girls meet at the university cafeteria
uZanele: Sawubona dadewethu.

uSibongile: Yebo, sawubona.
uZanele: Unjani?
uSibongile: Ngiyaphila. Wena unjani?
uZanele: Nami ngiyaphila. NginguZanele Mkhize. Ngihlala
lapha enyuvesi. Ngivela eMlazi, KwaZulu-Natali.
Wena ungubani futhi uvelaphi?
uSibongile: NginguSibongile Cele. Ngivela khona lapha eThekwini.
uZanele: Hho, ngiyabonga. Mina ngenza iB.Comm, ngifunda
unyaka wesibili.
uSibongile: Mina, ngenza iB.A. Ngifunda umlando. Ngiyajabula

ukukwazi Zanele. Sala kahle.
uZanele: Nawe hamba kahle Sibongile. Sizobonana futhi.

-hlala live/stay umlando history
-vela come from izibalo mathematics
Ungubani? Who are you? -bonga be grateful/thank-
ngingu. . . I am (name) ful
umfundi student/learner nami I too. Me also.
uvelaphi? Where do you nawe You too. You also.
come from? Sala kahle Stay well. Good
eMlazi in/at/from Umlazi bye.
KwaZulu-Natali in/from/to Kwa- Hamba kahle Travel safely. Go
Zulu-Natal well. Good bye.
khona lapha right here umshayeli Driver
-enza do, make sizobonana See you soon!
unyaka wesibili second year
Exercise 1.6
Complete the dialogue between Nathi and Sibongile. Use the following
information, and fll in the blanks:
Name: uNathi Ngcobo

Place of origin: Eshowe
Current place of
Residence: Umlazi
Occupation: Student of history
uSibongile: Sawubona dadewethu.

Unathi:
uSibongile: NginguSibongile Cele. Ngivela eThekwini. Ungu-
bani? Uvelaphi?
Unathi:
uSibongile: Ngiyisitshudeni. Ngifunda izibalo.
Unathi:
uSibongile: Sala kahle Nathi.
Unathi:
Exercise 1.7
Respond to the following using your information:
1. Sawubona.
2. Unjani?
3. Ungubani?
4. Uhlalaphi?
5. Uvelaphi?
Unit 2
Uvelaphi?
Where are you from?
In this unit:
• Talking about oneself
• More on present tense
• Subject markers
• Emphatic pronouns
Dialogue 2.1
UThemba noSibongile (Audio 2.1)
Two students are talking in the cafeteria on the frst day of classes:
uThemba: Sawubona. NginguThemba Mkhize.

uSibongile: Yebo. NginguSibongile Cele.
uThemba: Unjani Sibongile?
uSibongile: Ngiyaphila, wena?
uThemba: Nami ngiyaphila. Uhlalaphi?
uSibongile: Ngihlala eThekwini. Wena uhlalaphi?
uThemba: Hawu, nami futhi!
uSibongile: Uyayithanda inyuvesi?
uThemba: Mmm. . . Kancane. Wena?
uSibongile: Yebo! Kakhulu!
20 Unit 2: Uvelaphi?

-hlala live -thanda like, love
-phi? where? kancane a little
eMlazi in/at/from Umlazi kakhulu a lot
wena you yourself Angazi I don’t know.
mina I myself inyuvesi university
futhi also, furthermore
Language points
Tone
A high versus low tone contrast is part of the ‘melody’ of Zulu. Tones are
not marked in Zulu orthography, but they will be marked in this text to
indicate minimal pair contrasts such as the following:
Bóna! [high-low] See! u- [low] 2nd person sg.

boná [low-high] them ú- [high] 3rd person sg.
Subject markers (SM)

Subject markers (SMs) attach to the verb and tell you who is doing the
action:
ngi- 1st person sg. Ngivela eMelika. I come from America.

u- 2nd person sg, Uvela eMlazi. You come from Umlazi.
ú- 3rd person sg. Úvela eThekwini. He/She comes from
Durban.
The SM is there with a noun subject too:
UBongani úvela eMlazi. Bongani comes from Umlazi.

Uthisha úthanda ukufundisa. The teacher likes teaching.
Did you notice?

Zulu does not distinguish gender with subject markers: /ú-/ indicates
‘he’ or ‘she.’
Unit 2: Where are you from? 21
Emphatic pronouns
Use these for extra emphasis only:
mina 1st person sg. I myself, as for me
wena 2nd person sg. you yourself, as for you
yena 3rd person sg. he himself/she herself, as for him/her
thina 1st person pl. we ourselves, as for us
nina 2nd person pl. you yourselves, as for you
bona 3rd person pl. they themselves, as for them
Ngihlala eMlazi kodwa yena úhlala eGoli. I live in Umlazi, but she lives in
Johannesburg.
Ngihlala eMlazi. Wena uhlalaphi? I live in Umlazi. Where do you
live?
UZanele yena ufunda kakhulu, As for Zanele, she studies a
lot,
kodwa mina ngifunda kancane. but me, I study a little.
Exercise 2.1
Complete the following:

1. NginguBongani eThekwini.
2. Ngiyajabula Bongani.
3. Nami ukukwazi.
4. Ngivela eGoli, kodwa eThekwini.

5. Ngihlala eMelika uhlalaphi?
6. úyisitshudeni?
7. Ngithanda inyuvesi
8. ÚZanele úthanda inyuvesi
Culture note
Ukuhlonipha: showing respect
In Zulu culture, it’s important – particularly for a young person – to avoid

using the personal names of senior men and women in the community.
Kinship terms such as mama and baba are used without any title or
surname. Married people are generally addressed as ‘father of. . .’ or
‘mother of. . . .’ Married women keep their maiden surname as a term of
address and are referred to as MaNkosi (daughter of Nkosi). Men gen-
erally address one another by their praise names. In general, it is good
to avoid using a frst name unless you are invited to do so.
For more on naming, see Adrian Koopman, Zulu Names (Pieter-

maritzburg: UKZN Press, 2002).
Dialogue 2.2
UJason noBongani (Audio 2.2)
Jason and Bongani meet again:
uJason: Hawu! Sawubona Bongani! Hey! Hi Bongani.

uBongani: Yebo sawubona mfo. Usaphila? Oh, hi brother. Are
you [still] alright?
uJason: Yebo ngiyaphila. Wena usaphila? Yes, I’m fine. And
you, are you [still]
OK?
uBongani: Hhayi, ngisaphila. No, I’m [still] fine.
Did you notice?

In isiZulu, people often begin an affirmative sentence with the negative
‘hhayi.’ This indicates a lack of enthusiasm for the following affirmative:
Hhayi, ngikhona. No, I’m OK.

Hhayi, úyaphila. No, she’s/he’s well.
Dialogue 2.3
UNkk. Mkhize esibhedlela (Audio 2.3)
Mrs. Mkhize, a nurse, greets a younger male colleague at the

hospital.
uVinesh: Sawubona Nkk. Mkhize. Hello, Mrs. Mkhize.

uNkk. Mkhize: Yebo sawubona Vinesh. Hello, Vinesh.
uVinesh: Ninjani? How are you all?
uNkk. Mkhize: Sisaphila. Nina ninjani? We’re still well. How
are you all?
uVinesh: Hhayi, sisatotoba nkosikazi. No, we’re struggling
on, ma’am.

-njani? How? hhayi no, not at all (often
-khona be here, present precedes an affirma-
-phila be well tive)
-totoba struggle, walk
unsteadily
Language points
Subject markers (SM)
ngi- 1st person sg. si- 1st person pl.
u- 2nd person sg. ni- 2nd person pl.
ú- 3rd person sg. bá- 3rd person pl.
Sihlala eThekwini. We live in Durban.

Nivela eMelika? Do you (pl.) come from America?
Báfunda isiZulu. They’re studying isiZulu.
ku- it (impersonal subject)
Kunjani? How’s it [going]? (informal/familiar
greeting)
Kulungile. It’s OK/It’s going well/It’s good.
Kukhona isikole eMlazi. There’s a school in Umlazi.
Present tense, verb focus 1

When the verb (action, event) is the focus and ends the clause, add –
ya- to the present tense paradigm:
Affirmative: SM-ya-{verb}-a.
ngi-ya-phil-a à Ngiyaphila I’m well.
ngi-ya-fund-a à Ngiyafunda I'm studying/I study.
ngi-ya-totob-a à Ngiyatotoba. I’m struggling on.
Present tense, verb focus 2

When the verb (action, event) is the focus and ends the clause, -sa-
can replace -ya- to indicate ‘still’:
Affirmative: SM-sa-{verb}–a.
ngi-sa-phil-a à Ngisaphila. I’m still well.
ngi-sa-fund-a à Ngisafunda. I’m still studying.
ngi-sa-totob-a à Ngisatotoba. I’m still struggling on.
Culture note
The plural forms ni- (you all) and si- (we) indicate an enquiry about the
whole family and are used to show respect to elders.
Exercise 2.2
Complete the following greeting dialogues:

1. Uthisha nomfundi Teacher and pupil
Umfundi:
Uthisha Yebo, sawubona mfundi.
Umfundi: ?
Uthisha: Sisaphila. Wena unjani?
Umfundi:
2. Izitshudeni / Students
Isitshudeni 1: Hawu Bongani!
Isitshudeni 2:
Isitshudeni 1: Unjani?
Isitshudeni 2: ?
Isitshudeni 1: Hhayi, ngisatotoba.
3. UNkk. Ngcobo noNkk. Mkhize / Mrs. Ngcobo [Cele] and Mrs. Mkhize
[Zondi]
uNkk. Ngcobo: Sawubona MaZondi.
uNkk. Mkhize: ?
uNkk. Ngcobo: Sisaphila. Ninjani nina?
uNkk. Mkhize: .
Amagama / Vocabulary
isiZulu Zulu language umthetho law
isiNgisi English lan- isayensi yezilimi linguistics
guage ubudokotela medicine
unesi nurse iTheku Durban
isibhedlela hospital eThekwini in/at/from
esibhedlela at/to/from hospi- durban
tal -sebenza work
-nakekela take care of izibalo mathematics
izingane babies/children umabhalane admin. assis-
-azi know, be able tant, clerk
ezezimali fnances izithombe movies
ibhange bank
Ukuzethula Introducing oneself
UThemba:
Sanibona. Hi, everyone.

NginguThemba Mkhize. I’m Themba Mkhize.
Ngivela eThekwini, eMlazi. I’m from Durban, Umlazi.
Ngiyisitshudeni. I’m a student.
Ngifunda e-UKZN. I’m studying at UKZN.
Ngifunda isiNgisi nesiZulu. I’m studying English and isiZulu.
UNkk. Mkhize
Sanibona. Hi, everyone.

NginguPhumi Mkhize. I’m Phumi Mkhize.
Ngivela eMlazi, eThekwini. I’m from Umlazi, in Durban.
Ngingunesi. I’m a nurse.
Ngisebenza esibhedlela. I work at the hospital.
Nginakekela izingane. I take care of babies.
UMnu. Mkhize
Sanibona. NginguBaba Mkhize. Hi, everyone. I’m [Father]

Mkhize.
Ngivela eThekwini, eMlazi. I’m from Durban, Umlazi.
Ngingusomabhizinisi. I’m a businessman.
Ngisebenza ebhange. I work at the bank.
Ngazi ngezezimali. I know about fnance.
Exercise 2.3
Use the following information to introduce yourself:

1. Zanele Mkhize
• isitshudeni
• iGoli
• inyuvesi yaseKapa
• isayensi yezilimi
2. UNkk. Zondi
• uthisha
• iTheku
• inyuvesi
• izibalo
3. S’bu Zondi
• umabhalane
• iKapa
• ibhange
• izithombe
Unit 3
Uyaphi?
Where are you going?
In this unit:
• Where is it?
• Going places
• Times of day
• Saying goodbye
Indaba 3.1
Uyaphi umama? Where’s mother going?
Namhlanje umama uya edolobheni. Ulindela ikhumbi emgaqweni.

Ugibela ekhumbini. Uya ezitolo kuChurch Street. Ufuna ukuthenga
ukudla kwaSpar. Uthatha isinkwa nobisi noshukela namasi. Uyak-
hokha. Ugibela itekisi, uya ekhaya.
30 Unit 3: Uyaphi?
-ya go to amasi soured milk (like
-phi? where yogurt)
idolobha city ushukela sugar
-lindela wait for isinkwa bread
umgwaqo road/street -thatha take
ikhumbi/itekisi taxivan -khokha Pay
izitolo stores ikhaya home
-thenga buy
Did you notice?

Words denoting to/from/at/on/in a place start with e- and end in –ni.
These are added to the noun, replacing the initial and fnal vowels:
edolobheni to town idolobha town

emgaqweni in the street umgaqo street
ekhumbini in the taxivan ikhumbi taxivan
Certain words take only the initial e-. Remember these as exceptions:
ezitolo to the shops izitolo shops
ekhaya (to) home ikhaya home
Language point
Locatives
To indicate direction to/from/at/in a place, replace the initial vowel with
/e-/ and replace the fnal vowel with /-ini/.
The ending changes with the fnal vowel of the noun:
a + -ini à -eni
e + -ini à -eni
i + -ini à -ini
o + -ini à -weni
u + -ini à -wini
Unit 3: Where are you going? 31
Certain words do not change their ending. Note these as exceptions.
The directional meaning is made clear by the context.
Ezinye izindawo Other destinations

uMlazi eMlazi to/at Umlazi
ikhaya home ekhaya to/at home
idolobha city edolobheni to/in the city
iGoli Johannesburg eGoli to/in Johannesburg
inyuvesi university enyuvesi to/at the university
isitolo store esitolo to/at the store
iMelika United States eMelika to/from the United
States
Amagama
-phi? where? imakethe market
-ya go to ibhange bank
inyuvesi university isiteshi bus/train station
ihhotela hotel isikole school
Exercise 3.1
Bavelaphi? Where are they from?
1. uSipho iGoli
2. umfowethu uMlazi
32 Unit 3: Uyaphi?
3. umnumzana idolobha
4. uthisha iMelika
5. umama iTheku
Exercise 3.2
Bayaphi? Where are they going?
1. uBongani isiteshi
2. umfowethu imakethe
3. umnumzana ibhange
4. uthisha isikole
5. umama ihhotela
Culture note
Taxivans can carry up to 16 passengers. They do short runs between
residential neighbourhoods and city centres. Passengers fag them
down with hand signals indicating where they want to go. At the taxi
ranks in the city, drivers tend to wait until they have a full van of passen-
gers before setting off.
Dialogue 3.1
-phuma emerge, come out -dinga need
ikilasi class ukudla food, eating
ekilasini to/at/from class ukufunda studying
manje now
UBongani noThemba (Audio 3.1)
Bongani meets Themba on campus.
uBongani: Hheyi Themba, uphumaphi? Hey Themba, where

are you coming
from?
uThemba: Sawubona Bongani. Kunjani? Hi Bongani. How’s it
going?
uBongani: Hhayi, kulungile. [No], it’s okay/fine.
Kunjani kuwe? How about you?
uThemba: Ngikhona mfo. I’m alright, man.
Ngiphuma ekhaya. I’m coming from
home.
uBongani: Hho. Ngiphuma ekilasini mina. Oh. I’m coming from
class.
Uyaphi manje? Where are you
going now?
uThemba: Ngiya esitolo. Ngidinga ukudla. I’m going to the
store. I need food.
Wena uyaphi? Where are you off
to?
uBongani: Ngiya ekhaya. I’m going home.
Ngidinga ukufunda. I need to study.
uThemba: Kulungile. Hamba kahle. OK. Goodbye
(go well).
uBongani: Hamba kahle nawe. Goodbye. Go well
you too.
34 Unit 3: Uyaphi?
Exercise 3.3
Fill in the missing words:

1. UThemba uphuma
2. UBongani uphuma
3. UThemba uya
4. UBongani uya
5. UBongani udinga
Dialogue 3.2
UNkk. Mkhize noNkk. Cele (Audio 3.2)
Mrs. Mkhize and Mrs. Cele are chatting.
uNkk. Mkhize: Sawubona MakaBongani. Hello Mrs. Cele

[Bongani’s mother].
Ninjani? How are you [all]?
uNkk. Cele: Yebo, sawubona MakaThemba. Yes, hello Mrs.
Mkhize [Themba’s
mother].
Siyaphila. Ninjani nina? We’re fine. How
are you [all]?
uNkk. Mkhize: Siyaphila nokho. We are okay.
Uphumaphi? Where are you
coming from?
uNkk. Cele: Ngiphuma esibhedlela. I’m coming from
the hospital.
Ngiya ekhaya. Wena? I’m going home.
You?
uNkk. Mkhize: Ngiphuma emsebenzini. I’m coming from
work.
Ngiya emakethe. I’m going to the
market.
Sidinga imifino. We need
vegetables.
Exercise 3.4
Fill in the missing words:

1. UNkk. Cele esibhedlela.
2. UNkk. Mkhize emsebenzini.
3. UNkk. Cele ekhaya.
4. UNkk. Mkhize emakhethe.
5. UNkk. Mkhize imifino.
ekuseni in the morning kuze kube to, until
emini at midday, during -buya return from
the day -buyela return to
ntambama in the afternoon -pheka cook
kusihlwa in the evening -lala sleep
ebusuku at night -xoxa chat, converse
ngo-8 at 8:00 abangane friends
ngophasi 8 at 8:30 esithombeni to the cinema/
kusukela from, since movies
Izikhathi zosuku Times of day

ekuseni in the morning
emini at midday
ntambama in the afternoon
kusihlwa in the evening
ebusuku at night
Did you notice?

Some expressions for times of day have the same structure as places.
The e- . . . -ini form therefore indicates location in time or space.
36 Unit 3: Uyaphi?
Indaba 3.2
Usuku lukaZanele Zanele’s day
Ekuseni ngivuka ngo-6. In the morning I wake up at 6:00.
Ngo-7 ngiya edolobheni. At 7:00 I go to the city.
Emini ngiyasebenza. During the day I work.
Ntambama ngibuyela ekhaya. In the afternoon I return home.
Ngipheka isapha ekhishini. I cook supper in the kitchen.
Kusihlwa ngiya ejimini. In the evening I go to the gym.
Ebusuku ngilala ngo-10. At night I go to sleep at 10:00.
Exercise 3.5
Isibonelo: UZanele uvuka nini? Uvuka ngo-6.
1. UZanele uya nini edolobheni?
2. Usebenza nini?
3. Ubuyela nini ekhaya?
4. Upheka nini?
5. Ulala nini?
Indaba 3.3
Usuku lukaBongani Bongani’s day
1. Ekuseni ngivuka ngo-8. In the morning I get up at 8:00.
2. Ngiya enyuvesi ngophasi-8. I go to the university at 8:30.
3. Ngiya ekilasini kuze kube ngu-2. I go to class until 2:00.
4. Ngixoxa nabangane ntambama. I chat with my friends in the
afternoon.
5. Kusihlwa siya esithombeni. In the evening we go to the
cinema.
6. Ebusuku ngiyafunda. At night I study.

7. Ngilala ngo-12. I go to sleep at 12:00.
Exercise 3.6
Isibonelo: Wenzani uBongani ngo-8? Ngo-8 uyavuka.
1. Wenzani ngophasi-8?
2. Wenzani kuze kube ngu-2?
3. Wenzani ntambama?
4. Wenzani kusihlwa?
5. Wenzani ebusuku?
6. Wenzani ngo-12?
Exercise 3.7
Chaza usuku lwakho. Describe your day
1. Ekuseni
2. Ngo-7
3. Emini
4. Ntambama
5. Kusihlwa
6. Ngo-10
7. Ebusuku
Language point
Saying goodbye
The farewell differs according to number and who is staying or leaving.

Farewell 1
One person leaving:
A (to B): Hámba kahlé! Go well!

38 Unit 3: Uyaphi?
Farewell 2
More than one person leaving:
A (to B&B): Hambáni kahlé! Go well [you pl.]!
Farewell 3
One person staying:
B (to A): Sála kahlé! Stay well!
Farewell 4
More than one person staying:
B (to A&A): Saláni kahlé! Stay well [you pl.]!

Unit 4
Impilo yomndeni
Family life
In this unit:
• Family routines
• Negating
• Talking about the future
• Days of the week
• Week and weekend
Umndeni wakwaMkhize
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
1. UMnu. Mkhize ungumkhandi. Ukhanda imishini yomoya kwaBarlow.

2. UNkk. Mkhize usebenza esibhedlela. Ungunesi.
3. UThemba ungumfundi enyuvesi. Ufunda umlando.
4. UZanele naye ungumfundi. Ufunda izilimi. Ufunda isiZulu nesiNgisi.
5. UGogo ungumama kaMnz. Mkhize. Uthanda ukunitha.
40 Unit 4: Impilo yomndeni
umkhandi repairman esibhedlela at the hospital
-khanda repair unesi nurse
imishini yomoya air conditioners umlando history
-sebenza work izilimi languages
Indatshana 4.1
Read this passage:
Ekuseni kwaMkhize Morning at the Mkhizes’
1. Iwashi liyakhala. Ugogo uvula amehlo, ubheka iwashi, ngu-5 ekuseni.

Ugogo wendlula umbhede bese eya ebhavulomu. Ugeza ubuso,
axhube amanzinyo. Lapho eqeda uya ekhishini. Upheka iphalishi ngoba
uThemba uyalithanda kakhulu. UZarele yena akalithandi iphalishi.
2. Ngophasi-5 umama uyavuka ayogeza. Ubaba usalele. Ngo-6
umama uhambisela ubaba itiye.
3. Ngophasi-6 umama ungqongqoza eminyango kaThemba nokaZan-
ele ukubavusa.
4. UThemba akathandi ukuvuka. Uxhubha amazinyo, agqoke
ngokushesha bese edla iphalishi.
5. UZanele uyogeza ebhavulomu, agqoke izingubo bese ephuza itiye
elinobisi noshukela. Akadli ekuseni.
6. Ngo-7 ubaba nomama noThemba noZanele baphuma ekhaya.
UGogo akaphumi. Usala ekhaya. UGogo uphuza amahewu. Akadli.
Unit 4: Family life 41

iwashi/ama- clock, watch iphalishi porridge
-khala ring yena she, as for her
-vula amehlo open eyes -lele be asleep
-bheka look at -hambisela take to
isikhathi time -ngqongqoza knock
-vuka wake up eminyango on the doors
manje now -vusa wake up
-endlula umbhede make bed (someone)
ebhavulomu to the bath- -gqoka wear, put on
room ngokushesha quickly
-geza ubuso wash bese and then
-xubha amazinyo brush teeth elinobisi with milk
-qeda fnish ushukela sugar
-ya go to - phuma leave, go out
ekhishini in the kitchen -sala remain, stay
-lungisa prepare behind
-pheka cook amahewu soured maize
drink
Phendula imibuzo le:
Umsebenzi 4.1 Nini? Kuphi? Yini?

1. Ugogo uvuka nini?
2. Umama uvuka nini?
3. Ubaba uvuka nini?
4. Abantwana bavuka nini?
5. Umama usebenzaphi?
6. Ubaba wenzani?
7. Ubaba usebenzaphi?
8. UThemba ufundani?
9. UZanele ufundani?
10. Ugogo usalaphi?
Umsebenzi 4.2 Benzani ekuseni?

1. Ugogo amehlo.
2. Ugogo umbhede.
3. Ugogo ubuso.
4. Ugogo iphalishi.
5. Umama ubaba itiye.
6. Umama eminyango yabantwana.
7. UThemba amazinyo.
8. UThemba iphalishi.
9. UZanele itiye nobisi noshukela.
10. Ugogo amahewu.
Did you notice?

Family members do not do certain things:
(UZanele) yena akathandi phalishi. As for Zanele, she

doesn’t like porridge.
UThemba akathandi ukuvuka. Themba doesn’t like to
wake up.
(UZanele) akadli ekuseni. Zanele doesn’t eat in
the morning.
UGogo akaphumi. Grandma doesn’t leave/
isn’t leaving.
Language note
Negating
To negate, prefx a- to the subject marker, and change the fnal vowel
of the verb to -i
The negative pattern is:
a-SM-{verb}-i
There is no verb focus marker (-ya-) in the negative.

Examples
Ngiyafunda. à Angifundi. I’m not studying.
Bayaphuza. à Abaphuzi. They’re not drinking.
Siyashayela. à Asishayeli. We’re not driving.
3rd person sg. is irregular: u- à -aka-
Uyadla. à Akadli. She/He’s not eating.

Uyaphuma. à Akaphumi. She/He’s not leaving.
Uyavuka. à Akavuki. She/He’s not waking up.
For 2nd person sg., insert w to separate vowels
a-u-vuki à Awuvuki. You’re not waking up.

a-u-thandi à Awuthandi. . . You don’t like. . .
a-u-dli à Awudli./Awudli? You’re not eating./Aren’t you
eating?
For universal negation, drop the initial vowel of the object noun:
Angifundi manovela. I don’t read [any] novels.

Abaphuzi bhiya. They don’t [any] drink beer.
Akashayeli moto. She doesn’t drive a car [any cars].
For particular negation, add the object marker and do not omit the
initial vowel:
Angiwafundi amanovela. I don’t read the novels [that I see

advertised].
Ababuphuzi ubhiya. They don’t drink the beer [that is
served in this restaurant].
Akayishayeli imoto. She doesn’t drive the car [that her son
bought].
Umsebenzi 4.3 Negating

Negate the following:
1. Ngiyahamba.
2. Bayagqoka.
3. Niyaphuma?
4. Siyapheka.
5. UThemba uyavuka.
6. UGogo upheka iphalishi.
7. Ubaba ugeza ubuso.
8. Abantwana baxhubha amazinyo.
9. Umama uphuza itiye.
10. Abazali baya emsebenzini.
Umsebenzi 4.4 Negating

Answer the following questions in the negative:
Isibonelo: Uyafunda? Cha, angifundi.

1. Uthanda inyama?
2. Baya ekhaya?
3. UZanele udla isinkwa?
4. Abantwana bavuka ngo-6?
5. Niphuza ikhofi?
Ingxoxo 4.1 / Dialogue 4.1

NgoMgqibelo ekuseni Ugogo uvusa uThemba. (Audio 4.1)
Saturday morning Grandma wakes Themba.
Ugogvo: Themba! Vuka wena! Usalele namanje?

uThemba: Hhayi-bo Gogo, nguMgqibelo namhlanje!
Angiyi enyuvesi.
Ugogo: Ngiyakwazi lokho. Nokho vuka wena!
uThemba: Hhawu Gogo, ngisafuna ukulala, angiyi
ndawo namhlanje.
Ugogo: (ehleka) Vuka wena! Ngifuna
ukukuthumela edolobheni namuhla.
Unyoko udinga iyisti. Uzoxova ujeqe.

hhayi bo no (emphatic) -thumela send to
-lele be asleep emhlanganweni to a meeting
lokho that iyisti yeast
nokho nevertheless -xova knead
edolobheni to town ujeqe steamed bread
Ingxoxo 4.2
Umama uvusa uZanele: Mother wakes Zanele (Audio 4.2)
Umama: Zanele! Vuka! Zanele! Vuka!

uZanele: Hawu ma! Angifuni ukuvuka.
Ngikhathele. Futhi nguMgqibelo
namuhla.
Umama: Ngiyakwazi lokho. Kodwa namuhla
ngiya emhlanganweni. Wena
uzowasha izingubo. Kulungile?
Ngizobuya ngo-1.
uZanele: Mama uyakhumbula ukuthi ngiya
ephathini kaSibongile namhlanje?
Umama: Cha, ngikhohliwe mntanami. Kulungile,
sizokhuluma ntambama.

-khumbula remember umngane friend
ephathini to the party -khohliwe to have forgotten
Did you notice?

Granny and Mrs. Mkhize talk about the things they will do:
Uzobuya ntambama She’ll return in the afternoon.

Uzowasha izingubo You’ll wash the clothes.
Ngizobuya ngabo-1 I’ll be back at 1:00.
Ngizoxova ujeqe I’ll prepare steamed bread.
Sizokhuluma ntambama We’ll talk this afternoon.
Language note
Talking about the future
To talk about events that will occur soon, insert -zo- (affirmative) and
-zu- (negative).
The pattern is:
Affirmative: SM-zo-[verb]-a Ngi-zo-hamb-a I’ll go.

Negative: a-SM-zu-[verb]-a A-ngi-zu-hamb-a I won’t go.
One-syllable verbs require an extra – ku-:
Affirmative: SM-zo-[verb]-a Ngi-zo-ku-dl-a I’ll eat.

Negative: a-SM-zu-[verb]-a A-ngi-zu-ku-dl-a I won’t eat.
Umsebenzi 4.5 Future

Rewrite the following in future time:
1. UThemba uya ethawini.
2. UGogo uyaphumula.
3. Ubaba uyasebenza.
4. Siyadla.
5. Bathenga ukudla.
6. UZanele akafundi.
7. Angipheki.
8. Asibuyi ntambama.
9. Abalali.
10. UThemba akagezi.
Umsebenzi 4.6
Answer the questions:
1. UThemba uya enyuvesi ngoMgqibelo?
2. UThemba ufuna ukuvuka?
3. UGogo ufuna ukuthumela uThemba ebhange?
4. Umama kaThemba uya esitolo?
5. Umama udinga ushukela?
6. UZanele uya esibhedlela?
Umsebenzi 4.7
Wenzani ekuseni wena? What do you do in the morning?
1. Ngo-7
2. Ngophasi 7
3. Ngo-8
4. Ngo-9
5. Ngophasi 9
Izinsuku zesonto Days of the week
iSonto Sunday ngeSonto on Sunday

uMsombuluko Monday ngoMsombuluko on Monday
uLwesibili Tuesday ngoLwesibili on Tuesday
uLwesithathu Wednesday ngoLwesithathu on Wednesday
uLwesine Thursday ngoLwesine on Thursday
uLwesihlanu Friday ngoLwesihlanu on Friday
uMgqibelo Saturday ngoMgqibelo on Saturday
NgoMgqibelo On Saturday
1. Ugogo akavuli amehlo ngo-5.
2. Abantwana abagqoki inyufomu.
3. Ubaba akayi ebhange.
4. Ugogo akapheki iphalishi.
5. Iwashi alikhali.
6. Ubaba akayi ebhange.
Umsebenzi 4.8
Yini ongayenzi ngoMgqibelo? What do you not do on Saturday?
1. Ekuseni
2. Emini
3. Ntambama
4. Kusihlwa
5. Ebusuku
Negations: nothing, nowhere, no one

Angifuni lutho. I don’t want anything.
Angiboni muntu. I don’t see anyone.
Angimboni ndawo. I don’t see him anywhere.
Indatshana 4.2
Isonto ekuseni Sunday morning
1. Inkonzo iqala ngo-9. Umndeni wakwaMkhize ugibela emotweni, uya
esontweni. Isonto ligcwele namhlanje ngoba kukhona umfundisi
ovela phesheya. Abantu bahlezi, bathulile. Abefundisi bayangena,
inkonzo iqale. Abantu bayathandaza, bayacula, abanye bayadansa,
bonke balalela izwi leNkosi.
2. Isonto liphuma ngo-11 kodwa abantu abahambi. Baphuza iziphuzo
futhi badla amakhekhe, bakhuluma nabefundisi. Baya ekhaya
bejabulile.
3. OMkhize bahlala etafuleni namhlanje ngoba yiSonto. Ukudla kum-
nandi kakhulu. Bonke balambile. Badla inkukhu eyosiwe neray-
isi namazambane nophizi nokherothi nethanga. Badla uphudini
no-ayisikhrimu.
4. Emuva kwedina uZanele noThemba bageza izitsha. Abazali baphu-

mula elawunji. Umama uMkhize uyozela. Ukhathele. Ubaba uMkh-
ize ubuka ibhola kumabonakude. Ugogo uyalala.
Amagama amasha
Amagama amasha / Vocabulary

-qala begin iziphuzo drinks
isonto church amakhekhe cakes/cookies
-gcwele full idina lunch/midday
umfundisi/ meal
abefundisi minister/s yisonto it’s Sunday
phesheya abroad irayisi rice
-shumayela preach inkukhu eyosiwe roast chicken
-thandaza pray -osa roast, barbecue
-cula sing ithanga pumpkin
-dansa dance uphizi peas
bonke all of them ukherothi carrots
-lalela listen to amazambane potatoes
izwi leNkosi God’s word uphudini pudding, dessert
kodwa but u-ayisikhrimu ice cream
nabo they too -phumula rest
-khona be present -ozela be sleepy
abantu people umabonakude television
Did you notice?

A different form of the verb is used for describing:
Isonto ligcwele. The church is full. -gcwala fll up

Bahlezi. They’re seated. -hlala sit down
Balambile. They’re hungry. -lamba get hungry
Bejabulile. They’re happy. -jabula get happy
Ukhathele. She’s tired. -khathala get tired
For more on this verb form, called stative/perfective, see Unit 9.

Umsebenzi 4.9
Yiqiniso noma akunjalo? True or false?
1. Umndeni wakwaMkhize uhamba ngemoto
uya esontweni.
2. Umfundisi uvela eGoli.
3. Abanye abantu bayadansa esontweni.
4. Abantu baphuma ngo-11 bese beya ekhaya.
5. Umndeni uhlala etafuleni namuhla.
6. KwaMkhize badla inyama yenkomo
namazambane.
7. UThemba noZanele bahlala
elawunji.
8. Ubaba uMkhize ulalela umsakazo.
9. UGogo ugeza izitsha.
10. Umama uMkhize uyaphumula.
Culture note
A high percentage of Zulu people are Christian and attend a worship
service regularly. Many belong to mainline churches, such as Cathol-
icism and Anglicanism, or to newer denominations such as 7th Day
Adventists. However, a large number belong to indigenous churches,
known as Zionists, including the large Zulu denomination of AmaNaza-
retha, which was founded by the prophet Isaiah Shembe in the 1930s.
Unit 5
Kubiza malini?
How much does it cost?
In this unit:
• How much is it?
• Rands and cents
• Noun groups: UMU-/ABA-
• Noun groups: ILI-/AMA-
• Counting 1–10
• Wanting and requesting
Imali yaseNingizimu Afrika South African

currency
South African currency has two denominations: rands (R1) and cents.
100 cents = R1
52 Unit 5: Kubiza malini?
All notes bear the image of President Mandela and differ in backdrop
and colour.
Kubiza malini? How much does it cost?

Kubiza uR10. It costs R10.
Kubiza uR500. It costs R500.
Kubiza uR2.50. It costs R2.50.
Ikamelo libiza malini? How much does a room cost?
Ithikithi libiza malini? How much does a ticket cost?
Itekisi libiza malini? How much does the taxi cost?
Ibhasi libiza malini? How much does the bus cost?
-biza cost -funa want
-ni? what? nathi with us
irandi rand eish! wow! (negative
amarandi rands surprise)
isenti cent hawu! wow! (surprise)
amasenti cents ebhishi to/from/at the beach
ikamelo room -dula be expensive
ithikithi ticket -shibhile be cheap
itekisi taxi -cela request, ask for,
ibhasi bus want
bosisi sisters (for greeting) -hambisa take someone to
bafowethu my brothers (for Kulungile alright, ok

greeting) Asihambe let’s go.
-dlala play -thi say
Ingxoxo 5.1 / Dialogue 5.1

UBongani noThemba bahlangana no-Unathi
noZanele (Audio 5.1)
Bongani and Themba meet Unathi and Zanele.
uBongani: Niyaphi bosisi?

Unathi noZanele: Yebo bafowethu. Siya esithombeni.
uThemba: O! Kudlalani?
uZanele: i-Vampire III. Nifuna ukuhamba nathi?
Unit 5: How much does it cost? 53
uBongani: Ithikithi libiza malini?

Unathi: Libiza uR25.
uThemba: Eish! Liyadula!
uBongani: Asinamali. Siyizitshudeni.
Unathi noZanele: Kulungile. Salani kahle.
uThemba noBongani: Hambani kahle.
Did you notice?

Bongani asks: Ithikithi libiza malini?
Nathi answers: Libiza uR25.

Li- is the subject marker (SM) for the noun group to which ithikithi
belongs.
Language note
Noun groups
Nouns consist of a stem and a prefx. The stem gives the meaning,
and the prefx signals the noun group and also singular, plural or mass.
Nouns are divided into groups. In Zulu there are 12 groups that form
singular–plural pairs and two groups for mass nouns.
As we saw in Unit 2, verbs must have a prefx (subject marker) that
links the verb to its subject, and each noun group has its own subject
marker.
UMU-/ABA-pair
Although meaning does not determine the group of most nouns, this
pair has nouns that refer to humans. The singular group prefx is umu-
or um- or u-*, and the plural group prefx is aba- or o-*:
umuntu person abantu people

umntwana child abantwana children
uthisha teacher othisha teachers
umshayeli driver abashayeli drivers
unesi nurse onesi nurses
The subject markers for this pair are u- and ba-:
Umntwana ufunda esikoleni. Abantwana bafunda esikoleni.

Uthisha uhlala eGoli. Othisha bahlala eGoli.
*See Unit 7 for more on the U-/O- pair.
ILI-/AMA- pair
This pair has many inanimate objects and words taken from English
and Afrikaans. The singular group prefx is i-, and the plural group prefx
is ama-:
ibhasi bus amabhasi buses

idolobha city amadolobha city
ikhaya home amakhaya homes
ithikithi ticket amathikithi tickets
isenti cent amasenti cents
irandi rand amarandi rands
The subject markers for this pair are li- and a-
Ithikithi libiza uR25. Amathikithi abiza uR25.

Ibhasi lifka ngo-5. Amabhasi afka ngo-5.
Umsebenzi 5.1
Complete the sentences by inserting the appropriate subject
marker:
1. Abantwana. ya esikoleni.
2. Ibhasi. fika ngo-12.
3. Amathikithi. biza uR10.
4. Idolobha. nabantu abaningi.
5. Umshayeli. cela uR50.
Ingxoxo 5.2
UJason ufuna ukuya ehhotela Jason wants to go to
the hotel (Audio 5.2)
uJason: Sawubona mfo.

Umshayeli: Yebo sawubona mnumzane.
uJason: Unjani?
Umshayeli: Ngiyatotoba mnumzana. Ufuna ukuyaphi?
uJason: Ngicela ukuya ehhotela, iHoliday Inn.
Umshayeli: IHoliday Inn? Ngasebhishi?
uJason: Ehhe. Kubiza malini?
Umshayeli: Kubiza uR50.
uJason: UR50? Hawu, kuyadula!
Umshayeli: Cha mnumzana. Kushibhile.
uJason: Ngingakhokha uR30.
Umshayeli: UR30! Cha mnumzana. Kodwa ngingakuhambisa
ngo-R40.
uJason: Kulungile. Asihambe.
Umsebenzi 5.2
Phendula imibuzo. Answer the questions.
1. UJason ufuna ukuyaphi?

2. Itekisi libiza malini?
3. UJason uthi itekisi lishibhile?
4. UJason ufuna ukukhokha malini?

5. Umshayeli ufuna malini?
Language note
Wanting and requesting
When asking for something, use -cela (request).
Elsewhere, use -funa (ask /want/look for).
Umsebenzi 5.3
Sebenzisa -funa noma -cela: Use -funa or -cela
1. Umshayeli ukubuyela ekhaya.
2. [mina] ithikithi.
3. [abantwana] amaswidi.
4. ukuya edolobheni?
5. Ubaba ugwayi.
Culture note
When doing a transaction such as buying an item at the market or
hiring a taxi, it is expected that some bargaining will take place. This
is always done with politeness and good humour, and a successful
transaction ends with both vendor and buyer content with the outcome.
Some vendors, however, are under instruction from their bosses not
to bargain, and, not surprisingly, there is no bargaining in malls and
supermarkets.
Did you notice?

When suggesting that they go, the driver says Asihambe (Let’s go), and
the passenger responds Kulungile (Alright).
Here are some more suggestions for doing something, using
asi-{verb}-e:
Asidle. Let’s eat.

Kulungile. OK.
Asiphuze. Let’s drink.
Kulungile. Alright.
Umsebenzi 5.4
Make suggestions from the following verbs:
1. -dlala
2. -ya edolobheni
3. -lindela
4. -gibela ibhasi
5. -thenga amasi
Umsebenzi 5.5
Read the following wants/needs, and make a suggestion:
1. Ngifuna isinkwa.
2. Ngicela ukuya esibhedlela.
3. Ngifuna ukubukela isithombe.
4. Ngicela ukuya ekhaya.
5. Sifuna ukuya esiteshini.
Language note
Counting
Numbers are adjectives that have a stem and a prefx.
Number stems 1–5:

-nye one, a certain elinye isenti, elinye irandi
-bili two amasenti amabili, amarandi
amabili
-thathu three amasenti amathathu, amarandi
amathathu
-ne four amasenti amane, amarandi
amane
-hlanu fve amasenti amahlanu, amarandi
amahlanu
The prefx changes for numbers above 5:
Number stems 6–10:

-yisithupha six amasenti ayisithupha
-yisikhombisa seven amasenti ayisikhombisa
-yisishiyagalombili eight amasenti ayisishiyagalombili
-yisishiyagalolunye nine amasenti ayisishiyagolunye
-yishumi ten amasenti ayishumi
Adjective markers
Each noun group has its own adjective marker. For some noun
groups, the markers for stems for 6 and higher differ from markers for
1–5:
UMU-/ABA- pair
1–5 omu-
omunye umntwana one child
uthisha omunye one teacher
aba-
abantwana ababili two children
abashayeli abathathu three drivers
6–10 aba-
abantu abayisithupha six people
onesi abayishumi 10 nurses
ILI-/AMA- pair
1–5 eli-
elinye ithikithi one ticket
elinye ibhasi one bus
ama-
amathikithi amabili two tickets
amabhasi amane four buses
6–10 a-
amathikithi ayisikhombisa seven tickets
amabhasi ayishumi ten buses
Culture note
Higher Zulu numbers are cumbersome, and so speakers tend to use
English numbers:
amarandi angu-75 75
amarandi angu-90 90
amasenti angu-35 35
Did you notice?

Most adjectives follow the noun; -nye is an exception, it may precede
or follow the noun.
Umsebenzi 5.6
How many?
1. 10c
2. R3.00
3. R1.00
4. R4.00
5. R5.00
6. 5c
7. R6.00
8. R10.00
9. R8.00
10. R7.00
Umsebenzi 5.7
Give an appropriate farewell greeting:
1. Bongani (leaving) to Themba (staying):
2. Themba (staying) to Bongani (leaving):
3. Thisha (staying) to students (leaving)
4. Zanele (leaving) to Mama and Gogo (staying):
Unit 6
Ukuhlangana nabangane
Social life
In this unit:
• Being hungry or thirsty
• Making a purchase
• Object markers
• Likes and dislikes
• Affirming and negating
Ingxoxo 6.1
UZanele noSibongile balambile Zanele and Sibongile
are hungry (Audio 6.1)
Bavela enyuvesi belambile. Bama emakethe.

uZanele: Ngilambile nokulamba manje!
uSibongile: Nami futhi! Ngiyafa yindlala!
uZanele: Asithenge ukudlana.
uSibongile: Kulungile. Ufunani?
uZanele: Ngingathanda u-ayisikhrimu.
uSibongile: Hhayi, mina angiwuthandi u-ayisikhrimu.
Ngifuna amagwinya.
uZanele: Amagwinya! Hhayi, ngiyawathanda, kodwa
angifuni ukukhuluphala!
62 Unit 6: Ukuhlangana nabangane
uSibongile: Nangu umama wamagwinya. (kumdayisi)

Sawubona mama.
Umdayisi: Yebo, sawubona mntanami. Uthandani?
uSibongile: Ngilambile mama! Ngicela amagwinya.
Umdayisi: Amangaki?
uSibongile: Angazi. Igwinya elilodwa libiza malini?
Umdayisi: Lilodwa libiza uR2:50 mntanami.
uSibongile: Kulungile. Zanele, ufuna igwinya?
uZanele: Hho, kodwa mahle! Ngicela elilodwa.
uSibongile: Kulungile. Ngifuna amabili mina. (kumdayisi)
Mama, sicela amagwinya amathathu.
Umdayisi: Amagwinya amathathu abiza uR7.50.
uSibongile: Nansi imali.
Umdayisi: Nanka amagwinya. Ngiyabonga mntanami.
uSibongile: Nami ngiyabonga mama. Usale kahle.
Umdayisi: Hambani kahle bantabami.
-lambile be hungry -ngaki? how many?
-omile be thirsty -azi know
indlala hunger angazi I don’t know
-thengisa sell elilodwa [only] one
-thenga buy nansi here’s
ukudlana snack nanka here are
kulungile ok -khokha pay
u-ayisikhrimu ice cream imali money
igwinya/ama- Zulu doughnut
Unit 6: Social life 63
Umsebenzi 6.1
Phendula imibuzo:
1. UThandi noSibongile bavelaphi?
2. Banjani?
3. UThandi ufunani?
4. USibongile ufunani?
5. USibongile uthanda u-ayisikhrimu?
6. Umdayisi uyinkosikazi noma uyindoda?
7. Umdayisi udayisani?
8. Igwinya elilodwa libiza malini?
9. USibongile ufuna amagwinya amangaki?
10. Bathenga amagwinya amangaki?
Did you notice?

