1- ZULU ALPHABET
2- WORD ORDER
1 Basic S + V Ngiyalala. I am sleeping.
2 Direct object S + V + DO Ngifunda incwadi. I am reading the book.
3 Indirect object S + V + DO + ku-/m- + IO Ngimnika incwadi. I am giving him/her the book.
4 Beneficiary S + V + DO + for + person Ngimthengela incwadi. I am buying a book for him/her.
5 IO pronoun S + V + IO-marker + DO Ngimnika incwadi. I am giving him/her the book.
6 Adjective N + SC + Adj Incwadi inkulu. The book is big.
7 Adverb S + V + Adv Ufunda ngokushesha. He is reading quickly.
8 Direct object + adverb S + V + DO + Adv Ngifunda incwadi ngokushesha. I am reading the book quickly.
9 Time adverb Time + S + V Namuhla ngiyasebenza. I am working today.
10 Place adverb S + V + Place Uhlala lapho. He lives there.
11 Prepositional phrase N + copulative + Place Incwadi isetafuleni. The book is on the table.
12 DO + place S + V + DO + Place Ngibeka incwadi etafuleni. I am putting the book on the table.
13 Determiner + noun Demonstrative + N Le ncwadi yintsha. This book is new.
14 Determiner + adjective + noun Demonstrative + N + Adj Le ncwadi enkulu yintsha. This big book is new.
15 Numeral + noun Num + N Izincwadi ezimbili zintsha. Two books are new.
16 Conjunction Clause + Conj + Clause Ngiyafunda futhi uyabhala. I am reading and he is writing.
17 Conjunction + objects S + V + DO + Conj + S + V + DO Ngifunda incwadi futhi ubhala incwadi. I am reading the book and he is writing a letter/book.
18 Present passive S + passive verb Incwadi iyafundwa. The book is being read.
19 Passive + agent DO + passive + ngu- + Agent Incwadi ifundwa nguye. The book is being read by him/her.
20 Passive + IO DO + passive + IO Incwadi inikwa yena. The book is being given to him/her.
21 Passive + IO + agent DO + passive + IO + ngu- + Agent Incwadi inikwa umfundi nguthisha. The book is being given to the student by the teacher.
22 Passive + time DO + Time + passive Incwadi namuhla iyafundwa. The book is being read today.
23 Passive + place DO + passive + Place Incwadi ibekwa etafuleni. The book is being put on the table.
24 Passive + agent + time DO + Time + passive + Agent Incwadi namuhla ifundwa nguye. The book is being read by him/her today.
25 Passive + agent + IO + time DO + Time + passive + IO + Agent Incwadi namuhla inikwa umfundi nguthisha. The book is being given to the student by the teacher today.
26 Perfect passive DO + perfect passive Incwadi ifundiwe. The book has been read.
27 Perfect passive + agent DO + perfect passive + Agent Incwadi ifundiwe nguye. The book has been read by him/her.
28 Future passive DO + future + passive Incwadi izofundwa. The book will be read.
29 Future passive + agent DO + future + passive + Agent Incwadi izofundwa nguye. The book will be read by him/her.
30 Modal passive Kufanele/Kumele + passive Incwadi kufanele ifundwe. The book must/should be read.
31 Negative S + negative + V Angifundi incwadi. I am not reading the book.
32 Negative passive DO + negative passive Incwadi ayifundwa nguye. The book is not being read by him/her.
33 Yes/no question Question + S + V + DO? Uyafunda incwadi? Are you reading the book?
34 Passive question Question + DO + passive? Ingabe incwadi iyafundwa? Is the book being read?
35 Agent question Passive + ngubani? Incwadi ifundwa ngubani? By whom is the book being read?
36 IO question S + V + DO + kubani? Unika bani incwadi? To whom are you giving the book?
37 Imperative Imperative + DO! Funda incwadi! Read the book!
38 Imperative + IO Imperative + IO + DO! Mnike incwadi! Give him/her the book!
39 Passive imperative Vumela + DO + passive! Vumela incwadi ifundwe! Let the book be read!
40 Infinitive uku- + V ukufunda to read / reading
41 Infinitive + DO uku- + V + DO ukufunda incwadi to read the book
42 Passive infinitive uku- + passive V ukufundwa to be read / being read
43 Purpose ukuze + subjunctive Ngidla ukuze ngidlale. I am eating in order to play.
44 Relative clause [Relative clause] + N Incwadi engiyifundayo iyathakazelisa kakhulu. The book that I am reading is very interesting.
