GREETINGS AND COURTESIES Hello (to one person) - Sawubona Hello (to more than one person) -Sanibonani Good evening –Sawubona/ sanibonani Good night (to one person) lala kahle Have a nice day – U be no suku oluhle Good night (to more than onr person) – Lalani kahle | The Zulu, like Xhosa and other nguni people, have lived in South Africa for a long time. The Zulu language possesses several click sounds typical of Southern African languages, not found in the rest of Africa. The Nguni people have coexisted with other Southern tribes like the San and Khoi. Zulu, like most indigenous Southern African languages, was not a written language until the arrival of missionaries from Europe, who documented the language using the latin script. The first grammar book of the Zulu language was published in Norway by the Norwegian missionary Hans. The first written document in Zulu was a Bible translation that appeared. In 1901, John Dube, a Zulu from Natal, created the ohlange institute, the first native educational institution in South Africa. He was also the author of insila ka shaka the first novel written in Zulu . Other notable contributors to Zulu literature include Benedict Wallet Vilakazi and, more recently, Oswald Mbuyiseni Mtshali.. |
ASKING FOR HELP Sorry -Ngiyaxolisa Excuse me -Uxolo Please -siza Thank you -Ngiyabonga I'm lost - Ngilahlekile I need a doctor – Ngifuna udokotela | |
EMERGENCY Help - Usizo Fire - Umlilo Stop - Ma Call the police – Biza amaphoyisa Leave me alone - Ngiyekele Where is the bathroom – Likuphi ikamelo lokugesela | |
DAYS Monday -Umsombuluko Tuesday - Ulwesibili Wednesday - Ulwesithathu Thursday - Ulwesine Friday - Ulwesihlanu Saturday - Umgqibela Sunday – Isonto | |
SEASONS Summer -Ihlobo Autumn - Ukwindla Winter - Ubusika Spring – Intwasahlobo | |
SEASONS CONTINUES Windy - Nomoya Sunny - Nelanga It is raining -Liyana Hot - Shisa Cold- Banda
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