The Zulu course
Learn Zulu ten words at a time
isiZulu
Ten games of ten words: the hundred 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.
Zulu challenge
Do you know the essentials? 25 quick questions from across the course. Score high and you are ready for the trip.
Zulu · Lesson 1 of 10
Greetings and politeness
Hello, thanks, please: the ten openers everything else builds on.
- Sawubonasa-woo-BO-na
- Hello
- Sawubonasa-woo-BO-na
- Hi
- Chawubona ekusenicha-woo-BO-na e-koo-SE-ni
- Good morning
- Lala kahleLA-la KAH-hleh
- Good night
- Ngiyabonga kakhulungi-ya-BON-ga ka-KHU-lu
- Thank you very much
- Ngiyabongangi-ya-BON-ga
- Thanks
- Kulungileku-lun-GI-leh
- You're welcome
- Ngicelangi-SE-la
- Please
- Uxolooo-HO-lo
- Excuse me
- Hamba kahleHAM-ba KAH-hleh
- Goodbye
Zulu · Lesson 2 of 10
Order anything by pointing
One beer please, one of these please, the bill: survive any menu.
- Ubhiya oyinye, ngicelaoo-BHI-ya o-YIN-yeh ngi-SE-la
- One beer, please
- Eyinye yalena, ngicelaeh-YIN-yeh ya-LE-na ngi-SE-la
- One of these, please
- Ikhofhi eyinye, ngicelaee-KHO-fee eh-YIN-yeh ngi-SE-la
- One coffee, please
- Okubili, ngicelao-KOO-bee-lee ngi-SE-la
- Two, please
- Enye, ngicelaeh-NYE ngi-SE-la
- One more, please
- Malini na?ma-LEE-nee na
- How much is it?
- Ikhawunta, ngicelaee-kha-OON-ta ngi-SE-la
- The bill, please
- Ngingaba nalo...?ngi-ngi-BA-na-lo
- May I...?
- Impilo!im-PEE-law
- Cheers!
- Thuthuka!too-TOO-gah
- Bless you
Zulu · Lesson 3 of 10
Yes, no and the essentials
The tiny words that carry half of every conversation.
- YeboYEH-bo
- Yes
- Chacha
- No
- Kulungileku-lun-GI-leh
- Okay
- Ayoba, akukho inkingaAH-yo-ba a-KOO-kho in-KIN-ga
- Sure, no problem
- Angazian-GA-zee
- I don't know
- Angiqondian-gee-KHON-dee
- I don't understand
- Uyakhuluma iNgilizi?oo-ya-khoo-LOO-ma ee-ngi-LEE-zee
- Do you speak English?
- Kancanekan-KA-neh
- A little
- Ngubani ongaholeleki?ngu-BA-nee on-ga-ho-leh-LEH-kee
- Of course
- Konke kulungileKON-keh ku-lun-GI-leh
- Everything is fine
Zulu · Lesson 4 of 10
Numbers and money
Counting, prices, paying by card or cash.
- Kunyekoo-NYE
- One
- Kubilikoo-BEE-lee
- Two
- Kuthathukoo-THA-too
- Three
- Kunekoo-NEH
- Four
- Kuhlanukoo-HLA-noo
- Five
- Ishumiee-SHOO-mee
- Ten
- Ikhuluee-KHU-loo
- One hundred
- Iringiee-RIN-gee
- Rand
- Nge-cardngeh-KARD
- By card
- Ngezimalingeh-zee-MA-lee
- In cash
Zulu · Lesson 5 of 10
At the supermarket
Bread, milk, a bag, nothing else thanks: the checkout routine.
- Isinkwaee-SIN-kwa
- Bread
- Ubisioo-BEE-see
- Milk
- Ichiziee-CHI-zee
- Cheese
- Amanzia-MAN-zee
- Water
- Ibhegi?ee-BHE-gee
- A bag?
- Ikhona...?ee-KHO-na
- Do you have...?
- Kuphi...?koo-PHI
- Where is...?
- LokhuLO-koo
- This one
- Akuna enyea-KOO-na EN-yeh
- Nothing else
- Usuku oluhleoo-SOO-koo o-loo-hleh
- Have a nice day
Zulu · Lesson 6 of 10
Cafe and restaurant
A table, the menu, a compliment to the kitchen.
