Learn Zulu ten words at a time
isiZulu
Ten short games: the 102 most useful Zulu words and expressions you could live on for years, from greetings and ordering food to numbers, small talk and getting around. Play a lesson in the box beside its words, and the next one starts itself.
Greetings and politeness
Hello, please, thank you, sorry: the eleven openers everything else builds on.
- Sawubonasa-woo-BO-na
- Hello
- Sawubona, babasa-woo-BOH-na BAH-ba
- Good morning
- Sanibonanisa-ni-boh-NAH-ni
- Good evening
- Hamba kahleHAM-ba KAH-hle
- Goodbye
- Sizobonanasi-zo-boh-NAH-na
- See you
- Ngicelangi-CE-la
- Please
- Ngiyabongangi-ya-BON-ga
- Thank you
- Wamukelekilewa-moo-keh-LEH-ki-leh
- You're welcome
- Ngiyaxolisangi-ya-khoh-LEE-sa
- Sorry
- Uxolooo-XO-lo
- Excuse me
- Ngiyajabula ukukwazingi-ya-ja-BOO-la oo-koo-KWA-zi
- Nice to meet you
Order anything by pointing
I would like, this one, how much, the bill: survive any counter or menu.
- Ngingathanda...ngi-nga-THAN-da
- I would like...
- LokhuLO-khoo
- This one
- Yimalini?yi-ma-LI-ni
- How much is it?
- Ngicela ibhilingi-CE-la ee-BHI-li
- The bill, please
- Ngekhadinge-KHA-di
- By card
- Ngokheshingoh-KEH-shi
- In cash
- Amanzia-MAN-zi
- Water
- Ikhofiee-KOH-fi
- Coffee
- Itiyeee-TI-ye
- Tea
- Ubhiyaoo-BHI-ya
- Beer
- Ngaphandle kwe...nga-PHAN-dleh kweh
- Without...
Yes, no and the essentials
The small words that carry half of every conversation, and the ones that rescue it.
- YeboYE-bo
- Yes
- ChaCHA
- No
- Kulungilekoo-loon-GI-le
- Okay
- Angiqondia-ngi-QON-di
- I don't understand
- Ukhuluma isiNgisi?oo-khoo-LOO-ma ee-si-NGI-si
- Do you speak English?
- Ungaphinda?oo-nga-PHIN-da
- Can you repeat that?
- Kancane, ngiyacelakan-CAH-neh ngi-ya-CEH-la
- Slowly, please
- Yini lokhu?YEE-ni LOKH-hoo
- What is this?
- Ngidinga...ngi-DING-a
- I need...
- Ungangisiza?oo-nga-ngi-SEE-za
- Can you help me?
Counting to ten
One to ten, for prices, platforms, rooms and how many beers.
- Kunyekoo-NYE
- One
- Kubilikoo-BI-li
- Two
- Kuthathukoo-THA-thoo
- Three
- Kunekoo-NE
- Four
- Kuhlanukoo-HLA-noo
- Five
- Isithuphaee-si-THOO-pha
- Six
- Isikhombisaee-si-khom-BEE-sa
- Seven
- Isishiyagalombiliee-si-shi-ya-ga-lom-BEE-li
- Eight
- Isishiyagalolunyeee-si-shi-ya-ga-lo-LOON-yeh
- Nine
- Ishumiee-SHOO-mi
- Ten
Shops and hotels
Open, closed, a bag, the wifi password: the checkout and the front desk.
- Unayo...?oo-NAH-yo
- Do you have...?
- Iphi...?EE-phi
- Where is...?
- Kuvuliwekoo-voo-LEE-weh
- Open
- Kuvaliwekoo-va-LEE-weh
- Closed
- Isikhwama?ee-si-KHWAH-ma
- A bag?
- Kubiza kakhulukoo-BEE-za ka-KHOO-loo
- Too expensive
- Ngibhukilengi-boo-KEE-leh
- I have a reservation
- Ingabe ibhulakufesi lifakiwe?een-GAH-beh ee-bhoo-la-koo-FEH-si li-fa-KEE-weh
- Is breakfast included?
- Ithini iphasiwedi ye-Wi-Fi?ee-THI-ni ee-pha-si-WEH-di yeh WAI-fai
- What's the wifi password?
- Ngingakwazi...?ngi-nga-KWAH-zi
- Can I...?