The verb form ending in – ile is used to describe a person’s feeling or
state in the present:
Ngi-lamb-ile Ngilambile I’m hungry

Ng[i]-om-ile Ngomile I’m thirsty
Ba-hamb-ile Bahambile They’re gone.
Language note
Talking about feelings and states
To express how you are feeling, use a verb with – ile ending:
SM-{verb}-ile
And to express how you are not feeling, add negative marker a-:
a-SM-{verb}-ile
Examples:
Ngi-lamb-ile Ngilambile I’m hungry Angilambile. I’m not

hungry
Ng[i]-om-ile Ngomile I’m thirsty Angomile. I’m not
thirsty
Ba-hamb-ile Bahambile They’re gone. Abahambile. They’re
not gone.
Some verbs with fnal vowel /a/ take -ele ending:
Ngi-khathal-a Ngikhathele I’m tired. -khathala get tired

Ba-lal-a Balele They’re -lala go to
asleep. sleep
These verbs can also be used in the present tense to indicate getting
into that state:
-lamba get hungry Ngiyalamba. I’m getting hungry.

-oma get thirsty Ngiyoma. I’m getting thirsty.
-hamba set off Bayahamba. They’re leaving.
Umsebenzi 6.2
Unjani? Ninjani? Banjani? . . .
1. Unjani? (-lamba)
2. Ninjani? (-khathala)
3. Benzani abantwana? (-lala)
4. Uphi umama? (-hamba)
5. Unjani uSibongile? (-oma)
Did you notice?

The nouns for doughnut/s have subject and adjective markers:
Amangaki? How many [of them]?

Igwinya elilodwa libiza. . . A single doughnut costs. . .
Lilodwa libiza. . . . A single one costs. . .
Ngicela elilodwa. I’d like just one.

Ngifuna amabili mina. I’d like two [doughnuts].
. . . sicela amagwinya amathathu. . . . we’d like three doughnuts.
Amagwinya amathathu abiza. . . Three doughnuts cost. . .
Amagama / ILI-/AMA groups

i-apula/ama- apple/s itiye/ama- tea/cup of . . .
iwonlintshi/ama- orange/s ikhof/ama- coffee/cup of
izambane/ama- potato/s ...
iqanda/ama- egg/s amanzi water
irandi/ama- rand/s iswidi/ama- sweets
isenti/ama- cent/s irayisi rice
isoda/ama- soda/s amashibusi French fries
Umsebenzi 6.3
Libiza malini?/Abiza malini?
1. Iqanda. . . . biza malini? (u-25c)
2. Amazambane. . . . biza malini? (u-R3)
3. Amawonlintshi. . . . biza malini? (u-R5)
4. Ikhofi. . . . biza malini? (u-R5)
5. Amaqanda. . . . biza malini? (u-R10)
Likes and dislikes
inyama meat utamatisi tomato
inhlanzi fsh u-anyanisi onion
imifno green leafy u-ayisikhrimu ice cream
vegetables is’pagethi pasta
isinkwa bread
Language note
Object markers
To indicate ‘it’ or ‘them’ use the object marker for the relevant noun
group:
Object markers: ILI-/AMA-: -li-/-wa-
Uthanda ikhof? Yebo, ngiyalithanda Yes, I like it (coffee).

Nithanda itiye? Yebo, siyalithanda. Yes, we like it (tea).
Uthanda Yebo, siyawathanda. Yes, we like
amawolintshi? them (oranges).
Bathanda Yebo, bayawathanda. Yes, they like them
amazambane? (potatoes).
Object markers: UMU-/ABA-: -m-/-ba-
Uthanda ugogo? Yebo, ngiyamthanda. Yes, I love her

(grandmother).
Uthanda abangane? Yebo, ngiyabathanda. Yes, I like them

(friends).
Uthanda abantwana? Yebo, ngiyabathanda. Yes, I like them

(children).
Exercise 6.4
Uthandani?/Bathandani? . . .
1. USibongile uthanda ama-apula? Yebo,
2. Uthanda itiye? Yebo,
3. Bathanda uSipho? Yebo,
4. Nithanda amaqanda? Yebo,
5. Uthanda amaswidi? Yebo,
Language note
Afrming and negating
To negate, prefx a- to the subject marker and change the fnal vowel
to -i:
Affirming: subject marker-{verb}-a + {noun}
Ngithanda ikhof. I like coffee.
Negating: a-subject marker-{verb}-i + {[ø]noun]
Angithandi khof. I don’t like coffee.
Avoiding vowel + vowel

Zulu cannot have two vowels together, so when a- is added to a vowel
SM to negate, there are changes:
a- + SM u- à awu- Awuthandi khof? Don’t you like

(2nd person sg.) coffee?
a- + SM ú à aka- Akathandi khof. He/She
(3rd person sg.) doesn’t like
coffee.
Umsebenzi 6.5
Angithandi/Akathandi . . .
Use the object marker when responding:
1. Uthanda imifino? Cha,
2. Uthanda itiye? Cha,
3. Bathanda isinkwa? Cha,
4. Nithanda amaqanda? Cha,
5. Uthanda amaswidi? Cha,
Exercise 6.6
Uthandani?
Give your like/dislike of the following:
1. inyama yenkomo beef
2. inyama yenkukhu chicken
3. inyama yemvu lamb
4. inyama yengulube pork
5. inhlanzi fish
6. amazambane potatoes
7. ama-chips French fries
8. imifino spinach
9. ubhanana bananas
10. ama-apula apples
Indatshana 6.1
Mayelana nezinkomo nenyama yenkomo About cattle and beef
Izinkomo ezibizwa ngokuthi ‘ezesiNguni’ zalethwa eNingizimu-Afrika

phambili kweminyaka engu-2,000. Kusukela kulezo zikhathi abantu
bazithatha njengomnotho wabo. Nanamanje izinkomo zibalulekile
kakhulu koZulu nakwezinye izizwe. Ezweni lonke jikelele abantu
bathanda ukudla inyama yenkomo – ikakhulu inyama eyosiwe. Ngem-
pelasonto nangemaholidi abantu bosa inyama yenkomo emajala-
dini, benza ‘ibraai.’ Ezindaweni ezinye abantu baya esilaheni noma
emashibini beyokosa inyama yenkomo ngaphandle. Lokhu sekubizwa
ngokuthi ‘yishisanyama.’ Amashisanyama adume kakhulu aseSoweto
(The Rock), eMlazi (Eyadini), eGugulethu (MaMzoli’s) naseMalahleni
(Value Meat).
inkomo/izinkomo cow, cattle ezweni lonke throughout
-bizwa be called jikelele the country
-lethwa be brought -osiwe roasted
eningizimu south ngempelasonto at the week-
phambili before end
u(m)nyaka/iminyaka year/s ngamaholidi on public

holidays
kusukela since, start-
ing from emajalidini in their
backyards
kulezo zikhathi that time
esilaheni to the
njengo- like
butcher
umnotho wealth
ngaphandle outside
nanamanje even today
ishisanyama/ama- outdoor
-balulekile be import- braai place
ant
kwezinye izizwe in other
nations
Did you notice?

The verbs at the start of this passage have a different form:
zalethwa [cattle] were brought
bazithatha [people] regarded them
This is because the events took place a long time ago. This is the
remote past tense. For more, see Unit 13.
Umsebenzi 6.7
Phendula imibuzo elandelayo
1. Izinkomo zalethwa nini eNingizimu-Afrika?
2. Abantu bathatha izinkomo njengani?
3. Abantu baseNingizimu-Afrika jikelele bathanda ukudlani?
4. Abantu bosa nini inyama?
5. Abantu bayenzaphi ‘ibraai’?
6. Abantu bayosaphi inyama kwishisanyama?
Umsebenzi 6.8
Ukudla kwenu Eating in your home [country/region]
Describe how and where people get together to eat where you live.
Unit 7
Umndeni nabangane
Family and friends
In this unit:
• Family members
• Noun subgroups U-/O-
• Identifying people by name/occupation
• Noun groups: ISI-/IZI-
• Describing people
• Working
• Noun classes
72 Unit 7: Umndeni nabangane
Ingxoxo 7.1
Abantu abasha bahlangana erestorenti Young people
meet at the restaurant (Audio 7.1)
UMandla noS’bu bahlezi eOcean Basket babona izintombi ezimbili

ezihlezi eduze nabo:
uMandla: (Ebingelela izintombi) Sanibonani bodade!

uGugu noUnathi: Sanibona.
uS’bu: Ninjani bosisi?
Unathi: Siyaphila. Ninjani nina?
uMandla: Hhayi, sikhona nathi. NginguMandla. Lo
ngumngane wami uS’bu.
uGugu: Siyajabula ukunazi. NginguGugu. Lona
ngumngane wami uNathi.
uS’bu: Pho, ningabaseThekwini?
Unathi: Mina ngivela eMnambithi kodwa ngihlala nogogo
eMlazi. Ngiyisitshudeni.
uGugu: Ngivela eMtubatuba mina. Ngihlala nodadewethu
la edolobheni.
Unathi: Nina nihlala eThekwini?
uS’bu: Yebo. Mina ngihlala kwamalume eWestville.
Ngisebenza ePava. Ngisebenza ebhange.
uMandla: Mina ngihlala nomndeni wami eWindermere.
Ubaba ungumshayeli wezindiza. Usebenza eKing
Shaka Airport. Ngingunjinyela womculo.
uS’bu: Wenzani Nathi? Uyisitshudeni nawe?
uGugu: Cha. Ngiqede iziqu zami ngonyaka odlule. Manje
ngingumthengi wezingubo kwaEdgars.
uMandla: Kwakuhle-ke lokho!
Unit 7: Family and friends 73
abantu abasha young people umngane/aba- friend
-hlangana na- meet with Siyajabula ukunazi. we’re glad to
endlini yokudlela at a restau- meet you [all].
rant umshayeli wezindiza pilot
-hlezi be seated unjinyela womculo sound engi-
eduze nabo near to them neer
-bingelela greet iziqu degree,
bosisi sisters, girls diploma
(for greeting) umthengi wezingubo clothing
bodade sisters, girls buyer
(for greeting) kwakuhle-ke lokho! that’s great!
Umsebenzi 7.1
1. Unathi uvela eMnambithi.
2. uGugu uhlala eMtubatuba.
3. US’bu noMandla bahlala eThekwini?
4. UGugu uyisitshudeni?
5. Unathi uqede iziqu zakhe.
6. UMandla uhlala nomfowabo.
7. US’bu ungunjinyela womculo.
8. US’bu usebenza ePava.
Ingxoxo 7.2
UNomathemba noZandile bayaxoxa Nomathemba
and Zandile are chatting (Audio 7.2)
Bahleli otshanini phambi kwelayibrari. Babuka izithombe zikaZandile:

They’re sitting on the grass in front of the library looking at Zan-

dile’s photos.
uNomathemba: Hhawu mngani wami, ngitshele, ngobani laba

esithombeni?
uZandile: Hhayi-bo Noma, ngumndeni wami lo. Ngumama
wami, lo ngubaba wami, lo ngudadewethu, lo
ngumfowethu. . . nami (ehleka).
uNomathemba: Ngiyabona. Ngubani lo mama?
uZandile: Hho, ngumam’ ncane. Hhawu, uyamazi
udadewethu omncane uNokuthula?
uNomathemba: Yebo ngiyamazi, ufunda eSobantu. Umfowenu
nodadewenu benzani?
uZandile: Umfowethu uMandla ungumabhalane esibhedlela
eNorthdale. Ushadile manje. Inkosikazi yakhe
ingunesi khona. Udadewethu uNondumiso
usebenza ebhange, uyimeneja. Yena akashadile.
uNomathemba: Umama nobaba, benzani bona?
uZandile: Umama akasebenzi manje, uyagula. Ubaba
unebhizinisi edodolobheni. Udayisa izimoto.
Bheka esithombeni, uyayibona inja yami, uGinger,
ngimthanda kakhulu uGinger.
uNomathemba: Ngiyaxolisa ukuzwa ngomama wakho. Ngethemba
ukuthi uzolulama.
uZandile: Bheka isikhathi ntombi! Ngiya ekilasini manje.
Woza.
uNomathemba: Kulungile. Nami ngifuna ukubona uprofesa phambi
kwekilasi.
otshanini on the grass -gula be ill
utshani grass ibhizinisi business
ilayibrari library -lulama recover from
umabhalane secretary illness
-shadile be married
Umsebenzi 7.2
Benzani umndeni kaZandile? What do Zandile’s relatives do?
1. Umama
2. Ubaba
3. Udadewabo omncane
4. Umfowabo
5. Umnakwabo*.
6. Udadewabo omdala
* Her sister-in-law.
Umndeni wakwaMkhize
ugogo = ubabamkhulu ugogo
[umthungi] [owayengumabhalane] [owayengumdayisi]
ubabekazi ubaba = umama umalume

[u-anti] [uMkhize] [uMakaThemba]
[uthisha] [umkhandi wemishini] [unesi] [usomabhizinisi]
[yomoya]
umfowethu mina udadewethu

[uThemba] [uZanele] [uThandiwe]
[umfundi] [umfundi] [umfundi]
UZanele uchaza umndeni wakhe. Zanele describes her family.

1. NginguZanele wakwaMkhize.
2. Igama lami nguZanele.
3. Isibongo sami nguMkhize.
4. Uma kaThemba ungumama wami.
5. UThemba ungumfowethu.
6. Nginodadewethu uThandiwe.
umama/o- [my] mother udadewabo/o- her/his sister
ubaba/o- [my] father u-anti/o- aunt
umfowethu/aba- my brother umalume/o- uncle
umfowenu/aba- your brother ugogo/o- grandmother
umfowabo/aba- her/his brother ubabamkhulu/o- grandfather
udadewethu/o- my sister umzala/aba- cousin
udadewenu/o- your sister
Did you notice?

Most of the terms for family members are in the UMU-/ABA- noun
groups, but some have U-/O- prefxes.
Culture note
Kinship – the extended family
Paternal uncles and aunts
In a Zulu family, children regard their father’s brothers and sisters as

fathers and not uncles and aunts. They are accorded the same respect
as their biological father, which means that as a child, you have several
dads:
ubab’ omncane – dad’s younger brother
ubab’ omdala – dad’s older brother umfowethu/udadewethu
ubabekazi – dad’s sister > female father
A child can have can have multiple big fathers and small fathers,
depending on how many siblings there are in their father’s family and
whether is he the eldest, middle or youngest child.
Maternal aunts
A child’s mother’s sisters are accorded the same respect as their bio-
logical mother and are all their mothers. This means a child can have
as many big mums and small mums as there are siblings:
umam’ ncane – mum’s younger sister
umam’khulu – mum’s older sister umzala/abazala
umalume – uncle > mum’s brother
Cousins
This concept extends even further. All children born to a child’s father’s
brothers and sisters children are your umfowethu/abafowethu and
udadewethu/odadewethu brother(s) and sister(s) rather than cous-
ins, while your umzala/abazala cousin(s) are only on the mother’s side.
Language note
Noun subgroups: U-/O-
This pair has the following prefxes:
Singular: u-
Plural: o-
All markers for this pair are identical with the UMU-/ABA- pair, and so
the pair is considered part of the UMU-/ABA- pair. (See Unit 5.)
Umsebenzi 7.3
Benzani abakwaMkhize? What do the Mkhizes do?
1. USipho ungunjinyela.
2. Umfowabo, uThemba.
3. Uma kaThemba.
4. Ubaba uMkhize.
5. Umalume.
6. U-anti.
7. Ubabamkhulu.
8. Udadewabo, uThandiwe.
Imisebenzi / Jobs
isitshudeni/izi- student umdayisi/aba- vendor/
umfundi/aba- pupil salesper-
imeneja yebhange/o- manager son
unesi/o- nurse umshayeli/aba- driver
umabhalane clerk/ad- umpheki/aba- chef, cook

ministrator/secretary isazi sekhompiyutha/iz- software
uthisha/o- teacher technician
udokotela/o- doctor usomabhizinisi/o- business-

man/wom-
unjinyela/o- engineer
an
usolwazi/o- professor
umkhandi wezimoto/aba- mechanic
umculi/aba- singer
Language note
Identifying
To identify a person by status or occupation, prefx the subject marker

to the noun indicating occupation, and insert a ‘Tofu’ linker between the
vowels:
{name} + SM- ng/y-{occupation}

Examples
Ngi-ng-uthisha. à Nginguthisha. I’m a teacher.
Ú-y-isitshudeni. à Uyisitshudeni. He’s a student.
Ba-ng-omama. à Bangomama. They’re mothers.
à UBongani Bongani’s a student.
uyisitshudeni.
The linker
This linker changes its form under the infuence of the following vowel:
y- before -i
ng- before a-, o-, u-
Umsebenzi 7.4
Benzani? What [work] do they do?
1. UMfanafuthi wakha imigwaqo. Ungunjinyela.

2. UMama uMkhize ufundisa abantwana.
3. UNhle unakekela iziguli.
4. ULindi ushayela ibhasi.
5. UMnu. uZondi ushumayela esontweni.
6. UBonginkosi welapha abagulayo.
7. Unathi unamatekisi amaningi.
8. UMichael wenza amamuvi.
9. UWandi ufundisa enyuvesi.
10. UMfana ushayela ulisho.
Ukukhuluma ngobudala Talking about age
Use na- (have) + iminyaka (years) to talk about age, and remember
to merge the vowels:
Ngi-na-iminyaka engu-23 I’m 23.
U-na-iminyaka engu-35 He’s 35.
Umsebenzi 7.5
Ukuchaza umuntu
Describe the following people using the information given:
1. UVusi Mbatha
Ikhaya: oLundi
Ubudala: 54
Umndeni: ushadile
Abantwana: 3
Umsebenzi: umshayeli wamatekisi
2. UZanele Ngubane
Ikhaya: eThekwini
Ubudala: 30
Umndeni: wehlukanisile
Abantwana: 1
Umsebenzi: waba ukudla
3. UNothemba Ngobese
Ikhaya: eMgungundlovu
Ubudala: 22
Umndeni: akashadile
Abantwana: 0
Umsebenzi: udweba ezemfashini
Language note
More on noun classes
The ISI-/IZI- pair

Nouns in this pair include language names, people with special exper-
tise or disability, and miscellaneous inanimates.
Prefx Examples Gloss SM OM

ISI- isitshudeni student si- -si-
isiguli patient
isikhathi time
isicathulo shoe
isiZulu Zulu
language
IZI- izitshudeni students zi- -zi-
iziguli patients
izikhathi times
izicathulo shoes
Examples
Isitshudeni sifunda isiZulu. The student is studying isiZulu.
Isiguli siyagula. The patient is ill.
Izicathulo zivela isitolo. The shoe comes from the market.
Ngiyasibona. I see her (student/patient).
Ngiyazithanda. I like them (shoes).
Language note
Describing with common adjectives
In isiZulu, adjectives have a stem and a marker.

These are common adjective stems:
-khulu big -ncane small

-hle good, pretty -bi bad, ugly
-de tall, long -fushane short
-dala old -sha young
-ningi many
Adjective markers are linked to the noun being described. For sen-
tences with the form ‘X is Y,’ the adjective marker form is similar (but
not identical) to the subject marker:
Prefx Examples Gloss SM Adjective marker

UM-/UMU- umfundi pupil u- m-/mu-*
ABA- abafundi pupils baba-
ILI- ithikithi ticket li- li-
AMA- amathikithi tickets a- ma-
ISI- isicathulo shoe sisi-

IZI- izicathulo shoes zi- zin-/zim-
*Use mu- with one-syllable adjective stems and m- elsewhere.
Examples
Umfundi mncane. The pupil is small.
Abafundi bancane. The pupils are small.
Umama muhle. [My] mother is beautiful.
Omama bahle. The mothers are beautiful.
Igama lihle. The name is beautiful.
Amagama mahle. The names are beautiful.
Isicathulo sikhulu. The shoe is big.
Izicathulo zinkulu. The shoes are big.
This form of the adjective is also used for counting sentences of the
form ‘There are. . .’:
Umfundi munye. There is one pupil.

Abafundi babili. There are two pupils.
Igama linye. There is one name.
Amagama mathathu. There are three names.
Isicathulo sinye. There is one shoe.
Izicathulo zinhlanu. There are fve shoes.
Umsebenzi 7.6
Ukuchaza Describing
Fill in the appropriate adjective markers:
1. Umfowethu. . . . de. Umfowethu mude.
2. Ugogo. . . . . dala.
3. Isitshudeni. . . . sha.
4. Abantwana. . . . . ncane.
5. Udadewabo. . . . fushane.
6. Izicathulo. . . . bili.
7. Ikhaya. . . . . hle.
8. Abangane. . . . . ningi.
Umsebenzi 7.7
Ukuchaza abantu Describing people
Describe the following people using an adjective:
1. Udokotela (old)
2. Abadayisi (many)
3. Umshayeli (bad)
4. Isiguli (young)
5. Umpheki (good)
6. Osomabhizinisi (tall)
7. Izitshudeni (many)
8. Umfowabo (one)
Umsebenzi 7.8
Fill in the missing markers:
1. UVusi ncane futhi dlala kahle.
2. Abantwana ningi ya esikoleni ngebhasi.
3. Uthisha sha ya emakethe ngoMgqibelo.
4. Odokotela hle sebenza esibhedlela.
5. Umshana de ngumfundi.
Umsebenzi 7.9
Fill in the missing subject, object or adjective markers:
1. Isiketi fushane kodwa hle.
2. Amawashi hle futhi vela eMelika.
3. Iziguli ningi dinga ukudla.
4. Ipeni hle biza uR50.

5. phi isicathulo? Ngiya dinga.
6. Idolobha khulu nabantu abaningi.
7. Isinkwa dala futhi bi.
8. phi amanzi? Baya dinga.
9. Izitolo nkulu vula ngo 10:00 ekuseni.
10. Ikati dala thanda ukudla inhlanzi.
Umsebenzi 7.11
Using what you know about noun pairs, give the plural/singular of the
following:
Singular Plural Gloss

1. idube zebra/s
2. amahhashi horse/s
3. amasokisi socks
4. ibhola balls
5. umnumzane gentleman/head of
household/sir
6. osolwazi professors
7. umntwana child
8. isangoma diviner
9. osomabhizinisi businessman/woman
10. isazi expert
Unit 8
Ukugula nokwelapha
Being ill and getting treated
In this unit:
• Talking about symptoms
• Parts of the body
• More noun groups
• I can’t. . .
• You must /mustn’t. . .
• Instructions and requests
• Using object markers
Ingxoxo 8.1
Ugogo ukhuluma nomama kaThemba basekhishini
Grandma is talking to Themba’s mother in the kitchen
(Audio 8.1)
uMama kaThemba: Sawubona Mama.

Ugogo: Yebo, sawubona makoti.
uMama kaThemba: Unjani Mama? Ulale kahle?
Ugogo: Hhayi, makoti, angiphilile. Angilalanga
neze.
uMama kaThemba: Awu, ncese Ma! Uphethwe yini?
Ugogo: Angazi, makoti. Kodwa kubuhlungu isifuba.
uMama kaThemba: Hhawu, kwakubi lokho. Ufuna itiye?
Ugogo: Cha, makoti. Ngicela amanzi kuphela.
86 Unit 8: Ukugula nokwelapha
uMama kaThemba: Hlala phansi Ma. Nanka amanzi.

Ngizofonela uNkk. Cele. Yena ungunesi.
Uzosinika iseluleko.
Amagama amasha
mntanami my child Uphethwe yini? What’s wrong?
-lala sleep (illness)
neze not at all -buhlungu -painful
hhawu! Oh dear! isifuba chest
ncese sorry (for your lokho that (event)
suffering/prob- iseluleko advice
lem)
Umsebenzi 8.1
1. Ugogo uyaphila.
2. Ugogo akalalanga.
3. Ugogo uphethwe yisifuba.
4. Ugogo ufuna itiye.
5. UNkk. Mkhize uzonika ugogo amanzi.
Ingxoxo 8.2
UThandiwe ukhuluma nonina lapho ephuma esiko-
leni Thandiwe talks to her mother after school (Audio 8.2)
Unit 8: Being ill and getting treated 87
uMama kaThandiwe: Sawubona Thandiwe. Bekunjani esikoleni

namhlanje?
uThandiwe: Sawubona Ma. Konke kuhambe kahle
kodwa ngiphethwe yikhanda.
uMama kaThandiwe: Ikhanda? Kwenzenjani?
uThandiwe: Sidlale ibasketball ntambama. Ngishaywe
yibhola ekhanda. Manje kubuhlungu!
uMama kaThandiwe: Ncese mntanami. Hamba uyolala
embhedeni. Ngizokulethela amanzi
namaPanado.
uThandiwe: Ngiyabonga Ma.
Amagama amasha
namhlanje today embhedeni in bed
Ngiphethwe -letha bring
(y)ikhanda I have a head- isiphuzo drink/soda
ache. amaPanado [brand of] aspirin
Kwenzenjani? What happened?
Umsebenzi 8.2
1. UThandiwe uphethwe yisifuba.
2. OThandiwe badlale ibasketball.
3. Omunye ushaye uThandiwe ekhanda ngebhola.
4. UThandiwe uyolala embhedeni.
5. Umama kaThandiwe uzomlethela itiye.
Umzimba The body

ikhanda head
ubuso face
intamo neck
isifuba chest
isisu stomach
ihlombe shoulder
ingalo arm
isandla hand
umunwe fnger
umlenze leg
idolo knee
unyawo foot
Did you notice?

The nouns for body parts just listed belong to several noun groups.
Some classes are familiar:
ILI-/AMA- pair
ikhanda/amakhanda head/s
ihlombe/amahlombe shoulder/s
idolo/amadolo knee/s
ISI-/IZI- pair
isifuba/izifuba chest/s
isisu/izisu stomach/s
isandla/izandla hand/s
The remaining nouns belong to the following noun groups:
UMU-/IMI- pair
Prefx Number Examples Gloss SM OM
um-, umu- sg. umzimba [living] body u- -wu-
umunwe fnger
umlenze leg
umndeni family
imi- pl. imizimba bodies i- -yi-
iminwe fngers
imilenze legs
imindeni families
Note: The singular prefx and markers are the same as for the human
um-/umu- class, but the plural is different.
Class meaning: Many nouns in this class denote elongated objects,
including body parts. A few, such as umndeni ‘family,’ refer to abstract
human concepts.
IN-, IM-/IZIN-, IZIM- pair

in-, im- sg. intamo neck i- -yi-
ingalo arm
indololwane elbow
indlebe ear
izin-/izim- pl. izintamo necks zi- -zi-
izingalo arms
izindololwane elbows
izindlebe ears
Class meaning: This class contains domestic animals, people by fam-

ily status and inanimates.
ULU-/IZIN-, IZIM- pair

u- sg. unyawo foot lu- -lu-
uzwane toe
unwele strand of hair
izin-, izim- pl. izinyawo feet

izinzwane toes
izinwele hair
Class meaning: Some liquids; otherwise miscellaneous.
UBU- group

u-, ubu- — ubuso facial appearance bu- -bu-
ubuhlungu pain
ubuhlalo beadwork
Class meaning: Abstract mass nouns.

The remaining noun class is the gerund (verbal noun) class.

uku- — ukulala sleeping ku- -ku-
ukuletha bringing
ukudlala playing
ukushaya striking
Class meaning: Verbal nouns (gerunds).
Culture note
Talking about illness
People generally do not talk about their ailments in response to the

greeting ‘Unjani?,’ but older people may greet and then add ‘kodwa’
[but] and go on to describe their aches and pains.
Illnesses are generally divided into two categories: those that are
opportunistic (colds, fu, coughs, diarrhoea) and those that have a
social component (infertility, insomnia, chronic GI issues and so on).
An isangoma (diviner) might be consulted to explain the source of the
latter types of illnesses. An inyanga (herbalist) has knowledge of herbal
remedies and might be asked for a remedy.
Language note
To ask someone who is feeling ill what is wrong, use the following:
Uphethwe yini? What is wrong?
The response is:
Ngiphethwe I’m afflicted by [part of

body].
The verb is in the passive form [-w-], and so the agent noun has a linker
[-ng-/-y-].
Examples
Ngiphethwe [y]ikhanda. I have a headache.
Ngiphethwe [ng]umlenze. My leg hurts.
Uphethwe [y]isisu. She has a stomach pain/problem.
Uphethwe [y]isifuba. He has a chest pain/problem.
Umsebenzi 8.3
Uphethwe yini? Ngiphethwe
1. (eye)
2. (stomach)
3. (knee)
4. (back)
5. (tooth)
6. (head cold)
Language note
‘It hurts!’
To indicate pain in a part of the body, use:
Kubuhlungu + {noun}
Kubuhlungu ikhanda. My head hurts. (It hurts [in my] head.)
Kubuhlungu isisu. My stomach hurts.
Kubuhlungu isifuba. My chest hurts.
Kubuhlungu idolo. My knee hurts.
Umsebenzi 8.4
Angikwazi uku. . ./Akakwazi uku. . .
Isibonelo: Kubuhlungu ikhanda. Angikwazi ukusebenza.
My head hurts. I can’t work.

1. Kubuhlungu umlenze
2. Uphethwe yisandla.
3. Kubuhlungu amehlo.
4. Ngiphethwe yisisu.
5. Kubuhlungu indlebe.
Ingxoxo 8.3
UMam’Mkhize uxoxa nonesi ocingweni Mrs. Mkhize
chats with the nurse on the phone (Audio 8.3)
uNkk. Cele: (ephendula) Halo. Ngubani okhulumayo?

uMam’Mkhize: Sawubona sisi. Yimina, uPhumi.
uNkk. Cele: Hho, Phumi sawubona! Ninjani kodwa?
uMam’Mkhize: Hhayi, siphilile. Ninjani nina?
uNkk. Cele: Siyancenga sisi. Ngingakusiza ngani?
uMam’Mkhize: Hhayi sisi, angifuni ukukukhathaza, kodwa ngumama.
uNkk. Cele: Umama? Uphethwe yini?
uMam’Mkhize: Uthi akaphilile. Uthi kubuhlungu isifuba.
uNkk. Cele: Isifuba? Uyakwazi ukuphefumula?
uMam’Mkhize: Uyakwazi, kodwa uyakhwehlela.
uNkk. Cele: Hmm. Unemfiva?
uMam’Mkhize: Kancane. Ukushisa ngu-100.5.
uNkk. Cele: Phumi, mhlawumbe uphethwe wumkhuhlane nje,
kodwa akasemusha ugogo. Kufanele umhambise
esibhedlela. Bazomhlola.
uMam'Mkhize: Kulungile sisi. Ngiyabonga.
uNkk. Cele: Hhayi, akulutho sisi. Usale kahle.
uMam'Mkhize: Usale kahle nawe.
Amagama amasha
-phendula answer kancane a little
-khuluma speak mhlawumbe perhaps
yimina It’s me. umkhuhlane cold, fu, cough
kodwa but, so nje only, just, merely
-ncenga struggle along akasemusha She’s no longer
Ngingakusiza young.
ngani? How can I help kufanele it’s necessary
you? that, [you] must
-khathazeka bother -hambise take to
-azi uku- be able to -hlola examine
-khwehlela cough lutho nothing
imfva fever
Language note
Obligation (‘must’)
To express obligation (must, have to) use:
Kufanele + subjunctive form of verb
Subjunctive: SM-{verb}-e
Kufanele ngihambe.
Kufanele uhambe.
For umu-/u- nouns, the subject marker is a-:
Kufanele ahambe.
Other subject markers have a change in tone only for subjunctive.
For more on subjunctive, see the reference grammar.
Umsebenzi 8.5
Phendula imibuzo. Answer the questions.
1. Ungubani uPhumi?
2. UNkk. Cele wenza msebenzi muni?
3. Ugogo uphethwe yini?
4. Ugogo unemfiva?
5. Ugogo uzoyaphi?
Umsebenzi 8.6
Ukunika iseluleko Giving advice
Isibonelo: Ngiphethwe yisifuba. Kufanele uye kudokotela.

1. Ngilambile.
2. USipho ukhathele.
3. Baswela imali.
4. Sishiywa yibhasi.
5. Ngifuna ukuncipha.
Umsebenzi 8.7
Give advice as to what not to do.
1. Ngikhathele. Kufanele
2. Ingane ilele. Kufanele
3. Ugogo uyagula. Kufanele
4. Abantwana basekilasini. Kufanele
5. Ngifuna ukuncipha. Kufanele
Culture note
Traditional healing
Most communities have a resident isangoma (diviner) and inyanga (tra-

ditional healer). Many individuals consult one or both of these people
in addition to or instead of consulting Western-trained healers/medical
doctors. The diviner (frequently a woman) is a respected member of the
community where she is well known. She will offer an explanation of
the origin of the illness, as Zulu people believe that they are entered by
illness, and she may suggest a remedy that might involve an offering to
the amadlozi (ancestral spirits). The inyanga has extensive knowledge
of herbal remedies and will prescribe some combination of ground
roots, bark and leaves. Some healers combine both functions.
Kwadokotela
Ugogo uya kudokotela. Unesi uyamngenisa, uhlala phansi. Ulungisa
ugogo phambi kokufka kukadokotela.
Grandma goes to the doctor. The nurse admits her, she sits down.
The nurse prepares grandma before the doctor arrives.
UNESI: Phakamisa ingalo. Raise [your] arm.
Vula umlomo. Open [your] mouth.
Donsa umoya. Take a deep breath.
Bamba umoya. Hold your breath.
Khipha umoya. Breathe out.
Lala phansi. Lie down.
Vala amehlo. Close your eyes.
These instructions are given in direct (Imperative) form. A more polite/

indirect way to give instructions is to use subjunctive as follows:
Mawuphakamise ingalo. Please raise your arm.

Mawuvule umlomo. Please open you mouth.
Mawuphefumule ngamandla. Please take a deep breath.
Mawudonse umoya. Please hold your breath.
Mawulale phansi. Please lie down.
Mawuvale amehlo. Please close your eyes.
Note: The ‘m’ may be omitted:
Awuphakamise ingalo. Please raise your arm.

Awuvule umlomo. Please upen you mouth.
Umsebenzi 8.8
Give polite instructions using the verb -cela (request):
Ngicela + [subjunctive]
Isibonelo: -ya esibhedlela à Ngicela uye esibhedlela. Please go to

the hospital.
1. -ngena
2. -hlala phansi
3. -vula incwadi
4. -funda indaba
5. -bukela isithombe
Language note
Subject and object markers
Here are the subject and object markers for the noun groups we’ve
introduced so far.
Noun group Subject marker Object marker

UMU- u- -m-
ABA- ba- -ba-
ILI- li- -li-
AMA- a- -wa-
ISI- si- -si-
IZI- zi- -zi-
UMU- u- -wu-
IMI- i- -yi-
IN-, IM- i- -yi-
IZIN-, IZIM- zi- -zi-
ULU- lu- -lu-
UBU- bu- -bu-
UKU- ku- -ku-
Umsebenzi 8.9
Using object markers in instructions
If the instruction is to do something for someone, add -el- to the verb

and use the object marker for the person beneftting from the action:
Example
-vula umnyango (mina) à Ngivulele umnyango. Open the door

for me.
1. -pheka inyama (ubaba)
2. -letha umuthi (ugogo)
3. -thenga amathikithi (thina)

4. -buyisa incwadi (mina)
5. -landa amabhola (thina)
Unit 9
Ukuthenga
Shopping
In this unit:
• Making requests
• Obligations
• Precise place adverbs
• Making suggestions
Ingxoxo 9.1 / Dialogue 1

UJason noThemba bathenga izicathulo Jason and
Themba buy shoes (Audio 9.1)
100 Unit 9: Ukuthenga
uJason: Themba, buka izicathulo zami. Zigugile futhi

zihlephukile!
uThemba: Uqinisile Jason. Ufuna ukuthenga ezintsha?
uJason: Yebo. Kufanele ngiye emoli
uThemba: Emoli? Ufuna izicathulo ezinjani?
uJason: Angazi. . . . Mhlawumbe amateku?
uThemba: Hho. Amateku athengiswa emamoli, impela kodwa
ayabiza. Awuzifuni izicathulo zamaZulu?
uJason: Izicathulo zamaZulu? Zinjani?
uThemba: Zibizwa ngezimbadada. Zinhle futhi ziqinile.
Ungazigqoka iminyaka eminingi.
uJason: Kuhle. Zithengiswaphi? Emoli?
uThemba: Hhayi-bo! Kufanele siye emakethe.
uJason: Kulungile. Ngicela ungiphelezela.
uThemba: Kulungile. Asihambe.
Amagama amasha
-buka look at mhlawumbe perhaps
isicathulo/izi- shoe/s amateku sneakers, trainers
-gugile old/tattered -thengiswa be sold
-hlephukile torn -biza cost
-qinisile be certain, sure izimbadada Zulu sandals
kufanele must, be neces- -qinile be strong, frm
sary unyaka/imi- year/s
inhlobo/izin- type, style -phelezela accompany
Did you notice?

There are many references to izicathulo (shoes) and therefore many
Markers that are variations on the izi- group noun prefx:
izicathulo zami my shoes
zigugile They’re old.
zihlephukile They’re tattered.
ezintsha new ones
izicathulo ezinjani? What kind of shoes?
Unit 9: Shopping 101
izicathulo zamaZulu Zulu shoes

Zinjani? What are they like?
Zibizwa ngezimbadada They’re called izimbadadas.
Zinhle futhi ziqinile They’re beautiful, and they’re strong.
Ungazigqoka You can wear them.
Zithengiswaphi? Where are they sold?
Umsebenzi 9.1
Let’s talk about sneakers (amateku) instead of Zulu sandals
(izimbadadas).
How would the markers change? Rewrite the preceding phrases.
Amateku ...
1. gugile They’re old.
2. hlephukile They’re tattered.
3. sha new ones
4. Amateku njani? What kind of sneakers?
5. njani? What are they like?
6. hle futhi They’re beautiful, and they’re
qinile strong.
7. Unga gqoka You can wear them.
8. . thengiswaphi? Where are they sold?
Language point
Possession
In Zulu possession is always X of Y (‘the leg of the dog’) and not Y’s
X (‘the dog’s leg’). To show possession, a possessive marker (PM)
is prefxed to the possessor (owner) noun. The PM echoes the noun
group of the item owned. There is a possessive marker for each noun
group:
Noun group Noun prefx Possessive marker

UMU- umu- wa-
ABA- aba- ba-
ILI- i- la-
AMA- ama- wa-
ISI- isi- sa-
IZI- izi- za-
UMU- umu- wa-
IMI- imi- ya-
IN-, IM- in-, im- ya-
IZIN-, IZIM- izin-, izim- za-
ULU- u- lwa-
UBU- ubu- ba-
UKU- uku- kwa-
Examples
izicathulo zami my shoes
amateku ami my sneakers
ihembe lami my shirt
inja yami my dog
ubuso bami my face
Possessive pronouns
1st person sg. -mi my
pl. -ithu our
2nd person sg. -kho your
pl. -inu your
3rd person sg. -khe her/his (UMU- Group)
pl. -bo their (ABA- Group)
Umsebenzi 9.2
Izingubo
isikibha/izi-ibhulukwe ingubo/ ibhantshi/ ihembe/

/ama- izin- ama- ama-
Add the possessive marker and pronoun:
Remember: Merge vowels where necessary:
a+i à e
a+u à o
a+a à a
1. isikhindi my T-shirt
2. ibhulukwe your trousers
3. ingubo her dress
4. ibhantshi his jacket
5. ihembe his shirt
6. izikhindi our T-shirts
7. amabulukwe your (pl.) trousers
8. izingubo their dresses/clothing
9. amahembe their shirts
10. isikhindi your T-shirt
Ingxoxo 9.2
UJason noThemba bayofuna izimbadada Jason and
Themba go in search of Zulu sandals
(Audio 9.2)
Emakethe 1 At the Market 1

uJason: Hawu Themba! Angikaze ngiye emakethe enje!
uThemba: Ngempela?
uJason: Yebo. Ngijwayele ukuya emamoli. Lapho ngihlala
khona eMelika maningi amamoli, futhi umuntu uya
emakethe ukuthenga imifino kuphela.
uThemba: Hho. Hhayi, lapha eMzansi izimakethe ziningi, futhi
kuthengiswa konke okufunayo.
uJason: Ngiyakubona lokho. Buka amahembe lawo. Mahle!
uThemba: Ashibhile futhi. Izintengo zasemakethe ziphansi
kunalezo zasemamoli.
uJason: Hawu, kuhle lokho! Siphi isitolo sezicathulo?
uThemba: Lapho phambili, phesheya kwesitolo sezimbali.
(Baqonda kuso.)
Themba: (ebingelela umdayisi, oyindoda.) Sawubona
mnumzane.
Umdayisi: Yebo sibali. Unjani?
uThemba: Sikhona. Singezwa kuwe.
Umdayisi: Hhayi, siyancenga. Ngingakusiza ngani?
uThemba: Umngane wami oqhamuka phesheya ufuna
izicathulo.
Umdayisi: Hho. (ebingelela uJason). Halo my friend. How are
you?
uJason: Ngiyaphila mnumzane. Unjani wena?
Umdayisi: Hhayi bo! Ukhuluma isiZulu! Nansi imihlola! Ugqoka
usayizi bani mngane wami?
uJason: Angazi. Mhlawumbe u-10?
Umdayisi: Awuzame ezinye. Ufuna izicathulo ezimnyama
noma ezinsundu?
uJason: Cha, angifuni izicathulo zesilungu. Ngifuna
izicathulo zamaZulu.
Umdayisi: Hho! Izimbadada? Kulungile.
Ingxoxo 9.3
(Audio 9.3)
Emakethe 2 At the Market: Part 2

Umdayisi: (eletha izimbadada) Nazi ezinhle.
uJason: Zinhle impela, kodwa zincane.

