Sometimes you don't have time to learn long lists of words and phrases. All you want to know are the bare essentials for communicating to get what you need, or where you need to go.
Here are the bare minimum of Zulu words and phrases you need to know to survive.
Learn the Top 10 Phrases if you only have time for the barest minimum. If you need or want more, then take a look at the Top 20 Phrases, Top 30 Phrases and the Extra Phrases.
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Here are ten more phrases that will help you make new friends and ask for directions ...
The Top 20 ... |
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Ngubani igama lakho? What is your name? Igama lami ngu... My name is ... Unjani? How are you? Ngikhona. Wena ke? Fine. And you? Likuphi ...? Where is ...? Likuphi ithoyilethi? Amadoda/Abafazi Where is the toilet? Men/Women Ngiyaxolisa. Uxolo. Sorry. Excuse me. Ayikho inkinga. No problem. Ngifuna ... I want ... Angifuni ... I don't want ... |
Here are another ten phrases to help you make a little more conversation and to get around ...
The Top 30 ... |
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Uphumaphi? Where are you from? Ngiphuma e-Ostreliya.* I am from Australia. Ngicela i-akhawunti. The bill, please. Ngilahlekile. I'm lost. Yima! Mana! Stop! Wait! Lapha, lapho, laphaya. Here, there, over there. Ithekisi. Ihhotela. Isikhumulo sezindiza. Isitishi. Taxi. Hotel. Airport. Station. Ngithanda ... I like ... Angithandi ... I don't like ... kunye, kubili, kuthathu, kune, kuhlanu. one, two, three, four, five. isithupa, isikhombisa, isishiyagalombili, sisishiyagalolunye, ishumi. six, seven, eight, nine, ten. *Or choose your country: eMelika - from America eKhanada - from Canada eNgilandi - from England e-Ayilendi - from Ireland eNyuzilandi - from New Zealand |
Here are some extra words and phrases you might find useful, especially if you have dietary needs or allergies ...
Useful Extras ... |
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Mpilonhle! Cheers! elihle / elimbi good / bad elikhulu / elincane big / small kuseduze na / kukude near / far elincanyana / elinye less / more elinye / kwanele another / enough Ngingu-vegetarian. I am vegetarian. Angiyidli inyama. I don't eat meat. ... inyama yenkukhu. ... chicken. ... inhlanzi. ... fish. Angizwani namanathi. I am allergic to nuts. ... namantongomane. ... to peanuts. ... nenhlanzi. ... to fish. ... nokudla okuvela olwandle. ... to seafood. ... namaqanda. ... eggs. |
Consonants:
c is a dental click, like tsk tsk, sucking the teeth (IPA ǀ)
x is a lateral click, like the sound for walking a horse, gee up (IPA ǁ)
q is an alveolar click, like the sound of the pop of a bottle top (IPA ǃ)
b is an implosive b (ɓ, like ʔb)
bh is pronounced as b
dl is pronounced as a voiced l that is a fricative, ie air still escapes (ɮ)
hh is pronounced as a voiced h (ɦ)
hl is pronounced as a voiceless l, like a Welsh ll, ie air still escapes (ɬ)
k is an implosive g (ɠ, like ʔg)
kh is pronounced as k with a puff of air (kʰ)
ng is pronounced as ng as in finger (ŋg)
ph is pronounced as p with a puff of air (pʰ)
rx is pronounced as kh as in loch or Bach (x)
th is pronounced as t with a puff of air (tʰ)
c is a dental click, like tsk tsk, sucking the teeth (IPA ǀ)
x is a lateral click, like the sound for walking a horse, gee up (IPA ǁ)
q is an alveolar click, like the sound of the pop of a bottle top (IPA ǃ)
b is an implosive b (ɓ, like ʔb)
bh is pronounced as b
dl is pronounced as a voiced l that is a fricative, ie air still escapes (ɮ)
hh is pronounced as a voiced h (ɦ)
hl is pronounced as a voiceless l, like a Welsh ll, ie air still escapes (ɬ)
k is an implosive g (ɠ, like ʔg)
kh is pronounced as k with a puff of air (kʰ)
ng is pronounced as ng as in finger (ŋg)
ph is pronounced as p with a puff of air (pʰ)
rx is pronounced as kh as in loch or Bach (x)
th is pronounced as t with a puff of air (tʰ)