Cafe and restaurant
A table, the menu, what you cannot eat, and a compliment to the kitchen.
- Itafula labantu ababiliee-TAH-foo-la la-BAN-too a-ba-BEE-li
- A table for two
- Ngicela imenyungi-CE-la ee-MEN-yoo
- The menu, please
- Uncoma ini?oon-COH-ma EE-ni
- What do you recommend?
- Angidli...an-GI-dli
- I don't eat...
- Ngine-aleji ku...ngi-neh a-LEH-ji koo
- I'm allergic to...
- Inyamaee-NYA-ma
- Meat
- Inkukhueen-KOO-khoo
- Chicken
- Inhlanzieen-HLAN-zi
- Fish
- Kumnandikoom-NAN-di
- It's delicious
- Impilo!im-PI-lo
- Cheers
Meeting people
How are you, what is your name, where are you from, I like it: the first five minutes.
- Unjani?oon-JAH-ni
- How are you?
- Ngiyaphila, ngiyabongangi-ya-PHEE-la ngi-ya-BONG-a
- I'm fine, thanks
- Wena unjani?WEH-na oon-JAH-ni
- And you?
- Ngubani igama lakho?ngoo-BA-ni ee-GA-ma LA-kho
- What's your name?
- Igama lami ngu...ee-GA-ma LA-mi ngoo
- My name is...
- Uvelaphi?oo-ve-LA-phi
- Where are you from?
- Ngivela e...ngi-VEH-la eh
- I'm from...
- Ngiyayithandangi-ya-yi-THAN-da
- I like it
- KuhleKOO-hleh
- It's beautiful
- Ngiyakwemukelangi-ya-kwe-moo-KE-la
- Welcome
Getting around
Left, right, the station, one ticket, where is the toilet.
- Iphi indlu yangasese?EE-phi IN-dloo ya-nga-SE-se
- Where is the toilet?
- Ngingafika kanjani e...?ngi-nga-FEE-ka kan-JAH-ni eh
- How do I get to...?
- Kwesokunxelekwe-so-koon-XE-le
- To the left
- Kwesokudlakwe-so-KOO-dla
- To the right
- Qhubeka uqondeQhoo-BE-ka oo-QON-de
- Straight ahead
- LaphaLA-pha
- Here
- Isiteshi sesitimelaee-si-TE-shi se-si-ti-ME-la
- Train station
- Ibhasiee-BHA-si
- Bus
- Isikhumulo sezindizaee-si-khoo-MOO-lo seh-zin-DEE-za
- Airport
- Ithikithi elilodwa, ngiyacelaee-thi-KEE-thi eh-li-LOD-wa ngi-ya-CEH-la
- One ticket, please
Time and days
Now, later, tomorrow, what time it opens and one moment please.
- ManjeMAN-je
- Now
- Kamuvaka-MOO-va
- Later
- Namuhlana-MOO-hla
- Today
- Kusasakoo-SA-sa
- Tomorrow
- Namhlanje ebusukunam-HLAN-jeh eh-boo-SOO-koo
- Tonight
- Nini?NEE-ni
- When?
- Ivula ngasiphi isikhathi?ee-VOO-la nga-SEE-phi ee-si-KHAH-thi
- What time does it open?
- Umzuzwana, ngiyacelaoom-zoo-ZWAH-na ngi-ya-CEH-la
- One moment, please
- Imizuzuee-mi-ZOO-zoo
- Minutes
- Amahoraa-ma-HOH-ra
- Hours
Help and emergencies
The words you hope to never need.
- Ngisize!ngi-SI-ze
- Help!
- Biza udokotelaBI-za oo-do-ko-TE-la
- Call a doctor
- Amaphoyisaa-ma-pho-YI-sa
- Police
- Ikhemisiee-khe-MI-si
- Pharmacy
- Isibhedlelaee-si-BHED-le-la
- Hospital
- Ngidukilengi-doo-KI-le
- I'm lost
- Angizizwa kahlean-gi-ZEE-zwa KAH-hleh
- I don't feel well
- Yebiweye-BI-we
- It was stolen
- Kuyisimo esiphuthumayokoo-yi-SEE-mo eh-si-phoo-thoo-MAH-yo
- It's an emergency
- Ngiyekengi-YEH-keh
- Leave me alone