Umdayisi: Kulungile. Zama lezi. Zisanda kufika.
uJason: Ee. . . Lezi ziyangilingana. Zibiza malini?
Umdayisi: UR500.
uJason: Kulung . . .
uThemba: (engenela ingxoxo) Awulinde kancane Jason!
(ekhuluma nomdayisi) Mfowethu, uyabona
ukuthi ngumngane wami lo.
Umdayisi: Yebo, ngiyakubona lokho.
uThemba: Hhawu, awumnike intengo enhle.
Umdayisi: Yini ‘intengo enhle’ kodwa?
uThemba: UR250.
Umdayisi: Nkosi yami! Yisipho phela leso! Ngingamnika
ngo-R400.
uThemba: Eish, yimali eningi. Uyazi ukuthi uyisitshudeni?
Uthini ngo-R300?
Umdayisi: Eee. . . niyangihlupha impela. Uzongibulala
ubasi wami. Masithi ngu-R350. Intengo yami
yokugcina.
uThemba: Uthini Jason?
uJason: Ngiyajabula Themba. Mnumzane, ngiyabonga.
Nansi imali uR350.
Umdayisi: Ngiyabonga mngane. Nazi izimbadada.
Uqhubeke nezifundo zakho zesiZulu!
Jason: Kulungile. Usale kahle.
Umdayisi: (enikina ikhanda ehleka) Nihambe kahle.
Amagama amasha
-kaze never before intengo/izin- price/s
enje like this phansi low, down
ngempela? You don’t say! For kuna than
real? phesheya kwa- opposite, facing
-jwayele be accustomed to imbali/izim- fower/s
imifno vegetables -qonda head for
kuphela only usibali/o- brother/s in law
-shibhile inexpensive, -ncenga struggle/stagger
cheap ngaphesheya abroad
isilungu Western style -bulala kill

-sanda uku- have just ubasi/o- boss/es
-lingana ft, be equal -gcina be fnal, end
-ngenela interrupt -qhubeka continue
-hlupha trouble -nikina shake the head
Umsebenzi 9.3
Ukuqondisisa Comprehension
Phendula imibuzo.
1. UJason ufuna izicathulo ezinhloboni?
2. Lezo zicathulo zithengiswaphi?
3. Abantu baseMelika bayaphi ukuthenga izingubo?
4. Abantu baseMelika bathengaphi imifino?
5. Kuthengiswani ezimakethe eMzansi?
6. UThemba uthi zinjani izintengo zemakethe?
7. Sikuphi isitolo sezicathulo phakathi kwemakethe?
8. Umdayisi ucela yiphi intengo* okokuqala?
9. UThemba usho yiphi intengo okukuqala?
10. Bavumelana ngayiphi intengo?
*‘yiphi intengo’ means ‘what price.’
Umsebenzi 9.4
Imishwana evamileyo Common expressions
Rewrite the sentences/phrases, using the structure given but changing

the components as indicated:
1. Angikaze ngiye emakethe. I’ve never been to the market.

a. Asikaze
b. Abakaze
c. UJason akakaze
2. Lapho ngihlala khona . . . Where I live. . .

a. Lapho khona . . . uJason, -vela
b. Lapho khona . . . ba-, -thenga
izicathulo
c. Lapho khona . . . si-, -gibela ibhasi
3. konke . . . .. okufunayo everything/anything you want
a. (izicathulo)
b. (amahembe)
c. (abangane)
Language note
Place adverbials
In addition to the locative structure [e-{noun}-ini] described in Unit 3,

there is a set of adverbials that indicate a precise location:
phezulu/phezu above phandle outside phambili/phambi in front
phansi below phakathi inside/middle emuva behind
kude far phesheya across phambene opposite
eduze* near kude far
These adverbials are followed by kwa- and vowels must merge:
phezulu kwa- + imithi à phezulu kwemithi above the trees

phansi kwa- + amanzi à phansi kwamanzi under the water
phandle kwa- + indlu à phandle kwendlu outside the
house
phesheya kwa- + umgwaqo à phesheya k(w)
omgwaqo across the street
emuva kwa- + -kho à emuva kwakho behind you
* eduze and kude are followed by na-.
eduze na- + ikhaya à eduze nekhaya near home

eduze na- + mina à eduze nami near me
kude na- + ikhaya à kude nekhaya far from home
kude na- + mina à kude nami far from me
Directions
kwesobunxele on/to the left

kwesokudla on/to the right
ngqo straight ahead
To make a statement about precise location, prefx the subject marker

directly to the adverbial. Insert -s- to separate adjacent vowels:
UJason noThemba ba-phakathi Jason and Themba are in

kwesitolo. the middle of the store.
Izicathulo zi-phezulu kwetafula. The shoes are on top of the
table.
Compare with locative structure:

UJason noThemba ba-s-esitolo. Jason and Themba are at
the store.
Izicathulo zi-s-etafuleni. The shoes are on the table.
Note: Nga- can be prefxed to these adverbials to expand the area

referred to:
ngaphandle outdoors
ngaphakathi indoors
ngasemuva in the rear
ngaphesheya abroad
Umsebenzi 9.5
Baphi?/Iphi. . .? Where is. . . ?
Isibonelo: Uphi umama?[emuva + indlu] à Usemuva kwendlu.
1. Uphi uZanele? [phandle + ikhishi]

2. Ziphi izinkomo? [phesheya + umfula]
3. Baphi abantwana? [phansi + tafula]
4. Iphi inja? [emuva + galaji]
5. Liphi igundane? [phakathi + ikhabethe]
Amagama amasha
Izimpahla zendlu / Household items

ikhethini/ama- curtains ithibhothi/ama- teapot
isihlalo/izi- chair ishalofu/ama- shelf
itafula/ama- table udonga/izin- wall
inkomishi/izin- cup isithombe/izi- picture
umabonakude/o- television -qonda go straight
ikhabethe/ama- cupboard/ ahead
closet -jikela turn towards
ifasitela/ama- window -gibela take
usofa/o- sofa umgwaqo/imi- road
ukhaphethe/o- carpet, rug -dlula pass
isibane/izi- lamp -fka arrive at
Umsebenzi 9.6
Ekamelweni likaGogo In Grandma’s room
Chaza izinto ezibonwa ekamelweni likaGogo.
Describe the items that can be found in Grandma’s room.
1. Liphi itafula?
2. Uphi ukhaphethe?
3. Uphi umabonakude?
4. Aphi amakhethini?
5. Uphi usofa?
6. Ziphi izincwadi?
7. Iphi inkomishi?
8. Uphi umuthi omncane?
9. Siphi isigqoko?
10. Ziphi izinhlanzi?
Umsebenzi 9.7
Sikuphi isiteshi? Where’s the station?
Kufanele uJason aye esiteshini. Jason needs to go to the

station.
Abantu bamnika izeluleko People give him differing
ezihlukene. advice.
Yiqiniso noma akunjalo? Mark each one true or false.
eduze na- near to

kude na- far from
phambili kwa- in front of
emuva kwa- behind
phesheya kwa- across from
phakathi between
1. Isiteshi nesikhumulo sezindiza iKing Shaka.

2. Isiteshi kwebhishi nenkundla yamahhashi.
3. Isiteshi kweShaka Marine World.
4. Isiteshi neTheku.
5. Isiteshi neMoses Mabhida Stadium.
6. Isiteshi kwamahhotela.
7. Isiteshi nomgwaqo iN2.
Did you notice?

The seller suggests that Jason try on some shoes:
Awuzame ezinye? How about trying some?
Themba suggests that the seller give Jason a good price:
Awumnike intengo enhle. You should give him a good price.
Themba suggests that Jason wait:
Awulinde kancane. Why not wait a while.
Language note
Making suggestions
The pattern is:
ma/a-subject marker-{verb}-e
Remember to put w/y between vowels where necessary.
1st person sg. (m)angi- I should

1st person pl. (m)asi- we should
2nd person sg. (m)awu- you should
2nd person pl. (m)ani- you (pl.) should
3rd person sg. (m)aka- he/she should
3rd person pl. (m)aba- they should
The suggestion can also be about someone else. Note that 3rd per-
son sg. uses the aka- form:
Makalinde/Akalinde kancane. He should wait a while.
or about oneself:
Mangihambe/Angihambe. I should go.
Note: Compare this structure with the more urgent kufanele [+ subjunc-
tive] in Unit 8:
Kufanele ulinde. You must wait.

Kufanele ngihambe. I must go.
Kufanele baphume. They must leave.
For more on subjunctive, see reference grammar.
Umsebenzi 9.8
Making suggestions
Give advice to the following people:
Isibonelo
Ngikhathele. I’m tired. Mawulale. You should sleep.
1. Ngomile.
2. Akanamali.
3. Silambile
4. Úyagula.
5. Baphuzile.
Culture note
Ukuvunula
Ukuvunula kwenziwa ngezinsuku zokungcebeleka njengokugcagca

nomemulo kanye namaholidi anjengoSuku Lwamagugu Esizwe.
Amalunga amanye amabandla anjengamaNazaretha,agqoka imvunulo
njengengxenye yezingubo zenkonzo. Imvunulo ngokwesintu yabe-
silisa idinga isikhumba sesilwane – esoqobo noma esimbumbulu –
futhi amalunga obukhosi nabaholi bezepolitiki bagqoka isikhumba
sengwe. Abesilisa bagqoka futhi isicoco ekhanda. Imvunulo yabe-
sifazane idinga isiketi esimnyama esihlotshiswa ngobuhlalu kanye
nebhayi noma isikhafu. Amakhosikazi agqoka nenkehli ebomvu eyisi-
caba phezulu. Abesilisa baphatha iwisa nesihlangu. Abesifazane
baphatha ihawu noma isambulela esivaliwe.
Unit 10
Ukuthatha uhambo
Taking a trip
In this unit:
• Weather
• Recent past progressive
• Common adjectives: predicative
• Taking a trip
• In the countryside
Izulu The weather

Linjani izulu?
Izulu means ‘sky’ or ‘weather’ or ‘heavens.’ This is in the ILI- group, and
so most statements about the weather use ili- markers even if izulu is
not stated. Umoya means ‘wind’:
1.
Izulu libalele. Libalele.
2.
Izulu liguqubele. Liguqubele.

Unit 10: Taking a trip 115
3.
Izulu liyana. Liyana.
4.
Izulu liyakhithika. Liyakhithika.
5.
Izulu liyabaneka. Liyabaneka.
Language notes
1. When the weather involves something happening, use the verb
focus form:
• Li-ya-na. It’s raining.
116 Unit 10: Ukuthatha uhambo
• Li-ya-shisa. It’s hot.

• Li-ya-baneka. Lightning is striking.
2. Where the weather describes a state, use the stative form of the
verb:
• Li-balele. It’s sunny.
• Li-guqubele. It’s cloudy.
• Li-fudumele. It’s warm.
Remember: Stative aspect has suffix -ile, but some verbs take -ele.
Umsebenzi 10.1
Linjani izulu? How’s the weather?
Describe the weather for seven days, giving a name for each day of
the week:
1. 2. 3.
4. 5. 6.
7.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Linjani? Uzwa linjani?

To indicate how you feel, use -zwa/-izwa:
Linjani izulu? Uzwa linjani?
How’s the weather? How does it feel to you?
1. Liyashisa. Ngizwa ukushisa.

It’s hot. I feel hot.
2. Lifudumele. Ngizwa ukufudumala.
It’s warm. I feel warm.
3. Lipholile. Ngizwa ukuphola.
It’s cool. I feel cool.
4. Liyabanda. Ngiyagodola.
It’s cold. I feel cold.
Limakhaza. Ngizwa amakhaza.

It’s cold. I feel cold.
Amagama: Izulu
ilanga the sun, a day isomiso drought
ifu/amafu cloud/s izikhukhula foods
imvula/izim- rain/s isiphepho storm
-khiza drizzle -zwa/-zizwa feel/one feels
isithwathwa frost -shisa be hot
umoya wind -zwa ukushisa feel hot
iqhwa snow -juluka perspire
isichotho hail -fudumele be warm
-balele sunny -zwa kufudumele feel warm
-ququbele cloudy -pholile be cool
-fudumele warm -zwa kupholile feel cool
-vunguza blow (of wind) -banda be cold
-na rain -godola feel cold
-khithika snow, fall lightly -makhaza be cold
-baneka fash (lightning) -zwa amakhaza feel cold
-duma thunder
Umsebenzi 10.2
Benzelani kanjalo? / Why are they doing it?
Describe the weather that explains why people are doing the following:
1. Baya ebhishi
2. Bagqoka amabhantshi.
3. Bajahe ekhaya
4. Babamba izigqoko.
5. Bayaqhaqhazela.
Isikhukhula
Read the following news article from NEWS24, and then do the
exercises that follow.
Izikhukhula zibulale abangu-8 eThekwini
Ngo 28 Novemba 2015
EThekwini – Isiphepho ebesinamandla sibulale abantu abayisishi-
yagalombili eThekwini naseMgungundlovu ngeSonto ebusuku,
sacekela phansi inqwaba yezindlu.
Lesi simo sezulu esibi, esihlasele iTheku sekusele amahora nje

kuvulwe ingqungquthela yokushintsha kwesimo sezulu ye-UN,
sidale izikhukhula sacekela phansi okuningi.
Ukufa kwabantu kwangeSonto kubeke isibalo saba ngu-13 saba-

bulawe yizikhukhula KwaZulu-Natali esikhathini esingaphansi kwa-
masonto amabili.
Ngesonto eledlule, kushone abantu abayisihlanu kulesiya sifunda-

zwe ngenxa yezimvula ezinamandla.
Okhulumela uMnyango woHulumeni beziNdawo KwaZulu-Natal,

uMthatheni Mabaso, uthe abashonile ngabaseMlazi naseClermont.
‘Sitshelwe ukuthi bashone ngesikhathi bedilikelwa yizindonga zez-

indlu. Sithole nombiko wokuthi zingu-100 izindlu ezicekeleke phansi
eSiphingo,’ esho ngoMsombuluko.
South African Press Association
Amagama: Isikhukhula
amandla strength, power indlu/izin- houses
-bulala kill isimo/izi- situation, state
ebusuku at night -hlasela attack
-cekela phansi, collapse -sele (-sala) last
-cekeleke phansi be collapsed ingqungquthela/izin- conference/
inqwaba/izin- heap, large summit
number -shintsha change
-dala create okhulumela/abe- spokesperson

-beka place umnyango
Isibalo izibalo number kahulumeni
mathematics, wendawo KZN local govern-
arithmetic ment
ngesonto eledlule last week -tshelwa be told
isifundazwe/izi- province -dilikelwa be fallen on
ngenxa ya- because of umbiko/imi- message
Did you notice?

The ‘actors’ in this article are isiphepho (the storm) and isimo (the sit-
uation), and therefore many of the agreement markers are from the
isi- class.
Umsebenzi 10.3
Find all the words that agree with the following, and underline the
markers:
1. isiphepho
2. isimo
Umsebenzi 10.4
Phendula imibuzo elandelayo: Answer the following questions:
1. Isiphepho sihlaselephi?
2. Isiphepho sibulale abantu abangaki?
3. Isiphepho sihlasele nini?
4. Izindlu ezingaki ezicekeleke phansi eSiphingo?
Ingxoxo 10.1
Masiye ebhishi! Let’s go to the beach! (Audio 10.1)
uNomathemba: Eish, Zanele, liyashisa kodwa!

uZanele: Uqinisile Nomathemba! Likhipha inhlanzi
emanzini!
uNomathemba: Umuntu uyajuluka ngisho ehlezi engenzi
lutho.
uZanele: Kufanele ngibhale iphepha, kodwa
ngempela angikwazi ukubhala.
uNomathemba: Nami futhi. Senzeni?
uZanele: Masiye ebhishi.
uNomathemba: Ebhishi! Ngumbono omuhle lowo!
uZanele: Ngizofaka izidlwana nokuphuzwayo
esikhwameni.
uNomathemba: Kwakuhle-ke! Ngizolanda amathawula.
Uzogqokani? Isikhindi noma isiketi?
uZanele: Eeee. . . Ngithi isikhindi, ngoba umoya
uyavunguza. Nesikibha.
uNomathemba: Kulungile. Ungakhohlwa ngophaqa.
Isihlabathi singashisa futhi kukhona
namatshana olwandle.
uZanele: Nginabo. Nginemali yokugibela futhi.
uNomathemba: OK. Asihambe. Singagibela ikhumbi
ekhoneni.
Amagama amasha
kodwa but, though umbono/imi- idea
-khipha remove -faka put in
in-/izinhlanzi fsh isi-/izidlwana snack/s
Likhipha inhlanzi isikhwama/izi- bag
emanzini. It’s very hot. -landa fetch
[It’s making ithawula/ama- towel
the fsh jump
isikhindi short pants
out of the
water.] isiketi/izi- skirt
ngisho even isikibha/izi- tank top
-hlezi be seated ungakhohlwa don’t forget
engenzi lutho not doing ophaqa sandals,
anything fip-fops
kufanele must, be isihlabathi sand
necessary i-/amatshana small stones
that olwandle in the ocean
masiye. . . Let’s go to. . . ikhona/ama- corner
Umsebenzi 10.5
Yiqiniso noma akunjalo?
Either affirm or negate and correct the following sentences:
1. Izulu liyashisa.
2. UZanele uyajuluka.
3. UZanele noNomathemba kufanele babhale
amaphepha.
4. UNomathemba unombono wokuya ebhishi.
5. UZanele uzolanda amabhantshi.
6. UZanele ugqoka isiketi.
7. Badinga ophaqa ngoba isihlabathi siyabanda.
8. UZanele unemali yokugibela.
9. Bazohamba ngebhasi.
Umsebenzi 10.6
Common adjectives were introduced in Unit 7.
Complete the sentence by adding the adjective with an adjective

marker:
1. Izinhlanzi -ningi
2. Umbono -hle
3. Izidlwana -hle
4. Isikhwama -khulu
5. Isikhindi -fushane
6. Isiketi -de
7. Ophaqa -sha
8. Amatshana -ningi
Language note
Colour adjectives
The common adjectives and numbers 1–5 introduced in Unit 7 are

a special subset of adjectives because of the adjective markers they
require.
Colour adjectives use subject markers.
Imibala / Colour stems

-bomvu red -phuzi yellow
-mnyama black -bomvana pink
-mhlophe white -mpunga grey
-luhlaza green, blue -nsomi purple
-nsundu dark brown -siliva silver
-mpofu light brown -golide gold
Umsebenzi 10.7
Complete the sentences by adding the adjective with subject marker:
1. Izinhlanzi -siliva
2. Isikhwama -bomvu
3. Isikhindi -mhlophe
4. Isiketi -bomvana
5. Ophaqa -phuzi
6. Amatshana -mpofu
7. Isikibha -mnyama
8. Amathawula -luhlaza
Language note
Adjectives can be used in two ways:
a. As the predicate*
The sentences in the preceding section make statements about the

item:
Amathawula makhulu. The towels are big.

Amathawula mabili. There are two towels.
Amathawula aluhlaza. The towels are blue.
Izikibha zincane. The T-shirts are small.
Izikibha zinhlanu. There are fve T-shirts.
Izikibha zibomvu. The T-shirts are red.
* Note that Zulu does not use the verb to be in these sentences.
b. As an attribute of the noun
In the following sentences, the adjectives describe the item.
Uthenge amathawula amakhulu. She bought large towels.

Uthenge amathawula amabili. She bought two towels.
Uthenge amathawula aluhlaza. She bought blue towels.
Balethe izikibha ezincane. They brought small T-shirts.
Balethe izikibha ezinhlanu. They brought fve T-shirts.

Balethe izikibha ezibomvu. They brought red T-shirts.
Here is a list of adjective markers for all noun groups:
Noun group Adjective marker (P) Adjective marker (A)

UMU- mu- omu-/om-
ABA- ba- aba-
ILI- li- eli-
AMA- ma- ama-
ISI- si- esi-
IZI- zin-, zim- ezin-, ezim-
UMU- mu- omu-/om-
IMI- mi- emi-
IN-, IM- in-, im- en-, em-
IZIN-, IZIM- zin-, zim- ezin-, ezim-
ULU- lu- olu-
UBU- bu- obu-
UKU- ku- oku-
Umsebenzi 10.8
Qedela izandiso. Complete the adjectives.
Predicative use
Isibonelo: IsiZulu. . . . hle. à IsiZulu sihle. The Zulu language
is beautiful.
1. Umbono hle. The idea is good.
2. Izidlwana mnandi. The snacks and are tasty.
3. Amathawula khulu. The towels are large.
4. Izikhindi sha futhi. . . . The shorts are new and blue/
luhlaza. green.
5. Isiketi de futhi. . . . The skirt is long and red.
bomvu.
6. Isikibha fushane The tank top is short and white.

futhi. . . . mhlophe.
7. Ophaqa. . . . dala futhi The flip-flops are old and pink.
bomvana.
8. Imali. . . . ncane. There is a little money.
Umsebenzi 10.9
Attributive use
Isibonelo: IsiZulu singulimi. . . hle. à IsiZulu singulimi oluhle. Zulu is

a beautiful language.
1. UNomathemba uthi ngumbono (-hle)
2. UZanele uthi uzofaka izidlwana (-mnandi)
3. UZanele uzofaka iziphuzo (-nye)
4. UNomathemba uzoletha amathawula (-khulu)
5. UZanele uzogqoka izikhindi (-luhlaza)
6. UZanele akazugqoka isiketi (-de)
7. UZanele uzogqoka isikibha (-mhlophe)
8. Bobabili bazoletha ophaqa (-dala)
9. UZanele uzoletha imali (-ncane)
Izulu layizolo Yesterday’s weather
UThemba ubevakashela eKapa. Utshela umngane wakhe

ngohambo:
Themba has been to stay in Cape Town. He tells his friend

about the trip:
Ngesikhathi siphuma eThekwini line kakhulu futhi belishisa. Sifke

eKapa bekupholile umoya ubuvunguza. Ngosuku olulandelayo
ekuseni belibalele sikhwela intaba iTable Mountain. Kodwa lapho
sifka phezulu beliguqubele. Ntambama belibanda futhi liqale ukukh-
ithika! Hawu kodwa sizwe amakhaza! Sisheshe sabuyela phansi
nge-cable car. Ngosuku lwesithathu belifudumele lapho siya ebhishi.
Angibhukudanga ngoba bekubanda qwa olwandle. Eish! Angiliqondi

izulu laseKapa!
Umsebenzi 10.10
Here are the statements that refer to weather. How many do you know?
1. line kakhulu
2. belishisa
3. bekupholile
4. umoya ubuvunguza
5. belibalele
6. beliguqubele
7. belibanda
8. liqale ukukhithika
9. sizwe amakhaza
10. belifudumele
Did you notice?

Weather events are described with the perfective:
Line kakhulu. It rained a lot.

Liqale ukukhithika. It began to snow.
Sizwe amakhaza. We felt/became cold.
Weather descriptions begin with progressive be-:
Belishisa It was hot.

bekupholile It was cool.
umoya ubuvunguza It was windy [the wind was blowing].
belibalele It was sunny.
beliguqubele It was cloudy.
belibanda It was cold.
belifudumele It was warm.
Language notes
Perfective and progressive past
Near past perfective indicates completed events in the recent past.
Near past progressive indicates:

1. events in progress in the recent past.
2. descriptions in the recent past.
Examples
Past perfective (See also Unit 8.)
• Ngikhwele intaba. I climbed the mountain.
• Sikhulume noSipho. We spoke with Sipho.
• Linile. It rained.
Past progressive aspect
1. Events in progress:
• Bengikhwela intaba. I was climbing the mountain.
• Besikhuluma noSipho. We were talking with Sipho.
• Belina. It was raining.
2. Descriptions:
• Bengikhathele. I was tired.
• Besijabulile. We were happy.
• Belipholile. It [the weather] was cool.
Subject markers for present and for near past

progressive
Present SM be- SM
1st person sg. ngi- bengi-
pl. si- besi-
2nd person sg. u- ubu-/bewu-
pl. ni- beni-
3rd person:
UMU-/U- sg. u- ube- (irregular)
ABA-/O- pl. ba- bebe- (irregular)
UMU- sg. u- ubu-/bewu-
IMI-_ pl. i- ibi-/beyi-
I[LI]- sg. li- beli-
AMA- pl. a -abe- (irregular)
ISI- sg. si- besi-
IZI- pl. zi- bezi-
For a full list of be- subject markers, see the reference grammar.
Umsebenzi 10.11
Rewrite the states in near past progressive form:
Manje Izolo
1. Ngilambile I’m hungry. Bengilambile. I was hungry.
2. Ukhathele. She’s tired. She was tired.
3. Bahambile. They’re gone. They were gone.
4. Sithukuthele. We’re angry. We were angry.
5. Ulele. She’s asleep. She was asleep.
6. Liguqubele. It’s overcast. It was overcast.
7. Lipholile. It’s cool. It was cool.
8. Lifudumele. It’s warm. It was warm.
Umsebenzi 10.12
Impelasonto The weekend
Bhalela umngane wakho i-imeyili mayelana nempelasonto yakho.
Chaza izulu nezinto ezinye ozenzile. Bhala imisho engu-10.
Write an email to your friend about your weekend. Describe the
weather and things that you did. Write ten sentences.
Unit 11
Ukungcebeleka
Leisure
In this unit
• Celebrations (birthdays)
• Sports
• Colour adjectives
• Talking about recent past
• Passive voice
Ingxoxo 11.1
Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban
Impelasonto The weekend (Audio 11.1)
UThemba noBongani baphuma enyuvesi.

Unit 11: Leisure 131
uThemba: Eish, Bongani ngibulawa ngumsebenzi, uyazi?

uBongani: Ngempela Themba, kade ngakugcina.
uThemba: Masikhohlwe yizifundo zethu kusasa. Masiye ebholeni.
uBongani: Ebholeni? Kulungile. Kuzodlala maphi amaqembu?
uThemba: AmaZulu neMaritzburg United.
uBongani: Ngempela! Adlalela kuphi?
uThemba: EMoses Mabhida Stadium.
uBongani: Hho. Lapha eThekwini. Kuhle. Kodwa iMaritzburg
izonqotshwa ngamaZulu, angithi?
uThemba: Hawu, mfowethu! Ulahlekelwa yithemba yini?
uBongani: Cha, akunjalo, kodwa iMaritzburg ishiywe ngabadlali
abahle kulo nyaka.
uThemba: Uqinisile.
uBongani: Eish, anginamali yethikithi. Amathikithi ayabiza, uyazi
nawe.
uThemba: Yebo. Kodwa sinenhlanhla.
uBongani: Kanjani? Khuluma bo!
uThemba: Uyazi ubaba usebenza ebhange.
uBongani: Yebo, ngiyakwazi lokho.
uThemba: Izimenenja zanikezwa amathikithi mahhala. Manje
ubaba unginike amathikithi akhe.
uBongani: Yo! Kwakuhle-ke lokho!
uThemba: Umdlalo uqala ngo-1:00.
uBongani: Angisali! Sizohlangana kuphi?
uThemba: Masibonane esangweni ngo- 12:00. Kuzogcwala
masishane.
uBongane: Kulungile. Ubonge kakhulu kubaba wakho. Sizobonana
kusasa. Hamba kahle.
UThemba: Hamba kahle nawe.
Amagama amasha
-bulawa be killed -khohlwa forget
Uyazi? You know? iqembu/ama- team/s
Kade -phi? which?
ngakugcina. Long time no see. angithi? not so?
132 Unit 11: Ukungcebeleka
-nqotshwa be defeated imenenja/izima- manager

-lahlekelwa have lost -nikwa be given
ithemba hope ithikithi/ama- ticket
akunjalo it’s not so mahhala free
-shiywa be left behind, -hlangana meet one another
abandoned Masibonane Let’s meet (see
kulo nyaka in this year one another).
-qinisile be right, sure isango/ama- gate
-biza cost, be expensive -gcwala fll up
inhlanhla good luck masisha quickly
Khuluma bo! Speak up, please
Umsebenzi 11.1
Ukuzwisisa Comprehension
Phendula imibuzo.
1. UThemba ubulawa yini?
2. UThemba ufuna ukuyaphi?
3. Kuzodlala maphi amaqembu?
4. Umdlalo uzodlalelwaphi?
5. UThemba uthi iMaritzburg izowina?
6. UThemba uwatholaphi amathikithi?
7. Umdlalo uqala ngasikhathi sini?
8. UThemba noSipho bazohlangana ngasikhathi sini?
9. Bazohlangana kuphi?
Did you notice?

Suffix -phi? has two meanings:
1. -^phi? (preceded by falling tone) where?

• Kûphi? Where is it?
• Sihlanganâ kûphi? Where do we meet?
2. -phi? (preceded by low tone) which?

• Maphi amaqembu? Which teams?
Did you notice?

There are several passive verbs in this dialogue:
• Ngibulawa ngumsebenzi. I’m being killed by work.

• Masikhohlwe yizifundo. Let’s forget about studies.*
• iMaritzburg izonqotshwa Maritzburg will be defeated by
ngamaZulu. amaZulu.
• Ulahlekelwa yithemba. You’ve lost hope.*
• Izimenenja zanikezwa The managers were given tickets.
amathikithi.
* Forgetting and losing are passive concepts in Zulu. This is because

they are in fact not actions that we do but are rather things that happen
to us.
Language note
Passive voice
To make the passive form of a verb, insert -w- between the verb stem
and the fnal vowel:
• -dlala play à -dlalwa be played

• -hlangana meet with à -hlanganwa be met with/by
• -thenga buy à -thengwa be bought
• -bona see à -bonwa be seen
The agent noun is preceded by the linker (ng-, y-, w-). Linkers in the
initial position are written in this text but are generally omitted, although
they are always pronounced, together with low tone onset:
• Amahembe athengwa ngamadoda. The shirts were bought by

the men.
• Amahembe athengwa yinkosikazi. The shirts were bought by
the woman.
• Abadlali babonwa wumfana. The players are seen by
the boy.
Passivization causes changes to some verb stems.
Example-nqoba defeat à -nqotshwa be defeated
For more on passivization, see the reference grammar.
Umsebenzi 11.2
Rewrite the following sentences as follows:
1. Umsebenzi uyambulala UThemba
uThemba.
2. Amaqembu azodlala umdlalo Umdlalo
eStadium.
3. AmaZulu azonqoba IMaritzburg
iMaritzburg.
4. Ibhange lanikeza izimenenja Izimenenja
amathikithi.
Indaba 11.2
Intatheli ibika ngomdlalo A reporter comments on a
game (Audio 11.2)
Intatheli yokuqala: First reporter:

Sanibonani zethameli zethu! Nginibingelela nina nonke eningabalandeli
bomdlalo wethu omuhle: ibhola. Nginibingelela nonke enilandela amaqembu
amabili azoqhudelana namhlanje: AmaZulu neMaritzburg United.
La maqembu amabili abhekane izikhathi eziningi, kodwa akekho
onesibindi sokusho ukuthi kuzonqoba bani. Ngesonto elidlule ama-
Zulu anqobe iPolokwane, kodwa emasontweni amabili edlule anqot-
shwa yiBlack Aces. IMaritzburg yehlulwa yiNyuvesi yasePitoli, kodwa
ngenyanga edlule yanqoba iSuperSport United.
Namuhla izulu lihle, kodwa umoya uyavunguza. Obani abazophu-
mele? Asazi, kodwa sizobona. . .
(Kuzwakala impempe)
Intatheli yesibili: Second reporter:

Zasha! . . . ngamaZulu akhahlela ibhola ukuqalisa umd-
lalo. . . umgadli uqonda nqo! . . . Kodwa ibhola lintshontshiwe
nguMabi weMaritzburg. . . yena ugijima njengempala. . . amaZulu

azama ukumvimba kodwa lutho. . . . ulidlulisela kuZondi. . . uZondi
ukhahlela ngamandla. . . Laduma!
IMaritzburg linye, amaZulu yiqanda.
(Kudlula isikhashana. Isiwombe sesibili: iMaritzburg 2 – ama-
Zulu 2. Kusele imizuzu embalwa. . .)
Intatheli yesithathu: Third reporter:
. . . kunomsindo omkhulu kabi. . . amavuvuzela awasathuli. . .
unompempe ushaya impempe. . . iMaritzburg inebhola. . . iyali-
vikela. . . nangu uBhengu umgadli wamaZulu! . . . uthatha
ibhola. . . uyagijima. . . ulidlulelisela kuDlamini ukhozi oluma-
phiko othi thushu emva komqaphi weMaritzburg. . . uDlamini yena
ulinikeza uGumede. . . nguGumede manje. . . uyandiza. . . use-
duze. . . ulidlulelisela kuDlamini oqhamukayo. . . uDlamini ushaya
ngekhanda. . . Laduma! Unozinti wasala ekhamisile! Aduma ama-
Zulu! AmaZulu mathathu; iMaritzburg mabili! Anqobile amaZulu!
Waphela umdlalo! Bekungumdlalo omnandi impela-ke lona mlaleli. . .
Amagama: Ibhola
intatheli/izin- reporter -ehlulwa be overcome,
-bika announce defeated
izethameli listeners, audi- ngenyanga
ence edlule last year
-bingelela greet -khahlela kick
umlandeli/aba- supporter, fan Laduma! Goal!
-qhudelana compete ukhozi olumaphiko soaring eagle
-bhekana face one an- tushu (ideo) whizzing
other umzuzu/imi- minute
isibindi courage, liver -hlasela attack
-vunguza blow -vikela defend
-zwakala be audible -ndiza fy
impempe whistle -qhamuka appear
-qala begin phambili in front
umgadli striker emuva behind
nqo (ideo) straight ahead igoli goal
-ntshontsha steal unozinti goalkeeper
osemuva defender, ivuvuzela/ama- bugle for

fullback cheering
-bamba -catch isiwombe sesibili second half
-vimba -prevent -phelile be fnished
unompempe referee
Umsebenzi 11.4
Affirm or correct:
1. Amaqembu amabili alingene ngamakhono.
2. Ngesonto elidlule amaZulu awinile.
3. Ngesonto elidlule iMaritzburg iwinile.
4. UZondi ulishaye ngekhanda.
5. Unozinti usale elele.
6. UBhengu untshontshe ibhola kuMaritzburg.
7. UDlamini uthole ibhola kuGumede.
8. UDlamini ulishaye ngekhanda.
Culture note
Ezemidlalo eNingizimu-Afrika Sport in South Africa
Izulu elihle laseNingizimu-Afrika lenza ukuthi imidlalo ingadlalwa

unyaka wonke. Imidlalo ethandeka kakhulu kunayo yonke yibhola lez-
inyawo, nebhola lombhoxo, nekhilikithi. Umbhoxo udlalwa ngesikha-
thi sasebusika, ikhilikithi idlalwa ngehlobo, kanti ibhola lona lidlalwa
wonke unyaka. Njengoba lidinga impahla encane ibhola lidlalwa
ezikoleni zonke nasemiphakathini yonke. Izikole ezinkulu ezisema-
dolobheni nezikole ezingasese zinamaqembu amahle kakhulu, futhi
abanye abadlali bezikole lezo bathola umsebenzi wokudlala ibhola
emuva kokuqeda izifundo zabo.
Kusukela ngo-1960 kuze kufke ko-1994 amaqembu aseNin-

gizimu-Afrika ayengavunyelwe ukungena emincintiswaneni yom-
hlaba jikelele ngenxa kahulumeni wobandlululo. Kodwa emuva
kokhetho olukhululekile ngo-1994 iNingizimu-Afrika yangeniswa fu-
thi endebeni yomhlaba.
Ngo-1995 iqembu lesizwe lebhola lombhoxo laseNingizimu-Afrika
(amaBhoko-bhoko) elalingenabadlali abansundu ngaleso sikhathi,
lawina iRugby World Cup. UMongameli Mandela wabamba izinhliziyo
zabaseNingizimu-Afrika bonke lapho ehalalisa iqembu egqoka
ihembe lamaBhoko-bhoko.
Ngo-1996 iNingizimu-Afrika yasingatha i-African Cup of Nations
bese iqembu lesizwe lebhola lezinyawo lakithi, iBafana-bafana, lan-
qoba iTunisia lawina umncintiswano.
Ngo-2010 iNingizimu-Afrika yemukela amaqembu yasingatha
umncintiswano weNdebe yoMhlaba, iWorld Cup. Ngaleso sikhathi
iBafana-bafana ayiphumelelanga. Nokho kwabonwa njengesehlakalo
esihle kakhulu ngoba izinkulungwane zabantu zavakashela elakithi
zabusa zonke.
Umsebenzi 11.5
1. Kungani imidlalo ingadlalwa unyaka wonke eNingizimu-Afrika?

2. Yimiphi imidlalo ethandeka kakhulu?
3. Ikhilikithi idlalwa nini?
4. Ibhola lombhoxo lidlalwa nini?
5. Kungani ibhola lingadlalwa emiphakathini yonke?
6. Yini amaqembu aseNingizimu-Afrika ayengavunyelwe ukuncintis-
ana namazwe angaphandle?
7. Lithini igama leqembu lesizwe lebhola lombhoxo?
8. Lithini igama leqembu lesizwe lebhola lezinyawo?
9. IBafana-bafana yanqoba ubani ngo-1996?
10. Abantu abangaki bavakashela eNingizimu-Afrika ngesikhathi
seNdebe yoMhlaba ngo-2010?
Umsebenzi 11.6
Bagqoka izikibha ezinjani? What T-shirts are they wearing?
Give the colours of the following soccer uniforms:

1. Bafana Bafana Banezikibha (yellow)
2. Orlando Pirates Banezikibha (red)
3. Kaiser Chiefs Banezikibha (yellow
and black)
4. Ajax Cape Town Banezikibha (light blue)
5. Moroka Swallows Banezikibha (red)
Ingxoxo 11.3
Usuku lokuzalwa kukaSipho Sipho’s birthday (Audio 11.3)
UNobuhle noMandisa bahlangana elayibrari enyuvesi.
uNobuhle: Sawubona dade.

uMandisa: Yebo sawubona sisi. Kunjani mngani wami?
uNobuhle: Ngikhona, wena unjani?
uMandisa: Nami ngikhona.
uNobuhle: Wenzeni ngempelasonto?
uMandisa: Angenzanga lutho, ngihlale ekhaya. Ngisize umama
ukubhaka amakhekhe. Wena wenzeni?
uNobuhle: Bekuwusuku lokuzalwa lukaSipho. Siye eMidmar
Dam ngoMgqibelo. Siqashe ikhumbi, ubaba
kaSipho ukhokhele ikhumbi. Mina ngilungise
iziphuzo. USibongile noZanele balungise ukudla.
Bapheke ubhriyani omnandi. UNtokozo noSerah
balethe amasaladi amnandi futhi balethe amapuleti
nezinkomishi. Sonke sifake imali ukuthenga inyama
yokwenza ibraai ntambama. Sifike eMidmar ngo-11,
sidlale ivolleyball futhi sibhukudile. Sithathe izithombe
emanzini futhi sithathe izithombe sidlala ibhola. Ngo-1
sidle idina. Emva kwalokho siphumulile.
uMandisa: Yish dade, ngibona ukuthi nizibusisile ngempelasonto.

Nenzeni emva kwalokho?
uNobuhle: Ngo-3 ntambama, sigibele isikebhe. Mina
angihambanga ngoba ngiyesaba ukungena emanzini.
Abafana babase umlilo. Bose inyama, balungisa
konke ukudla. Sidle ukudla, emva kwalokho siye
ekhaya. Manje ngikhathele!
Mandia: Lalela, ngifuna ukuya edolobheni kusasa, ngicela
sihlangane eNandos ngo-1. Kulungile?
uNobuhle: Kulungile. Ngizokubona kusasa. Ngizoletha izithombe
zami. Sala kahle.
uMandisa: Nawe, usale kahle. Sizobonana.
Amagama amasha

ikholiji college -phumula relax
ngitshele tell me Yish! Gosh!
-phasa pass (exam) -zibusisa enjoy oneself
bandla my dear emva kwalokho after that
-qasha rent, hire -gibela ride
-khokha pay isikebhe/izi- boat
-lungisa fx, arrange -esaba fear
ubhriyani biriyani (Indian -basa umlilo make a fre
rice dish) -osa roast
isaladi/ama- salad -siza help
inkomishi/izin- cup -bhaka bake
-faka put in
ikhekhe/ama- cake
-bhukuda swim
Umsebenzi 11.7
Complete these sentences using information from the preceding
passage:
1. UMandisa usize unina
2. Bahambe
3. no balungise
ukudla.
4. Bapheke ubhriyani
5. no balethe
amasaladi.
6. Bafike eMidmar
7. ivolleyball futhi
8. Badle idina
9. baphumulile.
10. Abafana umlilo.
Did you notice?

When talking about events that took place last weekend, Nobuhle and
Mandisa use verbs ending in -e:
• siye eMidmar Dam We went to Midmar Dam.

• siqashe ikhumbi We hired a taxivan.
• ngilungise iziphuzo I organized beverages.
• sidle idina We ate dinner.
Language note
Talking about the past
IsiZulu divides past events into recent and remote.
• Recent events are fresh in the mind and took place within the past
week or so.
• Remote events took place more than a month ago. (See Unit 13.)
Recent events
Afrmative
1. When information follows the verb (object, place, etc.) replace

the final -a with -e, which has high tone.
The pattern is: SM-{verb}-e + {object, location, etc.}
• Siye eMidmar Dam. We went to Midmar dam.

• Siqashe ikhumbi. We hired a taxivan.
• Ngilungise iziphuzo. I organized beverages.
• Bapheke ubhriyani. They cooked biriyani.
2. Where nothing follows the verb, the ending is -il- + e.

The pattern is: SM-{verb}-il-e
• Ngiphasile. I passed.
• Sibhukudile. We swam.
• Siphumulile. We relaxed.
• Nizibusisile. You (pl.) enjoyed yourselves.
Negative
To negate recent past events prefx a- to the SM and add suffix -nga.
The pattern is: a-SM-{verb}-a-nga
• Angihambanga. I didn’t go. (verb focus)

• Angenzanga lutho. I didn’t do anything. (adjunct focus)
Adjunct and verb focusses are the same in negative recent past.
Umsebenzi 11.8
Rewrite the following verbs in the negative. Remember to omit the frst
vowel of the object noun where relevant:
1. Siye eMidmar Dam
2. Siqashe ikhumbi
3. Ngilungise iziphuzo
4. Bapheke ubhriyani
5. Ngiphasile
6. Sibhukudile
7. Siphumulile
8. Nizibusisile
Umsebenzi 11.9
Wenzeni ngempelasonto? What did you do on the weekend?
Sipho tells his father about the soccer game he went to yesterday.
Write his summary of the game using near past tense.

Unit 12
Ukuvakashela esiqiwini
Visiting a game reserve
In this unit:
• Talking about animals
• Review of noun groups
• Describing characteristics, habits and states
• Negative instructions
Izilwane zasendle Wild animals
Izilwane zasendle zivamile eNingizimu-Afrika.AbaseNingizimu Afrika

bayazithanda futhi bayazihlonipha, ngakho-ke zikhona eNingizimu-
Afrika. Ziningi iziqiwi lapho izilwane zivikelwa khona. Iziqiwi ezinkulu,
njengeKruger National Park neHluhluwe nePilanesberg ziphethwe
nguhulumeni, kodwa ziningi iziqiwi ezingasese nezizimele.
Abavakashi bangahlala phakathi esiqiwini: emahhotela noma
144 Unit 12: Ukuvakashela esiqiwini
ematendeni. Kwezinye iziqiwi abavakashi bahambahamba ngezabo

zimoto, kwezinye bagibela inqola eshayelwa ngumqaphi wezilwane.
Eziqiwini eziningi akuvunyelwe ukuhamba ngezinyawo, kodwa kwez-
inye abavakashi baholwa ngumqaphi bazule ngaphandle. Iningi
labavakashi lifuna ukubuka izilwane ezinhlanu ezinkulu kunazo zonke
ezinye: ibhubesi nobhejane nendlovu nenyathi nengwe.
Amagama amasha
Izilwane ezivamile / Common animals

ibhubesi/ama- lion indlulamithi/izin- giraffe
indlovu/izin- elephant idube/ama- zebra
ingwe/izin- leopard ingwenya/izin- crocodile
imvubu/izim- hippopotamus impala/izim- antelope
ubhejane/o- rhinoceros inkawu/izin- monkey
inyathi/izin- buffalo inyoka/izin- snake
Did you notice?

The names of these animals fall into several different noun groups,
making clear that there is very little link between noun group and mean-
ing. Here are the groups of the preceding animals:
ILI-/AMA- group
ibhubesi amabhubesi lion/s

idube amadube zebra/s
IN-, IM-/IZIN-, IZIM- group
indlovu izindlovu elephant

ingwe izingwe leopard
inyathi izinyathi buffalo
imvubu izimvubu hippopotamus
indlulamithi izindlulamithi giraffe
ingwenya izingwenya crocodile
impala izimpala impala (antelope)
inkawu izinkawu monkey
inyoka izinyoka snake
U-/O- subgroup
ubhejane obhejane rhinoceros

Unit 12: Visiting a game reserve 145
ULU-/IZIN- group
unwabu izinwabu chameleon
Umsebenzi 12.1
Insert the appropriate subject marker.
1. Izimpala. . . . . gijima ngesivinini.
2. Obhejane. . . . nezimpondo ezinkulu.
3. Unwabu. . . . . hamba kancane.
4. Indlulamithi. . . . dla amakhasi.
5. Ibhubesi. . . . . . . thanda ukulala emini.
Umsebenzi 12.2
Insert the adjective marker. Choose predicative or attributive as
appropriate.
1. Kukhona izimpala. . . . ningi esiqiwini.
2. Ibhubesi. . . dala lilala phansi komuthi.
3. Indlovu. . . ncane futhi. . . hle.
4. Indlulamithi. . . de.
5. Sibone izinkawu. . . . . . kulu izolo.
6. Amadube. . . ningi.
7. Izimpala. . . ncane.
8. Obhejane. . . dala balele.
9. Unwabu. . . . hle lukhwela esihlahleni.
10. Izilwane. . . . ningi zihlala esiqiwini.
Ingxoxo 12.1
Abafundi bavakashela esiqiwini Students visit a game
reserve (Audio 12.1)
UNomathemba ukhombisela uZanele isaziso lesi.