- Itafula latshubane, ngicelaee-TA-foo-la la-SHOO-ba-neh ngi-SE-la
- A table for two
- Imenyu, ngicelaee-MEN-yoo ngi-SE-la
- The menu, please
- Ikhofhi eyinye, ngicelaee-KHO-fee eh-YIN-yeh ngi-SE-la
- One espresso
- Iwine yeglass, ngicelaee-WINE yeh-GLAS ngi-SE-la
- A glass of wine
- Ubhiya olusele, ngicelaoo-BHI-ya o-loo-SEH-leh ngi-SE-la
- Draft beer
- Isitshwala namaee-sit-SHWA-la NA-ma
- Local dish
- Kumnandi kakhulukoom-NAN-dee ka-KHU-lu
- It's delicious
- Ngenxa ye-icengen-KHA yeh-AIS
- Without ice
- Ukuthatha kuqedeoo-koo-THA-tha koo-KEH-deh
- To take away
- Gcina omunyeGCI-na o-MOO-nyeh
- Keep the change
Zulu · Lesson 7 of 10
Small talk and neighbors
How are you, nice day, see you soon: superficial and proud of it.
- Unjani, inkosi?oon-YA-nee in-KO-see
- How are you? (polite)
- Unjani?oon-YA-nee
- How are you? (casual)
- Niphililenee-phee-LEE-leh
- I'm fine
- Nawe?na-WEH
- And you?
- Kuthiwani?koo-thee-WA-nee
- What's new?
- Langa elimhlophe, cha?LA-nga e-li-mhloh-PHE cha
- Nice weather, huh?
- Ngubani ozoshwelela?ngu-BA-nee o-zo-SHWEH-leh-la
- See you soon
- Ubusuku olumhlopheoo-boo-SOO-koo o-loo-mhloh-PHE
- Have a nice evening
- Bonga umndeni wakhoBON-ga oom-n-DEH-nee WA-kho
- Say hi to the family
- Ozobe bubuyisweo-zo-beh boo-boo-YIS-weh
- All the best
Zulu · Lesson 8 of 10
Getting around
Left, right, the station, one ticket, where is the toilet.
- Kuphi indlu yosindebele?koo-PHI in-dloo yo-sin-DEH-beh-leh
- Where is the toilet?
- Kwesokunxelekweh-so-koo-NKSHE-leh
- Left
- Kwesokudlakweh-so-koo-DLA
- Right
- Kwangqokwan-KHKO
- Straight ahead
- LaphaLA-pha
- Here
- LaphoLA-pho
- There
- Ibhasiee-BHA-see
- Bus
- Isiteshi sesitimelaee-see-TEH-shee seh-see-TEE-meh-la
- Train station
- Itikiliti eyinye, ngicelaee-tee-kee-LEE-tee eh-YIN-yeh ngi-SE-la
- One ticket, please
- Yimalela lapha, ngicelayee-ma-LEH-la LA-pha ngi-SE-la
- Stop here, please
Zulu · Lesson 9 of 10
Time and days
Today, tomorrow, later, the weekend.
- Namuhlana-MOO-hla
- Today
- Kusasakoo-SA-sa
- Tomorrow
- Izoloee-ZO-lo
- Yesterday
- ManjeMAN-yeh
- Now
- Kamuvaka-MOO-va
- Later
- Nini na?NEE-nee na
- What time is it?
- Umsombulukooom-som-boo-LOO-ko
- Monday
- Umgqibelooom-KHI-beh-lo
- Saturday
- Isontoee-SON-to
- Sunday
- Iviki-akhiriee-VEE-kee AH-kee-ree
- The weekend
Zulu · Lesson 10 of 10
Help and emergencies
The words you hope to never need.
- Sizeni!see-ZEH-nee
- Help!
- Biza udokelaBEE-za oo-DO-keh-la
- Call a doctor
- Amapolisaa-ma-po-LEE-sa
- Police
- Ikhemisiee-khe-MEE-see
- Pharmacy
- Isibhedlelaee-see-BHED-leh-la
- Hospital
- Ngacithekanga-see-TEH-ka
- I'm lost
- Angigona nangonian-gee-KHO-na nan-GO-nee
- I don't feel well
- Iselula yamiee-seh-LOO-la YA-mee
- My phone
- Yatholakaliswaya-tho-la-ka-LEE-swa
- It was stolen
- Kukhona inkinga enkulukoo-KHO-na in-KIN-ga en-KOO-loo
- It's urgent