45 Passive relative [Relative passive clause] + N Incwadi efundwa nguye iyathakazelisa kakhulu. The book that is being read by him/her is very interesting.
46 Conditional Uma + clause, clause Uma nginesikhathi, ngizofunda. If I have time, I will read.
47 Conditional + passive Uma + passive clause, clause Uma incwadi ifundwa, uzoqonda. If the book is read, he will understand.
48 Reported speech S + verb of saying + ukuthi + clause Uthi ufundile incwadi. He says that he has read the book.
49 Reported question S + verb of asking + ukuthi/wh-word + clause Uyabuza ukuthi ngifundeni. He asks what I have read.
50 Reported command S + tshela + IO + ukuthi + subjunctive Wangitshela ukuthi ngifunde. He told me to read.
ADVERBS:
1 Manner Adverbial expression + Verb Ngifunda incwadi ngokushesha. I read the book quickly.
2 Place Place expression + Verb Ngifunda incwadi lapha. I read the book here.
3 Time Time expression + Clause Izolo, ngafunda incwadi. Yesterday, I read the book.
4 Frequency Frequency adverb + Verb Ngivame ukufunda izincwadi. I often read books.
5 Frequency + be Subject + Frequency + Predicate Uhlala ejabule. He is always happy.
6 Frequency + auxiliary Frequency expression + Verb Angikaze ngimbone. I have never seen him.
7 Degree Degree adverb + Adjective Kuhle kakhulu. It is very good.
8 Degree + verb Verb + Degree adverb Ngikuthanda kakhulu. I like it very much.
9 Sentence adverb Sentence adverb + Clause Ngenhlanhla, ngawina. Fortunately, I won.
10 Comment adverb Comment expression + Clause Uma ngikhuluma iqiniso, angazi. Honestly, I don't know.
11 Linking adverb Linking expression + Clause Ngangikhathele. Nokho, ngaqhubeka nokusebenza. I was tired. However, I continued working.
12 Direction Directional expression + Verb Waphuma ngaphandle. He went outside.
13 Definite frequency Time expression Nsuku zonke ngifunda izincwadi. I read books every day.
14 Duration Number + Time noun Ngafunda amahora amabili. I studied for two hours.
15 Purpose ukuze + Verb Ngiya lapho ukuze ngifunde. I go there to study.
INDIRECT OBJECT:
IO noun S + V + DO + ku + IO Ngithumela incwadi kumngane.
IO pronoun S + IO marker + V + DO Ngimnika incwadi.
FORMATION:
ngi- I Subject marker
-m- him/her Indirect object marker
nika give Verb
incwadi book Direct object
To me -ngi- Unginika incwadi.
To you -ku- Ngikunika incwadi.
To him/her -m- Ngimnika incwadi.
To us -si- Uyasipha ukudla.
To you all -ni- Uyaninika izincwadi.
To them -ba- Ngiyabanika imali.
For someone beneficiary + -el- Ngimthengela incwadi.
To whom? kubani? Uthumela incwadi kubani?
GENITIVE:
Basic genitive N + poss. concord + N incwadi yomfana boy's book
"of" N + poss. concord + N umbala wemoto color of the car
My N + poss. concord + -ami incwadi yami my book
Your N + poss. concord + -akho incwadi yakho your book
His/her N + poss. concord + -akhe incwadi yakhe his/her book
Our N + poss. concord + -ethu incwadi yethu our book
Your plural N + poss. concord + -enu incwadi yenu your book
Their N + poss. concord + -abo incwadi yabo their book
Independent possessive possessive form eyami mine
Whose? kabani / ngekabani Ngekabani le ncwadi? Whose book is this?