Nomathemba shows Zanele this notice.
UHAMBO
LOKUZIJABULISA!
esiqiwini eHluhluwe
ngoMgqibelo
mhla ziyi-16 Mashi
Siphuma ngo-6:00 ekuseni
Sibuya ngo-8:00 kusihlwa
Kubiza uR500
WOZANI BAFUNDI!
Phatha:
ijazi
isigqoko noma ikepisi
ikhamera
UNomathemba: Buka Zanele! Yithuba lokuya esiqiwini!

UZanele: Esiqiwini?
UNomathemba: Ehhe! eHluhluwe. Ungathanda ukuhamba nami?
UZanele: Nini?
UNomathemba: NgoMgqibelo. Mhla ziyi-16 Mashi.
UZanele: Hho! Kubiza malini?
UNomathemba: UR500.
UZanele: Eish, imali eningi kangaka!
UNomathemba: Uqinisile, kodwa kuhlanganisa imali yebhasi
nokudla nemali yokungena esiqiwini . . .
UZanele: Kulungile. Mhlawumbe bazothanda ukuhamba
nathi oThemba noBongani?
UNomathemba: Ngizobabuza khona manje.
...........................
UNomathemba ushayela uThemba ngeselula.

UThemba: Halo?
UNomathemba: Yebo, sawubona mfo.
UThemba: Ngubani okhulumayo?
UNomathemba: Yimina, uNothemba.
UThemba: Hho, sawubona dade. Kunjani?
UNomathemba: Ngikhona mfo. Kunjani kuwe?
UThemba: Hhayi, ngikhona nami. Kwenzekani?
UNomathemba: Lutho olutheni, kodwa uZanele nami sifuna
ukwazi ukuthi kungabe wena noBongani
ningathanda ukuhamba nathi siye esiqiwini.
UThemba: Esiqiwini? Hhayi dade uyazi ukuthi
ngingowasedolobheni mina! Angithandi ukuya
emaphandleni. Angithandi daka. Angithandi luthuli.
UNomathemba: Hhawu Themba! Kodwa sizobe sisebhasini!
UThemba: Cha, ngiyezwa. . . nakuba kunjalo. . . .
ngesaba izilwane. Ngesaba izicabucabu. . . .
namagundane. . . namaphela. . .
UNomathemba: Nkosi yami Themba! Sizobe siphephile.
Sizobona izilwane ezinkulu njengezindlovu
namadube. Hhayi amaphela. . .
UThemba: Hmm. Uyahamba noBongani?
UNomathemba: Ngizomfonela manje.
UNomathemba uyamehlula uThemba. Bavumelana ngokuthi bazo-

hamba bobabili.
Amagama amasha
isilwane/izi- animal ikhamera camera
-vamile be plentiful ithuba/ama- opportunity
-hlonipha respect uqinisile you’re right
ngakhoke therefore -hlanganisa includes
isiqiwi/izi- game Ngubani
reserve okhulumayo? Who’s
ehhe/ehhene yes/indeed speaking?
-vikelwa be protected lutho olutheni nothing
-phethwe be managed much
uhulumeni government owasedolobheni a city person
-ngasese private emaphandleni countryside
-zimele independent udaka mud
umvakashi/aba- visitor/tourist uthuli dust
itende/ama- tent nakuba kunjalo nonetheless
-hambahamba travel around Ngiyezwa. I understand.
inqola/izin- truck -esaba fear
umqaphi/aba- game ranger isicabucabu/izi- bug, insect
-zula wander igundane/ama- mouse, rat
iningi the majority iphela/ama- cockroach
-khombisa show to -phephile be safe
isaziso/iz- announce- -ehlula convince

ment, notice -vumelana agree (with
uhambo trip one another)
-zijabulisa enjoy one- bobabili both (peo-

self ple)
Umsebenzi 12.3
Rearrange the following sentences to make a paragraph that retells the

events in the preceding dialogues.
1. UNomathemba umema uThemba ukuba ahambe nabo.
2. UThemba uthi wesaba izicabucabu.
3. Uhambo lubiza uR500.
4. UNothemba uthi bazobe bephephile.

5. Isaziso simema abafundi ukuba baye esiqiwini.
6. UNothemba uzofonela uBongani.
7. UNothemba ubona isaziso.
8. UThemba uthi akathandi ukuya emaphandleni.
Ingxoxo 12.2
Abafundi babika ngohambo Students tell about the
trip (Audio 12.2)
Basekhef abaya esiqiwini baxoxa nabanye abafundi.
uNoma: Hawu, bekuwuhambo olumnandi! Sibone izilwane

ezithile!
uZanele: Kodwa kukude neTheku. Bekufanele sivuke
kusempondo zankomo.
uThemba: Angikhumbuli lutho ngohambo. Bengilele.
uBongani: Yo, uyivila wena Themba! Ucishe walala usuku
lonke.
uZanele: Kodwa uvuke lapho kusondela indlovu ebhasini
lethu! Uphaphame wethuka, wawa esihlalweni
sakho!
(Bayahleka bonke. UThemba uthukuthele kancane.)
uThemba: Nginitshelile ukuthi ngingowasedolobheni mina.

uBongani: Ngimangaliswe ukubona ukuthi izilwane azesabi
izimoto kakhulu. Kubonakala ukuthi zivamile
ukubabona abantu nezimoto.
uZanele: Nami futhi. Amabhubesi abeseduze kakhulu, nokho
abethamela ilanga nje.
uNoma: Mina ngizithande kakhulu izindlulamithi. Zinhle
kakhulu futhi zinokuphiqilika. Azinalaka futhi.
uBongani: Uqinisile. Azibonakali kalula futhi noma ziseduze.
Mina ngiyithandile ingwe. Bengingazi ukuthi ingwe
ikwazi ukukhwela emthini. Bathi ingadonsela

inyamazane phezulu emthini futhi.
uThemba: Lapho siphuma ebhasini bekugcwele izinkawu
ebezifuna ukuntshontsha amasemishi ethu.
Angizithandanga lezo zinkawu.
uNoma: Beziganga impela lezo zinkawu. Yingoba izivakashi
zithanda ukuzipha ukudla. Sezazi ukuthi abantu
bazilethela ukudla. Zihlakaniphile.
uBongani: Ngizothanda ukuvakashela esiqiwini futhi.
uZanele: Nami ngingakuthanda lokho.
uNoma: Nami futhi.
uThemba: Hhayi bo! Mina, ngeke ngiphinde ngilubhade lapho!
(Bayahleka bonke.)
Amagama amasha
uhambo journey -sondela approach
visilwane animal -phaphama wake up
-thile certain -wa fall
-fanele be necessary isihlalo seat
-vuka wake up -tshela tell
kusempondo -mangaliswa be surprised
zankomo at the crack of -esaba fear
dawn -bonakala be visible, ap-
-khumbula remember pear
lutho nothing -vamile be common,
ivila lazy person usual
-cishe almost (defcient eduze near
verb) -thamela bask
ukuphiqilika grace, elegance -gcwele be full

ulaka anger -ntshontsha steal
-qinisile be sure, right amasemishi sandwiches
-khwela climb -ganga be naughty
umuthi tree -letha bring
-donsela pull towards -hlakaniphile be clever
inyamazane antelope -ngeke never (in future)
-phelele whole/complete ngilubhade
(unyawo) lapho set foot there
Umsebenzi 12.4
Match the sentence beginning in (a) with the ending in (b):
(a)
1. UNothemba uthi babone . . .

2. UZanele uthi isiqiwi sikude . . .
3. UThemba uthi akakhumbuli . . .
4. UBongani utshela uThemba ukuthi . . .
5. UZanele uthi indlovu isondele . . .
6. UBongani ubemangele ngoba . . .
7. UZanele uthi amabhubesi abethamele . . .
8. UNothemba uthanda izindlulamithi ngoba . . .
9. UBongani uthanda ingwe ngoba ikwazi . . .
10. UThemba uthi akafuni . . .
(b)
11. . . . ilanga.
12. . . . ebhasini labo.
13. . . . izilwane azesabi izimoto.
14. . . . izilwane eziningi.
15. . . . lutho ngohambo.
16. . . . neTheku.
17. . . . ukuphindela esiqiwini.
18. . . . ukukhwela emthini.

19. . . . uyivila yena.
20. . . . zinokuphiqilika.
Umsebenzi 12.5
Zini lezi zilwane? Which animals are these?
Name the animal described. Note that the subject marker will give you
a clue. Remember to add the linker (ng-, y-, w-, l-)
1. Linolaka futhi uboya balo buphuzi. Yibhubesi (It’s a lion.)

2. Izingela yodwa ebusuku.
3. Zihamba nomhlambi omkhulu.
4. Inamazinyo amaningi acijileyo.
5. Zibhuqa imithi eminingi uma zidla.
6. Unamandla amakhulu kodwa awuboni kahle.
7. Afana kakhulu namahhashi.
8. Ziluma abantu ngolimi.
9. Lungashintsha umbala womzimba.
10. Zihlala emanzini kodwa ziphuma ebusuku ukuyofuna ukudla.
Umsebenzi 12.6
Iziphicaphicwano Riddles
There are a wealth of riddles in Zulu. They are introduced as follows:
Ngikuphicaphica nga . . . I outwit you with. . .
See if you can solve the following riddles:
Ngikuphicaphica nga. . .
1. . . . ngomuntu wami ohamba ngonyawo . . . with my person

who walks on one
olulodwa ame ngezintathu. leg and stands on
three.
2. . . . ngebhasi lami elingenamasondo. with my bus that has
no wheels.
3. . . . ngomuntu wami oneso elilodwa. with my person who
has only one eye.
4. . . . ngomuntu othi angalamba, afe. . . . with my person
who, when he gets
Thirsty, dies.
5. . . . ngendlwana yami engenamnyango. . . . with my little
house that has no
door.
Describing people by personality

In the preceding conversation, Zanele calls Themba ‘lazy.’ Here are
some other ways to describe people.
Names for certain types of people:

• ivila a lazy person
• isikhwishikhwishi an energetic person (hurricane)
• iqhalaqhala a talkative person
• umnyewu a reticent person, introvert
People described as having certain qualities:

• isineke patience unesineke He’s/She’s patient.
• umusa kindness unomusa He’s/She’s kind.
• umona jealousy unomona He’s/She’s jealous.
• amahloni shyness unamahloni He’s/She’s shy.
Describing people’s temporary states or

emotions
In the preceding conversation, Themba says he ‘was asleep’ during the
trip. Here are some other temporary states:
Ulele. He/She’s asleep.

Ulambile. He/She’s hungry.
Ukhathele. He/She’s tired.
Ukhathazekile. He/She’s worried.
Language note
Temporary states
Certain verbs can be used to describe a present state that is the result
of an event (often of short duration) in the past. This is called stative/
perfective, and the pattern is as follows:
SM-{verb}-ile
And if there is new information following the verb:
SM-{verb}-e + {new information}
-lamba get hungry -lambile be hungry

-oma get dry, thirsty -omile be dry, thirsty
-hamba go away -hambile be gone
-fa die -fle be dead
-zaca lose weight -zacile be thin
Most verbs with fnal stem vowel /-a-/ change to /-e-/:
-lala go to sleep -lele be asleep

-sala stay behind -sele be left behind
-enama get contented -eneme be content
-sangana get confused -sangene be confused
-khuluphala put on weight -khuluphele be fat
If the verb is in passive form, then the ending is /-iwe/:
-daka intoxicate -dakiwe be intoxicated

-khohlwa slip the mind -khohliwe have (‘be’) forgotten
Umsebenzi 12.7
Abantu bahlukene. People are different.
Write a one-word description of each person from the information given.
Isibonelo:
USteve uthanda ukudla. Ukhuluphele.
1. UVusi akathandi ukusebenza.

2. UNtombenhle uthanda ukusiza abantu.
3. UMike akaziqondi izibalo.
4. Indoda iphuze kakhulu.
5. Udokotela akekho.
6. USipho ufuna imoto efana nekaMenzi.
7. UBeatrice akasho lutho.
8. Umama usebenze usuku lonke.
9. Izingane zisembhedeni.
10. Impala ihlaselwe yibhubesi.
Unit 13
Kudala
Long ago
In this unit:
• Talking about the remote past
• Describing remote times
• Talking about childhood
• Folk tales
Ingxoxo 13.1
UThandiwe uxoxa noGogo ngobusha bakhe Thand-
iwe talks to Grandma about her childhood (Audio 13.1)
Unit 13: Long ago 157
uThandiwe: Gogo, wazalwa nini?

uGogo: Ngazalwa ngo-1939, mntanomntanami.
uThandiwe: Ngo-1939! Hawu Gogo, yisemandulo impela!
uGogo: Uqinisile. Sengimdala. Kodwa angigugile.
uThandiwe: Wazalelwaphi?
uGogo: Ngazalelwa epulazini, eduze kwaseMnambithi.
uThandiwe: EMnambithi? Ikuphi lapho?
uGogo: Abelungu bathi yiLadysmith. Uyayazi?
uThandiwe: Hho, yebo, ngiyayazi. Siyawubona umgwaqo
oya eLadysmith lapho siya eGoli. Futhi abaculi
abadumile ababizwa ngokuthi yiLadysmith
Black Mambazo bavela laphaya.
uGogo: Kulungile, kodwa thina sasihlala epulazini.
Sonke sasisebenza epulazini.
uThandiwe: Wawenzani Gogo?
uGogo: Ehlobo sasihlakula emasimini. Ekwindla
sasivuna.
uThandiwe: Wawuvunani? Ama-apula? Obhanana?
uGogo: Hawu, mntanomntanami! Ungowasedolobheni
impela! Sasivuna ummbila. Sasikha izikhwebu.
uThandiwe: Hho. Wawunesikhathi sokudlala kodwa?
uGogo: Impela sasinaso! Sasishaya ingqathu futhi
sasidlala umacashelana.
uThandiwe: Nanijabulile kodwa?
uGogo: Lapho ngisemncane ngangijabule, kodwa lapho
sengikhulile ngafuna ukuyofunda edolobheni.
uThandiwe: Gogo, wawuthanda ukufunda?
uGogo: Yebo! Ngangikuthanda kakhulu. Ngangifuna
ukuba uthisha. Kwakuyiphupho lami.
uThandiwe: Bese waba nguthisha impela!
uGogo: Yebo mntanomntanami. Ngashiya ipulazi.
158 Unit 13: Kudala
Amagama amasha
mntanomntanami my grandchild -hlakula weed
(greeting) insimu/amasimu feld
-zala bear a child -vuna harvest
-zalwa be born owase-/abase- one who is
emandulo time long past from
impela truly ummbila corn, maize
-qinisile be sure -kha gather/pick
-gugile be decrepit isikhwebu/izi- corn cobs
ipulazi (commercial) -shaya ingqathu skip, jump
farm rope
eduze na- near to umacashelana hide and seek
umgwaqo/imi- road iphupho/ama- dream
-dumile famous
Did you notice?

Gogo talks about things that she did repeatedly in her childhood:
sasihlala epulazini We lived on a farm.

sasisebenza epulazini We used to work on the farm.
sasihlakula emasimini We used to weed in the felds.
sasivuna We harvested.
sasikha izikhwebu We collected corn cobs.
sasishaya ingqathu We played jump rope.
sasidlala . . . We played . . .
They talk about emotions and desires:
Nanijabulile? Were you happy?

Wawuthanda ukufunda? Did you like studying?
Ngangijabula I was happy.
Ngangifuna ukuba uthisha. I wanted to be a teacher.
Language note
Talking about long ago
Zulu makes a distinction between events that happened recently and

things that happened long ago. (See Unit 8.)
Remote past progressive

The remote past progressive is for activities that were habitual,
occurred repeatedly or took place over an extended period some
time ago. It is marked by a doubled subject marker.
The pattern is:
Affirmative: SMá – SM – [verb] – a

Negative: SMá – SM – nga – [verb] – i
Examples
Ngá-ngi-hlala eThekwini. I used to live in Durban.
Sá-si-hlala eThekwini. We used to live in Durban.
Wá-ye-hlala eThekwini. He/She used to live in Durban
Bá-be-hlala eThekwini. They used to live in Durban.
Ngá-ngi-nga-hlali eThekwini. I used to not live in Durban.
Sá-si-nga-hlali eThekwini. We used to not live in Durban.
Wá-ye-nga-hlali eThekwini. He/She used to not live in Durban
Bá-be-nga-hlali eThekwini. They used to not live in Durban.
Subject markers for remote past progressive

Noun group Present SM Remote past Progressive
SM
1st person sg. ngi- nga- ngangi-
pl. si- sa- sasi-
2nd person sg. u- wa- wawu-
pl. nina- nani-
160 Unit 13: Kudala
3rd person:
UMU- u- wa- waye-
ABA- baba- babe-
ILI- li- la- lali-
AMA- a- a- aye-
ISI- si- sa- sasi-
IZI- zi- za- zazi-
UMU- u- wa- wawu-
IMI- i- ya- yayi-
IN-, IM- i- ya- yayi –
IZIN-, IZIM- zi- za- zazi-
ULU- lu- lwa- lwalu-
IZIN-, IZIM- zi- za- zazi-
UBU- bu- ba- babu-
UKU- ku- kwa- kwaku-
Umsebenzi 13.1
Habitual events in remote past
Complete the following by inserting the appropriate subject marker:
1. UZanele hlala eGoli.

2. Abazali bami thanda ukulalela
umsakazo.
3. (Mina) dlala ibhola esikoleni.
4. Izitshudeni ya ekhefi kusihlwa.
5. Amadoda phuza ubhiya ebha.
6. Ukudla phekwa ngamakhosikazi.
7. Inja yami lala ngaphandle.
8. Ubisi biza uR10.
9. Umfula gcwala emuva
kwezimvula.
10. Utshani dliwa yizinkomo.
Umsebenzi 13.2
Habitual events (negative)
Rewrite the preceding sentences in the negative.
Remember:
• The object noun loses its initial vowel.
Language note
‘Having’ and ‘not having’ in remote past:
Affirmative
The remote subject marker is added to na- and the noun.
The pattern is:
SMa – SM – na - {noun}
Examples:
Wawunesikhathi? Did you have time?
Babenemoto. They had a car.
Negative
The negating affix is –nge- and part of the emphatic pronoun* is

added:
SMa – SM – nge – na - EP + {noun}
Examples:
Wawungenaso sikhathi? Didn’t you have time?
Babengenayo moto. They didn’t have a car.
* For a full list of emphatic pronouns, see reference grammar.

162 Unit 13: Kudala
Umsebenzi 13.3
‘Having’ in remote past
1. (Thina) nabangane abaningi.

2. Umama nezinkukhu eziningi.
3. Umuthi nezithelo ezimnandi.
4. [There were] namaphoyisa
emgwaqweni.
5. Izinja nokudla okuningi.
6. Ihembe nokudabuka.
7. Abantwana . nodoli.
8. Amasokisi nemigqa ebomvu.
9. Ubuhlalu nombala osiliva.
10. Insimu namatshe amaningi.
Umsebenzi 13.4
Association (not having) in remote past
Language note
Identifying (‘being’) in remote past:
Affirmative:
The remote subject marker is added to the Tofu linker and the noun:
The pattern is:
SMa – SM - ng/w - {noun}

Examples:
Kwakuyiphupho lami. It was my dream.
Wayenguthisha wami. She was my teacher.
Negative:
The negative affix is -nge- and emphatic pronoun* is added.
The pattern is:
SMa – SM - nge- E P + {noun}
Examples:
Kwakungelona phupho lami. It was not my dream.
Wayengeyena thisha wami.She was not my teacher.
* For a full list of emphatic pronouns see reference grammar.

164 Unit 13: Kudala
Umsebenzi 13.5
Identifying (‘being’) in remote past
1. UShaka yinkosi yamaZulu.
2. (Mina) ngumfana ogangile.
3. UGogo nguthisha.
4. Abazala ngabalimi.
5. Le ntombi yingane etefa kakhulu.
Umsebenzi 13.6
Negative identifying (‘not being’) in remote past
Language note
Remote past perfective
The remote past perfective is for single events that took place some
time ago. It is marked by a subject marker with vowel /a/.
The pattern is:
Affirmative: SMa-{verb}-a
The negative form is identical to the form for recent past perfective:
Negative: a-SM-{verb}-a-nga
Did you notice?

In the preceding dialogue, Gogo refers to specifc events using perfec-
tive aspect.
Ngazalwa ngo-1939. I was born in 1939.

Ngazalelwa eMnambithi. I was born in Ladysmith.
Ngashiya ipulazi. I left the farm.
Umsebenzi 13.7
Single events in remote past (affirmative)
1. Abazali bami zalelwa eThekwini.
2. (Mina) funda isikole eBoston.
3. (Thina) thuthela eGoli ngonyaka odlule.
4. La mantombazana qala ukufunda ehlobo.
Umsebenzi 13.8
Single events in remote past (negative)
Izinganekwane Folktales
Izinganekwane yizindatshana ezilanda ngezenzo zezilwane noma

zabantu. Kukhona abavezwa nezimilo ezinhle njengesibindi noma
umusa kanye nalabo abavezwa nezimbi ngengobugwala noma
unya. Ekupheleni kwenganekwane kukhona isaga esichaza isifundo
esichazwa emlandweni.
Isilwane esivamile ezinganekwane nguChakijane, ozama
ukwahlula izilwane ezinkulu kakhulu kunaye. Umuntu ovela ezin-
ganekwaneni eziningi yiZimuzimu. Amazimu afana nabantu kodwa
abangakwazi ukuphilisana kahle nabanye emphakathini ngokuthi
athanda ukuphikisana futhi ayadlana. Abantu abahle – ikakhulu izin-
tombi – kufanele baqhaphele amazimu ngoba akwazi ukuzenza
afane nabantu.
Ebucikweni bakwaZulu izinganekwane zibaluleke kakhulu eku-
fundiseni abantwana ngokuziphathe kahle. Ngokuvamile zilandwa
ngogogo kusihlwa lapho umndeni usuphumule uhleli eduze komlilo.
166 Unit 13: Kudala
Indaba 13.2
UManyosi
(Audio 13.2)
This is an unusual (though popular) folktale because Manyosi is an
historical fgure.
UManyosi, owayeyindodana kaDlekezele Mbatha, wayeyibutho emp-

ini kaShaka.Wayeyibutho elinesibindi futhi wayebonwa njengeqhawe.
UManyosi wayeyithanda kakhulu inyama. Wayekwazi ukudla imbuzi
yonke eyedwa. Wayebuthanda futhi wayebuphuza kakhulu uthswala.
Lapho uDingane engena ebukhosini, uManyosi wayephethwe kahle
ngenxa yobuqhawe bakhe.Wayenikwa konke ukudla nokuphuzwayo
ayekufuna. Ngakho-ke wakhuluphala kakhulu.
Ngaphambi kwempi phakathi kwaDingane nabalandeli bom-
fowabo uMpande, uManyosi wamshiya uDingane wayolwela uMp-
ande. Kodwa laphaya kwaMpande abantu babengamhloniphi
njengalabo bakwaDingane. Ngakho-ke abantu baqala ukumchuku-
luza uManyosi bathi:‘Siyobohla Manyosi!’
Isaga sithi umuntu angazisola ngezenzo zakhe. Sisetshenziswa
kubantu abacebile abaphila benganaki lutho bengacabangi ngekusasa.
From the late Prof. Mashasha Hlengwa. Used with permission.
Amagama amasha
ibutho/ama- soldier, regiment -lwela fght for
isibindi courage [the liver] laphaya over there
iqhawe/ama- hero -hlonipha show respect
imbuzi/izim- goat njenga- just as
eyedwa he being alone labo those
utshwala sorgum beer -qala begin
-khuluphala get fat -chukuluza taunt
abalandeli followers isaga/iz- saying
-shiya leave behind -zisola have regret for
1
Mpande, Dingane, and Shaka were all sons of Senzangakhona.
isenzo/iz- action lutho nothing

-setshenziswa be used ikusasa the future
-cebile wealthy -abela share
-naka care, pay attention to
Umsebenzi 13.9
1. UManyosi wayengubaba kaDlekezele Mbatha.

2. UManyosi wayeyibutho elihle.
3. UManyosi wayebonwa njengenkosi.
4. Wayekwazi ukudla imbuzi yonke.
5. UManyosi wayephathwa kabi nguDingane.
6. Wayenikwa imali eningi.
7. UDingane walwa nomfowabo uMpande.
8. KwaMpande abantu babemhlonipha kakhulu uManyosi.
9. Abantu bamchukuluza uManyosi ngoba wayekhuluphele.
10. Isaga ‘Siyobohla Manyosi’ sithi kufanele umuntu aqaphele ukudla
nokuphuza kwakhe.
Did you notice?

Manyosi is described with remote progressive double subject
markers:
• wayeyibutho He was a soldier.

• wayebonwa He was seen.
• wayekwazi He was able.
• wayephuza He used to drink.
• wayephathwa He was treated.
Language point
More on remote past: describing feelings and
states in remote past
Use the stative form of the verb, prefx the double subject marker:
168 Unit 13: Kudala
Wayekhathele. She was tired.

Ngangilambile. I was hungry.
Sasilele. We were asleep.
Babejabulile. They were happy.
To negate insert -nga-:
Wáyengakhathele. She wasn’t tired.

Ngángingalambile. I wasn’t hungry.
Sásingalele. We weren’t asleep.
Bábengajabulile. They weren’t happy.
Umsebenzi 13.10
Ukuchaza Describing in remote past
Complete with the appropriate double subject markers:

1. Abafundi khathele.
2. UZanele lambile.
3. Amadoda dakiwe.
4. Izinkomo zacile.
5. Imoto gcolile.
Note: For common adjectives and numbers 1–5: Keep part of the
adjective marker.
6. Ingubo mfushane.
7. Ubisi bi.
8. Imuvi hle.
9. Amabhulukwe de.
10. Abantwana ningi.
Umsebenzi 13.11
Ukuchaza
Negate the preceding sentences.
1. Abafundi khathele.
2. UZanele lambile.
3. Amadoda dakiwe.
4. Izinkomo zacile.
5. Imoto ngcolile.
Notes: For common adjectives and numbers 1–5: Keep part of the
adjective marker. Negative: -nge-
6. Ingubo. . . . . . . . . . . . mfushane.
7. Ubisi. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . bi.
8. Imuvi. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . hle.
9. Amabhulukwe. . . . . . . . de.
10. Abantwana. . . . . . . . . . . . ningi.
Ingxoxo 13.3
UGogo ukhumbula usuku lokhetho Grandma
remembers election day (Audio 13.3)
uThandiwe: Gogo, uyalukhumbula ukhetho lokuqala laseMzansi?

uGogo: Ehhe, ngilukhumbula kahle kakhulu Sibongile.
uThandiwe: Wawukuphi ngalolo suku?
uGogo: Ngangunguthishomkhulu esikoleni esiphakeme
eMlazi. Thina othisha savuka kusempondo zankomo,
sagibela ibhasi ngo-5 ekuseni.
uThandiwe: Babenjani abantu endaweni yokuvota?
uGogo: Sasijabula kodwa kwakuthule kuthe du. Sasiklela
emqgeni omude sixoxela phansi, silinde ithuba lethu.
uThandiwe: Nanithuleleni kangaka nakuba nijabule?
uGogo: Angikwazi ukuchaza kahle. . . Ngicabanga ukuthi
sasesaba kancane ukuthi yiphupho nje futhi
singavuka sithola ukuthi kushabalele konke.
uThandiwe: Hawu Gogo! Pho, umuntu uvota ngani?
uGogo: Kukhona iphepha elinamagama awo wonke
amaqembu ezombusazwe kanye nezithombe
zawo. Bese wena-ke, uthatha ipeni ufaka uphawu
170 Unit 13: Kudala
lwesiphambano -u-‘x’ ebhokisini leqembu olithanda

kakhulu kunamanye.
uThandiwe: Ayemangaki amaqembu ngalolo khetho?
uGogo: Wuu! Ayemaningi! Ngithi ayengamashumi amabili.
uThandiwe: Amashumi amabili! Angikaze ngizwe ngalawo
maqembu.
uGogo: Uqinisile. Kodwa noma ubani angasungula iqembu.
Yilungelo lakho.
uThandiwe: Ngiyezwa. Ngizovota nami okhethweni olulandelayo.
uGogo: Ngiyajabula ukuzwa lokho mntanomntanami.
Kubalulekile ukuvikela umbuso wentando yeningi.
Amagama amasha
-khumbula remember -thi think
ukhetho election -esaba fear
lokuqala frst iphupho dream
vele defnitely -thola discover
ngololo suku on that day -shabalala disappear
uthishomkhulu head teacher pho! so, by the
isikole esiphakeme high school way
kusempondo at the crack of iqembu le
zankomo dawn zombusazwe political party
indawo place kanye na- together with
-thula be silent isithombe picture
-thi du very quiet -faka put in
-klela stand in line iqembu party
umugqa queue, line angikaze I have nev-
-khulumela phansi low voice er. . .
-linda wait -sungula establish
ithuba turn, opportu- ilungelo right

nity -landelayo next
kangaka so much -balulekile important
nakuba even though -vikela protect
-chaza explain umbuso government
intando yeningi democracy
umkhankaso/imi- campaign -thatha

ilungelo/ama- right umhlalaphansi retire
uKhongolosi African Inkatha Inkatha Free-
National dom Party
Congress ilunga/ama- member
-holwa be led -hlanganyela participate
umongameli/ab- president -namathela stick, adhere
Did you notice?

There are many descriptive phrases in this dialogue, but only one
uses a common adjective:
emgqeni omude in a long line
Some descriptions use relative construction:
esikoleni esiphakeme high school [school that is high]

phepha elinamagama awo
wonke amaqembu a paper that had the names of all the
parties
leqembu olithanda kakhulu the party that you liked most
okhethweni olulandelayo the election that follows
Some descriptions use the possessive structure:
ukhetho lokuqalala-ukuqala frst election

umbuso wentando yeningi democratic government
wa-intando
Language note
Relative construction
This construction uses a verb to describe:
iphepha linamagama the paper has names

à iphepha elinamagama a paper that has names
uthanda iqembu you like the party
à iqembu olithandayo the team that you like [it]
ukhetho luyalandela the election follows
à ukhetho olulandelayo the election that follows
172 Unit 13: Kudala
For more on relative construction see reference grammar.
Umsebenzi 13.12
Mark the statements as true or false according to the dialogue.
1. UGogo wayenguthisha ngesikhathi sokhetho. Yiqiniso./Akunjalo.
2. Othisha bavuka ngo-8 ekuseni. Yiqiniso./Akunjalo.
3. Bahamba ngemoto bayovota. Yiqiniso./Akunjalo.
4. Abantu babecula ngesikhathi belindele ukuvota. Yiqiniso./Akunjalo.
5. Kwakukhona amaqembu angamashumi amabili. Yiqiniso./Akunjalo.
Umlando
Ukhetho lwango-1994 eNingizimu-Afrika
Eminyakeni phambi kokhetho lwawonke wonke lokuqala kwakuk-

hona umkhankaso omkhulu kabi wokufundisa wonke umuntu nge-
lungelo lokuvota nangendlela yokuvota.
Ukhetho lwawinwa nguKhongolosi (i-ANC), owawuholwa nguNel-
son wakwaMandela owaba nguMongameli. Emuva kweminyaka emi-
hlanu wathatha umhlalaphansi.
Iqembu leNkatha, elalinamaZulu amaningi njengamalunga alo,
lavuma ukuhlanganyela okhethweni emasontweni okugcina nje
phambi kosuku lokuvota. Ngakho-ke kwakufanele ukuthi igama
leqembu linanyathiselwe kuwo wonke amaphepha ngesandla.
Unit 14
Ukuthuthela eGoli
Moving to Johannesburg
In this unit:
• Talking about future events
• Demonstratives
• Ka- possessives
Ingxoxo 14.1
UZanele uthola umsebenzi Zanele gets a job (Audio 14.1)
Zanele tells her family that she has been offered a job in Johannesburg.
uZanele: Ma! Gogo! Wozani!

Umama: Yini mntanami?
Ugogo: Kwenzekani?
174 Unit 14: Ukuthuthela eGoli
uZanele: Ngiwutholile!
Umama: Utholeni?
uZanele: Umsebenzi! Bayangifuna kwaMfeka!
Ugogo: Ngubani lo Mfeka? Ufuna ukushada nawe?
Kuzodingeka ukuba alethe ilobolo elikhulu!
uZanele: Cha Gogo! Ngikhuluma ngomsebenzi. Ngiyosebenza
eGoli.
Ugogo nomama: EGoli?
uZanele: Yebo! uMfeka & Partners yinkampani. Banginika
umsebenzi.
Umama: Inkampani? Benzani laphaya eGoli?
uZanele: Bangama-accountants, abagcinimabhuku.
Umama: Hho! Banjengawe!
uZanele: Yebo! Manje njengoba ngiziphothulile iziqu zeB.Comm.
in Accounting bayangifuna.
Umama: Nkosi yami!
Ugogo: Awekho ama-accountants lapha eThekwini?
Uzanele: Akhona Gogo, kodwa izinkampani ezinkulu ziseGoli.
Umama: Uzohlalaphi eGoli?
uZanele: Angikazi. Ngizofuna ifulethi.
Umama: Ifulethi? Hhayi bo! Uzohlala wedwa?
uZanele: Angazi. Umngane wami uLisa naye futhi bamfuna eGoli.
Mhlawumbe singahlala ndawonye mina naye . . .
Ugogo: Uzohamba ngani ukuya eGoli?
uZanele: Ngizohamba ngebhanoyi Gogo.
Umama: Bese eGoli uzohamba ngani laphaya?
uZanele: Bathi bazongisiza ukuthenga imoto.
Umama: Nkosi yami! Umntanami uzoshayela imoto eGoli!
uZanele: Yebo Ma. Niyongivakashela wena noGogo? Angithi?
Ugogo: Maye! Kukude lapho!
(UZanele uyamamatheka begonana.)

Unit 14: Moving to Johannesburg 175
Amagama amasha
Kwenzenjani What’s going ifulethi/ama- fat, apartment
on?/What’s the -dwa only, alone
matter? mhlawumbe perhaps
-shada na- marry Kusekude kabi It’s still very far.
inkampani/izin- company -mamatheka Smile
njenga- like -gonana hug one another
-phothula Complete
Angithi? Is that not so?
iziqu academic
degree
Umsebenzi 14.1
Phendula imibuzo.
1. UZanele utholeni?
2. UGogo ucabanga ukuthi ngubani uMfeka?
3. Bangobani impela oMfeka?
4. UZanele wathola ziphi iziqu?
5. UZanele uthi uzohlalaphi eGoli?
6. UZanele uthi uzohlala nobani?
7. UZanele uzohamba ngani ukuya eGoli?
8. UZanele uzoyithola kanjani imoto?
Did you notice?

Zanele, her mother and grandmother are talking about something that
will take place in the near future. They use the defnite future tense:
Uzohlalaphi? Where will you live?

Ngizofuna ifulethi I’ll look for an apartment.
Uzohlala wedwa? Will you live alone?
Uzohamba ngani? How will you travel?
Ngizohamba ngebhanoyi. I’ll travel by air.
Bazongisiza ukuthenga imoto. They’ll help me to buy a car.

Umntanami uzoshayela My child will drive in
imoto eGoli! Johannesburg!
Language note
Talking about the near/defnite future
As we’ve seen with past time, Zulu distinguishes between events close
to the present and those further away. In future time, this distinction
tends to be between events planned and imminent and events envis-
aged at some indefnite future date.
For the defnite perfective future, add -zo- or -zu- between subject
marker and verb.
Here is the pattern for defnite future (perfective):
Affirmative: SM-zo-{verb}-a
Negative: a-SM-zu-{verb}-a
Umsebenzi 14.2
Kusasa Tomorrow (affirmative)
Make sentences indicating what the people below will do tomorrow:
1. uGogo: -pheka iphalishi

2. abantwana: -ya esikoeni
3. izinsizwa: -dlala ama-videogames
4. uThemba: -thenga ikhompyutha entsha
5. uMnu: Mkhize -lungisa imoto yakhe
Umsebenzi 14.3
Kusasa Tomorrow (negative)
Answer the following questions in the negative:
1. Uzohlala wedwa? Cha,

2. Uzohamba noNothemba? Cha,
3. Uzosebenza eThekwini? Cha,
4. Uzogibela ibhasi eGoli? Cha,
5. Uzothenga kwaCheckers? Cha,
Umsebenzi 14.4
Kusasa Tomorrow
Describe your plans for tomorrow using the affirmative or negative as
appropriate:
1. -vuka ekuseni kakhulu
2. -gibela ibhasi-ya edolobheni
3. -ya emakethe
4. -thenga imifino nenyama yemvu
5. -vakashela umngane esibhedlela
Ingxoxo 14.2
UZanele uzilungiselela ukuthuthela eGoli Zanele
prepares to move to Johannesburg (Audio 14.2)
uZanele: (ematasatasa) Hawu, mama, liphi ipotimende lami?

Umama: Usho lelo eliphansi kombhede?
uZanele: Cha mama. Ngisho leli eliphezu kwekhabethe.
Umama: Kodwa lelo elikadadewenu.
uZanele: Eish, ngiyalifuna noma isikhwama sakhe.
Umama: Kulungile. Ngizombuza. Unazo zonke izingubo
ozidingayo?
uZanele: Ngicabanga ukuthi nginazo. Bheka mama!
Umama: Yizini lezi?
uZanele: Yizingubo zami ezinhlanu.
Umama: Yizini lezi?
uZanele: Ngamahembe ami. Maningi, ngiyazi.
Umama: Yizini lezo?
uZanele: Yiziketi zami ezintathu.
Umama: Yizini leziya?
uZanele: Yizicathulo zami.
Umama: Uzophatha labo phaqa? Badala!
uZanele: Ngiyazi, kodwa ngiyabathanda.
Umama: Unawo amateku akho? Namasokisi akho?
UZanele: Yebo nginawo.
Umama: Nekhompyutha yakho?
UZanele: Nginayo.
Umama: Nejazi lakho? Uyazi ukuthi lithanda ukubanda eGoli.
uZanele: Nginalo.
Umama: Yini le? Yisikhwama sakho?
uZanele: Cha. Yisikhwama sikaThandiwe.
Umama: Hho. Sihle kodwa! Manje uzokwazi ukulivala
ipotimende?
uZanele: (edonsa ngamandla) Mh! Mh! Nali. Livaliwe.
Did you notice?

Possessives (See Unit 9.)
When describing items she owns, Zanele uses different possessive
markers with the base -mi (my):
ipotimende lami
izingubo zami
amahembe ami
iziketi zami
izicathulo zami
Zanele’s mother also uses different possessive markers with the base
-kho (your):
amateku akho
amasokisi akho
ikhompiyutha yakho
. . . and for an item that belongs to Zanele’s sister she uses the base
-khe (her, his):
ipotimende lakhe
When the owner is mentioned by name, a different possessive marker

is used:
isikhwama sikaThandiwe Thandiwe’s bag
Language note
Possessives with personal names
When the owner is named, a different set of possessive markers is

used. These markers all contain ka-, and they replace the initial vowel
of the owner noun.
Examples
• umngane kaThemba Themba’s friend
• ibhayisikili likaVusi Vusi’s bike
• izingubo zikaZanele Zanele’s clothes
• ukudla kukaThemba Themba’s food
• abantwana bakamalume uncle's children
ka- possessive markers
Noun group Noun prefx ka- possessive marker

UMU- umu- ka-
ABA- aba- baka-

ILI- i- lika-
AMA- ama- ka-
ISI- isi- sika-
IZI- izi- zika-
UMU- umu- ka-
IMI- imi- ka-
IN-, IM- in-, im- ka-
IZIN-, IZIM- izin-, izim- zika-
ULU- u- luka-
UBU- ubu- baka-
UKU- uku- kuka-
Umsebenzi 14.5 Possessives + Names

Add the appropriate ka- possessive markers:
1. isihlalo. . . . . uThandiwe Thandiwe’s chair

2. izincwadi. . . . . uZanele Zanele’s books
3. imoto. . . . uBongani. Bongani’s car
4. abantwana. . . . . malume uncle's children
5. ihembe. . . . . uThemba Themba’s shirt
Note: ka- possessive markers are used for all nouns in the
u-/o- subgroup:
Umsebenzi 14.6 Possessives + u-/o- nouns

Add the appropriate possessive markers:
1. isihlalo. . . . . unesi the nurse’s chair

2. izincwadi. . . . . uGogo granny’s books
3. imoto. . . . ubaba father’s car
4. abantwana. . . . . umama mother’s children
5. ihembe. . . . . udokotela the doctor’s shirt
Did you notice?

Zanele and her mother use demonstratives (‘this,’ ‘that,’ ‘these’) to
locate items:
• lelo (ipotimende) that one

• lezi (izingubo) these
• lawo (amahembe) those
• lezo (iziketi) those
• leziya (izicathulo) those over there
Language note
Demonstratives
Zulu marks three positions for demonstratives:
• this (near me, the speaker)

• that (near you, the listener)
• that over there (away from both of us)
As with all words that modify nouns, demonstratives have a different

form for each noun class. Demonstratives generally come before the
noun and replace the initial vowel.
For a full list of demonstratives, see the reference grammar at end
of book.
Examples of ‘this’
lo lo muntu this person
laba bantu these people
leli leli hembe this shirt
la la mahembe these shirts
lesi lesi siketi this skirt
lezi lezi ziketi these skirts
le le nja this dog
lezi lezi zinja these dogs
lokhu lokhu kudla this food
Examples of ‘that’
lowo lowo muntu that person
labo laba bantu those people
lelo lelo hembe that shirt
lawo lawo mahembe those shirts
leso leso siketi that skirt
lezo lezo ziketi those skirts
leyo leyo nja that dog
lezo lezo zinja those dogs
lokho lokho kudla that food
Umsebenzi 14.7 Ezikhombayo Demonstratives

Add the appropriate demonstratives:
1. abantu these
2. izimbali those
3. umgwaqo this
4. ukudla that
5. amajazi these
6. ukushayela this
7. ibhola that
8. inyathi this
9. amakati those
10. ulwandle that
Ingxoxo 14.3
Ngolunye usuku Another day (Audio 14.3)
Themba and Sipho talk about how they’d like to visit Johannesburg
someday.
uThemba: Uzizwile izindaba ezimnandi zikadadewethu uZanele?

uSipho: Cha, lutho. Zithini?

uThemba: Uthole umsebenzi.
uSipho: Uqinisile? Kwakuhle-ke lokho! Uzosebenzela obani?
uThemba: KwaMfeka & Partners. EGoli.
uSipho: EGoli? Hawu, unenhlanhla!
uThemba: Yebo, unenhlanhla kodwa wafunda kanzima futhi.
uSipho: Ngiyothanda kakhulu ukuhlala eGoli mina.
uThemba: Nami futhi. Kodwa hhayi manje.
uSipho: Hhayi manje? Ngobani?
uThemba: Ngifuna ukushada ngisekhona eThekwini. Emuva
kwalokho ngiyoya eGoli.
uSipho: Hho! Mina ngiyoqala ngokuyovakashela eGoli. Bathi
akulula ukuhlala khona.
uThemba: Uyokwenzani eGoli uma uvakashela khona?
uSipho: Ngiyobuka imidlalo yeshashalazi. . . ngiyogibela
isitimela esisheshayo iGautrain. . . ngiyodla ezindlini
zokudlela eRosebank. . . ngiyophuza. . .
uThemba: Wo! Yima bo mfowethu! Uyoyitholaphi imali yokwenza
zonke lezi zinto?
uSipho: Eish, Themba, kuvunyelwe ukuphupha angithi?
uThemba: Kuvunyelwe impela.
uSipho: Ngiyoqeda izifundo zami. . . .
uThemba: Kuhle lokho.
uSipho: Bese ngiyothola umsebenzi. . . .
uThemba: Mhmm.
uSipho: Angiyuchitha imali emahhashini. . .
uThemba: Mhmm.
uSipho: Angiyuya ekhasino. . .
uThemba: Kwakuhle lokho mfowethu. Uyosheshe ube nemali
eyanele yokuya eGoli!
Amagama amasha

ipotimende/ama- suitcase -qinisile be sure
lutho nothing inhlanhla/izin- good luck
kanzima hard, difficult Kuvunyelwe It’s allowed/

akulula uku- It’s not easy permitted.
to. . . -phupha dream
-lula easy Impela truly
umdlalo -anele be sufficient
weshashalazi stage play
isitimela
esisheshayo high-speed
train
Did you notice?

