Greetings in IsiZulu
Greet – Bingelela
General greetings:
Sawubona(Singular) - Response: Yebo
Sanibona(Plural) - Response: Yebo
How are you: Unjani?(Singular) - I am well: Ngiyaphila
How are you: Ninjani?(Plural) - We are well: Siyaphila
I am well and how are you? – Ngiyaphila wena unjani?
I am also well – Nami ngiyaphila
Good by – Usale kahle - Response: Yebo, uhambe kahle – Go well
How to sound the alphabet in IsiZulu
Vowels
A,E, I, O, U
Amasi - Mass
Elele – Them sleeping
Ishumi - Tenth
Owami - mine
Umuntu – Person
Consonant sounds in Isizulu
B – baba (Father)
Buya – come back
Ubuso - Face
ba, be, bi, Bo, bu
Bh – Bheka (Look)
Bhema – Smoke
Bhiza – scatter
Bha, Bhe, Bhi, Bho, Bhu
MB – Mbatha (Cover up/Surname)
Imba – dig
Mbula – uncover
Mba, Mbe, Mbi, Mbo, Mbu
D – Dudula (Push)
Donsa – Pull
Idada – Duck
Da, De, Di, Do, Du
DL – Dlala (Play)
Dlula – pass (by(
Dlamini – Surname
Dla, Dle, Dli, Dlo, Dlu
NDL – Indlamu (Zulu dance)
Indlu – House
Indlela – pathway
Ndla,ndle,ndli,ndlo,ndlu
F – Funda (Learn/read)
Fika – arrive
Funa – Search
Fa, Fe, Fi, Fo, Fu
Mf – Imfundo(Education)
Imfaduko – dishwashing cloth
Imfene – baboon
Mfa, Mfe, Mfi, Mfo, Mfu
G – Gunda (shave)
Gaya – Grate
Geza – Bath
Gibela – ride
Ga, Ge, Gi, Go, Gu
NG – Ngena (Enter)
Ingubo – blanket
Ngeke – Never
Nga, Nge, Ngi, Ngo, Ngu
H- Hamba ( Go)
Huba – Hymn
Halalisela – congratulate
Ha, He, Hi, Ho, Hu
HH – Ihholo (hall)
Ihhala – rake
Ihhashi – Horse
Hha, Hhe, Hhi, Hho, Hhu
HL – Hlala ( Sit/stay)
Hlela – Plan
Hleka -Laugh
Hlinza – Slaugher
Hla, Hle, Hli, hlo, Hlu
NHL – nhlanhla(luck)
nhliziyo – Heart
nhlamba – Insult
nhloko – head
Nhla, nhla, nhli, nhlo, nhlu
J – Jika (Turn)
Juba – dove
Ijele – jail
Jezisa - punish
Ja, je, ji, jo, ju
NJ – Inja (Dog)
Injabulo – Happiness
Nje – just
Njalo – always
Nja, nje, nji, njo, nju
K – Kama (comb)
Kodwa – but
Kubi – Its back
Kimi – From me/to me
Ka, Ke, Ki, Ko, Ku
KH – Khohlwa (forget)
Khuluma – Speak/talk
Kholwa – Believe
Khomba – Point
Kha, Khe, Khi, Kho, khu
KL – Klabha ( to chop/hack)
Iklabishi – Cabbage
Klebhula – Tear
Kla,Kle,Kli,Klo,Klu
Nk – Nkosi (King/Chief)
Inkani – stubbornness
Nkomo – Cow
Inkedama - Opharn
Nka, Nke, Nki. Nko, Nku
L – Lala (Sleep)
Lima – Farm
Lungisa – Fix
La, Le, Li, Lo, Lu
M – Mema (Invite)
Misa – Stop