Noun class Example noun Possessive concord Example English
1 umuntu ka- umsebenzi kamuntu the person's work
2 abantu ba- umsebenzi wabantu the people's work
3 umuthi wa- umbala womuthi the tree's color
4 imithi ya- imibala yemithi the trees' colors
5 igama la- igama lendoda the man's name
6 amagama a- amagama amadoda the men's names
7 isikole sa- isikole somfana the boy's school
8 izikole za- izikole zabafana the boys' schools
9 inja ya- inja yomfana the boy's dog
10 izinja za- izinja zabafana the boys' dogs
11 ulimi lwa- ulimi lwabantu the people's language
14 ubuhle ba- ubuhle bentombazane the girl's beauty
15 ukudla kwa- ukudla kwengane the child's food
17 ukukhanya kwa- ukukhanya kwenyanga the moon's light
INDEPENDENT:
my -ami
your (singular) -akho
his/her -akhe
our -ethu
your (plural) -enu
their -abo
Class Independent possessive prefix Example
1 owa- owami
2 aba- abami
3 owa- owami
4 eya- eyami
5 ela- elami
6 ama- ami
7 esa- esami
8 ezi- ezami
9 eya- eyami
10 ezi- ezami
11 olwa- olwami
14 ob(u)- obami
15 okwa- okwami
17 okwa- okwami
Le ncwadi ngeyami. This book is mine.
FORMATION:
le ncwadi = this book
nge- = copulative element
y- = Class 9 possessive concord
-ami = my
Lezi zincwadi ngezethu. These books are ours.
Lezo zicathulo ngezabo. Those shoes are theirs.
WAS GOING TO:
was going to / intended to S + -hlose + uku-V Ngangihlose ukuhamba. I was going to leave.
was planning to S + -hlela + uku-V Ngangihlela ukuhamba. I was planning to leave.
was about to S + -sezo-V Ngangesezohamba. I was about to leave.
future in the past past S + zo-V Wathi uzohamba. He said he was going to leave.
I was going to go Ngangihlose ukuhamba.
You were going to go Wawuhlose ukuhamba.
He/she was going to go Wayehlose ukuhamba.
We were going to go Sasihlose ukuhamba.
You were going to go Nanihlose ukuhamba.
They were going to go Babehlose ukuhamba.
I was planning to leave Ngangihlela ukuhamba.
You were planning to leave Wawuhlela ukuhamba.
He/she was planning to leave Wayehlela ukuhamba.
We were planning to leave Sasihlela ukuhamba.
You were planning to leave Nanihlela ukuhamba.
They were planning to leave Babehlela ukuhamba.
I was about to leave Ngangesezohamba.
You were about to leave Wawusuzohamba.
He/she was about to leave Wayesezohamba.
We were about to leave Sasesizohamba.
You were about to leave Nanisezohamba.
They were about to leave Basebezohamba.
Wathi uzohamba. He said he was going to leave.
Wathi uzothenga imoto. He said he was going to buy a car.
Bathi bazohamba kusasa. They said they were going to leave tomorrow.
2- NOUNS
CASES:
Subject (Nominative) noun + verb Umfana uyagijima Boy runs
Object (Accusative) verb + object noun Ngibona inja I see a dog
Genitive noun + concord + noun indlu yendoda man's house
Dative verb + recipient Ngipha umntwana incwadi give child book
Locative e-/ -ini endlini in house
Instrumental nge-/ngo- ngemoto by car
Ablative kusuka/kuvela kusuka ekhaya from home
Vocative noun alone Baba! Father!
Comitative na/no + noun nomngane with friend
Comparative kuna- mkhulu kunaye bigger than him
INDIRECT OBJECT: Subject + Verb + Indirect Object + Direct Object
Ngithumela umngane wami umlayezo. "I send my friend a message."
OR: Subject + IO object marker + verb + direct object (works for pronouns only)
Ngimnika incwadi. I give him a book.
GENITIVE:
Possessed noun + Concord + Possessor
Incwadi yomfundi "The student's book"
INDIRECT OBJECT AND GENITIVE COMBINED: S + V + IO + Genitive + DO
Ngifundisa izingane zomfana isiZulu. "I teach the boy's children Zulu."
PLURAL:
1. Class 1 → Class 2 (People)
Formation:
umu- / um- → aba-
Singular Plural English
umuntu abantu person → people
umfana abafana boy → boys
umama omama/omama mother → mothers
umfundisi abafundisi teacher → teachers
umdlali abadlali player → players
Example:
Umuntu uyahamba.
The person is walking.
Abantu bayahamba.
The people are walking.