Sipho is talking to Themba about events that he hopes or intends will
take place in the near future. There is no defnite plan or date, and so
he uses the indefnite future tense:
Ngiyothanda kakhulu ukuhlala I would love to live in

eGoli. Johannesburg.
Emuva kwalokho ngiyoya eGoli. After that, I’ll go to Johannesburg.
Mina ngiyoqala ngokuyova- As for me, I’ll frst visit
kashela eGoli. Johannesburg.
Uyokwenzani eGoli? What will you do in
Johannesburg?
Sipho also talks about things he intends to not do in the future. He

uses the indefnite future negative:
Angiyuchitha imali emahhashini. I won’t waste money on the

horses.
Angiyuya ekhasino. I won’t go to the Casino.
Language note
Indefnite future tense
This tense is used for events intended or hoped for at some indefnite
future date.
The pattern for indefnite future is:

Affirmative: SM-yo-{verb}-a
Negative: a-SM-yu-{verb}-a
Umsebenzi 14.8
See how many other verbs in indefnite future tense you can fnd in
the preceding dialogue.
Umsebenzi 14.9
Themba loves sports, and so he would spend his time differently from
Sipho in Johannesburg. List things he would not do.
Language note
Defnite or indefnite future?
The defnite future tense is often followed by expressions of time; the

indefnite future is not:
Examples
Ngozopheka kusasa. I’ll cook tomorrow.
Ngiyopheka. I’m going to cook.
Uzothenga imoto kuleli sonto. He’ll buy a car this week.
Uyothenga imoto. He’s going to buy a car.
Angozupheka kusasa. I won’t cook tomorrow.
Angiyupheka. I’m not going to cook.
Akazuthenga imoto kuleli sonto. He won’t buy a car this week.
Akayuthenga imoto. He’s not going to buy a car.
Note: The present tense can be used to indicate an event in the near
future:
Baya eMnambithi kusasa. They’re going to Ladysmith

tomorrow.
Siphuma ntambama. We’re leaving in the afternoon.

Angizi ngesonto elizayo. I’m not coming next week.
Akalali lapha namuhla ebusuku. She’s not sleeping here tonight.
Umsebenzi 14.10
Uhambo lwabangane A trip for friends
You’re planning a trip to South Africa for yourself and a friend.
Send her/him an email outlining your plans based on the fol-

lowing information:
Ngo-2 Januwari O R Thambo

Ngo-2–5 Januwari eGoli
Ngo-5 Januwari eThekwini (ibhanoyi)
Ngo-7 Januwari eHluhluwe (imoto)
Ngo-12 Januwari eCape Town (ibhanoyi)
Ngo-12–16 Januwari eCape Town
Ngo-17 Januwari ekhaya
Umsebenzi 14.11
Iphupho likaMnz. Mkhize Mr. Mkhize’s dream
Mr. Mkhize ponders the things he would do – and a few he would not
do – if he won the lottery.
List his dreams using the indefnite future:
1. I’d get my wife a new car.

2. I’d buy a house.
3. I’d fly to Johannesburg every weekend.
4. I’d buy tickets for every Orlando Pirates game.
5. I’d take my family to Cape Town on holiday.
6. I wouldn’t ride the bus.
7. I wouldn’t work at the bank.
8. My wife wouldn’t wash the clothes.
Unit 15
Amaholidi nezingozi
Holidays and accidents
In this unit:
• Describing in recent past time
• Describing with relative construction
• Seasons and months
• Impersonal ku- + passive
• Describing with ideophones
Indatshana 15.1
Usuku lwamaGugu esizwe Heritage Day
188 Unit 15: Amaholidi nezingozi
Read the following newspaper article:

Uphuthelwe wena obungekho!
2012–09–25
Zanele Mtshali
Cape Town – Sithi gabigabi kuwena obungekho, bekusindwe
ngobethole ezindaweni eziningi ngempelasonto njengoba abantu
besebenzise lolu suku ukugubha uSuku lwamaGugu.
Isibonelo nje, bekukhona iqembu lengoma ebelinandisa embi-
zweni ebekuhlangene kuyo amaZulu e-Acacia Park eKapa. Leli
qembu lithokosize abakade behambele umgubho libhikla ingoma
ebikukhumbuza phansi KwaZulu-Natali.
Izintokazi zakwaZulu bezihlobe zizinhle nezulu lizivumile, njen-
goba belicwathile lilihle emgujweni.
Le nsizwa intshontshe amehlo nezinhliziyo zabaningi ngesikhathi
iyibhikla ize ishaye ungqimphothwe, kukikize wonke umuntu.
Izindaba24
Amagama amasha
-phuthelwe to have missed ingoma/izin- dance song
out -nandisa clean up, make
-ngekho not be present nice
Sithi gabigabi We say, ‘Look imbizo gathering
what we’ve got!’ -thokozisa entertain
ukusindwa to have an -bhikla to talk
ngobethole awesome time excitedly
[literal meaning, -khumbuza remind
to use dung of
izintokazi young girls
a calf to smear
the foor] -zihloba dress up
indawo/izin- place/s -cwathile sky blue
-gubha celebrate -ntshontsha steal a glance
amehlo
njengoba since, because
inhliziyo/izin- heart
umgubho celebration
-shaya turn somer
igugu/ama- treasure
ungqimphothwe saults
isizwe nation
iqembu/ama- group -kikiza ululate
Unit 15: Holidays and accidents 189
Did you notice?

The writer uses the near past tense (progressive) to describe the
scene. (See also Unit 10.) Some are in relative form (e-):
bekusindwe foor was smeared [with dung] of a calf

iqembu [e]belinandisa the group [that] had made it nice
[e]bekuhlangene kuyo [at which] were gathered
[e]bikukhumbuza [that] was reminding [you]
izintokazi bezihlobe Young girls were dressed up.
belicwathile It [the weather] was fne.
As you saw in the preceding passage, progressive aspect is gener-

ally used for description and is used for denoting states in near past
time:
Bengilambile. I was hungry.
Besikhathele. We were tired.
Bebehambile. They were gone.
Umsebenzi 15.1
Arrange the sentences in the correct order to form a summary of the
preceding report.
1. Abesifazane bebekikiza.
2. Babeshaya izingoma ezazibakhumbuza ekhaya.
3. Bahlangane e-Acacia Park eKapa.
4. Izinsizwa zincome izintombi.
5. Izintokazi bezigqoke kahle.
6. Izulu belibalele.
7. Laba bantu abahlala eKapa bavela KwaZulu-Natali.
8. Ngempelasonto abantu bagubhe uSuku lwamaGugu Esizwe.
Language notes
Impersonal subject marker ku-
This subject marker is used to place the focus on the event, not the
actor. It is often used in newspaper reports:
Kufke indoda. There arrived a man.

Kukhona abantwana lapho. There are children there.
Akushonanga muntu. No one died.
The impersonal subject marker ku- is also used with the passive
form of the verb to place emphasis on the event:
Kuculwe esikoleni. There was singing in the school.

Kulinyazwe abaningi. There were many injured.
Kwakhiwa izindlu eziningi. There were many houses built.
Kwenziwa amanye amamuvi. There were some movies made.
Note: Changes triggered by passive form

Certain verbs are changed in passive form:
-gubha celebrate à -gujwa be celebrated

-hamba travel à -hanjwa be travelled
Umsebenzi 15.2
Answer the following questions about the preceding report.
1. Kugujweni?
2. Kugujwephi?
3. Kwenzekeni?
4. Kukhunjulweni?
5. Zenzeni izintokazi?
6. Yenzeni insizwa?
Ingxoxo 15.1
Unathi uxoxa ngoSuku lwamaGugu Unathi tells Zan-
ele about Heritage Day (Audio 15.1)
uZanele: (Ucingo lukhala) Halo? Ngubani okhulumayo?

Unathi: Yimina, Unathi. Sawubona mnganami.
uZanele: Hho, sawubona Unathi. Unjani?
Unathi: Ngikhona. Wena?
uZanele: Hhayi, ngikhona nami.
Unathi: Zithini ezintsha?
uZanele: Akukho lutho olumangalisayo. Wena?
Unathi: Ngiye kwaCele izolo.
uZanele: Hho! Bekunedili?
Unathi: Yebo. Bekugujwa uSuku lwamaGugu.
Bekugcwele!
uZanele: Kwakuhle-ke lokho!
Unathi: Abanye bebevunule ngokuphelele.
uZanele: Nawe futhi?
Unathi: Hhayi bo! Uyazi nginamahloni mina.
uZanele: Ugqokeni?
Unathi: Isiketi esimnyama nehembe elibomvana
nejakhethe eli-denim eliluhlaza.
uZanele: Zinhle lezo zimpahla! Izinwele-ke?
Unathi: Ngifake isikhafu sami esibomvu. . . . leso
esihambisana namacici amakhulu.
uZanele: Wuu! Ububukeka impela! Bebekhona
abakuncomayo?
Unathi: Hmmm. . . (ehleka kancane) Hhayi phela...
Ubekhona uRonnie.
uZanele: Lona ofunda i-architecture?
Unathi: Yebo, yena. Sixoxe kancane.
uZanele: Ubekhona uS’bu?
Unathi: Ngubani lowo?
uZanele: Lona osebenza ebhange ePava. Uyimeneja manje.
Awumkhumbuli?
Unathi: Cha, angimkhumbuli.
Amagama amasha
Ngubani Who’s speaking? -gcwala fll up
okhulumayo? -vunula wear traditional
Yimina It’s me. clothes
Akukho lutho There’s nothing amahloni shyness
olumangalisayo surprising. -hambisana go together with,
idili celebration, feast match with
-gujwa be celebrated -bukeka be attractive
-gubha celebrate
-ncoma admire
-gcwele be full
Did you notice?

When describing, Thandiwe and Nathi use the following:
Common adjectives:
Zithini ezintsha? What’s new? -sha new

Kwakuhle-ke lokho! That’s great! -hle good
Zinhle lezo! Those are beautiful! -hle beautiful
Colour adjectives:
isiketi esimnyama black skirt -mnyama black

ihembe elibomvana pink shirt -bomvana pink
ijakethe ledenim blue denim
eliluhlaza jacket -luhlaza blue/green
Relative clauses:
Ngubani okhulumayo? Who [is it that]’s speaking?

Lutho olumangalisayo. Nothing [that is] exciting.
leso esihambisana namacici the one that goes with big earrings
amakhulu
Bebekhona abakuncomayo? Were there some that admired
you?
Lona ofunda i-architecture? The one who studies architecture?
Lona osebenza kwaSteers. The one who works at Steers.
Language note
Relative construction
Relatives are verbal structures used for describing. Verbs in all tenses
can be relativized. The subject marker is replaced with a relative
marker (RM) and the verb focus marker (VFM) is -yo:
The pattern for present tense is:
Verb focus Adjunct focus

Affirmative: RM-{verb}-a-yo. RM-{verb}-a . . .
Negative: RM-nga-{verb}-i-yo. RM-nga-{verb}-i . . .
Relative markers
Noun group Subject marker Relative marker
UMU-/U- u- o-
ABA-/O- ba- aba-
UMU- u- o-
IMI- i- e-
ILI- i- eli-
AMA- a- a-
ISI- si- esi-
IZI- zi- ezi-
IN-, IM- i- e-
IZIN-, IZIM- zi- ezi-
ULU- lu- olu-
UBU- bu- obu-
UKU- ku- oku-
Examples
Yimina engifunda isiZulu. It’s I who study Zulu.
Abahlala eThekwini bathanda Those who live in Durban like to go
ukuya olwandle. to the seaside.
Thina esiye esitolo sikhathele. We who went to the store are
tired.
Babophe isela elintshontshe izimoto. They arrested the thief

who stole cars.
Umsebenzi 15.3
Describe the following using relative construction.
Isibonelo
Umfana uphandle. Uthanda ukudlala ibhola.

à Umfana othanda ukudlala ibhola uphandle.
1. UNathi uye kwaCele Bebegubha uSuku
lwamaGugu.
2. Bekugcwele abantu Bebegqoke
ngokwesiko.
3. UNathi akagqokanga
ngokwesiko. Unamahloni.
4. Ibikhona insizwa ibimncoma uNathi.
5. UNathi ubone uS’bu akakhunjulwa
nguThandiwe.
Indatshana 15.2 Article

Ingozi An accident
Kushone abahlanu engozini
Durban – Kushone abantu abahlanu ngesikhathi behlelwa yingozi

enyantisa igazi enyakatho neKwaZulu-Natali, kubika isiteshi som-
sakazo i-East Coast Radio.
ISUV neveni zitholane phezulu emgaqweni uP46 ngaseBhanya
Bridge ngoLwesibili ntambama.
Kushone amadoda amabili nabesifazane ababili endaweni yese-
hlakalo kwathi omunye washonela esibhedlela.
AbeRoad Traffic Inspectorate bathe abanye abantu abahlanu

kuyembulwa kuyembeswa kubo. Iningi lezisulu bekungothisha besi-
kole sendawo.
OwoMnyango wezokuThutha eKZN uZinhle Mngomezulu uthe
kusolakala sengathi omunye wabashayeli uhlulekile ukulawula imoto
ngesikhathi ethatha ijika.
—Adapted from News24
Amagama amasha
-shona pass away, set isehlakalo/iz- incident
(of sun) -embulwa embeswa critically ill
ingozi/izin- accident isi-/izisulu private individ-
-ehlelwa befall uals
-nyantisa igazi chill the blood umnyango ministry of
Enyakatho in the north wezokuthutha transport
-bika announce -solakala be suspected
isiteshi broadcasting Sengathi as if
somsakazo/izi- station umshayeli/aba- driver
iveni/ama- van -hluleka fail
-tholana encounter one -lawula control
another ijika/ama- turn
abesifazane/ females/males
abesilisa
Umsebenzi 15.4
Find and list all the occurrences of the subject marker ku- and rewrite
with actor as subject.
1. Kushone abahlanu engozini à Abantu abahlanu bashone
engozini.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Language note
Describing with ideophones
Zulu has a wide array of words that describe sounds, sights, and feel-
ings. They resemble words like ‘pow!’ and ‘zoom!’ in English, but in Zulu
ideophones are used both informally and in high literary style. They do
not follow basic stress patterns, they have no morphological structure
other than reduplication, and many are monosyllables.
Examples
The stressed syllable is bolded.
ngci tightly
mfee babbling lies
tamu comfortably
mbumbumbu emptying
bulukasha lying around lazily
Ideophones in sentences
Ideophones often occur after the verb -thi:
Kwathula kwathi dú endlini. It was dead quiet in the

house.
Wawa odakeni wathi bhalakaxa. He fell splosh into the mud.
Indoda ekhuluphele yahamba yathi The fat man walked going
bhadabhada. wobble-wobble.
Umsebenzi 15.5 Ideophones

Ukuchaza izulu lezulu Describing yesterday’s weather
Describe yesterday’s weather using recent past time (progres-

sive, stative and perfective aspect). Include the following ideo-
phones where appropriate:
thwa-thwa-thwa pattering of rain
bha sweltering heat
nyazi-nyazi fashing lightning
1. 7:00 a.m. 70o sunny, pleasant

2. 12:00 p.m. 95o sunny, hot
3. 3:30 p.m. 90o overcast, humid
4. 4:00 p.m. 90o cloudy, thunder and lightning
5. 5:00 p.m. 80o heavy rain, hail
6. 7:00 p.m. 70o partly cloudy, cool
Umsebenzi 15.6
Ngiye eNingizimu- Afrika! I visited South Africa!
Assume you have recently returned from a visit to South Africa. Find
an image and write an email to a friend describing the scene. Use a
variety of modifers.
Reference grammar
1. Adjectives
Common and numbers 1–5
In isiZulu, adjectives have two parts:
 a stem that gives the meaning, and

 a marker that echoes the class of the noun being described.
Common stems
This is a group of 15 adjectives. It contains opposing descriptives, the

numbers 1–5 and a couple of other stems.
 Common opposing descriptives
-khulu large -ncane small

-hle good, beautiful -bi bad, ugly
-de long -fushane short
-dala old -sha new
 Numbers 1–5
-nye one, a certain, another

-bili two
-thathu three
-ne four
-hlanu fve
 Others
-ningi many
-ngaki? how many/often?

-ngakanani? would be how much.
Using adjectives in sentences
Adjectives can be used to convey an attribute of a noun (attributive) or

to indicate that the noun is the attribute (predicative). The grammatical
difference between these two is shown by differences in the adjective
markers.
abantwana abasha young children

Abantwana basha. The children are young.
izingubo ezinhle beautiful clothes
Izingubo zinhle. The clothes are beautiful.
amahembe amane four shirts
Amahembe mane. There are four shirts. [The shirts are four.]
UMU- mu- omu-
ABA- ba- aba-
UMU- mu- omu-
IMI- mi- emi-
ILI- li- eli-
AMA- ma- ama-
ISI- si- esi-
IZI- zin-, zim- ezin-, ezim-
IN-, IM- in-, im- en-, em-
ULU- lu- olu-
UBU- bu- obu-
UKU- ku- oku-
1. Colours and numbers 6 and above
In Zulu, adjectives have two parts:
• a stem that gives the meaning, and

• a marker that echoes the class of the noun being described.
200 Reference grammar
This group consists of stems denoting colour, numbers six and

higher and some miscellaneous stems:
• Descriptions of colour:
-luhlaza green/blue
-mhlophe white
-mnyama black
-mpofu light brown
-bomvu red
-phuzi yellow
-wolintshi orange
-mpunga grey
-nsundu dark brown
-bomvana/phinki pink
-nsomi purple
-nsundu brown
• Numbers 6 and above:

-yisithupha six
-yisikhombisa seven
-yisishiyagalombili eight
-yisishiyagalolunye nine
-yishumi/ama- ten
-ngamashumi amabili twenty
-yikhulu one hundred
-ngamakhulu amabili two hundred
-yinkulungwane one thousand
-yizinkulungwane ezimbili two thousand
-yisigidi one million
-yizigidi millions
• Miscellaneous stems:
-mnandi pleasant
-ngcono better
-qotho honest
-lukhuni difficult, hard
-nzima heavy, difficult
-lula light, easy
-makhaza cold weather
-manzi wet
-mbalwa few
-thile/-thize certain
-ngakanani? How much/many?
-njani? Like what?
As with common adjectives, colour adjectives can be used to

convey an attribute of a noun (attributive) or to indicate that the noun is
the attribute (predicative). The grammatical difference between these
two is shown by differences in the Adjective Markers.

UMU- u- o-
ABA- ba- aba-
UMU- u- o-
IMI- i- e-
ILI- li- eli-
AMA- a- a-
ISI- si- esi-
IZI- zi- ezi-
IN-, IM- i- e-
ULU- lu- olu-
UBU- bu- obu-
UKU- ku- oku-
2. Adverbials
 Place locatives
To show in, at, to, from, into, onto something or someone, replace
the initial of the place noun with /e-/. For many nouns, the fnal vowel is
replaced with {-ini}
Examples
isikole à esikoleni to/in/at/from the school
izulu à ezulwini to/in/at/from the sky
isonto à esontweni to/in/at/from the church
The pattern is: e NP-stem{ini}
The form of the suffix {ini} is determined by the fnal vowel of the
stem:
Final vowel -a à -eni umfula à emfuleni

Final vowel -e à -eni isikole à esikoleni
Final vowel -i à -ini isiteshi à esiteshini
Final vowel -o à -weni isonto à esontweni
Final vowel -u à -wini izulu à ezulwini
Exceptions
1. Certain nouns take only the initial e- and not the ending {-ini}. They
include several parts of the body and most place names:
umhlane à emhlane in/on/to the back

ikhanda à ekhanda in/on/to the head
isitolo à esitolo in/to/at the store
ikhaya à ekhaya in/to/at home
iGoli à eGoli in/on/to Johannesburg
2. Nouns in the /ulu-/ group (Class 11) form the locative with initial o-
and not e-:
ulwandle à olwandle to/in/at the ocean

ucingo à ocingweni on the telephone
ubisi à obisini in the milk
3. Nouns denoting humans prefix ku-:

umuntu à kumuntu
abantu à kubantu
umama à kumama
omama à kuwomama
4. kwa- replaces /u-/ on personal nouns to express in, at, to, from
place/house/property of
kwaMkhize at/to/from the Mkhize home

kwadokotela at/to/from the doctor’s rooms
KwaZulu-Natali to/from the place of Zulu
kwaNathi to/from/ at Nathi’s place
Position locatives pha-

These adverbs indicate a precise location. They follow the prefx kwa-,
which replaces the locative affixes:
phezu/phezulu above phezulu kwefasitela above the

window
phansi beneath phansi kwefasitela beneath the
window
phandle outside phandle kwendlu outside the
house
phakathi inside, phakathi kwendlu inside the
between house
phambi/phambili in front of phambili kwami in front of
me
emva/emuva behind emuva kwami behind me
phesheya on the phesheya komgwaqo across the
other side of road
eceleni beside eceleni komgwaqo beside the
road
A few locative adverbs are followed by na-:
kude far from kude nekhaya far from home

eduze near to eduze nekhaya near home
Other expressions of place
lapha here Woza lapha Come here.

lapho there Bheka lapho. Look there.
laphayá yonder Balaphayá. They’re over
yonder.
lokhu this one (activity) Kuhle lokhu! This (activity) is
good.
lokho that one (activity) Kuhle lokho! That (activity) is
good.
Placing a person in a location
A subject marker can be added to a locative to show that the person/

item is in that location. Insert -s- to avoid adjacent vowels:
Ba + emfuleni à Basemfuleni They are at the river.

U + esibhedlela à Usesibhedlela She/he is in hospital.

Besi + olwandle à Besisolwandle. We were at the beach.
Abantwana bakugogo. The children are at grandma’s.
Amadoda abeKwaBulawayo. The men were in Bulawayo.
Izincwadi ziphansi kwetafula. The books are under the table.
Imoto yayiphambili kwendlu. The car used to be in front of the
house.
Balaphayá. They’re over yonder.
Adverbs of manner ka-
Adjectival stems can form adverbs.
 Numbers and common stems
-nye à kanye once

-bili à kabili twice
-thathu à kathathu thrice
-ne à kane four times
-hlanu à kahlanu fve times
-hle à kahle well
-bi à kabi badly
-de à kade far, for a long time
-fushane à kafushane briefy, for a short while
-khulu à kakhulu greatly, a lot
-ncane à kancane a little, seldom
-ningi à kaningi often, frequently
-ngaki? à kangaki? How often?
 Colour and higher number stems
-lula à kalula easily

-nzima à kanzima with difficulty
-mbalwa à kambalwa seldom
-ngaka à kangaka this much, so much
-njani? à kanjani? How? In what manner?
-yisithupha à kayisithupha six times
-yishumi à kayishumi ten times
 Instrumental adverbs nga-
The prefx nga- on a noun indicates an action done ‘with, by means

of.’ The vowels merge as follows:
nga- + i à nge-
nga- + u à ngo-
nga- + a à nga-
Sihamba ngebhasi. We travel by bus.

Usebenza ngomshini. He works with a machine.
Bakhokhe ngekhadi, hhayi ngemali. They paid with a card, not
with cash.
Nga- can also mean ‘about’:
Safunda ngomlanda wendawo. We learned about the his-

tory of the place
Bakhuluma ngogogo. They were speaking about
grandma.
Omama bebekhathazekile The mothers were worried
ngabantwana. about the children.
Ideophones
Ideophones describe an event/action with regard to appearance,
sound, smell, touch, taste, movement or intensity. Many ideo-
phones are onomatopoeic; that is, they mimic the quality they describe.
Ideophones do not follow the syllabifcation, stress, length or tone rules
of other adverbs or word classes.
Ideophones are widely used in daily conversation and in texts of all
kinds. Their use is not limited to literary texts or formal communication.
Examples
ngci tightly
mfee babbling lies
tamu comfortably
mbumbumbu emptying
bulukasha lying around lazily
Ideophones in sentences
Ideophones generally follow the verb -thi, which means ‘convey,’

‘express,’ ‘show.’ It could also be translated ‘go,’ as in ‘The balloon went
bang.’ This is the most common occurrence.
Examples
Kwakuthula kwathi dú endlini. It was dead quiet in the house.
Ilanga belibomvu klebhu The sun was blood red as it set.
lapho lishona.
Bhekana nezinkinga zakho ngqo. Face your problems head on.
Indoda yawa yathi dinsi phansi. The man fell fat on his face.
3. Associative structure (having): na-

na- and, together with
To connect two nouns, use na- and merge the vowels.
Examples
ikati na-inja à ikati nenja a cat and a dog
umama na-ubaba à umama nobaba mother and
father
ihembe na-amasokisi à ihembe namasokisi a shirt and socks
-na- have/not have
To indicate that someone has something, use -na- and merge the
vowels:
Examples
UVusi una-imoto à UVusi unemoto. Vusi has a car.
UMandla à UMandla Mandla

una-abantwana unabantwana. has children.
Izitshudeni zina- à Izitshudeni The students
izincwadi. zinezincwadi. have books.
To indicate that one entity does not have another, use -na- and negate
the SM. Initial object vowel is dropped, so there is no merging:
Examples
UVusi akana-imoto. à UVusi akanamoto. Vusi has no car.
UMandla akana- à UMandla Mandla has no
abantwana. akanabantwana. children.
Izitshudeni azina à Izitshudeni The students
-izincwadi. azinazincwadi. don’t have books.
4. Demonstratives
Demonstratives (‘this,’ ‘that’) indicate the position of a noun in relation
to the speaker. They usually come before the noun, in which case the
initial vowel of the noun prefx is omitted. If some other affix or adjective
precedes the noun, then the demonstrative will follow the noun.
Noun group This That

UMU- lo lowo
ABA- laba labo
UMU- lo lowo
IMI- le leyo
ILI- leli lelo
AMA- la lawo
ISI- lesi leso
IZI- lezi lezo
IN-, IM- le leyo-
IZIN-, IZIM- lezi lezo
ULU- lolu lolo
IZIN-, IZIM- lezi lezo
UBU- lobu lobo
UKU- lokhu lokho
Examples
lo muntu this person
labo bantu those people
le mithi these trees
lelo hembe that shirt
lesi sikole this school
lezo zinja those dogs
5. Future tense
Defnite future (perfective)
The defnite future tense (perfective) indicates actions and events

that are planned or imminent.
The patterns are:
Affirmative: SM-zo-{verb}-a
Negative: a-SM-zu-{verb}-a
Examples
Bazothuthela eThekwini They’re moving to Durban next
ngonyaka ozayo. year.
Uzongena esikoleni uma She’ll start school when she’s 7.
eneminyaka engu-7.
Ngizoletha iziphuzo. I’ll bring some drinks.
Abazukwazi ukugibela ibhasi. They won’t be able to take the
bus.
Alizuna kusasa. It won’t rain tomorrow.
Asizuvakashela kwagogo We won’t visit Grandma next
ngesonto elizayo. week.
Indefnite future (perfective)

The indefnite future tense indicates actions/events that are intended
at some future time but that have not been planned and are not con-
nected to a particular date.
Patterns:
Affirmative: SM-yo-{verb}-a
Negative: a-SM-yu-{verb}-a
Examples
Bayothuthela eThekwini They’re going to move to Durban.
ngonyaka ozayo.
Uthi uyobuya engumuntu He’ll says he’ll return a wealthy man.
ocebileyo.
Ngiyovakashela eChina I’ll visit China someday.
ngolunye usuku.
Abayukwazi ukuthenga They’ll never be able to buy their
elabo ikhaya. own home.
Aliyukuna ngokwanele. It won’t rain enough.
Asiyuvakashela abazala We won’t be able to visit our cousins
ngoba baseMelika. because they’re in America.
6. Greeting names
These are terms of address used in greetings and are considered good
manners. Drop the initial vowel of the noun.
Examples
unkosikazi à nkosikazi Sawubona Good day,
nkosikazi. ma’am.
umnumzane à mnumzane Sawubona Good day, sir.
mnumzane.
abantwana à bantwana Sanibona Good
bantwana. morning, children.
7. Identifying (being)
In isiZulu, being is conveyed as a linkage, or a copular that is a low
tone onset but is sometimes marked in texts as y, ng, w or l.
Identifying: It’s x.
This structure answers the question What/Who is it? The noun is pre-
ceded by a low tone and a tensed onset of the vowel, written as y-, ng-,
w- or l-. This linker changes its form under the infuence of the following
vowel.
Linker forms
y- before i-
ng- before a-, o-
ng- or w- before u-
ng- or l- before u- (ulu- nouns only)
Examples
Yinsizwa. It’s a young man.

Ngabantwana. It’s children.
Ngonesi. It’s nurses.
Ngumama /Wumama. It’s mother.
Ngulimi /Lulimi. It’s a language.
Note: Identifers are generally omitted when they are word initial.
Linking: X is Y.
This structure answers the question What/Who is he/she?
The pattern is: SM-{Linker}-{noun}
Ngingumfundi. I’m a pupil.

Bangabafana. They’re boys.
Ungunesi. She’s a nurse.
Bayizinsizwa. They’re teenage boys.
Umama ungunesi. My mother is a nurse.
8. Infnitive
The infnitive takes the prefx uku-.
Patterns:
Affirmative: uku-{verb}-a (to. . .)
Negative: uku-{verb}-i (to not. . .)
For practical reasons, we list verbs without /uku/, as do most

dictionaries.
9. Instructions and requests

Instructions
To give an instruction, use the verb stem without a subject marker for
affirmative:
Affirmative: {verb}-a (sg.)

{verb}-a-ni (pl.)
For the negative, add musa/musani and the infnitive verb:
Negative: Musa + uku-{verb}-a (sg.)

Musa-ni + uku-{verb}-a (pl.)
Ngena! Come in! (to one person)
Ngenani! Come in! (to more than one
person)
Hamba kahle! Go well! (to one person)
Hambani kahle! Go well! (to more than one
person)
Musa ukungena! Don’t come in! (to one person)
Musani ukungena! Don’t come in! (to more than one
person)
Musa ukuhamba! Don’t leave! (to one person)
Musani ukuhamba! Don’t leave! (to more than one
person)
Requests
Use the subjunctive form for a polite request. It is often preceded by

Ngicela. . . .
Patterns
Affirmative: SMs-{verb}-e
a/ma-SMs-{verb}-e
Ngicela + SMs-{verb}-e
Negative: SMs-nga-{verb}-i
a/ma-SMs-nga-{verb}-i
Ngicela + SMs-nga-{verb}-i
Examples
Uhlale phansi. Please sit down
Awuhlale phansi.
Ngicela uhlale phansi.
Ningene. Please come in.
Mawungene.
Ngicela ningene.
Ungahlali phansi. Please don’t sit down.
Awungahlali phansi.
Ngicela ungahlali phansi.
Ningangeni. Please don’t come in.
Maningangeni.
Ngicela ningangeni.
10. Noun groups

Nouns consist of a stem and a prefx. Prefxes indicate singular or
plural and also trigger a series of affixes (markers) that attach to the
verb to indicate subject and object and to all words that expand the
noun, such as adjectives and possessives.
Nouns are organized into groups by prefx. Countable groups are
paired for singular/plural:
Group Sample Noun prefxes Stem Gloss

UMU- umuntu um-/umu-/u- -ntu person
ABA- abantu aba-/o- -ntu people
UMU- umfula um-/umu- -fula river
IMI- imifula imi- -fula rivers
ILI- igama í- -gama name, word
AMA- amagama ama- -gama names,

words
ISI- isithelo isi- -thelo fruit
IZI- izithelo izi- -thelo fruits
IN-/IM- imbuzi im-/in- -buzi goat
IZIN-/IZIM- izimbuzi izim-/izin- -buzi goats
ULU- uphondo u- -phondo horn
IZIN-/IZIM- izimpondo izin-/izim- -pondo horns
UBU- ubuhle ubu- -hle beauty
UKU- ukuhamba uku- -hamba travelling
11. Object markers

The noun that is acted upon by the verb – the direct or indirect object
– may be represented by an infx – the object marker – on the verb.
The object marker is always placed next to the verb stem. It brings focus
back to the verb, and so the verb focus marker (VFM) -ya- returns.
Noun group Subject marker Object marker

UMU- u- -m-
ABA- ba- -ba-
UMU- u- -wu-
IMI- i- -yi-
ILI- li- -li-
AMA- a- -wa-
ISI- si- -si-
IZI- zi- -zi-
IN-, IM- i- -yi-
ULU- lu- -lu-
UBU- bu- -bu-
UKU- ku- -ku-
Examples
Ngiyambona I see him/her.
Bayangibona They see me.
Uyanibiza. She’s/He’s calling you (pl.).
12. Participial (simultaneous

actions)
The participial form of the verb indicates an action or state that is
simultaneous with the main event.
Participials are usually introduced by one of the following
conjunctions:
uma if, when

lapho when, while
nxa when, whenever
ngesikhathi when, at the time when
mhla when, on the day when
ngoba because
The participial form causes changes in these subject markers:
UMU-/U- u- à e-
ABA-/O- ba- à be-
AMA- a- à e-
Changes to other classes are tonal.
The patterns for participial are:
Affirmative: SMP-{verb}-a SMP (SMP = subject marker

with preceding changes.)
Negative: SMP-nga-{verb}-i
Examples
Afrmative:
Ngizombona uma efka. I’ll see him when he arrives.

Lapho belele kungene isela. While they were asleep, a thief
entered.
Nxa ekhala sizomnika ubisi. Whenever he cries, we’ll give him
some milk.
Siyamsiza ngoba ecela. We’re helping her because she
requests [it].
Negative:
Ngizothukuthele uma engafki. I’ll be annoyed, if she

doesn’t come.
Kufanele sibavakashele lapho We should visit them when
bengalele. they’re not sleeping.
Uhamba engasikhokhile isikweletu. He leaves without paying
the bill.
The conjunction may be omitted:
Ngizombona efka. I’ll see him [when] he arrives.

Kufke utsotsi belele. A thief arrived [while] they slept.
Simnika ubisi ekhala. We give him milk [when] he cries.
Ngizohamba engangiboni. I’ll leave without his seeing me.
Kubuye umama engakhali. [His] mother returned without his
having cried.
13. Passive voice

A verb stem is made passive by inserting /-w-/ between the stem and
the fnal vowel.
Examples
-shaya strike à -shaywabe struck
-funa want à -funwa be wanted
-funda learn à -fundwa be learned
1. One-syllable (monosyllabic) verbs take -iw-:
-dla eat à -dliwa be eaten

-lwa fght à -lwiwa be fought
-pha give à -phiwa be given
-sha burn à -shiwa be burned
-thi say à -thiwa be said
2. Two-syllable (disyllabic) verbs that begin with a vowel also take

-iw-:
-akha build à -akhiwa be built

-eba steal à -ebiwa be stolen
-enza do, make à -enziwa be done, made
-osa roast à -osiwa be roasted
3. When passivization results in two bilabials, the stem is changed.
Examples
-hlaba slaughter à -hlatshwa be slaughtered

-hlupha afflict à -hlushwa be afflicted
-bopha tie, arrest à -boshwa be tied, arrested
-luma bite à -lunywa be bitten
14. Past tense

Recent past (perfective)
The recent past tense (perfective) indicates actions that were

recently completed and are fresh in the memory. This generally
means that they took place within the past week.
Patterns
Affirmative: SM-{verb}-ile (Verb focus)
SM-{verb}-é (Adjunct focus)
Negative: a-SM-{verb}-anga (Verb and adjunct focus)
Examples
Ugogo uphekile. Grandma cooked.
Ugogo upheké ujeqe. Grandma cooked steamed bread.
Ugogo upheké emini. Grandma cooked in the afternoon.
Ugogo upheké nomama. Grandma cooked with mother.
Ugogo akaphekanga. Grandma didn’t cook.
Ugogo akaphekanga jeqe.* Grandma didn’t cook any steamed

bread.
Ugogo akaphekanga emini. Grandma didn’t cook in the
afternoon.
Ugogo akaphekanga nomama. Grandma didn’t cook with mother.
* Object nouns lose the initial vowel in negative.
Recent past (progressive)

The recent past (progressive) indicates actions or states that were in
progress in the recent past.
Patterns
Affirmative: {beSM}-{verb}-a
Negative: {beSM}-nga-{verb}-i (Actions)
{beSM}-nga-{verb}-ile/ele (States)
The subject marker has /be-/ prefx. If SM is a single vowel, there

is an alternative form where /b/ is inserted between doubled vowels.
Bolded markers are irregular:
SM Recent progressive SM
1st person sg. ngi- bengi-
pl. si- besi-
2nd person sg. u- bewu-
pl. ni- beni-
3rd person:
UMU- u ube-
ABA- ba- bebe-
UMU- u- bewu-
IMI- i- beyi-
ILI- li- beli-
AMA- a- abe-
ISI- si- besi-
IZI- zi- bezi-
IN-, IM- i- beyi-

IZIN-, IZIM- zi- bezi-
ULU- lu- belu-
IZIN-, IZIM- zi- bezi-
UBU- bu- bebu-
UKU- ku- beku-
Examples
Actions that have been/were in progress
Umama ubethenga. Mother has been/was shopping.

Abantwana bebedlala. The children have been/were playing.
Bengifunda le ncwadi. I’ve been/I was reading this book.
Actions that have not been/were not in progress
Umama ubengathengi. Mother has not been/was not

shopping.
Abantwana bebengadlali. The children haven’t been/were not
playing.
Bengingafundi le ncwadi. \I’ve not been/I wasn’t reading this
book.
States that have been/were in place
Umama ubelele. Mother was sleeping/asleep.

Abantwana bebelambile. The children were hungry.
Bengikhathazekile izolo. I was worried yesterday.
States that have not been/were not in place
Umama ubengalele. Mother wasn’t sleeping/asleep.

Abantwana bebengalambile. The children weren’t hungry.
Bengingakhathazekile izolo. I wasn’t worried yesterday.
Remote past tense (perfective)

The remote past tense with perfective aspect tense indicates actions/
events that have been archived in the memory. This generally means
that they took place at least a month ago.
Patterns:
Affirmative: SMá-{verb}-a
Negative: a-SM-{verb}-anga*
* This form is the same as recent past perfective.
All subject markers have the vowel /a/, which has a high tone.
Subject marker Remote perfective SM
1st person sg. ngi- nga-
pl. si- sa-
2nd person sg. u- wa-
pl. nina-
3rd person:
UMU- u- wa-
ABA- baba-
UMU- u- wa-
IMI- i- ya-
ILI- li- la-
AMA- a- a-
ISI- si- sa-
IZI- zi- za-
IN-, IM- i- ya-
IZIN-, IZIM- zi- za-
ULU- lu- lwa-
IZIN-, IZIM- zi- ba-
UBU- bu- ba-
UKU- ku- kwa-
Examples
Ngáfunda eMelika. I studied in America.
Ubaba wázalalelwa eMnambithi. My father was born in
Ladysmith.
Sáthuthela eGoli ngonyaka odlule. We moved to Johannes-
burg last year.
Angifundanga eMelika. I didn’t study in America.
Ubaba akazalalelwanga eMnambithi. My father wasn’t born in

Ladysmith.
Asithuthelanga eGoli ngonyaka odlule. We didn’t move to Johan-
nesburg last year.
Remote past (progressive)

The remote past (progressive) indicates actions that were in progress
or were habitual in the remote past. It also indicates states that were in
place in the remote past. ‘Remote’ generally means at least a month
prior to the time of speaking.
Patterns:
Affirmative: SMáSM-{verb}-a
Negative: SMáSM-nga-{verb}-i (Actions/events)
SMáSM-nga-{verb}-ile (States)
Remote progressive has double subject markers with the vowel

/a/, which has a high tone, followed by the present subject marker.
Subject marker Remote progressive SM
1st person sg. ngi- ngangi-
pl. si- sasi-
2nd person sg. u- wawu-
pl. ni- nani-
3rd person:
UMU- u- waye-
ABA- ba- babe-
UMU- u- wawu-
IMI- i- yayi-
ILI- li- lali-
AMA- a- aye-
ISI- si- sasi-
IZI- zi- zazi-
IN-, IM- i- yayi-
IZIN-, IZIM- zi- zazi-
ULU- lu- lwalu-

IZIN-, IZIM- zi- zazi-
UBU- bu- babu-
UKU- ku- kwaku-
Examples
Actions that were/used to be in progress
Ngángifunda eMelika. I was studying in America.

Ubaba wáyesebenza eMnambithi. My father used to work/was
working in Ladysmith.
Sásiya esithombeni ngempelasonto. We went/used to go to the
cinema on weekends.
Actions that were not/used not to be in progress
Ngángingafundi siZulu. I never studied Zulu.

Ubaba wáyengasebenzi eMnambithi. My father never worked/
wasn’t working in
Ladysmith.
Sásingayi esithombeni ngempelasonto. We never went/did not
go to the cinema on
weekends.
States that were/used to be in place
Umama wayefundile. My mother was [well] educated.

Abantwana babelambile lapho The children used to be hungry
bebuya esikoleni. when they returned from school.
Ngangikhathazekile I used to be worried at exam time.
ngesikhathi sokuhlolwa.
States that were not/used not to be in place
Umama wayengafundile. My mother was not [well] educated.

Abantwana babengalambile The children were never hungry
lapho bebuya esikoleni. when they returned from school.
Ngangingakhathazekile I wasn’t/was never worried at exam
ngesikhathi sokuhlolwa. time.
15. Possessives
Possessives with nouns
Possession is always X of Y (‘the leg of the dog’) and not Y’s X

(‘the dog’s leg’). To show possession, prefx a possessive marker
(PM) to the possessor (owner) noun.
The possessive marker echoes the Noun Group of the item
owned. There is a possessive marker for each noun class with the
form {consonant-a}:
Noun group Noun prefx Possessive marker

UMU- umu- wa-
ABA- aba- ba-
UMU- umu- wa-
IMI- imi- ya-
ILI- i- la-
AMA- ama- wa-
ISI- isi- sa-
IZI- izi- za-
IN-, IM- in-, im- ya-
ULU- u- lwa-
UBU- ubu- ba-
UKU- uku- kwa-
Examples
ikhanda lomntwana [the head of the child] the child’s
head
isikhwama sesitshudeni [the bag of the student] the student’s
bag
ukushona kukagogo [the death of grandma] grandma’s
death
abantwana bakamama [the children of the mother] the mother’s
children
Possessives with personal names
Personal names and nouns in the U-/O- group trigger a possessive

marker with the form {ka-}. The form of the {ka-} prefx is determined by
the class of the owned item:
Noun group Noun prefx ka- possessive marker

UMU- umu- ka-
ABA- aba- baka-
ILI- i- lika-
AMA- ama- ka-
ISI- isi- sika-
IZI- izi- zika-
UMU- umu- ka-
IMI- imi- ka-
IN-, IM- in-, im- ka-
ULU- u- luka-
UBU- ubu- baka-
UKU- uku- kuka-
Examples
abantwana bakamama mother’s children
umngane kaVusi Vusi’s friend
isikhwama sikanesi the nurse’s bag
imoto kadokotela the doctor’s bag
Possessives with pronominal base

Where the owner is expressed as a pronoun (‘my’, ‘your,’ ‘his,’ ‘her’),
there is a base for each noun class.
Subject marker Possessive base
1st person sg. ngi- -mi
pl. si- -ithu
2nd person sg. u- -kho
pl. ni- -inu

3rd person:
UMU- u- -khe
ABA- ba- -bo
UMU- u- -wo
IMI- i- -yo
ILI- li- -lo
AMA- a- -wo
ISI- si- -so
IZI- zi- -zo
IN-, IM- i- -yo
IZIN-, IZIM- zi- -zo
ULU- lu- -lo
IZIN-, IZIM- zi- -zo
UBU- bu- -bo
UKU- ku- -kho
Examples
-mi my umngane wami my friend
-ithu our umngane wethu our friend [wa-ithu]
-kho your umngane wakho your friend
-inu your (pl.) umngane wenu your (pl.) friend[wa-inu]
-khe his/her umngane wakhe her/his friend
-bo their umngane wabo their friend
For non-human nouns, the English ‘its’ (sg.) and ‘their’ (pl.) take
many forms:
umsila wenja the dog’s tail umsila wayo its tail

ikhanda ledube the zebra’s head ikhanda lalo its head
imilenze the elephants’ imilenze yazo their
yezindlovu legs legs
izindlebe the lions’ ears izindlebe zawo their
zamabhubesi ears
16. Present tense

Present tense indicates actions/events that are taking place at the time
of speaking or are habitual.
Verb focus
The focus is on the action and answers the question: ‘What is X doing?’
Patterns:
Affirmative: SM-ya-{verb}-a
Negative: a-SM-{verb}-i
Examples
Umama uyapheka. Mother is cooking/cooks.
Abantwana bayacula. The children are singing.
Inja iyadla. The dog is eating.
Umama akapheki. Mother isn’t cooking/doesn’t cook.
Abantwana abaculi. The children aren’t singing.
Inja ayidli. The dog isn’t eating.
Adjunct focus
The focus is on new information following the verb.
Patterns:
Affirmative: SM-{verb}-a + {adjunct}
Negative: a-SM-{verb}-I + {adjunct*}
Examples
Umama upheka nogogo. Mother is cooking/cooks with
grandma.
Umama upheka inyama. Mother is cooking/cooks meat.
Umama upheka kahle. Mother cooks well.
Umama akapheki. Mother isn’t cooking/doesn’t cook.
Umama akapheki nyama.* Mother isn’t cooking/doesn’t cook any
meat.
Umama akapheki kahle. Mother doesn’t cook well.
*In negative, the object noun loses its initial vowel.
The habitual meaning generally includes a time adverbial:
Umama upheka kaningi. Mother cooks a lot.