Minza – drown
Ma, Me, Mi, Mo, Mu
N – Nika (give)
Nuka – Smell
Nemba – Aim
Na, Ne, Ni, No, Nu
Ntsh – Ntshangase ( Surname)
Intsha – Youth
Intshebe – Beard
Ntsha, Ntshe, Ntshi, Ntsho, Ntshu
Nts – Intsangu (Weed)
Intsika – Support structure
Ntsa, Ntse, Ntsi, Ntso, Ntsu
P – Penda ( paint)
Pelepele – Chillies
Pa, Pe, Pi, Po, Pu
Mp – Impama (slap)
Impandla - Bold hair
Impempe – Whistle
Mpa,Mpe,Mpi,Mpo,Mpu
Ph – Pheka (cook)
Phila – Live
Phaka – Dish up
Pha, Phe, Phi, Pho, Phu
Q – Qala(Start)
Qeda – Finish
Qamba – Start
Qa, Qe, Qi, Qo, Qu
Nq – Inqeke ( butternut)
Inqaba – spectacle
Nqa, Nqe, Nqi, Nqo, Nqu
Qh – Qhina ( Braid)
Qhela – Move
Qhuma – burst
Qha, Qhe, Qhi, Qho, Qhu
Ngq – Ingqama (male sheep)
Ingqondo – Mind
Ngqa, Ngqe, Ngqi, Ngqo, Ngqu
S – Sala (Stay behind)
Sika – cut
Seka – support
Sa, Se, Si, So, Su,
Sh – Shesha ( Speed up)
Shiya – leave behind
Shela – persue (dating)
Sha, She, Shi, Sho, Shu
T – iTiye (Tea)
Teka – bounce a football
Ta, Te, Ti, To, Tu
Th – Thela (Pour)
Thenga – Buy
Thinta – Touch
Tha, The, Thi, Tho, Thu
Nt – Intela (Tax)
Ntanga – Peer
Intambo – rope
Nta, Nte, Nti, Nto, Ntu
V – Vala (Close)
Vula – open
Veza – Show
Va, Ve, Vi, Vo, Vu
Mv – Imvula (Rain)
Imvelo – Nature
Imvu – Sheep
Mva, Mve, Mvi, Mvo, Mvu
W – Wela – ( jump over)
Wola – collect
Wena – You
Wa, We, Wi, Wo, Wu
X – Ximba ( Surname)
Xubha – brush teeth
Xegisa – Loosen
Xa,Xe, Xi, Xo, Xu
Xh – Xhasa – Support
Xhuma – Join
Xha, Xhe, Xhi, Xho, Xhu
Nx – Nxumalo (Surname)
Nxenxa – convince
Inxiwa – abandoned homestead
Nxa, Nxe, Nxi, Nxo, Nxu
Ngx – Ingxoxo (discussion)
Ingxabano - conflict
Ngxa, Ngxe, Ngxi, Ngxo, Ngxu
Y – Yiza (come)
Yona – it
Yena – him/her
Ya, Ye, Yi, Yo, Yu
Ny – Inyongo (bile)
Inyanga – traditional healer/month/Moon
Inyoni – bird
Nya, Nye, Nyi, Nyo, Nyu
Z – Zala (Give birth)
Zulu – Heaven/Thunderstorm
Ziba – ignore
Za, Ze,Zi, Zo, Zu
Nz – Inzalo (Fertility)
Nzuzo – Profit/gain
Nza, Nze, Nzi, Nzo, Nzu
C – Cela (Ask)
Cula – Sing
Cinga – Search
Ca, Ce, Ci, Co, Cu
Ch – Chama ( Pee/Pis)
Chaza – Explain/impress
Uchuku – commotion
Cha, Che, Chi, Cho, Chu
Nc – Ncama (Give up)
Ncela – Suck
Nca, Nce, Nci, Nco, Ncu
Gc – Gcaba (small body cuts)
Gcina – last
Gca, Gce, Gci, Gco, Gcu
Ngc – Ngcobo (Surname)
Ingcuba – dead animal meat
Ngca, Ngce, Ngci, Ngco, Ngcu