2. Class 1a → Class 2a (Kinship Names)
Formation:
u- → o-
Singular Plural English
ubaba obaba father → fathers
umalume omalume uncle → uncles
ugogo ogogo grandmother → grandmothers
umkhulu omkhulu grandfather → grandfathers
3. Class 3 → Class 4
Formation:
umu- → imi-
Singular Plural English
umuthi imithi tree/medicine → trees/medicines
umuzi imizi village/home → villages/homes
umfula imifula river → rivers
umqondo imiqondo idea → ideas
Example:
Umuthi uyakhula.
The tree grows.
Imithi iyakhula.
The trees grow.
4. Class 5 → Class 6
Formation:
i(li)- → ama-
Singular Plural English
ikhanda amakhanda head → heads
ilanga amalanga day/sun → days
izwi amazwi word → words
ihhashi amahhashi horse → horses
5. Class 7 → Class 8
Formation:
isi- → izi-
Singular Plural English
isitulo izitulo chair → chairs
isikole izikole school → schools
isandla izandla hand → hands
isihlalo izihlalo seat → seats
Example:
Isitulo sihle.
The chair is nice.
Izitulo zinhle.
The chairs are nice.
6. Class 9 → Class 10
Formation:
iN- → iziN-
This class includes many animals and objects.
Singular Plural English
inja izinja dog → dogs
inkomo izinkomo cow → cows
indlu izindlu house → houses
ingane izingane child → children
inyoni izinyoni bird → birds
7. Class 11 → Class 10
Formation:
ulu- → izi-
Singular Plural English
ulimi izilimi language → languages
uhlelo izinhlelo plan → plans
ulwandle izilwandle sea → seas
8. Class 14 (Abstract Nouns)
Formation:
ubu-
Usually no plural.
Singular English
ubuhle beauty
ububi evil
ubungane friendship
ubunzima difficulty
9. Class 15 (Infinitive Nouns)
Formation:
uku-
Usually no plural.
Singular English
ukufunda studying
ukudla eating/food
ukuhamba travelling
10. Loan Words (Borrowed Nouns)
Many borrowed words use:
Singular:
i-
Plural:
ama- / izi-
Examples:
Singular Plural English
itiye amatiye tea → teas
ibhuku amabhuku book → books
ikhekhe amakhekhe cake → cakes
3- ADJECTIVES
Attribute adjective noun + adjective indlu enkulu big house
Predicate adjective noun + adjective indlu inkulu house is big
Plural adjective noun class agreement izindlu ezinkulu big houses
Negative aku-/aka- + adjective akuyona enkulu is not big
TO BE VERB:
1. Present — “am / is / are”
Formation
Subject concord + -ngu- + noun
English Zulu
I am a teacher Nginguthisha.
You are a teacher Unguthisha.
He/She is a teacher Unguthisha.
We are teachers Singothisha.
You are teachers Ningothisha.
They are teachers Bangothisha.
2. Present Negative — “am not / is not / are not”
Formation
Negative copulative construction + noun
English Zulu
I am not a teacher Angiyena thisha.
You are not a teacher Awuyena thisha.
He/She is not a teacher Akayena thisha.
We are not teachers Asibona othisha.
You are not teachers Anibona othisha.
They are not teachers Ababona othisha.
3. Present Progressive / Becoming — “am becoming”
Zulu uses -ba for “become/be.”
Formation
Subject concord + ya + ba
English Zulu
I am becoming a teacher Ngiyaba uthisha.
He is becoming a teacher Uyaba uthisha.
They are becoming teachers Bayaba othisha.
In many contexts, -ba is better understood as “become” rather than a simple continuous “be.”
4. Present Perfect — “have been / have become”
Formation
Subject concord + -be/-ba perfect form, depending on construction and meaning.
For a continuing state, a very natural construction is:
Subject + -loku- + present state
English Zulu
I have been happy Bengilokhu ngijabule.
He has been happy Ubelokhu ejabule.
They have been happy Bebelokhu bejabule.
Bengilokhu ngijabule.
= I have been happy / I have remained happy.
5. Past — “was / were”
For a past state or identity, Zulu commonly uses -be- constructions.
Formation
Past form of -ba + noun/adjective
English Zulu
I was a teacher Ngangiwuthisha.
You were a teacher Wawunguthisha.
He/She was a teacher Wayenguthisha.
We were teachers Sasingothisha.
You were teachers Naningothisha.
They were teachers Babengothisha.