Umama upheka ngempelasonto. Mother cooks at the weekend.
17. Pronouns
In Zulu, the function of pronouns is fulflled by subject markers, object
markers and other affixes:
Ngimbonile. I saw him.

Uzithengile. She bought them. (clothes, shoes)
Úshayelé imoto yami. He drove my car.
Wanikeze yena. Give them to her. (shirts) to her
Emphatic pronouns can be added for emphasis.
Subject marker Emphatic pronoun
1st person sg. ngi- mina
pl. si- thina
2nd person sg. u- wena
pl. ni- nina
3rd person:
UMU- u- yena
ABA- babona
UMU- u- wona
IMI- i- yona
ILI- li- lona
AMA- a- wona
ISI- si- sona
IZI- zi- zona
IN-, IM- i- yona
IZIN-, IZIM- zi- zona
ULU- lu- lona
IZIN-, IZIM- zi- zona
UBU- bu- bona

UKU- kukhona
Examples
Ngithanda ikhof mina, kodwa I like coffee, but she likes tea.
yena uthanda itiye.
Sikhuluma isiZulu kodwa bona We speak Zulu, but they
bakhuluma isiXhosa. speak Xhosa.
18. Questions
Question sufxes:
-njani? How?
-ubani? Who?
-phi? Where?
-ni? What?
Examples
Kunjani? How is it? How are things?
Unjani? How are you?
Únjani uMandla? How is Mandla?
Ngúbaní? Who is it?
Ngúbaní okhulumayo? Who’s speaking?
Ungubaní? Who are you?
Uvelaphí? Where are you from?
Nihlálaphí? Where do you (pl.) live?
ÚMandla úfundani? What does Mandla study?
Izitshudeni zidlani? What are the students eating?
Question words
• nini? When?
• ubani?/obani? Whom?
Examples
Bafka nini? When do they arrive?
Isitimela siphuma nini? When does the train leave?
Ufuna ubani? Whom do you want?
ÚSipho úthanda ubani? Whom does Sipho like?
Bathanda obani? Whom do they like?
Yes/no questions
These are statements with question intonation:
• ? Do you/Does he. . . ?
• na?* Do you/Does he. . . ?
• yini?** Do you/Does he. . . ?
Examples
Uyabhema? Do you smoke?
Nihlála éSowéto? Do you (pl.) live in Soweto?
Úvelá éMelíka? Does she/he come from the U.S.?
Uyabhema na?* Do you smoke?
Uvelá éGóli na?* Do you come from Johannesburg?
*This is more common in Gauteng Province than in KwaZulu-Natal.
Uyabhema yini?** Do you smoke?

Úvelá éMelíka yini?** Does she/he come from the U.S.?
**This is a variation heard in KwaZulu-Natal.
19. Relative clauses

Relatives are verbal structures functioning as adjectives. Verbs in all
tenses can be relativized. The subject marker is replaced with a rela-
tive marker (RM) and the verb focus marker (VFM) is -yo:
Verb focus
The pattern for present tense is:
Verb focus Adjunct focus

Affirmative: RM-{verb}-a-yo RM-{verb}-a . . . . .
Negative: RM-nga-{verb}-i-yo RM-nga-{verb}-i . . . .
Adjunct focus
Affirmative: RM-{verb}-a + {Adjunct}
Negative: RM-nga-{verb} + {Adjunct}
Subject marker Relative marker

1st person sg. ngi- engi-
pl. si- esi-
2nd person sg. u- o-
pl. ni- eni-
3rd person:
UMU- u- o-
ABA- ba- aba-
UMU- u- o-
IMI- i- e-
ILI- li- eli-
AMA- a- a-
ISI- si- esi-
IZI- zi- ezi-
IN-, IM- i- e-
ULU- lu- olu-
UBU- bu- obu-
UKU- ku- oku-
Examples
Ngubani okhulumayo? Who’s speaking? [who is it
that is speaking]
Sicela amanzi abandayo. We’d like some cold water.
[water that is cold]
Banezinja ezilala ngaphandle. They have dogs that sleep
outside.
Nginomngane ongaphuzi ubhiya. I have a friend who doesn’t
drink beer.
Izilwane ezingazingeli emini zilele. Animals that don’t hunt
during the day are asleep.
20. Subject markers

These are prefxes that echo nouns in each class. They are prefxed to
the verb to indicate that the noun represented by the prefx is the sub-
ject. The subject noun itself may or may not be stated.
Examples
Ngihlala eThekwini. I live in Durban.

Badlala ngaphandle. They’re playing outside.
Abantwana badlala ngaphandle. The children are playing
outside.
Noun prefx Subject marker

1st person sg. --- ngi-
pl. --- si-
2nd person sg. --- u-
pl. --- ni-
3rd person:
UMU- umu- u-
ABA- aba- ba-
UMU- umu- u-
IMI- imi- i
ILI- ili- li-

AMA- ama- a-
ISI- isi- si-
IZI- izin-izim- zi-
IN-, IM- in-/im- i-
IZIN-, IZIM- izin-/izim- zi-
ULU- u- lu-
IZIN-, IZIM- izin-/izim- zi-
UBU- u- bu-
UKU- ku- ku-
21. Subjunctive mood

The subjunctive form of the verb is used for an action or state that is
secondary to the main verb in a sentence or for a polite or formal
statement.
Subjunctive structure
Subject marker changes for Class 1: ú- à a-/maka-/aka-
For other classes, the change is tonal.
Pattern
Affirmative: SMs-{verb}-e
Negative: SMs-nga-{verb}-i
Subjunctive requests
Examples
Ma-/a- may be added to the subject marker for requests.
Uhambe kahle/Mawuhambe kahle. [May you] go well. (to one

person)
Nihambe kahle/Anihambe kahle. [May you] all go well.(to
more than one person)
Makangene. Let her come in.
Ungasebenzi/Awungasebenzi. [Please] don’t work. (to one

person)
Ningasebenzi/Maningasebenzi. [Please] don’t work. (to
more than one person)
Subjunctive wishes for others

These are usually introduced with -funa (want) or -fsa (wish).
A wish for oneself (speaker) is expressed with the infnitive:
Ngifuna ukulala. I want to sleep.
But wishes for others use the subjunctive:
Ngifuna alale. I want him/her to go to

sleep.
Umama ufuna abantwana bangene. Mother wants the children
to come in.
Sifsa ubuye ngempelasonto. We’d like you to return at
the weekend.
Abazali bathanda ngidlale ibhola. [My] parents like me to
play soccer.
Subjunctive intentions
These are usually preceded by one of the following conjunctions:
ukuthi that
ukuba that
ukuze in order that
Ngicela ukuba nifke ekuseni. Please come in the

morning.
Bafsa ukuthi babone ubaba ethawini. The wish to see father
in town.
Ngifunda isiZulu ukuze ngixoxe I’m studying Zulu so
nabantu. that I can converse with
people.
Siyashesha ukuze sithole isitimela. We’re hurrying so that
we can catch the train.
22. Time
Clock time
To refer to time by hour, use nga- with a number:
ngo-8 at 8 o’clock
ngo-10 at 10 o’clock
Sun time
To refer to time in relation to the position of the sun, use the following:
ekuseni in the morning

emini at midday, during the day
ntambama in the afternoon
kusihlwa in the evening
ebusuku at night
Days of the week

Add nga- to the day name:
nga- uMsombuluko à ngoMsombuluko on Monday

nga- uLwesibili à ngoLwesibili on Tuesday
nga- uLwesithathu à ngoLwesithathu on Wednesday
nga- uLwesine à ngoLwesine on Thursday
nga- uLwesithlanu à ngoLwesihlanu on Friday
nga- uMgqibelo à ngoMgqibelo on Saturday
nga- iSonto à ngeSonto on Sunday
Months
Add nga- to the month name:
nga- uJanuwari à ngoJanwari in January

nga- uFebruwari à ngoFebruwari in February
nga- uMashi à ngoMashi in March
nga- u-Apreli à ngo-Apreli in April
nga- uMeyi à ngoMeyi in May

nga- uJuni à ngoJuni in June
nga- uJuly à ngoJulayi in July
nga- u-Agasti à ngo-Agasti in August
nga- uSepthemba à ngo-Septhemba in September
nga- u-Okthoba à ngo-Okthoba in October
nga- uNovemba à ngoNovemba in November
nga- uDisemba à ngoDisemba in December
Seasons
ehlobo in summer
ekwindla in autumn/fall
ebusika in winter
entwasahlobo in spring
Time relative to present

phambi/phambili before phambi kokudla before eating
emva/emuva after emva kokudla after eating
manje now
masinyane quickly
namuhla/namhlanje today
izolo yesterday
kusasa tomorrow
ngesonto eledlule/elizayo last/next week
ngenyanga edlule/ezayo last/next month
ngonyaka odlule/ozayo last/next year
23. Tone
Zulu is a tonal language. This means that words have a high or low tone
associated with each syllable and that some pairs of words or prefxes
differ only in tone pattern. Speakers of Zulu hear these differences as
clearly as differences between, say, /p/ and /b/, but for speakers of lan-
guages like English, which are not tonal (though they have intonation),
hearing these differences must be learned.
Current orthography does not mark tone. We have marked high

tone with an accent /á/ where we think it is important to the learner.
High and low are relative to each other and are not associated with
any absolute pitch.
Examples
u- 2nd person sg Bóna! See!
ú- 3rd person sg boná they themselves
Unjani? How are you?
Únjani? How is she/he?
24. Verb extensions

One or more affixes can be added to a verb stem. They change the
meaning of the verb in a consistent way.
Example
-bon-a ‘see’ à -bon-is-a show

à -bon-akal-a be visible
à -bon-an-a see one another
Directional/benefactive extension
-el- to/ towards

do for/on behalf of
to the detriment of/to the beneft of
Examples
-buya return à -buyela return to
-bamba catch à -bambela catch for
-khuluma speak à -khulumela speak on behalf of
-fa die à -fela die to the detriment of
-khala cry à -khalela +ni cry for what (why)
Causative extension
-is- cause to
Examples
-funda study à -fundisa teach (cause to study)
-thenga buy à -thengisa sell (cause to buy)
-khanya shine (int.) à -khanyisa shine (tr.)
-gcwala fll (int.) à -gcwalisa fll (tr.)
Reciprocal extension
-an- one another
Examples
-bona see à -bonana see one another
-siza help à -sizana help one another
-fana resemble à -fanana resemble one another
Passive extension (See passive voice)
Neuter/agentless passive extension

-ek-/-akal- be. . . able,
get. . . -ed/become. . . -ed
This extension makes a transitive verb intransitive. Verbs take one

form or the other.
Examples
-swela lack à -sweleka be scarce
-fhla hide à -fhleka get/be hidden
-siza help à -sizeka get/be helped
-zwa hear à -zwakala be audible
-bona see à -bonakala be visible
-thanda love à -thandeka be likable, lovable
25. Verbs: Tense

There are fve simple tenses in isiZulu:
Remote Past | Recent Past | Present | Defnite Future | Indefnite Future
past -----------|-------------|------|ToS|------|----------|-----------à future
|Time of Speaking|
Present tense
Indicates actions/events that are taking place at the time of speaking or
are habitual. (See present tense.)
Recent past tense

This is for events that are fresh in the memory. This generally means
that they took place within the past week. (See recent past tense.)
Remote past tense

This is for actions/events that have been archived in the memory.
This generally means that they took place at least a month ago. (See
Remote Past Tense.)
Defnite future tense

This is for actions/events that have been planned and are imminent.
(See future tense)
Indefnite future tense

This is for actions/events that are intended at some time but that have
not been planned and are not connected to a particular date. (See
future tense)
26. Vowels
Vowel ajacency
In Zulu, a vowel cannot be next to another vowel within a word. There-

fore, when a prefx ending in a vowel is added to a word beginning with
a vowel, there are changes. Here are the more common changes:
na- + {noun} and/with
Merge the vowels:
na- + i à e nezingane and/with the children

na- + u à o nomama and/with my mother
na- + a à a nabangane and/with friends
Subject marker + {Vowel verb}

Drop the vowel of the subject marker:
ngi- + -e- à nge- ngenza I do/I’m doing. . .

si- + -a- à sa- sazi We know. . .
ni- + -a- à na- nazi You (all) know. . .
ba- + -o- à bo- bosa They roast/are roasting. . .
Subject marker + linker + {noun}
Insert-y- before i-
Insert-ng- before other vowels
ngi- + -u- à ngingu- nginguthisha I’m a teacher.
si- + -a- à singa- singabangane We’re friends.
ba- + -o- à bango- bangomama They’re mothers.
u- + -i- à uyi- uyisitshudeni She’s a student.
Subject marker + e- (location)
Insert -s-:
ngi- + e- à ngise- ngisekhaya I’m at home.
si- + e- à sise- sisekilasini We’re in class.
ba- + o- à baso- basolwandle They’re at the ocean.
u- + e- à use- usesinema She’s at the cinema.
Key to exercises
Unit 1
Exercise 1.1
1. Sawubona baba.
2. Sawubona thisha.
3. Sawubona mnumzana.
4. Sawubona baba.
5. Sawubona nkosikazi/nkosazana.
Exercise 1.2
1. UThemba noZanele:
UThemba: Sawubona sisi.

UZanele: Yebo, sawubona mfo.
UThemba: Unjani sisi?
UZanele: Ngiyaphila mfo. Unjani wena?
UThemba: Ngiyaphila.
2. Umntwana nomama
Umntwana: Sawubona mama.

Uthisha: Sawubona mntanami. Unjani?
Umntwana: Ngiyaphila mama.
3. UNkk. Mkhize nothisha
UNkk. Mkhize: Sawubona nkosazana.

Uthisha: Yebo, sawubona Nkk. Mkhize.
UNkk. Mkhize: Unjani?
Uthisha: Siyaphila nkosikazi. Nina ninjani?
UNkk, Mkhize: Sikhona nkosazana.
240 Key to exercises
4. Ubaba nabafana
Ubaba: Sanibona bafana.

Abafana: Yebo, sanibona baba.
Ubaba: Ninjani bafana?
Abafana Siyaphila baba.
Exercise 1.3
1. Ngingumshayeli. I’m a driver.
2. Ungumntwana. She’s/He’s a child.
3. USipho uyisitshudeni. Sipho’s a student.
4. Udadewethu unguthisha. My sister’s a teacher.
5. Umama ungunesi. [My] mother’s a nurse.
Exercise 1.4
1. Ubaba uvela eSoweto. [My] father comes from Soweto.
2. Umfowethu uvela eGoli. My brother comes from
Johannesburg.
3. UBongani uvela eThekwini. Bongani comes from Durban.
4. Ngivela eNgilandi. I come from England.
5. UJason uvela eMelika. Jason comes from America.
Dialogue 1.1
UBongani: Hi brother.
UJason: Yes, hi brother.
UBongani: I'm Bongani. I come from Durban. I'm a student.
UJason: I'm Jason. I'm from America. I'm a student too.
UBongani: Glad to meet you Jason.
UVusi: Good to meet you too Bongani.
Dialogue 1.2
Two girls meet at the university cafeteria.
uZanele: Hello sister.

uSibongile: Yeah, hi.

uZanele: How are you?
uSibongile: I’m alright. How are you?
uZanele: I’m well too. I’m Zanele Mkhize. I live here on campus.
I’m from Umlazi, KwaZulu-Natal. Who are you and
where do you come from?
uSibongile: I’m Sibongile Cele. I’m from here in Durban.
uZanele: Oh, great. I’m doing a B.Comm. I’m in second year.
uSibongile: As for me I’m doing a B.A. I’m studying Law. Good to
know you Zanele. ‘Bye.
uZanele: Bye Sibongile. See you soon.
Exercise 1.6
uSibongile: Sawubona dadewethu.
Unathi: Yeob, sawubona dade.
uSibongile: NginguSibongile Cele. Ngivela eThekwini.
Ungubani? Uvelaphi?
Unathi: NgingUnathi Ngcobo. Ngivela Eshowe.
uSibongile: Ngiyisitshudeni. Ngifunda izibalo.
Unathi: Nami ngiyisitshudeni. Ngifunda umlando.
uSibongile: Sala kahle Nathi.
Unathi: Hamba a kahle Sibongile.
Exercise 1.7
(Sample answer.)
1. Sawubona Yebo, sawubona.
2. Unjani? Ngiyaphila, unjani wena?
3. Ungubani? NginguJames wakwaJohnson.
4. Uhlalaphi? Ngihlala eThekwini.
5. Uvelaphi? Ngivela eBirmingham, eNgilandi.
Unit 2
Dialogue 2.1
Themba: Hello. I’m Zanele Ngcobo.

Sibongile: OK. I’m Sibongile Mkhize.
Themba: How are you Sibongile?

Sibongile: I’m OK. And you?
Themba: I’m also well. Where do you live?
Sibongile: I live in Durban.
Themba: Where do you live?
Sibongile: I live in Durban too!
Themba: Do you like university?
Sibongile: A little. You?
Themba: Yes! A lot!
Exercise 2.1
1. NginguBongani. Ngivela eThekwini.
2. Ngiyajabula ukukwazi Bongani.
3. Nami ngijabula ukukwazi.
4. Ngivela eGoli, kodwa ngihlala eThekwini.
5. Ngihlala eMelika. Wena uhlalaphi?
6. ÚBongani úyisitshudeni?
7. Ngithanda kakhulu inyuvesi.
8. ÚThemba úthanda kancane inyuvesi.
Exercise 2.2
1. Uthisha nomfundi Teacher and pupil
Umfundi: Sawubona Thisha.

Uthisha: Yebo, sawubona mfundi.
Umfundi: Ninjani Thisha?
Uthisha: Sisaphila. Wena unjani?
Umfundi: Ngiyaphila, Thisha.
2. Izitshudeni Students
Isitshudeni 1: Hheyi Vusi!

Isitshudeni 2: Yebo, Sipho!
Isitshudeni 1: Unjani?
Isitshudeni 2: Ngiyaphila. Unjani wena?
Isitshudeni 1: Hhayi, ngisatotoba.
Dialogue 2.2
Jason: Hey! Hi Bongani.

Bongani: Yes, hi brother. Are you still ok?
Jason: Yes, I'm still ok. Are you still ok?
Bongani: Yes [no], I'm still ok.
Mrs. Mkhize, a nurse, greets a younger male colleague at the hospital.
Vinesh: Hello Mrs. Mkhize.

Mrs. Mkhize: Hello Vinesh.
Vinesh: How are you all?
Mrs. Mkhize: We’re still well. How are you all?
Vinesh: No, we’re struggling on, ma’am.
Exercise 2.3
1. Zanele Mkhize
Sanibona.
NginguZanele Cele.
Ngiyisitshudeni.
Ngivela eGoli.
Ngifunda eNyuvesi yaseKapa.
Ngifunda isayensi lezilimi.
2. UNkk. Zondi
Sanibona.
NginguNkosikazi Zondi.
Nginguthisha.
Ngivela eThekwini.
Ngifundisa enyuvesi.
Ngifundisa izibalo.
3. S’bu Zondi
Sanibona.
NginguS’bu Zondi.
Ngingumabhalane.
Ngivela eKapa.
Ngisebenza ebhange.
Unit 3
Indaba 3.1
Today mother is going to town. She waits for the taxivan in the street.
She rides the taxivan. She goes to the stores on Church Street. She
wants to buy food at Spar. She looks for soured milk (yogurt) and milk
in the fridge. She looks at bread and sugar on the shelves. She takes
bread. She goes to the till. She pays. After that she goes to the taxi rank.
She takes (rides) the taxi and goes home.
Exercise 3.1
Bavelaphi? Where do they come from?
1. USipho uvela eGoli.
2. Umfowethu uvela eMlazi.
3. Umnumzana uvela edolobheni.
4. Uthisha uvela eMelika.
5. Umama uvela eThekwini.
Exercise 3.2
Bayaphi? Where are they going?
1. USipho uya esiteshini.
2. Umfowethu uya emakethi.
3. Umnumzana uya ebhange.
4. Uthisha uya esikoleni.
5. Umama uya ehhotela.
Exercise 3.3
1. UThemba uphuma ekhaya.
2. UBongani uphuma ekilasini.
3. UThemba uya esitolo.
4. UBongani uya ekhaya.
5. UBongani udinga ukufunda.
Exercise 3.4
1. UNkk. Cele uphuma esibhedlela.
2. UNkk. Ngcobo uphuma emsebenzini.
3. UNkk. Cele uya ekhaya.
4. UNkk. Ngcobo uya emakhethe.
5. UNkk. Ngcobo udinga imifino.
Exercise 3.5
1. UNomathemba uya edolobheni ngo-7.
2. Usebenza emini.
3. Ubuyela ekhaya ntambama.
4. Upheka kusihlwa.
5. Ulala ebusuku ngo-10.
Exercise 3.6
Usuku lukaBongani Bongani’s day
1. Ngophasi-8 uyavuka.
2. Kuze kube ngu-2 uya ekilasini.
3. Ntambama uxoxa nabangane.
4. Kusihlwa uya esinema.
5. Ebusuku uyafunda.
6. Ngo-12 uyalala.
Exercise 3.7
Chaza usuku lwakho Describe your day
[Sample answer.]
1. Ekuseni ngivuka ngo-6.
2. Ngo-7 ngiphuza ikhofi.
3. Emini ngiyafunda.
4. Ntambama ngibhala iphepha.
5. Kusihlwa ngibuka umabonakude.
6. Ngo-10 ngiphuza itiye.
7. Ebusuku ngilala ngophasi 11.
Unit 4
Indatshana 4.1
1. Mr. Mkhize is a repairman. He repairs air conditioners at Barlows.
2. Mrs. Mkhize works at the hospital. She’s a nurse.
3. Themba is a student at the university. He studies history

4. Zanele is also a student. She studies languages. She studies Zulu

and English.
5. Grandma is Mr. Mkhize’s mother. She likes to knit.
Morning at the Mkhizes’

1. The alarm goes off. Grandma opens her eyes, she looks at her
watch, it’s 5:00 in the morning. Grandma makes the bed and then
she goes to the bathroom. She goes to wash her face and brush
her teeth. When she’s done she goes to the kitchen. She cooks por-
ridge because Themba likes it a lot. As for Zanele, she doesn’t like
porridge.
2. At half past 5:00, mother wakes up, and she goes to wash. Father is
still asleep. At 6:00, mother takes father some tea.
3. At half past 6:00, mother knocks on Themba’s and Zanele's doors to
wake them. Themba doesn’t like waking up. He brushes his teeth,
dresses quickly and then he eats some porridge.
4. Thandiwe goes to wash in the bathroom, gets dressed and then
drinks tea with milk and sugar. She doesn’t eat in the morning.
5. At 7:00, father, mother, Themba and Zanele leave the house.
Grandma doesn’t leave. She stays at home. Grandma drinks ama-
hewu. She doesn’t eat.
Umsebenzi 4.1
1. Ugogo uvuka ngo-5.
2. Umama uvuka ngophasi 5.
3. Ubaba uvuka ngo 6.
4. Abantwana bavuka ngophasi 6.
5. Umama usebenza esibhedlela.
6. Ubaba ukhanda imishini yomoya.
7. Ubaba usebenza kwaBarlow.
8. UThemba ufunda umlando.
9. UThandiwe ufunda izilimi.
10. Ugogo usala ekhaya.
Umsebenzi 4.2
Benzani ekuseni?
1. Ugogo uvula amehlo.
2. Ugogo wendlula umbhede.
3. Ugogo ugeza ubuso.
4. Ugogo upheka iphalishi.
5. Umama ulethela ubaba itiye.
6. Umama ungqongqotha eminyango yabantwana.
7. UThemba uxubha amazinyo.
8. UThemba udla iphalishi.
9. UThandiwe uphuza itiye elinobisi noshukela.
10. Ugogo uphuza amahewu.
Umsebenzi 4.3
1. Angihambi.
2. Abagqoki.
3. Aniphumi?
4. Asipheki.
5. UThemba akavuki.
6. UGogo akapheki phalishi.

7. Ubaba akagezi ubuso.
8. Abantwana abaxubhi mazinyo.
9. Umama akaphuzi tiye.
10. Abazali abayi emsebenzini.
Umsebenzi 4.4
1. Uthanda inyama? Cha, angifuni nyama.
2. Baya ekhaya? Cha, abayi ekhaya.
3. UThandiwe udla isinkwa? Cha, uThandiwe akadli sinkwa.
4. Abantwana bavuka ngo-6? Cha, abavuki ngo-6.
5. Niphuza ikhofi? Cha, asiphuzi khofi.
Ingxoxo 4.1
Themba goes shopping for grandma.
Saturday morning
Grandma: Themba! Wake up! Are you still asleep?
Themba: No, Grandma, it’s Saturday today! I’m not going to the
university.
Grandma: I know that. Nevertheless, wake up [you]!
Themba: Hey Grandma, I still want to sleep, I’m not going
anywhere today.
Grandma: (laughing) Wake up you! I want to send you to town
today. Your mother needs yeast. She’s going to make
steamed bread.
Ingxoxo 4.2
Mother wakes Zanele
Mother: Zanele, wake up!
Zanele: I don’t want to wake up, ma. I’m tired. Anyway, today’s
Saturday.
Mother: I know that. But today I’m going to a meeting, and you
need to wash the clothes.
OK? I’ll be back around 1:00.
Zanele: Ma, did you remember that I’m going to a party at

Sibongile’s?
Mother: No, I forgot, my child. Alright, we’ll talk this afternoon.
Umsebenzi 4.5
1. UThemba uzoya eThawini.
2. UGogo uzophumula.
3. Ubaba uzosebenza.
4. Sizokudla.
5. Bazothenga ukudla.
6. UZanele akazufunda.
7. Angizupheka.
8. Asizubuya ntambama.
9. Abazulala.
10. UThemba akazugeza.
Umsebenzi 4.6
1. Cha, uThemba akayi enyuvesi ngoMgqibelo.
2. Cha, uThemba akafuni ukuvuka.
3. Cha, uGogo akafuni ukuthumela uThemba ebhange.
4. Cha, umama kaThemba akayi esitolo.
5. Cha, umama akadingi shukela?
6. Cha, uZanele akayi esibhedlela.
Umsebenzi 4.7
(Sample answer)
1. Ngo-7 ngiyavuka.
2. Ngophasi 7 ngiyageza.
3. Ngo-8 ngiyagqoka.
4. Ngo-9 ngiphuza itiye.
5. Ngophasi 9 ngiya enyuvesi.
Umsebenzi 4.8
(Sample answer.)
1. Ekuseni angivuki ngo-7
2. Emini angiyi enyuvesi.
3. Ntambama angifundi.
4. Kusihlwa angipheki kudla.
5. Ebusuku angilali ngo-9.
Indatshana 2 Short story 2

Sunday morning
1. The service begins at 9:00. The Mkhize family climbs into the car
and goes to church. The church is full today because there is a
preacher who comes from abroad. People are seated in silence.
The ministers enter, and the service begins. The people pray, they
sing, some dance, everyone listens to the word of the Lord.
2. Church gets out at 11:00, but people don’t leave. They have drinks
and eat cakes, and they talk to the ministers. They go home happy.
3. The Mkhizes sit together at the table today because it’s Sunday.
The food is delicious. Everyone is hungry. They eat roast chicken,
rice, potatoes, peas, carrots and pumpkin. They eat pudding and ice
cream.
4. After dinner, Zanele and Themba wash the dishes. The parents relax
in the sitting room. Mrs. Mkhize is sleepy. She’s tired. Mr. Mkhize
watches soccer on the television. Grandma is sleeping.
Umsebenzi 4.9
1. Yiqiniso.
2. Akunjalo. (Umfundisi uvela phesheya.)
3. Yiqiniso.
4. Akunjalo. (Abantu baphuza iziphuzo futhi badla amakhekhe.)
5. Yiqiniso.
6. Akunjalo. (Badla inyama yenkukhu.)
7. Akunjalo. (UThandiwe noZanele bageza izitsha.)
8. Yiqiniso.
Unit 5
Ingxoxo 5.1 Dialogue 5.1
Bongani and Themba meet Unathi and Zanele
Bongani: Where are you off to sisters?

Unathi and Zanele: Hi guys. We’re going to the cinema.
Themba: Oh! What’s playing?
Zanele: Vampire III. Do you want to come with us?
Bongani: How much does a ticket cost?
Unathi: It costs R25.
Themba: Wow! It’s expensive!
Bongani: We have no money. We’re students.
Unathi and Zanele: OK. ’Bye.
Themba and Bongani: ’Bye.
Umsebenzi 5.1
1. Abantwana baya esikoleni.
2. Ikbhasi lifika ngo-12.
3. Amathikithi abiza uR10.
4. Idolobha linabantu abaningi.
5. Umshayeli ucela uR50.
Ingxoxo 5.2
Jason wants to go to the hotel
Jason: Hello brother.

Driver: Yes, hello sir.
Jason: How are you?
Driver: I’m getting by, sir. Where do you want to go?
Jason: I’d like to go to a hotel, the Holiday Inn.
Driver: The Holiday Inn? Near the beach?
Jason: Yes. How much is it?
Driver: It’ll be R50.
Jason: R50? Gosh, that’s expensive!
Driver: No sir. It’s cheap.
Jason: I can pay R30.
Driver: R30? No sir. But I can take you for R40.
Jason: OK. Let’s go.
Umsebenzi 5.2
1. UJason ufuna ukuya ehhotela.
2. Itekisi libiza uR50.
3. Cha. UJason uthi itekisi lidulile.
4. UJason ufuna ukukhokha uR30.
5. Umshayeli ufuna uR40.
Umsebenzi 5.3
1. Umshayeli ufuna ukubuyela ekhaya.
2. Ngicela ithikithi.
3. Bafuna amaswidi.
4. Ufuna ukuya edolobheni?
5. Ubaba ufuna ugwayi.
Umsebenzi 5.4
1. Asidlale.
2. Asiye edolobheni.
3. Asilindele.
4. Asithathe ebhasi.
5. Asikthnge amasi.
Umsebenzi 5.5
1. Asiye esitolo.
2. Asihambe.
3. Asiye esinema.
4. Asihambe.
5. Asihambe.
Umsebenzi 5.6
1. Amasenti ayishumi.
2. Amarandi amathathu.
3. Irandi elinye.
4. Amarandi amane.
5. Amarandi amahlanu.
6. Amasenti amahlanu.
7. Amarandi ayisithupha.
8. Amarandi ayishumi.
9. Amarandi ayisishiyagalombili.
10. Amarandi ayisikhombisa.
Umsebenzi 5.7
1. Sala kahle Themba.
2. Hamba kahle Bongani.
3. Hambani kahle bafundi.
4. Salani kahle Mama noGogo.
Unit 6
Ingxoxo 6.1
Zanele and Sibongile
They return from the university feeling hungry. They stop at the market.
Zanele: I’m really hungry now.

Sibongile: Me too! I’m dying (of hunger).
Zanele: Let’s get a snack.
Sibongile: OK. What do you want?
Zanele: I feel like ice cream.
Sibongile: Ah no, I don’t like ice cream. I want doughnuts.
Zanele: Doughnuts! Well, I like them, but I don’t want to get fat!
Sibongile: Here’s the doughnut lady. (to vendor) Hello, ma’am
[mother].
Vendor: Yes, hello, my child. What would you like?
Sibongile: I’m hungry mother! I’d like some doughnuts.
Vendor: How many?
Sibongile: I don’t know. How much does one doughnut cost?
Vendor: One costs R2.50, my child.
Sibongile: Alright. Zanele do you want a doughnut?
Zanele: Ooo! They look so good! I’d like one.
Sibongile: Alright. I want two. (to vendor) Mother, we’d like three
doughnuts.
Vendor: Three doughnuts are R7.50.

Sibongile: Here’s the money.
Vendor: Here are the doughnuts. Thank you, my child.
Sibongile: Thank you, mother. Goodbye.
Vendor: Goodbye, my children.
Umsebenzi 6.1
1. UZanele noSibongile bavela enyuvesi.
2. Balambile.
2. UZanele ufuna u-ayisikhrimu
3. USibongile ufuna amagwinya.
4. Cha, uSibongile akathandi ayisikhilimu.
5. Umdayisi uyinkosikazi.
6. Umdayisi udayisa amagwinya.
7. Igwinya elilodwa libiza uR2.50.
8. USibongile ufuna amagwinya amabili.
9. Bathenga amagwinya amathathu.
10. Bakhokha uR7.50.
Exercise 6.2
1. Ngomile.
2. Sikhathele.
3. Balele.
4. Uhambile.
5. Womile [u-omile].
Exercise 6.3
1. Iqanda libiza u-1.20.
2. Amazambane abiza u-R8.
3. Amawonlintshi abiza u-R10.
4. Ikhofi libiza u-R6.
5. Amaqanda abiza u-R15.
Exercise 6.4
1. Yebo, uyawathanda.
2. Yebo, ngiyalithanda.
3. Yebo, bayamthanda.
4. Yebo, siyawathanda.
5. Yebo, ngiyawathanda.
Exercise 6.5
1. Cha, angiyithandi.
2. Cha, angilithandi.
3. Cha, abasithandi.
4. Cha, asiwathandi.
5. Cha, angiwathandi.
Exercise 6.6
Uthandani?
1a. Ngithanda inyama yenkomo.
1b. Angithandi nyama yenkomo.
2a. Ngithanda inyama yenkukhu.
2b. Angithandi nyama yenkukhu.
3a. Ngithanda inyama yemvu.
3b. Angithandi nyama yemvu.
4a. Ngithanda inyama yengulube.
4b. Angithandi nyama yengulube.
5a. Ngithanda inhlanzi.
5b. Angithandi nhlanzi.
6a. Ngithanda amazambane.
6b. Angithandi mazambane.
7a. Ngithanda ama-shipsi.
7b. Angithandi ma-shipsi.
8a. Ngithanda imifino.
8b. Angithandi mifino.
9a. Ngithanda obhanana.

9b. Angithandi bhanana.
10a. Ngithanda ama-apula.
10b. Angithandi ma-apula.
Indatshana 6.1
About cattle and beef
The cattle known as ‘Nguni’ were brought to southern Africa more

than 2,000 years ago. Since that time, people have considered them
as their wealth. Even today cattle are very important in Zulu culture
as well as in other nations. Throughout the country, people love to
eat beef – especially braaied (barbecued) beef. On weekends and
holidays, people roast beef in their yards, having a braai. In some
places people go to the butcher or to a bar and roast beef outside.
This is called a ‘shisanyama.’ Famous Shisanyamas are The Rock in
Soweto, Eyadini in Umlazi, MaMzoli’s in Gugulethu and Value Meat in
Emalahleni.
Umsebenzi 6.7
1. Izinkomo zalethlwa e-Afrika phambili kweminyaka engu-2,000.
2. Abantu babona izikomo njengomnotho wabo.
3. Abantu baseNingizimu Afrika jikelele bathanda ukudla inyama
yenkomo.
4. Abantu bosa inyama ngempelasonto nangamaholideyi.
5. Abantu benza ‘ibraai’ emajalidini.
6. Abantu bosa ‘ishisanyama’ ngaphandle.
Umsebenzi 6.8
(Sample answer)
Ngihlala e-Atlanta eMelika.

Abantu bathanda kakhulu ukosa inyama.
Abantu bathanda kakhulu inyama yenkukhu.
Bafaka upelepele.
Bosa futhi ummbila. Umsebenzi 6.6.
Unit 7
Conversation 1
Young people meet at a restaurant
(Mandla and S’bu are seated at Ocean Basket when they notice two
girls seated nearby.)
Mandla: (greeting the girls) Hi there sisters!

Gugu and Unathi: Hi.
S’bu: How’s it going ladies?
Unathi: We’re good. How about you?
Mandla: No, as for us, we’re OK. I’m Mandla. This is my
friend S’bu.
Gugu: We’re glad to meet you. I’m Gugu. This is my
friend Nathi.
S’bu: So, are you from Durban?
Unathi: I’m from Ladysmith myself, but I’m living with my
grandmother in Umlazi. I’m a student.
Gugu: As for me, I’m from Mtubatuba. I’m staying with
my sister here in town.
Unathi: And you, do you live in Durban?
S’bu: Yes. For me, I’m staying at my uncle’s place in
Westville. I work at the Pavilion [shopping center].
I work at a bank.
Mandla: As for me I live with my family in Windermere. My
dad’s a pilot. He works at King Shaka Airport. I’m
a sound engineer.
S’bu: What are you doing Gugu? Are you a student too?
Gugu: No. I finished my degree last year. Now I’m a
clothing buyer for Edgars.
Mandla: That’s great!
Umsebenzi 7.1
True or false?
1. Yebo, Unathi uvela eMnambithi.
2. Cha, uGugu uvela eMtubatuba kodwa uhlala eThekwini.
3. Yebo, uS’bu noMandla bahlala eThekwini.
4. Cha, uGugu uqede izifundo zakhe.

5. Cha, Unathi ungumfundi.
6. Cha, uMandla uhlala nomfowabo.
7. Cha, uMandla ungunjinyela womculo.
8. Yebo, uS’bu usebenza ePava.
Ingxoxo 7.2
Nomathemba and Zandile
They’re sitting on the grass in front of the library. They’re looking at
Zandile’s photos.
Nomathemba: Wow, my friend, tell me who are these in the photo?

Zandile: Oh Noma, it’s my family. It’s my mother, and this is
my father, this is my sister, this is my brother, . . .
and me. (She laughs.)
Nomathemba: I see. Who’s this lady?
Zandile: O, that’s my aunt [mother’s younger sister]. So do
you know my younger sister Nokuthula ?
Nomathemba: Yes, I know her. She studies in Sobantu. What are
your brother and sister doing?
Zandile: My brother Mandla is a clerk at Northdale Hospital.
He’s married now. His wife is a nurse there. My
sister Nondumiso works in a bank. She’s not
married.
Nomathemba: What do your mother and father do?
Zandile: My mother isn’t working now. She’s ill. My father
has a business in town. He sells cars. Look at this
photo. You can see my dog Ginger. I love Ginger a
lot.
Nomathemba: I’m sorry to hear about your mother. I hope she’ll
get better.
Zandile: Look at the time girl! I’m going to class now. Come.
Nomathemba: Alright. And I want to see a professor before class.
Umsebenzi 7.2
What do Zandile’s relatives do?

1. Umama akasebenzi. Uyagula.
2. Ubaba uthengisa izimoto.
3. Udadewabo omncane ufunda eSobantu.
4. Umfowabo ugumabhalane esibhedlela.
5. Umnakwabo ungunesi.
6. Udadewabo omdala usebenza ebhange.
Umsebenzi 7.3
What do the Mkhizes do?

1. UZanele uyisitshudeni.
2. Umfowabo uThemba ungumsakazi.
3. UMakaThemba ungunesi.
4. Ubaba uMkhize ungumkhandi wemishini yomoya.
5. Umalume ungusomabhizinisi.
6. U-anti unguthisha.
7. Ubabmkhulu ungowayemabhalane.
8. Udadewabo uZanele ungumfundi.
Umsebenzi 7.4
1. UMfanafuthi wakha imigwaqo. Ungunjinyela.
2. UMaMkhize ufundisa abantwana. Unguthisha.
3. UNhle unakekela iziguli. Ungunesi.
4. ULindi ushayela ibhasi. Ungumshayeli.
5. UMnu. Zondi ushumayela esontweni. Ungumfundisi.
6. UBonginkosi welapha abagulayo. Ungudokotela./Uyinyanga.
7. UNathi unamatekisi amaningi. Ungusomabhizinisi.
8. UMichael wenza amamuvi. Ungumdidiyeli.
9. UWandi ufundisa enyuvesi. Unguphrofesa.
10. UMfana ushayela ilisho. Ungulisho.
Umsebenzi 7.5
1. UVusi Mbatha.
• Uhlala oLundi.
• Uneminyaka engu 54.
• Ushadile.
• Unabantwana abathathu.
• Ungumshayeli wetekisi.
2. UZanele Ngubane.
• Uhlala eThekwini.
• Wehlukene nomyeni wakhe.
• Unomntwana oyedwa.
• Unguweta.
3. UNothemba Ngobese.
• Uhlala eMgungundlovu.
• Akashadile.
• Akanabantwana.
• Ungumdwebi wezingubo.
Umsebenzi 7.6
1. Umfowethu mude. My brother is tall.
2. Ugogo mdala. Grandma is old.
3. Isitshudeni sisha. The student is young.
4. Abantwana bancane. The children are small.
5. Udadewabo mfushane. His/Her sister is short.
6. Izicathulo zimbili. There are two shoes.
7. Ikhaya lihle. The home is beautiful.
8. Abangane baningi. The friends are numerous.
Umsebenzi 7.7
1. Udokotela mdala.
2. Abadayisi baningi.
3. Umshayeli mubi.
4. Isiguli sisha.
5. Umpheki muhle.
6. Osomabhizinisi bade.
7. Izitshudeni ziningi.
8. Umfowabo munye.
Umsebenzi 7.8
1. UVusi mncane futhi udlala kahle.
2. Abantwana baningi. Baya esikoleni ngebhasi.
3. Uthisha musha. Uya emakethe ngoMgqibelo.
4. Odokotela bahle. Basebenza esibhedlela.
5. Umshana mude. Uyisitshudeni.
Umsebenzi 7.9
1. Isiketi sifushane kodwa sihle.
2. Amawashi mahle. Avela eMelika.
3. Iziguli ziningi. Zidinga ukudla.
4. Ipeni lihle. Libiza uR50.
5. Ziphi izicathulo? Ngiyazidinga.
6. Idolobha likhulu. Linabantu abaningi.
7. Isinkwa sidala futhi sibi.
8. Aphi amanzi? Bayawadinga.
9. Izitolo zinkulu. Zivula ngo 10:00 ekuseni.
10. Ikati lidala. Lithanda ukudla inhlanzi.
Umsebenzi 7.11
Singular Plural Gloss
1. idube amadube zebra/s
2. ihhashi amahhashi horse/s
3. igama amagama name/s
4. ibhiya obhiya [bottle/s of] beer
5. umnumzana abanumzana gentleman/-men

6. uphrofesa ophrofesa professor/s
7. umntwana abantwana child/ren
8. isangoma izangoma diviner/s
9. usomabhizinisi osomabhizinisi businessman/
woman/-men/-women
10. isazi izazi expert/s
Unit 8
Ingxoxo 8.1
Grandma is talking to Themba’s mother in the kitchen.
Themba’s mother: Hello, Mom.

Grandma: Yes, hello my daughter [in-law].
Themba’s mother: How are you Mom? Did you sleep well?
Grandma: Ah no, my daughter, I’m not well. I didn’t
sleep at all.
Themba’s mother: Oh, I’m sorry Mom! What’s wrong?
Grandma: I don’t know, my daughter. But I have pain
in my chest.
Themba’s mother: Oh that’s too bad. Would you like some
tea?
Grandma: No, my daughter. I’d just like some water.
Themba’s mother: Sit down, Mom. Here’s some water. I’ll call
Mrs. Cele. She’s a nurse. She’ll give us
advice.
Umsebenzi 8.1
1. Cha, ugogo akaphilile.
2. Yebo, ugogo akalalanga.
3. Yebo, ugogo uphethwe yisifuba.
4. Cha, ugogo akafuni tiye. Ufuna amanzi.
5. Yebo, uNkk, Mkhize unika ugogo amanzi.
Ingxoxo 8.2
Thendiwe talks to her mother when she gets home from school.
Mother: Hello, Thandiwe. How was school today?

Thandiwe: Hello, Ma. Everything was fine, but I’ve got a
headache.
Mother: A headache? What happened?
Thandiwe: We were playing basketball this afternoon. Then
I was hit on the head by the ball. Now it hurts!
Mother: Sorry [to hear that], Thandiwe. Go and lie down on
your bed. I’ll bring you some tea and Panado.
Thandiwe: Thanks Ma.
Umsebenzi 8.2
1. Cha, uThandiwe akaphethwe yisifuba. Uphethwe yikhanda.
2. Yebo, oThandiwe badlale ibasketball.
3. Yebo, omunye ushaye uThandiwe ekhanda ngebhola.
4. Yebo, uThandiwe uzoyolala embhedeni.
5. Cha, umama kaThandiwe akazumlethela amanzi. Uzomlethela itiye
namaPanado.
Umsebenzi 8.3
1. Ngiphethwe yiso.
2. Ngiphethwe yisisu.
3. Ngiphethwe yidolo.
4. Ngiphethwe ngumhlane.
5. Ngiphethwe yizinyo.
6. Ngiphethwe ngumkhuhlane.
Umsebenzi 8.4
1. Kubuhlungu emlenzeni. Angikwazi ukuhamba.
2. Uphethwe yisandla. Angikwazi ukubhala.
3. Kubuhlungu emehlweni. Angikwazi ukufunda.
4. Ngiphethwe yisisu. Angikwazi ukudla.

5. Kubuhlungu endlebeni. Angikwazi ukuzwa.
Ingxoxo 8.3
Mrs. Mkhize speaks with a nurse on the phone:
Mrs. Cele: (answering) Hello? Who’s speaking?

Mrs. Mkhize: Hello, my sister. It’s me, Phumi.
Mrs. Cele: Oh, Phumi, hello! How are you all?
Mrs. Mkhize: No, we’re fine. How are you?
Mrs. Cele: We’re getting by. How can I help?
Mrs. Mkhize: Oh, my sister, I don’t want to bother you, but it’s
my Mom.
Mrs. Cele: Your Mom? What’s wrong?
Mrs. Mkhize: She says she’s not feeling well. She says she
has pain in her chest.
Mrs. Cele: In her chest? Is she able to breathe?
Mrs. Mkhize: Yes, she can, but she’s coughing.
Mrs. Cele: Hmm. Does she have a fever?
Mrs. Mkhize: A little. Her temperature is 100.5.
Mrs. Cele: Phumi, perhaps it’s just a cold, but Granny’s no
longer young.
You must bring her to the hospital. They’ll
examine her.
Mrs. Mkhize: Alright sister. Thank you.
Mrs. Cele: No, it’s nothing, sister. Stay well
Mrs. Mkhize: Stay well you too.
Umsebenzi 8.5
1. UPhumi uyindodakazi kagogo.
2. UNkk. Cele ungunesi.
3. Ugogo uphethwe yisifuba.
4. Ugogo unemfiva kancane.
5. Ugogo uzoya esibhedlela.
Umsebenzi 8.6
Giving advice
1. Ngilambile. Kufanele udle.
2. USipho ukhathele. Kufanele alale.
3. Baswela imali. Kufanele basebenze.
4. Sishiywa yibhasi. Kufanele sihambe ngezinyawo.
5. Ngifuna ukuncipha. Kufanele uye egym.
Umsebenzi 8.7
1. Ngikhathele. Kufanele ungasebenzi.
2. Ingane ilele. Kufanele ungabangi msindo.
3. Ugogo uyagula. Kufanele akaphumi embhedeni.
4. Abantwana basekilasini. Kufanele bangaxoxi.
5. Ngifuna ukuncipha. Kufanele ungadli kakhulu.
Umsebenzi 8.8
1. Ngicela ungene.
2. Ngicela uhlale phansi.
3. Ngicela uvule incwadi.
4. Ngicela ufunde indaba.
5. Ngicela ubuke isithombe.
Umsebenzi 8.9
1. Mphekele inyama. (ubaba)
2. Mlethele umuthi (ugogo)
3. Sithengele amathikithi (thina)
4. Ngibuyisele incwadi (mina)
5. Silandele obhiya (thina)
Unit 9
Dialogue 9.1
Jason and Themba buy shoes.
Jason: Themba, look at my shoes! They’re old and tattered!

Themba: You’re right, Jason. Do you want to buy new ones?
Jason: Yes. I must go to the [shopping] mall.
Themba: To the mall? What kind of shoes do you want?
Jason: I don’t know. . . trainers perhaps?
Themba: Oh. Trainers are definitely sold at the mall. But they’re
expensive. Don’t you want Zulu shoes?
Jason: Zulu shoes? What are they like?
Themba: They’re called ‘izimbadada.’ They’re nice, and they’re
strong. You can wear them for many years.
Jason: Great. Where are they sold? At the mall?
Themba: No way! We’ll have to go to the market.
Jason: OK. I’d like you to go with me.
Themba: Alright. Let’s go.
Umsebenzi 9.1
Let’s talk about sneakers (amateku) instead of Zulu sandals
(izimbadadas).
How would the Markers change?
Amateku. . . . . . .
1. agugile They’re old.
2. ahlephukile They’re tattered.
3. amasha new ones
4. amateku anjani? What kind of sneakers?
5. Anjani? What are they like?
6. mahle futhi aqinile. They’re beautiful, and they’re strong.
7. Ungawagqoka. You can wear them.
8. Athengiswaphi? Where are they sold?
Umsebenzi 9.2
Izingubo
Add the possessive marker and pronoun:

1. isikhindi sami my T-shirt
2. ibhulukwe lakho your trousers
3. ingubo yakhe her dress
4. ibhantshi lakhe his jacket
5. ihembe lakhe his shirt
6. izikhindi zethu our T-shirts
7. amabulukwe enu your (pl.) trousers
8. izingubo zabo their dresses/clothing
9. amahembe abo their shirts
10. isikhindi sakho your T-shirt
Ingxoxo 9.2
Jason and Themba go in search of Zulu sandals.
At the market 1
Jason: Wow, Themba! I’ve never been to a market like this.

Themba: Really?
Jason: Yes. I’m used to going to the mall. Where I live in
America, there are many malls, and people only go to
the market to buy vegetables.
Themba: Oh. Well here in South Africa there are many markets,
and everything you want is sold there.
Jason: So I see. Look at those shirts. They’re beautiful!
Themba: They’re also cheap. Prices in the market are lower than
in the mall.
Jason: Wow, that’s great! Where’s the shoe store?
Themba: There in front. Across from the flower stall.
(They head towards it.)
Themba: (greeting the vendor, who is male) Hello, sir.
Vendor: Yes, cousin. How are you?
Themba: We’re OK. How about you?
Vendor: Well, I’m getting by. How can I help you?
Themba: My friend, who’s from overseas, wants some shoes.

Vendor: Oh. (greeting Jason) Hello, my friend. How are you?
Jason: I’m well, sir. How are you?
Vendor: Wow! You speak Zulu! That’s amazing! What size do
you wear, my friend?
Jason: I don’t know. Perhaps a 10?
Vendor: So you should try some. Do you want brown or black
shoes?
Jason: No, I don’t want western shoes. I want Zulu shoes.
Vendor: Oh! Izimbadada? Alright.
Dialogue 9.3
At the market 2
Vendor: (bringing Zulu sandals) Here are some beautiful ones.

UJason: They really are beautiful. But they’re too small.
Vendor: OK. Try these. They’ve just arrived.
UJason: Hmm. These fit. How much do they cost?
Vendor: R500.
Vendor: Ok. . .
UThemba: (hastily joining the conversation) Wait a bit, Jason!
(speaking to the vendor) My brother, you see that this
is my friend.
Vendor: Yes, I see that.
UThemba: So, please give him a good price.
Vendor: So what is ‘a good price’ then?
UThemba: R250.
Vendor: My goodness! That’s a gift! I can give them to him at
R400.
UThemba: Yikes, that’s a lot of money. Do you know that he’s a
student? What do you say to R300?
Vendor: Umm. . . you guys are really giving me a hard time. My
boss will kill me. Let’s say R350. My last price.
UThemba: What do you say, Jason?
UJason: I’m very happy, Themba. Mr. Vendor, thank you. Here’s
the money, R350.
Vendor: Thank you my friend. Here are the izimbadadas.
Continue with your Zulu studies!
UJason: Alright. Stay well.
Vendor: (nodding his head) You all go well.
Umsebenzi 9.3 Comprehension

1. UJason ufuna amateku.
2. Lezo zicathulo zithengiswa emaMall.
3. Abantu balapho uJason evela khona baya emaMall ukuthenga izingubo.
4. Abantu balapho uJason evela khona bathenga imifino emamakethe.
5. Kuthengiswani konke okufunayo emamakethe eMzansi.
6. Izintengo emamakethe ziphansi kunalezo zasemaMall kusho
uThemba.
7. Isitolo sezicathulo siphambili kwesitolo sezimbali.
8. Umdayisi ucela uR500.
9. UThemba usho uR250.
10. Bavumelana ngo-R300.
Umsebenzi 9.4
1. ‘Angizange ngiye emakethe.’
a. Asizange siye emakethe.
b. Abazange baye emakethe.
c. UJason akazange aye emakethe.
2. ‘Lapho ngihlala khona . . .’
a. Lapho uJason evela khona . . .
b. Lapho bethenga izicathulo khona . . .
c. Lapho sigibela ibhasi khona . . .
3. ‘konke. . . okufunayo’
a. zonke izicathulo ozifunayo
b. onke amahembe owafunayo
c. bonke abangane obafunayo
Umsebenzi 9.5
1. Uphi uZanele? Uphandle kwekhishi.
2. Ziphi izinkomo? Ziphesheya komfula.
3. Baphi abantwana? Baphansi kwetafula.
4. Iphi inja? Isemuva kwegalaji.
5. Liphi igundane? Liphakathi kwekhabethe.
Umsebenzi 9.6
1. Itafula liphakathi kwekamelo.

2. Ukhaphethe uphansi kwetafula.
3. Umabonakude uphezulu kwekhabethe/useduze nefasitela.
4. Amakhethini aphambili kwefasitela.
5. Usofa ukwesobunxele kwetafula/uphansi kweshalofu.
6. Izincwadi ziphezu kweshalofu.
7. Inkomishi iphezu kwetafula.
8. Umuthi omncane usemuva kwesihlalo.
9. Isigqoko siphezulu kwekhabethe.
10. Izinhlanzi ziphambili kwefasitela.
Umsebenzi 9.7
Jason needs to go to the station.
People give him differing advice.

Mark each one true or false.
1. Isiteshi siseduze nesikhumulo sezindiza iKing Shaka. Akunjalo

2. Isiteshi siphakathi kwebhishi nenkundla yamahhashi. Yiqiniso.
3. Isiteshi siphambili kweShaka Marine World. Akunjalo
4. Isiteshi sikude neTheku. Akunjalo
5. Isiteshi siseduze neMoses Mabhida Stadium. Yiqinislo
6. Isiteshi sisemuva kwamahhotela. Yiqiniso
7. Isiteshi siseduze nomgwaqo iN2. Yiqiniso
Umsebenzi 9.8
1. Ngomile. Mawuphuze amanzi.
2. Akanamali. Makathole umsebenzi.
3. Silambile. Manidle.
4. Úyagula. Makalale embhedeni.
5. Baphuzile. Mabasheshe.
Traditional clothing
Traditional dress is worn by many on celebratory occasions such as
ukugcagca (traditional weddings) and umemulo (girls’ coming-of-age
celebration), as well as on public holidays such as Heritage Day. Mem-
bers of certain churches, such as AmaNazaretha, wear traditional
dress for worship. Men’s traditional dress requires animal skins (real or
artifcial), and Zulu royalty and political leaders wear leopard skin. Men
also wear a headring (isicoco) made of skin. Women’s dress consists
of a black skirt decorated with beadwork, a shawl or stole and, for mar-
ried women, a red headdress with a broad fat top (inkehli). Men carry
a stick (iwisa) and shield (isihlangu), and women carry a small shield
(iwisa) or a rolled umbrella.
Unit 10
Umsebenzi 10.1
1. NgoMsombuluko liguqubele.
2. NgoLwesibili libalele.
3. NgoLwesithathu liyana.
4. NgoLwesine liyakhithika.
5. NgoLwesihlanu libalele.
6. NgoMgqibelo liyabaneka.
7. NgeSonto liguqubele.
Umsebenzi 10.2
1. Liyashisa. Bezwa ukushisa.
2. Liyabanda. Bayagodola.
3. Liyabaneka. Bayesaba.
4. Liyavunguza. Bezwa ukuphola.
5. Limakhaza. Bezwa amakhaza.
Storms kill 8 in Durban
28th November
Durban – A powerful storm killed eight people in Durban and
Pietermaritzburg on Sunday night and destroyed a number of build-
ings.
This bad weather situation, which hit Durban happened just two
hours before the opening of the UN conference on climate change,
caused fooding and brought down many structures.
The deaths of people on Sunday brought to 13 the number of
people killed by foods inKwaZulu-Natal in less than two weeks.
Last week fve people died in that province because of heavy
rains.
A spokesperson for the provincial government of KwaZulu-
Natal, Mthatheni Mabaso, said the deceased were from Umlazi
and Clermont.
‘We are told that they passed away when the walls of their hous-
es gave way. We’ve been informed that 100 houses have been
destroyed in Isiphingo,’ he said on Monday.
SAPA
Umsebenzi 10.3
1. isiphepho. . .
ebesinamandla which was powerful
sibulale it killed
sacekela phansi it knocked down
2. isimo. . .
sezulu esibi of bad weather
esihlasele which attacked
sezulu ye-UN of weather at the UN
sidale it created
sacekela it knocked down
Umsebenzi 10.4
1. Isiphepho sihlasele eThekwini naseMgungundlovu.
2. Isiphepho sibulale abantu abayisishiyagalombili.
3. Isiphepho sihlasele ngeSonto.
4. Izindlu ezingu-100 zicekeleke phansi eSiphingo.
Dialogue 10.1
Let’s go to the beach!
Nomathemba: Gosh, Zanele, it’s hot!

Zanele: You’re right, Nomathemba! It makes the fish jump
out of the water!
Nomathemba: It makes one perspire even when you’re sitting down
doing nothing.
Zanele: I have to write a paper, but in truth I can’t write.
Nomathemba: Me too. What shall we do?
Zanele: Let’s go to the beach.
Nomathemba: To the beach! Great idea!
Zanele: I’ll put some snacks and drinks in my bag.
Nomathemba: Great! I’ll bring towels. What will you wear? Shorts or
a skirt?
Zanele: Umm. . . I think shorts, because it’s windy. And a
T-shirt.
Nomathemba: OK. Don’t forget flip-flops. The sand gets hot, and
there are pebbles in the water.
Zanele: I’ve got them. I’ve got money for transport too.
Nomathemba: OK. Let’s go. We can take a taxivan at the corner.
Umsebenzi 10.5
1. Yebo, izulu liyashisa.
2. Cha, uNomathemba uyajuluka.
3. Yebo, uZanele noNomathemba kufanele babhale amaphepha.
4. Cha, uZanele unombono wokuya ebhishi.
5. Cha, uNomathemba uzolanda amaamathawula.
6. Cha, uZanele ugqoka izikhindi.
7. Cha, badinga izinyathelo ngoba isihlabathi singashisa.
8. Yebo, uZanele unemali yokugibela.
9. Cha, bazohamba ngekhumbi.
Umsebenzi 10.6
1. Izinhlanzi ziningi. There are many fish.
2. Umbono muhle. The idea is good.
3. Izidlwana zinhle. The snacks are good.
4. Isikhwama sikhulu. The bag is large.
5. Isikhindi sifushane. The shorts are short.
6. Isiketi side. The skirt is long.
7. Ophaca basha. The flip-flops are new.
8. Amatshana maningi. There are many pebbles.
Umsebenzi 10.7
1. Izinhlanzi zisiliva. The fish are silver.
2. Isikhwama sibomvu. The bag is red.
3. Isikhindi simhlophe. The shorts are white.
4. Isiketi sibomvana. The skirt is pink.
5. Ophaca baliphuzi. The flip-flops are yellow.
6. Amatshana ampofu. The pebbles are light brown.
7. Isikibha simnyama. The T-shirt is black.
8. Amathawula aluhlaza. The towels are blue/green.
Umsebenzi 10.8
Predicative use
1. The idea is good.
2. The snacks are tasty.
3. The towels are large.
4. The shorts are new and blue/green.
5. The skirt is long and red.
6. The tank top is short and white.
7. The flip-flops are old and pink.
8. There is a little money.
Umsebenzi 10.9
Attributive
1. UNomathemba uthi ngumbono omuhle.
2. UZanele uthi uzofaka izidlwana ezimnandi.
3. UZanele uzofaka iziphuzo ezinye.
4. UNomathemba uzoletha amathawula amakhulu.
5. UZanele uzogqoka izikhindi eziluhlaza.
6. UZanele akazugqoka isiketi eside.
7. UZanele uzogqoka isihibha esimhlophe.
8. Bobabili bazoletha ophaqa abadala.
9. UZanele uzoletha imali encane.
Yesterday’s weather
Themba has been to stay in Cape Town.
He tells his friend about the trip:
When we left Durban, it rained a lot and it was hot. We arrived in Cape
Town, and it was cool and the wind was blowing. The following day
was sunny in the morning and we climbed Table Mountain. But when
we arrived at the summit it was overcast. In the afternoon it was cold,
and it began to snow! Goodness we really felt cold! We quickly went
back down in the cable car. On the third day it was warm and we went
to the beach. I didn’t swim because the water was mighty cold. Gosh!
I don’t understand Cape Town weather!
Umsebenzi 10.10
1. It rained a lot.
2. It was hot.
3. It was cool.
4. The wind was blowing.
5. It was sunny.
6. It was overcast.
7. It was cold.
8. It began to snow.
9. We felt cold.
10. It was warm.
Umsebenzi 10.11
Now Yesterday
1. Ngilambile. I’m hungry. Bengilambile. I was hungry
2. Ukhathele. She’s tired. Ubekhathele. She was tired.
3. Bahambile. They’re gone. Bebehambile. They were gone.
4. Sithukuthele. We’re angry. Besithukuthele. We were angry.
5. Ulele. He’s asleep. Ubelele. He was asleep.
6. Liguqubele. It’s overcast. Beliguqubele. It was overcast.
7. Lipholile. It’s cool. Belipholile. It was cool.
8. Lifudumele. It’s warm. Belifudumele. It was warm.
Unit 11
Ingxoxo 11.1
The weekend
Themba: Ah Bongani, this work is killing me, you know?

Bongani: Indeed Themba, long time no see!
Themba: Let’s forget our studies tomorrow. Let’s go to a soccer
match.
Bongani: A soccer match? OK. Which teams will be playing?
Themba: AmaZulu and Maritzburg United.

Bongani: Really? Where are they playing?
Themba: At Moses Mabhida Stadium.
Bongani: Oh. Here in Durban. Great. But Maritzburg will be
defeated by amaZulu, you know.
Themba: Hey, my brother! Have you lost faith?
Bongani: No, not so, but Maritzburg have lost some good players
this year.
Themba: You’re right.
Bongani: Ah but I don’t have money for tickets. Tickets are
expensive, you know?
Themba: Yes. But we’re in luck.
Bongani: How? Speak man!
Themba: You know my dad works at the bank.
Bongani: Yes, I know that.
Themba: The managers were given tickets free. Now my dad has
given me his tickets.
Bongani: That’s great!
Themba: The game begins at 1:00.
Bongani: I’m in! Where shall we meet?
Themba: Let’s meet at that gate at 12. It’ll fill up quickly.
Bongane: OK. Please thank your father. See you tomorrow. ’Bye.
Themba: ’Bye.
Umsebenzi 11.1
1. UThemba ubulawa ngumsebenzi.
2. UThemba ufuna ukuya ebholeni.
3. Kuzodlala amaZulu neMaritzburg United.
4. Umdlalo uzodlalwa eMoses Mabhida Stadium.
5. Cha, uThemba uthi iMaritzburg azonqotshwa.
6. UThemba uthola amathikithi kubaba.
7. Umdlalo uqala ngo-1:00.
8. UThemba noSipho bazohlangana ngo-12:00.
9. Bazohlangana esangweni.
Umsebenzi 11.2
1. UThemba ubulawa ngumsebenzi.
2. Umdlalo uzodlalelwa eMoses Mabhida Stadium.
3. IMaritzburg izonqotshwa ngamaZulu.
4. Izimenenja zinikwa amathikithi yibhange.
Article 11.2
A reporter comments on the game

Reporter: Hello, listeners! Greetings to all you who are fans of
our beautiful game: soccer. Greetings to all you who are followers
of the two teams competing today: AmaZulu and Maritzburg United.
These two teams have faced one another many times, but no
one has the courage to say who will win. Last week amaZulu de-
feated Polokwane, but two weeks ago they were defeated by the
Black Aces. Maritzburg were defeated by Pretoria University, but last
month they won over SuperSport United.
Today the weather is fne, but the wind is blowing. Who will suc-
ceed? We don’t know, but we’ll see. . .
(The whistle sounds.)
And it’s on! . . . it’s amaZulu who had the kick off. . . the striker
goes straight ahead! . . . But the ball is stolen by Mabi of Maritz-
burg. . . he who runs like an impala. . . amaZulu tried to prevent him
but in vain. . . he passes to Zondi. . . Zondi kicks with power. . . He
scores!
Maritzburg one, amaZulu nil [an egg].
(A short time passes. Second half: Maritzburg 2 – amaZulu 2.
A few minutes remain.)
. . . [T]he noise is incredible. . . the vuvuzelas are never quiet. . .
the referee blows his whistle. . . Maritzburg have the ball. . . they’re
defending. . . here comes Bhengu striker for amaZulu! . . . he takes
the ball. . . . he runs. . . he passes to Dlamini, the soaring eagle
whizzing past the Maritzburg defender. . . Dlamini gives it to Gu-
mede. . . it’s Gumede now. . . he’s fying. . . he’s close. . . passes
to Dlamini who appears. . . Dlamini strikes with his head. . . Goal!
The goalie stares open-mouthed. AmaZulu have scored! AmaZulu
three; Maritzburg two! AmaZulu have won! The game is over! It was
truly a great game.
Umsebenzi 11.4
1. Yebo, amaqembu amabili alingene ngamakhono.
2. Yebo, ngesonto elidlulileyo amaZulu awinile.
3. Cha, ngesonto elidulileyo amaMaritzburg awawinanga.
4. Cha, uZondi akashayi ngekhanda. Ukhahlela ibhola.
5. Cha, unompempe ushaya impempe.
6. Cha, uBhengu ulidlulisela kuDlamini.
7. Cha, uDlamini uthola ibhola kuBhengu.
8. Yebo, uDlamini ushaya ngekhanda.
Culture note
Sport in South Africa
The South African climate makes outdoor sports possible all year
round. The major sports are soccer, rugby and cricket. Rugby is played
in the winter, cricket in the summer, whereas soccer is played year
round. Because it requires minimal equipment, soccer is played in all
schools and by all communities. The larger state schools and private
schools feld excellent teams, and some players go on to play profes-
sionally after fnishing their studies.
From 1960 to 1994, South African teams were banned from inter-
national sports competition because of the country’s apartheid gov-
ernment. But after the free and fair elections of 1994, South Africa was
readmitted to world sport.
In 1995, the South African rugby team (Amabhoko-bhoko), which
at that time had no black players, won the Rugby World Cup. President
Mandela won the hearts of all South Africans when, after the match, he
congratulated the team and donned a team shirt.
In 1996, South Africa hosted the 20th Africa Cup of Nations com-
petition, marking their frst ever appearance after having been banned
for decades, the ban was lifted with the end of apartheid in the country.
Bafana bafana, the South African team, won their frst title on home
soil, defeating Tunisia in the fnal.
In 2010. South Africa hosted the Soccer World Cup, an event that
prompted the renovation of stadia and the construction of new ones, as
well as many other improvements to facilities throughout the country.
Although the Bafana bafana did not reach the fnal, the event was con-
sidered to have been very successful.
Umsebenzi 11.5
Comprehension
1. Imidlalo ingadlalwa unyaka wonke ngoba izulu lihle.
2. Imidlalo ethandekakakhulu yibhola nombhoxo nekhilikithi.
3. Ikhilikithi idlalwa ngehlobo.
4. Umbhoxo udlalwa ebusika.
5. Ibhola lingadlalwa emiphakathini yonke ngoba alidingi impahla
enkulu.
6. Ngoba onke amazwe ayengahambisana nobandlululo.
7. Igama leqembu lombhoxo ngamaBhoko-bhoko.
8. Iama leqembu lebhola yiBafana-bafana.
9. Ngo 1996 iBafana-bafana yanqoba iTunisia.
10. Abantu abayizinkulungwane?
Umsebenzi 11.6
1. Banesikibha esiiliphuzi nesiluhlaza.
2. Banesikibha esimnyama nesibomvu.
3. Banesikibha esiliphuzi nesimnyama.
4. Banesikibha esiluhlaza nesimnyama.
5. Banesikibha esibomvu nesimhlophe.
Ingxoxo 11.3
Sipho’s birthday
Nobuhle and Mandisa meet at the university library.
Nobuhle: Hi there.
Mandisa: Hi, sister. How are you, my friend?
Nobuhle: I’m OK. How are you?
Mandisa: I’m OK too.
Nobuhle: What did you do at the weekend?
Mandisa: I didn’t do anything. I stayed at home. I helped my

mother to bake cakes. What did you do?
Nobuhle: It was Sipho’s birthday. We went to Midmar Dam on
Saturday. We rented a taxivan, Sipho’s dad paid for
the taxivan. I organized the drinks. Sibongile and
Zanele brought food. They cooked a delicious biriyani.
Ntokozo and Serah brought salad, and plates and
cups. We all chipped in money for the barbecue in the
afternoon.
We got to Midmar at 11:00; we played volleyball
and swam. We took photos in the water and playing
volleyball. At 1:00 we ate lunch. After that we relaxed.
Mandisa: Wow. Sister, I see that you really had a great time. What
did you do after that?
Nobuhle: At 3:00 in the afternoon we went for a boat ride. I didn’t
go because I’m afraid of the water. The boys made a fire.
They roasted the meat and fixed all the food. We ate,
and then we went home. Now I’m tired!
Mandisa: Listen, I want to go to town tomorrow. Let’s meet at
Nando’s at 1:00. OK?
Nobuhle: Alright. I’ll see you tomorrow. I’ll bring my photos. ’Bye.
Mandisa: ’Bye. See you.
Umsebenzi 11.7
Complete these sentences using information from the preceding
passage:
1. UMandisa usize unina ukubhaka amakhekhe.
2. Bahambe ngekhumbi.
3. USibongile noZanele balungise ukudla.
4. Bapheke ubhriyani omnandi.
5. UNtokozo noSerah balethe amasaladi.
6. Bafike eMidmar ngo-11.
7. Badlale ivolleyball futhi babhukudile.
8. Badle idina ngo-1.
9. Emuva kwalokho baphumulile.
10. Abafana bose umlilo.
Umsebenzi 11.8
1. Asiyanga eMidmar Dam
2. Asiqashanga khumbi
3. Angilungisanga ziphuzo
4. Abaphekanga bhriryani
5. Angiphasanga.
6. Asibhukudanga.
7. Asiphumulanga.
8. Anijabulanga.
Unit 12
Wild animals
Wild animals are common in South Africa. South Africans love and
respect them. Therefore there are a number of reserves where wild ani-
mals are protected. The large reserves such as Kruger Park, Hluhluwe
and Pilanesberg are managed by the state, but there are many private
reserves as well. Visitors can stay inside the reserves: in lodges or in
tents. In some reserves visitors drive around in their own vehicle; in oth-
ers they ride in an open vehicle driven by a ranger [expert on wild ani-
mals]. In many reserves, walking around is not permitted, but in some
the visitors can go for walks led by a ranger. Most visitors want to see
the ‘big fve’ animals: the lion, the rhinoceros, the elephant, the buffalo
and the leopard.
Umsebenzi 12.1
1. Izimpala zigijima ngesivinini.
2. Obhejane banezimpondo ezinkulu.
3. Unwabu luhamba kancane.
4. Indlulamithi idla amakhasi.
5. Ibhubesi lithanda ukulala emini.
Umsebenzi 12.2
1. Kukhona izimpala eziningi esiqiwini.
2. Ubhejane omdala ulala phansi komuthi.
3. Unwabu luncane futhi luhle.

4. Indlulamithi inde.
5. Sibone ibhubesi elikhulu izolo.
6. Amadube maningi.
7. Izimpala zincane.
8. Obhejane abadala balele.
9. Unwabu oluhle lukhwela esihlahleni.
10. Izilwane eziningi zihlala esiqiwini.
Ingxoxo 12.1
Students visit a game reserve.
Nomathemba: Look Zanele! It’s an opportunity to go to a game park!

Zanele: A game park? Where?
Nomathemba: Hluhluwe. Would you like to come with me?
Zanele: When?
Nomathemba: On Saturday. On 16th March
Zanele: Oh! How much does it cost?
Nomathemba: R500.
Zanele: Yish, it’s a lot of money!
Nomathemba: You’re right, but that includes the bus, food together
with the entrance fee. . .
Zanele: Alright. Perhaps Bongani and Themba would like to
go with us?
Nomathemba: I’ll ask them right away.
(Nomathemba calls Themba on her cell.)
Themba: Hello?
Noma: Yes, hello my brother.
Themba: Who’s speaking?
Noma: It’s me, Nomathemba.
Themba: Oh hi, sister. How are you?
Noma: I’m OK, brother. How about you?
Themba: No, I’m OK too. What’s going on?
Noma: Nothing much, but Zanele and I wondered whether
you and Bongani would like to come with us.
Themba: To a game park? No, sister, you know I’m a city guy!
I don’t like the outdoors. I don’t like mud. I don’t like
dust.
Noma: Oh Themba! But we’ll be in a bus!
Themba: Nevertheless. . . Furthermore I’m afraid of wild
animals. I’m afraid of bugs. . . and rats. . . and
cockroaches. . .
Noma: My goodness Themba! We’ll be safe. We’ll
see big animals like elephants and zebra. Not
cockroaches. . .
Themba: Hmm. Will Bongani be going?
Noma: I’ll phone him now.
(Bongani convinces Themba. They both agree to
go.)
Umsebenzi 12.3
1. UNothemba ubona isaziso.
2. Isaziso simema izitshudeni ukuya esiqiwini.
3. Uhambo lubiza uR500.
4. UNomathemba umema uThemba ukuhamba nabo.
5. UThemba uthi akathandi maphandle.
6. UThemba uthi wesaba izicabucabu.
7. UNomathemba uthi bazobe bephephile.
8. UNomathemba uzofonela uBongani.
Ingxoxo 12.2
Students tell about the trip.
Those who went to the game park are in the cafeteria talking with other
students.
Nomathemba: Wow! That was a great trip! We saw so many

different animals!
Zanele: But it was far from Durban. We had to get up before
dawn.
Themba: I don’t remember anything about the trip. I was
asleep.
Bongani: Gosh, you’re such a lazybones Themba! You slept

for almost the whole day.
Zanele: But he did wake up when the elephant approached
our bus! He jumped up and fell off his seat!
(They all laugh. Themba gets a little annoyed.)
Themba: I told you I was a city person.
Bongani: I was surprised to see that the animals aren’t very
afraid of vehicles. It seems that they’ve become
accustomed to see people and cars.
Zanele: Me too. The lions were very near us, but they were
just relaxing in the sun.
Nomathemba: I loved the giraffes. They’re so beautiful, and they
have such grace. And they’re not fierce either.
Bongani: You’re right. And they can’t be seen easily, even
when they’re nearby. As for me I loved the leopard.
I had no idea that leopards can climb trees! They
say they can drag a whole antelope up into a tree
too!
Themba: When we got off the bus, there were monkeys
everywhere that tried to steal our sandwiches.
I didn’t like those monkeys.
Nomathemba: They were really naughty, those monkeys. It’s
because tourists like feeding them. Now they know
that people bring food. They’re smart.
Bongani: I’d like to visit the game park again.
Zanele: I’d like that too.
Nomathemba: Me too.
Themba: No way! I’ll never do that again!
(They all laugh.)
Umsebenzi 12.4
1. UNomathemba uthi babone izilwane eziningi.
2. UZanele uthi isiqiwi sikude neTheku.
3. UThemba uthi akakhumbuli lutho ngohambo.
4. UBongani utshela uThemba ukuthi uyivila yena.
5. UZanele uthi indlovu isondele ibhasi labo.
6. UBongani ubemangele ngoba izilwane azesabi zimoto.
7. UZanele uthi amabhubesi abethamele elangeni.
8. UNomathemba uthanda izindlulamithi ngoba zinokuphiqilika.

9. UBongani uthanda ingwe ngoba ikwazi ukukhwela emthini.
10. UThemba uthi akafuni ukuphindela esiqiwini.
Umsebenzi 12.5 What animals are these?

1. Yibhubesi.
2. Yingwe.
3. Yizimpala/Yizinyathi.
4. Yingwenya.
5. Yizindlovu.
6. Wubhejane.
7. Ngamadube.
8. Yizinyoka.
9. Lunwabu.
10. Yizimvubu.
Riddles 12.6
1. Yibhala. It’s wheelbarrow.
2. Yisinkwa. It’s a loaf of bread.
3. Yinaliti. It’s a needle.
4. Yilambu. It’s a (paraffin) lamp.
5. Yiqanda. It’s an egg.
Umsebenzi 12.7
1. UVusi uyivila.
2. UNtombenhle unomusa.
3. UMike usangene.
4. Indoda idakiwe.
5. Udokotela uhambile.
6. USipho unomona.
7. UBeatrice unamahloni.
8. Umama ukhuthele.
9. Izingane zilele.
10. Impala ifile.
Unit 13
Conversation 13.1
Grandma talks with Thandiwe about her childhood.

Thandiwe: Grandma, when were you born?
Grandma: I was born in 1939, my grandchild.
Thandiwe: In 1939! Wow, Grandma, that really was long ago!
Grandma: You’re right. Now I’m old. But I’m not senile.
Thandiwe: Where were you born?
Grandma: I was born on a farm, near Mnambithi.
Thandiwe: Mnambithi? Where is that?
Grandma: White folks call it Ladysmith. Do you know it?
Thandiwe: Oh, yes, I know it. We see the road leading to
Ladysmith when we go to Johannesburg. And there
is a famous singing group called Ladysmith Black
Mambazo that come from there.
Grandma: Alright, but we used to live on a farm. We all worked
on the farm.
Thandiwe: What work did you do Grandma?
Grandma: In summer we weeded the fields. In autumn we
harvested.
Thandiwe: What did you harvest? Apples? Bananas?
Grandma: Goodness, grandchild! You really are a child of the
city! We harvested maize. We collected the corn
cobs.
Thandiwe: Oh. But did you have time to play?
Grandma: Definitely we did! We used to jump rope and play
hide-and-seek.
Thandiwe: But were you happy?
Grandma: When I was small I was happy, but when I grew
older I wanted to go and study in town.
Thandiwe: Grandma, did you enjoy studying?
Grandma: Yes! I loved it. I wanted to be a teacher. It was my
dream.
Thandiwe: And then you really did become a teacher!

Grandma: Yes, my granddaughter. I left the farm.
Umsebenzi 13.1
1. UZanele wayehlala eGoli.
2. Abazali bami babethanda ukulalela umsakazo.
3. (Mina) Ngangidlala ibhola esikoleni.
4. Izitshudeni zaziya ekhefi kusihlwa.
5. Amadoda ayephuza ubhiya ebha.
6. Ukudla kwakuphekwa ngamakhosikazi.
7. Inja yami yayilala ngaphandle.
8. Ubisi lwalubiza uR10.
9. Umfula wawugcwala emuva kwezimvula.
10. Utshani babudliwa yizinkomo.
Umsebenzi 13.2
1. UZanale wayengahlali eGoli.
2. Abazali bami babengathandi ukulalela umsakazo.
3. (Mina) Ngangingadlali bhola esikoleni.
4. Izitshudeni zazingayi ekhefi kusihlwa.
5. Amadoda ayengaphuzi bhiya ebha.
6. Ukudla kwakungaphekwa ngamakhosikazi.
7. Inja yami yayingalali ngaphandle.
8. Ubisi lwalungabizi uR10.
9. Umfula wawungagcwali emuva kwezimvula.
10. Utshani babungadliwa yizinkomo.
Umsebenzi 13.3
1. (Thina) Sasinabangane abaningi.
2. Umama wayenezinkukhu eziningi.
3. Umuthi wawunezithelo ezimnandi.
4. Kwakunamaphoyisa emgwaqweni.
5. Izinja zazinokudla okuningi.

6. Ihembe lalinokudabuka.
7. Abantwana babenodoli.
8. Amasokisi ayenemiqa ebomvu.
9. Ubuhlalu babunosiliva.
10. Insimu yayinamatshe amaningi.
Umsebenzi 13.4
1. (Thina) Sasingenabo bangane abaningi.
2. Umama wayengenazo zinkukhu eziningi.
3. Umuthi wawungenazo zithelo ezimnandi.
4. Kwakungenawo maphoyisa emgwaqweni.
5. Izinja zazingenakho kudla okuningi.
6. Ihembe lalingenakho kudabuka.
7. Abantwana babengenabo odoli.
8. Amasokisi ayengenayo migqa ebomvu.
9. Ubuhlalu babungenawo siliva.
10. Insimu yayingenawo matshe amaningi.
Umsebenzi 13.5
1. UShaka wayeyinkosi yamaZulu.
2. (Mina) Ngangingumfana ogangile.
3. UGogo wayenguthisha.
4. Abazala babengabalimi.
5. Le ntombi yayiyingane ekhala kakhulu.
Umsebenzi 13.6
1. UShaka wayengeyona inkosi yamaZulu.
2. (Mina) Ngangingeyena umfana ogangile.
3. UGogo wayengeyena uthisha.
4. Abazala babengebona abalimi.
5. Le ntombi yayingeyona ingane ekhala kakhulu.
Umsebenzi 13.7
1. Abazali bami bazalelwa eThekwini.
2. (Mina) Ngafunda isikole eBoston.
3. (Thina) Sathuthela eGoli ngonyaka odlule.
4. La mantombazana aqala ukufunda ehlobo.
Umsebenzi 13.8
1. Ubazali bami abazalelwanga eThekwini.
2. (Mina) Angifundanga isikole eBoston.
3. (Thina) Asithuthelanga eGoli ngonyaka odlule.
4. La mantombazana awaqalanga ukufunda ehlobo.
Folktales
Folktales are short stories that tell of the exploits of animals and peo-
ple. Some characters show positive attributes such as courage, and
others show bad behaviour such as cowardice and cruelty. At the end
of each folktale, there is a saying that explains the lesson embedded in
the narrative. A popular animal found in folktales is Chakijana, a mon-
goose who attempts to outwit animals much larger than he is. A com-
mon ‘human’ character is Mr. Ogre. Ogres resemble people, but they
are incapable of living in a community because they constantly quarrel
and sometimes even eat one another. Good people – young girls in
particular – have to watch out for ogres because they are able to make
themselves appear like people. In Zulu culture, folktales play an import-
ant role in teaching children good behaviour. They are usually told by
grandmothers after dark.
Manyosi 13.2
This is an unusual (though popular) folktale because Manyosi is an
historical fgure.
Manyosi, son of Dlekezele Mbatha, served under Shaka. He was a

brave fghter and distinguished himself in battle. He was capable of
eating a whole goat by himself, and of drinking large quantities of
beer. When Dingane came to the throne, Manyosi was treated well
because of his military exploits, and was given as much food as he
wanted. He therefore became very fat.
In the buildup to the Zulu civil war, Manyosi left Dingane and sided
with Mpande. But there he could not expect the same consideration
as he had received under Mpande, so people began to taunt him,
saying that his belly would decrease in size. The expression came to
mean that a person would have cause to regret his actions. It is used
for people who, because they are prosperous and live recklessly, not
caring to provide for tomorrow.
From the late Prof. Mashasha Hlengwa. Used with permission.
Umsebenzi 13.9
True or false?
1. Cha, uManyosi wayeyindodana kaDlekezele Mbatha.
2. Yebo, uManyosi wayeyibutho elihle.
3. Cha, uManyosi wayebonwa njengeqhawe.
4. Yebo, wayekwazi ukudla imbuzi yonke.
5. Cha, uManyosi wayephathwa kahle nguDingane.
6. Cha, wayenikwa ukudla nokokuphuza.
7. Yebo, uDingane walwa nomfowabo uMpande.
8. Cha, kwaMpande abantu babemhlonipha kancane uManyosi.
9. Yebo, abantu bamchukuluza uManyosi ngoba wayekhuluphele.
10. Yebo, isaga ‘Siyobohla Manyosi’ sithi kufanele umuntu acabange
ngekusasa.
Umsebenzi 13.10
1. Abafundi babekhathele.
2. UZanele wayelambile.
3. Amadoda ayedakiwe.
4. Izinkomo zazizacile.
5. Imoto yayingcolile.
6. Ingubo yayimfushane.
7. Ubisi lwalulubi.
8. Imuvi yayiyinhle.
9. Amabhulukwe ayemade.
10. Abantwana babebaningi.
Umsebenzi 13.11
1. Abafundi babengakhathele.
2. UZanele wayengalambile.
3. Amadoda ayengadakiwe.
4. Izinkomo zazingazacile.
5. Imoto yayingagcolile.
6. Ingubo yayingemfushane.
7. Ubisi lwalungelubi.
8. Imuvi yayingeyinhle.
9. Amabhulukwe ayengemade.
10. Abantwana babengebaningi.
Dialogue 13.3
Grandma remembers election day.
Thandiwe: Grandma, do you remember South Africa’s frst

[democratic] elections?
Grandma: I sure do remember, Thandiwe.
Thandiwe: Where were you on that day?
Grandma: I was principal of a high school in Umlazi. We teachers
woke up before dawn. We took the bus at 5:00 in the
morning.
Thandiwe: How were the people at the polling station?
Grandma: We were happy, but it was very quiet. We stood in a long
line talking in low voices and awaiting our turn.
Thandiwe: Why were you so quiet even though you were happy?
Grandma: It’s hard to explain. . . I think we were a little afraid that
it was just a dream and that we could wake up and find
that everything had disappeared.
Thandiwe: Wow, Grandma! So, how does a person vote?
Grandma: There is a paper that has the names of all the parties
together with their photos. Then you take a pen and you
put an ‘x’ in the box of the party you like more than the
others.
Thandiwe: How many parties were there in that election?
Grandma: Wuu! There were a lot! I think twenty.
Thandiwe: Twenty! I’ve never heard of all those parties.
Grandma: You’re right. But anyone could establish a party. It’s a

right.
Thandiwe: I understand. I’m going to vote in the next election.
Grandma: I’m glad to hear that, my grandchild. It’s important to
protect the democratic government.
Umsebenzi 13.12
1. Yiqiniso. UGogo wayenguthisha ngesikhathi sokhetho.
2. Akunjalo. Othisha bavuka kusempondo zankomo.
3. Akunjalo. Bahamba ngebhasi bayovota.
4. Akunjalo. Abantu babethula bathi du ngesikhathi belindela
ukuvota.
5. Akunjalo. Asazi ukuthi amaqembu ayemangaki.
Historical note
South Africa’s frst democratic elections (1994)
In the lead-up to South Africa’s frst elections, there was a massive

campaign to educate people about their rights and about the voting
process.
The election was won by the African National Congress, led by Nel-
son Mandela, who became president. He retired after fve years in office.
The Inkatha Freedom Party, the majority of whose members are
Zulu speaking, agreed to participate in the election just weeks before
election day, making it necessary to manually attach the party’s name
to the bottom of each ballot paper.
Unit 14
Dialogue 14.1
Zanele gets a job
Zanele tells her family that she has been offered a job in Johannesburg.
Zanele: Ma! Grandma! Come here!