6. Past Continuous — “was/were being”
Formation
Past auxiliary + state/action
English Zulu
I was being happy Ngangijabule.
He was being happy Wayejabule.
We were being happy Sasijabule.
They were being happy Babejabule.
For an ongoing state, -loku- can make the continuity clearer:
Ngangilokhu ngijabule.
= I was continually/remained happy.
7. Past Perfect — “had been”
A common construction is:
Formation
Past form of -ba + state
Examples:
English Zulu
I had been happy Ngangilokhu ngijabule.
He had been happy Wayelokhu ejabule.
They had been happy Babelokhu bejabule.
Context determines whether this is translated as “was continually happy” or “had been happy.”
8. Past Negative — “was not / were not”
Formation
Negative past + -ba/state
English Zulu
I was not a teacher Ngangingeyena thisha.
You were not a teacher Wawungeyena thisha.
He/She was not a teacher Wayengeyena thisha.
We were not teachers Sasingebona othisha.
They were not teachers Babengebona othisha.
9. Future — “will be”
This is one of the clearest uses of -ba.
Formation
Subject concord + zo + ba + noun
English Zulu
I will be a teacher Ngizoba uthisha.
You will be a teacher Uzoba uthisha.
He/She will be a teacher Uzoba uthisha.
We will be teachers Sizoba othisha.
You will be teachers Nizoba othisha.
They will be teachers Bazoba othisha.
10. Future Negative — “will not be”
Formation
Ngeke + subject concord + ba
English Zulu
I will not be a teacher Ngeke ngibe uthisha.
You will not be a teacher Ngeke ube uthisha.
He/She will not be a teacher Ngeke abe uthisha.
We will not be teachers Ngeke sibe othisha.
You will not be teachers Ngeke nibe othisha.
They will not be teachers Ngeke babe othisha.
11. Future Perfect — “will have been”
Formation
zo + be + state
Example:
Ngizobe ngijabule.
= I will have been / will be happy.
English Zulu
I will have been happy Ngizobe ngijabule.
You will have been happy Uzobe ujabule.
He/She will have been happy Uzobe ejabule.
We will have been happy Sizobe sijabule.
They will have been happy Bazobe bejabule.
12. Future Perfect Negative
Formation
Ngeke + subject + be + state
English Zulu
I will not have been happy Ngeke ngibe ngijabule.
He will not have been happy Ngeke abe ejabule.
We will not have been happy Ngeke sibe sijabule.
They will not have been happy Ngeke babe bejabule.
13. Conditional — “would be”
Formation
Subject + be + zo + ba
English Zulu
I would be a teacher Bengizoba uthisha.
You would be a teacher Ubuzoba uthisha.
He/She would be a teacher Ubeyoba uthisha.
We would be teachers Besizoba othisha.
They would be teachers Bebezoba othisha.
14. Conditional Negative — “would not be”
English Zulu
I would not be a teacher Bengingeke ngibe uthisha.
You would not be a teacher Ubungeke ube uthisha.
He/She would not be a teacher Ubengengeke abe uthisha.
We would not be teachers Besingeke sibe othisha.
They would not be teachers Bebengeke babe othisha.
15. Subjunctive — “be / may be”
Zulu uses the subjunctive form of -ba:
-be
English Zulu
Let me be a teacher Ngibe uthisha.
Let him be a teacher Abe uthisha.
Let us be teachers Sibe othisha.
Let them be teachers Babe othisha.
Example:
Makabe uthisha.
= Let him/her be a teacher.
16. Infinitive — “to be”
Formation
uku + ba → ukuba
ukuba = to be / being / that
Examples:
ukuba uthisha = to be a teacher
ukuba ngujabule = to be happy
ukuba lapha = to be here
17. “To Be” With Adjectives
This is important: Zulu normally does not use a separate “to be” verb with ordinary adjectives.
English:
I am happy.
Zulu:
Ngijabule.
Not literally “I am + happy”; the adjective/state is directly predicated of the subject.
English Zulu
I am happy Ngijabule.
You are happy Ujabule.
He is happy Ujabule.
We are happy Sijabule.
You are happy Nijabule.
They are happy Bajabule.
Another example:
Indlu inkulu.
= The house is big.
Izindlu zinkulu.
= The houses are big.
18. “To Be” With Locations
For “be at/in a place,” Zulu commonly uses -se-.