Mother: What is it, my child?
Grandma: What happened?
Zanele: I got it!

Mother: You got what?
Zanele: The job! They want me at Mfeka’s!
Grandma: Who is this Mfeka? Does he want to marry
you? He’ll have to come up with a big lobolo!
Zanele: No Grandma! I’m talking about a job. I’m
going to work in Johannesburg!
Grandma and Mother: In Johannesburg??
Zanele: Yes! Mfeka & Partners is a company. They’ve
offered me a job.
Mother: It’s a company? What do they do there in
Johannesburg?
Zanele: They’re accountants.
Mother: Oh! They’re like you!
Zanele: Yes! Now that I have my bachelor of
commerce degree in accounting, they want
me.
Mother: My goodness!
Grandma: Aren’t there any accountants here in Durban?
Zanele: There are Grandma, but the big companies
are in Johannesburg.
Mother: Where will you live in Johannesburg?
Zanele: I don’t know. I’ll look for an apartment.
Mother: An apartment? No way! Will you live alone?
Zanele: I don’t know yet. My friend Lisa has also been
offered a job in Johannesburg. Perhaps she
and I can live together. . .
Grandma: How will you get to Johannesburg?
Zanele: I’ll go by air, Grandma.
Mother: And how will you get around in
Johannesburg?
Zanele: They say they’ll help me to buy a car.
Mother: Good Lord! My daughter will be driving
around Johannesburg!
Zanele: Yes, Ma. Will you and Grandma come and
visit me?
Grandma: Gracious, it’s so far!
(Zanele smiles and they hug.)

Phendula imibuzo.
1. UZanele uthole umsebenzi.
2. UGogo ucabanga ukuthi uMfeka yisoka likaZanele.
3. OMfeka bangama-accountants?
4. UZanele wathola iziqu zeB.Comm. in Accounting.
5. UZanele uthi uzohlala efulethini.
6. UZanele uthi uzohlala noLisa.
7. UZanele uzohamba ngebhanoyi eya eGoli.
8. OMfeka bathi bazomsiza ukuthenga imoto.
Umsebenzi 14.2 Tomorrow (afrmative)

1. UGogo uzopheka iphalishi.
2. Abantwana bazoya esikoleni.
3. Izinsizwa zizobuka umabonakude.
4. USipho uzothenga ikhompyutha elisha.
5. UMnu. Mkhize uzolungisa imoto yakhe.
Umsebenzi 14.3 Tomorrow (negative)

1. Cha, angizuhlala ngedwa.
2. Cha, angizuhlala noThemba.
3. Cha, angizosebenza eGoli.
4. Cha, angizugibela bhasi.
5. Cha, angizuthenga kwaCheckers.
Umsebenzi 14.4 Tomorrow

1. Ngizovuka ekuseni kakhulu. /Angizuvuka . . .
2. Ngizogibela ibhasi ngiye edolobheni. /Angizugibela . . .
3. Ngizoya emakethe./Angizuya . . .
4. Ngizothenga imifino nenyama yemvu. /Angizuthenga . . .
5. Ngizovakashela umngane esibhedlela. /angizuvakashela . . .
Dialogue 14.2
Zanele prepares to move to Johannesburg.
Zanele: (hurriedly) Ma, where’s my suitcase?

Mother: You mean the one under the bed?
Zanele: No, Ma. I mean the one on top of the cupboard.
Mother: But that one belongs to your sister.
Zanele: But I need it, even if it is hers.
Mother: Alright. I’ll ask her. Do you have all the clothes you
need?
Zanele: I think so. Have a look, Ma!
Mother: What are these?
Zanele: They’re my five dresses.
Mother: What are those?
Zanele: They’re my shirts. They are many, I know.
Mother: What are those?
Zanele: Those are my three skirts.
Mother: What are those over there?
Zanele: Those are my shoes.
Mother: Are you taking those flip-flops? They’re old!
Zanele: I know, but I love them.
Mother: Do you have your sneakers? And your socks?
Zanele: Yes, I have them.
Mother: And your laptop?
Zanele: I have it.
Mother: And your jacket? It can be cold in Johannesburg, you
know.
Zanele: I have it.
Mother: What’s this? Is it your bag?
Zanele: No. It’s Thandiwe’s.
Mother: Oh. It’s beautiful! Now are you able to close the
suitcase?
Zanele: (pushing hard) Mh! Mh! There. It’s closed.
Umsebenzi 14.5
1. isihlalo sikaThandiwe
2. izincwadi zikaZanele
3. imoto kaBongani
4. abantwana bakaMkhize
5. ihembe likaThemba
Umsebenzi 14.6
1. isihlalo sikanesi the nurse’s chair
2. izincwadi zikagogo granny’s books
3. imoto kababa father’s car
4. abantwana bakamama mother’s children
5. ihembe likadokotela the doctor’s shirt
Umsebenzi 14.7
1. laba bantu these people
2. lezi zimbali those flowers
3. lo mgwaqo this road
4. lokhu kudla that food
5. lawa/la majazi these coats
6. lokhu kushayela this driving
7. lelo bhola that ball
8. le nyathi this buffalo
9. lawo makati those cats
10. lolo lwandle that ocean
Ingxoxo 14.3
Someday
Themba and Sipho talk about how they’d like to visit Johannesburg
someday.
Themba: Have you heard the news about my sister, Zanele?

Sipho: No, nothing. What’s going on?
Themba: She got a job.
Sipho: Really? That’s great! Who will she be working for?
Themba: Mfeka & Partners. In Johannesburg.
Sipho: In Johannesburg? Wow! She’s lucky!
Themba: Yes, she’s lucky, but she also worked hard.
Sipho: I’d love to live in Johannesburg myself.

Themba: Me too. But not now.
Sipho: Not now? Why?
Themba: I want to get married while I’m still in Durban. After that
I’ll go to Johannesburg.
Sipho: Oh! As for me, first I’ll visit Johannesburg. They say it’s
not easy to live there.
Themba: What would you do in Johannesburg if you visited?
Sipho: I’d go to the theatre. . . I’d ride the high-speed
Gautrain. . . I’d eat in restaurants in Rosebank. . . I’d
drink. . .
Themba: Whoah! Stop my brother! Where are you going to get the
money to do all these things?
Sipho: Yish, Themba, dreaming is allowed, isn’t it?
Themba: Sure, it’s allowed.
Sipho: I’ll finish my studies. . .
Themba: Great.
Sipho: Then I’ll get a job. . .
Themba: Mhmm.
Sipho: I won’t spend money on the horses. . .
Themba: Mhmm.
Sipho: I won’t go to the Casino. . .
Themba: That’s great, my brother. You’ll quickly have enough to
go to Johannesburg!
Umsebenzi 14.8
1. Ngiyobuka umdlalo weshashalazi. I’ll go to the theatre.
2. Ngiyogibela isitimela esisheshayo I’ll ride the high-speed
iGautrain. Gautrain.
3. Ngiyodla endlini yokudlela Melville. I’ll eat in a restaurant in
Melville.
4. Ngiyophuza . . . I’ll drink. . .
5. Uyoyitholaphi imali . . . ? Where will you get the
money?
6. Ngiyoqeda izifundo zami. I’ll finish my studies.
7. Bese ngiyothola umsebenzi . . . Then I’ll get a job. . .
Umsebenzi 14.9
1. Akazushiya imoto egaraji.
2. Akazuya emakethe.
3. Akazuthenga ubisi esitolo.
4. Akazumthengela amasokisi.
5. Akazubuyisela izincwadi elayibhurari.
Umsebenzi 14.10
1. Ngo2 Januwari sizofika e-O R Thambo.
2. Ngo 2–5 Januwari sizovakashela eGoli.
3. Ngo5 Januwari sizokuya eThekwini ngebhanoyi.
4. Ngo7 Januwari sizokuya eHluhluwe ngmoto.
5. Ngo12 Januwari sizokuya eCape Town ngebhanoyi.
6. Ngo 12–16 Januwari sizovakashela eCape Town.
7. Ngo 17 Januwari sizobuyela ekhaya.
Umsebenzi 14.13 Mr. Mkhize’s dream

1. Ngiyothengela umkami imoto entsha.
2. Ngiyothenga indlu.
3. Ngiyondiza ngiye eGoli zonke izimpelasonto.
4. Ngiyothenga amathikithi ayo yonke imidlalo ye-Orlando Pirates.
5. Ngiyokusa umndeni wami eKapa ngamaholidi.
6. Angiyuhamba ngebhasi.
7. Angiyusebenza ebhange.
8. Umkami akayuwasha zingubo.
Unit 15
Article
Heritage day
Read the following newspaper article:

You missed out if you weren’t there!
2012–09–25
Zanele Mtshali
Cape Town – We say tough luck if you weren’t there! There were
good times all over the place at the weekend because people used
it to celebrate Heritage Day.
For example there was a dance group in Cape Town, a group that
enjoyed themselves who for a while had missed going to celebra-
tions and who were talking excitedly about the dance that reminded
them of home in KwaZulu-Natal.
Young Zulu girls were beautifully dressed up and the weather
agreed with them since the sky was blue and clear for the
celebration.
The young men were stealing glances and many a heart
skipped a beat when the dancers turned somersaults, then there
was general ululation.
Izindaba24
Umsebenzi 15.1
1. Ngempelasonto abantu bagubhe uSuku lwamaGugu Esizwe.
2. Laba bantu abahlala eKapa bavela KwaZulu-Natali.
3. Bahlangane e-Acacia Park eKapa.
4. Babeshaya izingoma ezazibakhumbuza ekhaya.
5. Izintombi bezigqoke kahle.
6. Izulu belibalele.
7. Izinsizwa zincome izintombi.
8. Abesifazane bebekikiza.
Umsebenzi 15.2
1. Kugujwe uSuku lwamaGugu.
2. Kugujwe e-Acacia Park eKapa.
3. Bekubhiklwa ingoma.
4. Kukhunjulwe iKwaZulu-Natali.
5. Izintokazi bezihlobe zizinhle.
6. Insizwa ishaye ungqimphothwe.
Ingxoxo 15.1
Unathi Zanele tells about heritage day.
The phone rings.
Zanele: Hello? Who’s speaking?

Unathi: It’s me, Nathi. Hi, my friend.
Zanele: Oh hi, Nathi. How are you?
Unathi: I’m OK. How are you?
Zanele: No, I’m OK.
Unathi: What’s new?
Zanele: Nothing surprising. You?
Unathi: I went to the Celes’ yesterday.
Zanele: Oh! Was there a celebration?
Unathi: Yes. There was a Heritage Day celebration. It was
packed!
Zanele: Oh, that’s great!
Unathi: Some people came in traditional dress.
Zanele: You too?
Unathi: No way! You know how shy I am.
Zanele: What did you wear?
Unathi: A black skirt, pink shirt and blue denim jacket.
Zanele: Beautiful! And your hair?
Unathi: I wore my red head scarf. . . the one that goes with my
big earrings.
Zanele: Wow! You were looking good! Did you have any
admirers?
Unathi: Hmmm. . . Ronnie was there.
Zanele: The one who’s studying architecture?
Unathi: Yes, him. We chatted a little.
Zanele: Was S’bu there?
Unathi: Who’s that?
Zanele: The guy who works at the bank at the Pavilion. He’s
the manager now. Don’t you remember him?
Unathi: Yes, I don’t remember him.
Umsebenzi 15.3
1. Unathi uye kwaCele abebegubha uSuku lwamaGugu.
2. Bekugcwele abantu abebegqoke ngokwesiko.
3. Unathi onamahloni, akagqokanga ngokwesiko.
4. Ibikhona insizwa ebimncoma uNathi.
5. Unathi umbonile uS’bu ongakhunjulwa nguZanele.
15.2 Article
An accident
Five die in [road] accident
Durban – Five people died at a time when the increase in [road]

accidents in northern KwasZulu-Natal chills the blood, according to
a report by East Coast Radio.
An SUV and a van collided on P46 near Bhanya Bridge on Tues-
day afternoon.
Two men and two women died at the scene of the accident, and
another died at the hospital.
Spokespeople for the Road Traffic Inspectorate said fve other
people were picked up by them. Most of the individuals were teach-
ers from a local school.
A spokesperson of the Ministry of Transport in KZN, Zinhle Mn-
gomezulu, said it appeared that one of the drivers lost control of his
vehicle as he turned a corner.
Adapted from News24

1. Kushone abayisihlanu engozini.
Abayisihlanu bashone engozini.
2. Kwehlakale ingozi.
Ingozi yehlakalile.
3. Kushone amadoda nabesifazane ababili.
Amadoda nabesifazane ababili bashonile.
4. Kwathi omunye washonela esibhedlela.
Omunye washonela esibhedlela.
5. Abantu abayisihlanu kuyembulwa kuyembeswa kubo.

Kuyebulwa kuyembeswa. kubantu abayisihlanu.
6. Iningi lezisulu bekungothisha.
Izisulu eziningi bebengothisha.
7. Kusolakala sengathi omunye wabashayeli uhlulekile.
Basola sengathi ngo omunye wabashayeli ohlulekile.
Umsebenzi 15.5 Ideophones

1. Ngo-7:00 belilihle libalele saka. Belifudumele. 70o
2. Ngo-12:00 bekushisa lithe bha. Belisabalele. 95o
3. Ngo-3:30 bekushisa. Beliguqubele. 90o
4, Ngo-4:00 belibaneka lithi nyazi-nyazi. 90o
5. Ngo-5:00 linile lithe thwa-thwa-thwa. 80o
6. Ngo-7:00 belibalele futhi. Belifudumele. 70o
Umsebenzi 15.5
Here is a sample answer.
Sawubona mfo!
Unjani kodwa?
Thina sivakashele ibhishi ebizwa ngokuthi i Boulders ngempe-
lasonto. Yibhishi engavamile ngoba kukhona abantu ababhukuda
noma abathamele elangeni ndawonye namaphengwini!
Kukhona amaphengwini amane phambili ahamba ekhululekile.
Emuva kwawo ungabona ubaba osiza abantwana bakhe bedlala
emanzini. Emuva kwamaphengwini nabantu ungabona amatshe
amakhulu namanzi aluhlaza. Ungabona nokuthi izulu lihle libalele,
amafu ambalwa ezulwini.
Buka isithombe engisithathile!
Yimina,
uJason
Glossary Zulu–English
abesifazane females -cela request

abesilisa males -chaza explain
amandla strength, power -cula sing
amandulo time long past -dansa dance
amaphandle countryside -dinga need
amasi soured milk (like -dlala play
yogurt) -dula be expensive
amateku sneakers (S.A. -duma thunder
Eng. takkies) -dumile be famous
amathe saliva ebusuku at night
amazambane potatoes eduze na- near to
amehlo eyes eish! Wow! (negative
-azi know, be able surprise)
-azi uku- be able to ekuseni in the morning
-balele sunny emini at midday, during
-balulekile be important the day
-bamba -catch emuva behind
-banda be cold emuva kwalokho thereafter
-baneka fash (lightning) endlini yokudlela at a restaurant
-beka place -endlula umbhede make bed
-bheka look for enyakatho in the North
-bingelela greet -enza do, make
-biza cost, be -esaba fear
expensive esithombeni to the cinema/
bodade sisters, girls movies
(greeting) ethawini to town
-bomvana pink -faka put in
-bomvu red -fanele be necessary,
-bonga be grateful/ must
thankful -fudumele be warm
bonke all of them -funa want
bosisi sisters, girls futhi also, furthermore
(greeting) -geza wash
-buhlungu painful -godola feel cold
-buka look at -goduka go home
-bulala kill -gqoka wear, put on
-busa govern, enjoy -gubha celebrate
oneself -gugile be decrepit
-buya return from -guqubele be overcast
-buyela return to -hamba set off, travel
306 Glossary Zulu–English
-hambisa take [someone] indlulamithi giraffe

to ingane/izin- baby
Hawu! Wow! (surprise) ingoma/izin- dance song
hhayi no, not at all ingozi accident
(often precedes ingubo yokulala blanket
an affirmative) ingwe leopard
hhayi bo no way ingwenya crocodile
-hlakaniphile be clever inhlanhla good luck
-hlala live/stay inhlanzi fsh
-hlala phansi sit down inhliziyo/izin- heart
-hlangana na- meet with inhlobo/izin- type, style
-hlola examine inkawu monkey
i-apula/ama- apple/s inkukhu eyosiwe roast chicken
ibhange bank insimu/amasimu feld
ibhasi bus intamo neck
ibhayisikili/ama- bicycle/s intando yeningi democracy
ibhubesi lion intengo/izin- price/s
idili celebration, feast inyama meat
idina lunch/midday inyamazane antelope
meal inyoka snake
idolo knee inyufomu uniform
idolobha city inyuvesi university
idube zebra iphalishi porridge
ifriji fridge iphathi party
ifu/amafu cloud/s iphunga/ama- smell, odour
igoli goal iphupho/ama- dream
igugu/ama- treasure ipulazi (commercial)
igundane mouse, rat farm
igwinya/ama- Zulu doughnut iqanda/ama- egg/s
ihhotela hotel iqembu/ama- group, team,
ihlombe shoulder party
ikamelo room iqhwa snow
ikhanda head irandi rand
ikhaya home irayisi rice
ikhekhe cake is’pagethi pasta
ikhumbi taxivan isaga/iz- saying, proverb
ikilasi class isamishi/ama- sandwich/es
ilanga the sun, a day isandla hand
ilungelo right isango/ama- gate
imakethe market isaziso announcement,
imali money notice
imbizo gathering isenti/ama- cent
imenenja/ama- manager isi-/izidlana snack/s
imifno vegetables isibali/izi- cousin/s
imifno green leaf isibalo number
vegetables isibhedlela hospital
impela truly isicabucabu bug, insect
imvubu hippopotamus isicathulo/izi- shoe/s
imvula/izim- rain/s isichotho hail
indawo place isifuba chest
indlovu elephant isifundazwe province
indlu/izin- houses isihlabathi sand
isihlalo seat -khohliwe to have forgotten

isiketi/izi- skirt -khohlwa forget
isikhathi time -khokha pay
isikhukhula food -khombisa show
isikhwama bag khona here, present
isikole school -khona be here, present
isilungu Western style khona lapha right here
isilwane animal -khuluma speak
isimo situation, state -khuluphele be stout
isiNgisi English language -khumbula remember
isinkwa bread -khumbuza remind
isiphepho storm -khwehlela cough
isiqiwi game reserve -khwela climb
isisu stomach -kikiza ululate
isiteshi bus/train station kodwa but, though
isithombe picture kufanele it’s necessary
isitshudeni student that, [you] must
isiZulu Zulu language kulungile alright, OK
isizwe nation kuphela only
isoda/ama- soda/s kusihlwa in the evening
isomiso drought Laduma! Goal!
isonto church -lala go to sleep
itekisi taxi -lalela listen to
ithanga Pumpkin -landa Fetch
ithemba hope -lele be asleep
ithikithi/ama- ticket -letha bring
ithimu/ama- team/s -linda wait
ithuba turn, opportunity -liphuzi yellow
iveni van -luhlaza green, blue
iwashi/ama- clock, watch -lungisa prepare, fx
iwonlintshi/ama- orange/s lutho nothing
izibalo Mathematics mahhala free
izifundo studies -makhaza be cold
izikhindi short pants (weather)
iziko/amaziko hearth manje now
izimbadada Zulu sandals masisha quickly
izindawo places -mbalwa few
izinhloni shyness mhlawumbe perhaps
izintokazi pretty girls -mhlophe White
izinyathelo sandals mina I myself
iziphuzo drinks mntanami my child
izithombe movies -mnyama black
izitolo stores -mpofu light brown
-jabula be happy, glad -mpunga grey
-jwayele be used to -na rain
kakhulu a lot -nakekela take care of
kancane a little -nandisa clean up, make
kangaka so much nice
kanjalo in that way, thus -ncane small
-khahlela kick -ncela, -ncenga beg, plead
-khala ring, sound -ncoma admire
-khithika snow, fall lightly
308 Glossary Zulu–English
ndawonye na- together with -shintsha change

-ngaki? How many? -shisa be hot, burn
ngaphesheya abroad -shiya leave behind
ngeke never (in future) -shona pass away, set
-ngeke never (in future) (of sun)
-ngena enter, start -shumayela preach
ngenxa ya- because of -thanda like, love
ngesonto eledlule last week -thandaza pray
ngisho even -thatha take
ngokwesiko in traditional -thenga buy
style -thengisa sell
-ni? What? -thi say, think
nina you, pl. emphatic -thokozisa entertain
-njani? How? -thola get, discover
nje only, just merely -thukuthele be angry
njengoba since, because -thula be silent
nokho nonetheless -thuma send
-nsundu dark brown -totoba struggle, walk
ntambama in the afternoon unsteadily
Nxese! Sorry! (for -tshela tell
your suffering/ u-ayisikhrimu ice cream
problem) ubaba [my] father
o-anyanisi onions ubhasi/o- boss/es
olwandle in/to/at the ocean ubhejane rhinoceros
-omile be thirsty ubudokotela medicine
-osa roast, barbecue ubuso face
otamatisi tomatoes udade sister
owasedolobheni a city person udadewethu my sister
phambili in front udaka mud
phansi low, down uhambo trip
-pheka cook uhlu queue, line
-phendula answer unjinyela engineer
-phephile be safe ujeqe steamed bread
phesheya abroad ukherothi carrots
-phi? Where? ukhetho election
-phila be well ukudla food, eating
pho so, by the way ukufunda studying
-pholile be cool ukufundisa teaching
-phuma emerge, come ulaka anger
out ulutho nothing
-qala begin uLwesibili Tuesday
-qeda fnish uLwesihlanu Friday
-qinisile be right, sure uLwesine Thursday
-qonda head for uLwesithathu Wednesday
-ququbele cloudy umabhalane administrative
-sala remain, stay assistant, clerk
behind umakhelwane/o- neighbour
-sebenza work umama [my] mother
-shabalala disappear umbiko message
-shesha uku- rush to umbono/imi- idea
-shibhile be inexpensive, umbuso government
cheap umfva fever
umfo brother -vamile be common,

umfowethu my brother usual
umfundi student/learner -vela come from
umfundisi/abe- minister/s vele truly, indeed,
uMgqibelo Saturday defnitely
umgwaqo/imi- road -vikela defend, protect
umhlangano meeting -vimba prevent
umkhono arm -vuka wake up
umkhuhlane cold, fu, cough -vula open
umlando history -vumelana agree (with one
umlenze/imi- leg another)
ummbila corn, maize -vuna harvest
umngane/aba- friend -vunguza blow (of wind)
umntwana child -vusa wake up
umnumzana, UMnu. sir, Mr. (someone)
umoya/imimoya wind, spirit wena you yourself
umsebenzi work -xhuba amazinyo brush teeth
umshayeli/aba- driver -xosha chase away, fre
uMsombuluko Monday from job
umthengi buyer -xova knead
umthetho/imi- law -xoxa chat, converse
umuntu/aba- person/people -ya e- go to
umunwe/imi- fnger yebo yes
umuthi/imi- tree yini? What is it?
unesi/o- nurse -yinsomi purple
unkosazana, UNkz. miss, Miss/Ms. -zala bear a child
unkosikazi, UNkk. ma’am, Mrs. -zalwa be born
unwabu chameleon -zange never before
unyaka/imi- year/s -zihloba dress up
unyawo/izin- foot -zijabulisa enjoy oneself
uphizi peas -zwa amakhaza feel cold
uphudini pudding, dessert -zwa ukufudumele feel warm
ushukela sugar -zwa ukupholile feel cool
uthisha teacher -zwa ukushisa feel hot
uthishamkhulu head teacher -zwa/-zizwa feel
uthuli dust
-valelisa say goodbye/bid
farewell
Glossary English–Zulu
a little kancane be happy, glad -jabula

a lot kakhulu be here, present -khona
abroad phesheya, be hot, burn -shisa
ngaphesheya be important -balulekile
accident ingozi/izin- be inexpensive, -shibhile
accompany -phelekezela cheap
administrative umabhalane/o- be naughty -ganga
assistant, clerk be necessary -fanele
admire -ncoma be overcast -guqubele
advice iseluleko/iz- be right, sure -qinisile
agree (with one -vumelana be safe -phephile
another) be seated -hlezi
all of them bonke be silent -thula
almost (def. verb) -cishe be stingy -ncishana
alright, OK kulungile be stout -khuluphele
also, furthermore futhi be strong, frm -qinile
anger ulaka be used to -jwayele
animal isilwane/izi- be visible, appear -bonakala
announce -bika be warm -fudumele
announcement, isaziso/iz- be well -phila
notice bear a child -zala
answer -phendula because of ngenxa ya-
antelope inyamazane/izin- beg, plead -ncela, -ncenga
approach -sondela begin -qala
arm umkhono/imi- behind emuva
attack -hlasela bicycle ibhayisikili/ama-
baby ingane/izin- black -mnyama
bag isikhwama/izi- blanket ingubo yokulala/
bank ibhange/ama- izin-
be able to -azi uku- blow (of wind) -vunguza
be angry -thukuthele boss ubhasi/o-
be asleep -lele bread isinkwa
be attractive -bukeka bring -letha
be born -zalwa brother umfo/aba-
be celebrated -gujwa (< -gubha) brush teeth -xhuba amazinyo
be clever -hlakaniphile bug, insect isicabucabu/izi-
be cold (weather) -banda bus ibhasi/ama-
be cold (person) -godola bus/train station isiteshi/izi-
be cool -pholile but, though kodwa
be expensive -dula buy -thenga
cake ikhekhe/ama- enjoy oneself -zijabulisa

carrots ukherothi enter -ngena
celebrate -gubha entertain -thokozisa
celebration umgubho even ngisho
celebration, feast idili examine -hlola
cent isenti/ama- explain -chaza
chameleon unwabu/izin- eye/s iso/amehlo
change -shintsha face ubuso
chase away, fre -xosha fail -hluleka
from job famous -dumile
chat, converse -xoxa fear -esaba
chest isifuba/izi- feel -zwa/-zizwa
child umntwana/aba- feel cold -godola, -zwa
church isonto/ama- amakhaza
city idolobha/ama- feel hot -zwa ukushisa
class ikilasi/ama- females abesifazane
clean up, make -nandisa fetch -landa
nice feld insimu/amasimu
climb -khwela fnger umunwe/imi-
clock, watch iwashi/ama- fnish -qeda
cloud Ifu/ama- frst lokuqala
cloudy -ququbele fsh inhlanzi/izin-
cold, fu, cough umkhuhlane ft, be equal -lingana
come from -vela fash (lightning) -baneka
cook -pheka fea izenze/ama-
corn, maize ummbila food isikhukhula/izi-
corner ingceko/izin- fower/s imbali/izim-
cost, be expensive -biza food, eating ukudla
cough -khwehlela foot unyawo/izin-
countryside amaphandle forget -khohlwa
cousin isibali/izi- free mahhala
create -dala friend umngane/aba-
crocodile ingwenya/izin- from, since kusukela
dance -dansa game reserve isiqiwi/izi-
dark brown -nsundu gate isango/ama-
defend -vikela gather -theza
defnitely vele gathering imbizo/izim-
democracy intando yeningi get, discover -thola
descend -ehla giraffe indlulamithi/izin-
disappear -shabalala go home -goduka
do, make -enza go to -ya e-
dream iphupho/ama- go to sleep -lala
drinks iziphuzo goal igoli/ama-
driver umshayeli/aba- Goal! Laduma!
drought isomiso goalkeeper unozinti
Durban iTheku good luck inhlanhla
dust uthuli government umbuso
election ukhetho grateful/thankful -bonga
elephant indlovu/izin- green leaf imifno
emerge, come out -phuma vegetables
English language isiNgisi green, blue -luhlaza
312 Glossary English–Zulu
greet -bingelela market imakethe/izi-

grey -mpunga mathematics izibalo
group, team, party iqembu/ama- meat inyama/izi-
hail isichotho medicine ubudokotela
hand isandla/iz- meet one another -hlangana
harvest -vuna message umbiko/imi-
head ikhanda/ama- minister umfundisi/abe-
heart inhliziyo/izin- miss, Miss/Ms. unkosazana, UNkz.
here, present khona monkey inkawu/izin-
hide -fhla mouse, rat igundane/ama-
hippopotamus imvubu/izim- movies izithombe,
his -khe amamuvi
history umlando mud udaka
home ikhaya/ama- my brother umfowethu/aba-
hospital isibhedlela/izi- my child mntanami
hotel ihhotela/ama- my grandchild umntanomntanami
houses indlu/izin- my sister udadewethu/o-
how? -njani? nation isizwe/izi-
I myself mina near to eduze na-
ice cream u-ayisikhrimu neck intamo/izin-
in front phambili need -dinga
in that way, thus kanjalo neighbour umakhelwane/o-
in the afternoon ntambama never (in future) -ngeke
in the evening kusihlwa never before -zange
in the morning ekuseni next -landelayo
in the ocean olwandle nothing ulutho
in traditional style ngokwesiko now manje
it’s necessary kufanele number isibalo/izi-
kick -khahlela nurse unesi/o-
kill -bulala one who is from owase-/abase-
knead -xova onion u-anyanisi
knee idolo/ama- only kuphela
know, be able -azi only, just merely nje
last week ngesonto eledlule open -vula
law umthetho/imi- opportunity ithuba
leave behind -shiya opposite, facing phambene kwa-
leave, go out - phuma painful -buhlungu
leg umlenze/imi- pant, be out of -khefuzela
leopard ingwe/izin- breath
light brown -mpofu party iphathi
like, love -thanda pass away, set (of -shona
lion ibhubesi/ama- sun)
listen to -lalela pasta is’pagethi
live, stay -hlala pay -khokha
look at -buka peas uphizi
look for -bheka perhaps mhlawumbe
low, down phansi person umuntu/aba-
ma’am, Mrs. unkosikazi, UNkk. perspire -juluka
make bed -endlula umbhede picture isithombe
males abesilisa pink -bomvana
manager imenenja/ama- place, put -beka
place indawo/izin- show -khombisa

play -dlala sing -cula
porridge iphalishi sir, Mr. Umnumzana,
potato izambane/ama- UMnu.
pray -thandaza sister udade/o-
preach -shumayela sisters, girls bodade, bosisi
prepare -lungisa (greeting)
price intengo/izin- sit down -hlala phansi
protect -vikela situation, state isimo
province isifundazwe skirt isiketi/izi-
pudding, dessert uphudini small - ncane
pull -donsa smell, odour iphunga/ama-
pumpkin ithanga/ama- snake inyoka/izin-
purple -yinsomi sneakers amatakkies
put in -faka snow iqhwa
queue, line uhlu snow, fall lightly -khithika
quickly masisha Sorry! (for your Nxese!
rain -na suffering/problem)
rain imvula/izim- soured milk (like amasi
rand irandi/ama- yogurt)
red -bomvu speak -khuluma
remain, stay -sala steamed bread ujeqe
behind stomach isisu/izi-
remember -khumbula stores isitolo/izi-
remind -khumbuza storm isiphepho
remove -khipha strength, power amandla
request -cela struggle, walk -totoba
return from -buya unsteadily
return to -buyela student isitshudeni/izi-
rhinoceros ubhejane/o- student/learner umfundi/aba-
rice irayisi studies izifundo
right ilungelo/ama- sugar ushukela
ring, sound -khala sunny -balele
road umgwaqo/imi- take -thatha
roast, barbecue -osa take care of -nakekela
room ikamelo/ama- take someone to, -hambisa
rush -shesha walk (e.g., dog)
saliva amathe taxi itekisi/ama-
sand isihlabathi taxivan ikhumbi/ama-
sandals izinyathelo teacher uthisha/o-
sandwiches amasamishi team ithimu/ama-
say goodbye, bid -valelisa tell -tshela
farewell the sun, a day ilanga/ama-
say, think -thi thereafter emuva kwalokho
saying, proverb isaga/iz- thunder -duma
school isikole/izi- ticket ithikithi/ama-
seat isihlalo/izi- time Isikhathi
send to -thumela together with ndawonye na-
shoe/s isicathulo/izi- tomatoes utamatisi/o-
short pants izikhindi treasure igugu/ama-
shoulder ihlombe/ama- tree umuthi/imi-
314 Glossary English–Zulu
trip uhambo where? -phi?

trouble, bother (tr.) -hlupha which? -phi?
truly impela white -mhlophe
type, style inhlobo/izin- wind umoya/imi-
ululate -kikiza work -sebenza
uniform inyufomu Wow! (negative Eish!
university inyuvesi/ama- surprise)
vegetables imifno Wow! (surprise) Hawu!
wait -linda year/s unyaka/imi-
wait for -lindela yellow -liphuzi
wake up -vuka yes yebo, ehhe
wake someone up -vusa you yourself wena
want -funa you, yourselves nina
wash -geza zebra idube/ama-
wear, put on -gqoka Zulu language isiZulu
Western style isilungu Zulu sandals izimbadada
what? -ni?
Recorded dialogues
Unit 1 Page Unit 8 Page

Dialogue 1.1 14 Dialogue 8.1 85
Dialogue 8.3 93
Unit 2
Dialogue 2.1 19 Unit 9
Dialogue 9.3 104
Unit 3
Unit 4 Unit 11
Dialogue 11.3 138
Unit 5
Dialogue 12.2 149
Unit 6
Dialogue 13.1 156
Unit 7 Dialogue 13.2 166
Dialogue 7.2 73
316 Recorded dialogues
Unit 14 Page Unit 15 Page

Dialogue 14.2 177
Dialogue 14.3 182
Index
adjective marker 23, 59, 81–82, 123, counting numbers: 1–5 58, 198–199;
125, 199–201 6+ 58, 199–201
adjectives: as attributes of nouns currency 51–52
124–125; colour as 123, 192,
199–200, 204; common stems days of the week 233
81–82, 192, 198–200; numbers as day, time of 35–36
58–59, 82, 124–125, 198–200, 204; demonstratives 181–182, 207–208
as predicates 124; in sentences 199, directional verb extension 235
228 directions 108; see also locatives
adjunct focus 141, 193, 216, 225,
229–230 emotions 63–64, 117–118, 154–155,
adverbials: adverbs of manner ka- 204; 167–168
directions 108; ideophones 196, emphatic pronouns 21, 161, 163,
205–206; instrumental nga- 108, 205; 226–227
place locatives e- 30–31, 107, 201–
203; position locatives pha- 203–204 feelings 63–64, 117–118, 154–155,
affirming 46, 67, 140–141, 161 167–168
age 79 focus see verb focus marker (VFM)
animals 144–145 future tense: affirmative 46; defnite
asking something 56, 210, 227–228 (perfective) 175–176, 185–186, 208,
associative structure (having na-) 237; indefnite (perfective) 184–186,
206–207 208–209, 237; negative 46; time
relevant to 176, 185, 237
being (identifying) 15, 78–79, 162–163,
209–210 good-bye, saying 37–38
benefactive verb extension 235 greeting names 10, 209
greetings 9
causative verb extension 236
click consonants 6–7 habitual events 226
clock time 233 having (associative structure na-)
colours 123, 192, 199–200, 204 206–207
consonants 5–7 hello, saying 9
318 Index
identifying (being) 15, 78–79, 162–163, 197, 230–231, 238; UMA-/ABA-pair

209–210 53–54, 59, 66, 76–77, 89–90; U-/O-
ideophones 196, 205–206 pair 77
illness, talking about 90–92 numbers: adjective marker and 123;
imperative verbs 96–98 as adjectives 58–59, 82, 124–125,
impersonal ku- 190 198–200, 204; common stems
infnitives 210–211 and 204; currency 51–52; 1–5 58,
instructions 96–98, 211–212 198–199; 6+ 58, 199–200
instrumental adverbs nga- 108, 205
intonation see tone object marker 43, 66, 97–98, 213,
226–227
kinship 22, 76–77 obligation (must, have to) 94
linkers: identifying and 15, 78–79, participial (simultaneous actions)

162, 210; illness and, talking about 214–215
91; passive voice and 133; subject passive verb extension see passive
marker and 15, 238; Tofu 78, 162; voice
tone and 133; vowels and 15, 67, passive voice 91, 133–134, 155, 190,
78–79, 108, 111, 133, 210, 238 215–216
locatives: place e- 30–31, 107, 201–202, past tense: recent (perfective) 197,
238; position pha- 203–204; subject 216–217, 237; recent (progressive)
marker and 108, 203–204, 238; 128–129, 189, 197, 217–218, 237;
vowels and 30, 238 remote (perfective) 164–165,
218–220, 237; remote (progressive)
months 233–234 159–160, 167, 220–221, 237; stative
perfective 154–155, 197; time
negations 42–43, 46, 63–64, 67, 141, relevant to 237
161, 226 perfective tense: future defnite
neuter/agentless passive verb 175–176, 185–186, 208, 237; future
extension 236 indefnite 184–186, 208–209, 237;
noun group: adjective marker and 23, recent past 197, 216–217, 237;
59, 125, 199–201; animals 144–145; remote past 164–165, 218–220, 237;
demonstratives 181–182, 207–208; stative 49, 154–155; weather events
ILI-/AMA-pair 54, 59, 66, 88; IZI-/ and 127
IZI-pair 80–81, 88, 100–101; object place e- locatives 30–31, 107, 201–203
marker and 66, 213; organization of position pha- locatives 203–204
212–213; possessive marker and possessive marker (PM) 101–102, 179,
101–102, 179, 222–223; possessives 222–223
and 101–102, 212–213, 222; relative possessives: descriptions and 171; with
marker and 193–194; subject kho- 179; with noun group 101–102,
marker and 13–15, 23–24, 53–54, 212–213, 222; with personal names
Index 319
ka- 179–180, 223; possessive 97; locatives and 108, 203–204,

marker and 101–102; with pronouns 238; negation and 42–43, 67; noun
102, 223–224; subject marker and groups and 13–15, 23–24, 53–54,
223–224; vowels and 179 197, 230–231, 238; obligation and
present tense: ile verbs and 63–64; 94; participial and 214–215; plural
near future and 176, 185; pattern 23–24; possessives and 223–224;
193–194, 229; relative construction present and recent past progressive
and 193–194; stative perfective tense and 128–129, 217–218;
154–155; subject marker for pronouns and 226–227; relative
128–129, 159–160, 220; time marker and 193–194, 228; remote
relevant to 234–237; verb focus past progressive tense and 159–160,
marker and 24, 225–226, 228 164–165; singular 23; stative verb
progressive tense: present 128–129; form and 49, 116, 154–155, 167–168,
recent past 128–129, 189, 197, 197; subjunctive and 94, 231–234;
217–218, 237; remote past suggestions and 111–112; tone and
159–160, 167, 220–221, 237; weather 94, 219–220; verbs and 20, 238;
descriptions and 127 vowels with 219, 238
pronouns: emphatic 21, 161, 163, subjunctive form of verbs 96, 231–232
226–227; possessives with 102, suggestions 111–112
223–224 sun time 233
questions 56, 210–212, 227–228 tense: future 176, 185, 208, 236; past
176, 187, 189, 220, 236; present 234,
reciprocal verb extension 236 237; see also specifc tense; time
relative clauses 193, 228–230 time: clock 233; of day 35–36; days
relative construction 171–172, 193–194 of week 233; future 176, 185, 237;
relative marker (RM) 193–194, 228 greetings and 9; months 233–234;
requests 96–98, 211–212 present 234; recent past 141–142,
187, 189; remote past 159–164,
seasons 234 167–168, 220; seasons 234; sun 233;
states of being 63–64, 117–118, see also tense
153–155, 167–168 tone: affirmations and 140–141;
stative verb form 49, 116, 154–155, identifying and 209–210; linkers and
167–168, 197 133; marking 20, 235; meaning of
stress on syllables 8 words and 7–8, 234–235; -phi suffix
subject marker (SM): affirmation and and 132–133; subject marker and 94,
67, 161; colour adjectives and 123; 219–220; vowels and 7
defnite perfective future tense and
176; gender and 20; identifying verb focus marker (VFM): negation
and 78–79, 162–163; impersonal and 42, 141; object marker and 213;
ka- 190; linkers and 15, 238; list of present tense and 24, 225–226,
320 Index
229; recent past (perfective) tense 111, 133, 210, 238; locatives and
and 216; relative clauses and 228; 30, 238; merging 80, 107, 205, 238;
relative construction and 193; negation and 42–43, 67, 226; object
weather descriptions and 115–116 nouns and 217; passive voice and
verbs: extensions to stem 235–236; 133, 215–216; place locatives
imperative 96–98; infnitive 210–211; and 30, 201–202; position pha-
passive 91, 133–134, 155, 190, locatives and 203; possessives and
215–216; subject marker and 20, 238; 179; recent past progressive tense
subjunctive form of 96, 231–232; see and 217; remote past perfective
also tense; verb focus marker (VFM) tense and 164; remote past
vowels: with and/with 238; progressive tense and 220; subject
associative structure and 206–207; marker and 219, 238; tone and 7; in
demonstratives and 181, 207; Zulu 5, 238
directions and 108; double, avoiding
15, 67, 238; greeting names and wanting something 56
10, 209; identifying and 78–79, weather events and descriptions
210; instrumental adverbs nga- and 115–116, 127
205; linkers and 15, 67, 78–79, 108, weekdays 233

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Colloquial

• It’s interactive – it has lots of exercises for regular practice.

Whether you’re a business traveller or you work for an NGO, whether

Sandra Sanneh is Senior Lector II Emerita at Yale University.

Mary Hammond-Bloem is Lecturer at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

The following languages are available in the Colloquial series:

Afrikaans German Romanian

COLLOQUIAL 2s series: The Next Step in Language Learning

Chinese Irish Spanish

Sandra Sanneh and

ISBN: 978-0-415-83717-0 (pbk)

Typeset in Avant Garde and Helvetica

12 Ukuvakashela esiqiwini 143

Reference grammar 198

Key to exercises 239

Glossary Zulu–English 305

Colloquial Zulu is intended for adult beginners who have little or no

How the course is organized

Contents of each unit

Using the recordings

Tips for learning Zulu

Words and afxes

-bona see (stem)

The sounds of Zulu

-tsh- English ‘ch’

/a/ as in U.S./U.K. English ‘father’

/ph/ as in English ‘put,’ ‘paint’

There are two sounds representing ‘b’:

/b/ This is an implosive sound, which means you suck air in as

Some nasal consonants need special attention:

/ng/ This sound occurs in English ‘fnger’ or in ‘English’ but only

The click consonants

The three clicks can be modifed to form other phonemes.

/c/ + extra breath à /ch/

High tone (H) is relatively higher than low tone (L).

Bóna! (HL) See! (imperative)

Amagama amasha / New vocabulary

This greeting can be used at any time of day and is an acknowledge-

umfo à Sawubona mfo.

uThemba: Sawubona mfowethu. Hi, my brother.

uSibongile: Sawubona dadewethu. Hello, my sister.

The junior person greets frst.

Umntwana: Sawubona mama. Hello, Mum.

It is polite to use ‘Sir’ or ‘Ma’am’ when greeting a stranger.

uMnu. Mkhize: Sawubona nkosikazi. Hello ma’am.

Amagama amasha / New vocabulary

uBongani: Sawubona mfowethu.

Complete the following greeting dialogues:

uThemba: Sawubona sisi.

3. UNkk. Mkhize nothisha

uNkk. Mkhize: Sawubona nkosazana.

Ubaba: Sanibona bafana.

The subject noun is indicated by prefxing a subject marker (SM) to

u-njani? How are you?

ni-njani? How are you (pl.)?

An informal greeting uses the impersonal SM –ku-:

ku-njani? How’s it?

uBongani: Sawubona mfowethu.

Amagama amasha / New vocabulary

Ngi-ng-uBongani. à I’m Bongani.

Did you notice?

Example: uSipho Cape Town

Name: Vusi Ngcobo

Two girls meet at the university cafeteria