English Zulu
I am at home Ngisekhaya.
You are at school Usesikoleni.
He is at work Usemsebenzini.
We are here Sikhona lapha.
They are there Bakhona lapho.
Formation:
Subject concord + se + location
Example:
ngi + se + khaya → ngisekhaya
4- PRONOUNS
1. Personal Pronouns (Independent Pronouns)
Used for emphasis.
English Zulu
I mina
you (singular) wena
he/she yena
we thina
you (plural) nina
they bona
Examples:
Mina ngiyafunda.
I am studying.
Yena uyasebenza.
He/she is working.
Bona bayacula.
They are singing.
2. Subject Pronouns (Nominative Case)
Zulu usually does not use separate words for the subject. It uses subject markers attached to verbs.
Formation:
Subject marker + verb
English Subject Marker Example
I ngi- Ngiyahamba
you u- Uyahamba
he/she u- Uyahamba
we si- Siyahamba
you plural ni- Niyahamba
they ba- Bayahamba
Examples:
Ngiyadla.
I eat.
Bayasebenza.
They work.
3. Object Pronouns (Accusative Case)
Object pronouns are attached to the verb.
Formation:
Subject + object marker + verb
Example:
"I see him."
Ngiyambona.
Breakdown:
ngi- = I
m- = him
bona = see
Object Pronoun Table
English Object Marker Example
me ngi- Uyangibona = You see me
you ku- Ngiyakubona = I see you
him/her m- Ngiyambona = I see him/her
us si- Uyasibona = You see us
you (plural) ni- Uyanibona = He sees you
them ba- Ngiyababona = I see them
4. Indirect Object Pronouns (Dative)
Meaning:
to me
to you
to him/her
to us
Zulu uses object markers.
Examples:
English Zulu
He gives me a book Unginika incwadi
I give you a book Ngikunika incwadi
I give him a book Ngimnika incwadi
She gives us food Usipha ukudla
They give them money Banika imali
5. Possessive Pronouns (Genitive)
Meaning:
my
your
his/her
our
their
Formation:
Noun + possessive concord + pronoun stem
Possessive Stems
English Zulu Stem
my -ami
your (singular) -akho
his/her -akhe
our -ethu
your (plural) -enu
their -abo
Examples:
English Zulu
my book incwadi yami
your house indlu yakho
his car imoto yakhe
our school isikole sethu
their children izingane zabo
6. Possessive Pronouns Alone
Meaning:
"This one is mine."
Zulu uses:
ngowami / ngeyami / ngezami depending on noun class.
Examples:
English Zulu
It is mine Eyami
It is yours Eyakho
It is his/hers Eyakhe
It is ours Eyethu
It is theirs Eyabo
Examples:
Le ncwadi ngeyami.
This book is mine.
Le moto ngeyakhe.
This car is his/hers.
7. Reflexive Pronouns ("myself, yourself")
Zulu uses:
Prefix:
-zi-
Meaning:
self / oneself
Examples:
English Zulu
I see myself Ngiyazibona
You see yourself Uyazibona
He sees himself Uyazibona
We see ourselves Siyazibona
They see themselves Bayazibona
8. Emphatic Reflexive Pronouns
Used for emphasis:
English Zulu
myself mina ngokwami
yourself wena ngokwakho
himself/herself yena ngokwakhe
ourselves thina ngokwethu
themselves bona ngokwabo
Examples:
Ngazenzela mina ngokwami.
I did it myself.
9. Demonstrative Pronouns (This/That)
Zulu has three degrees:
near speaker
near listener
far from both
Class 1 Example: umuntu (person)
English Zulu
this person lo muntu
that person (near you) lowo muntu
that person (far away) lowaya muntu
Class 9 Example: inja (dog)
English Zulu
this dog le nja
that dog leyo nja
that dog over there leya nja
This is a dog Le yinja.
FORMATION:
le this
y- is
inja dog
5- VERB TENSES
VERB: funda
Mina Ngifunda I study
Wena Ufunda You study
Yena Ufunda He/she studies
Thina Sifunda We study
Nina Nifunda You all study
Bona Bafunda They study
Mina Ngiyafunda I am studying
Wena Uyafunda You are studying
Yena Uyafunda He/she is studying
Thina Siyafunda We are studying
Nina Niyafunda You all are studying
Bona Bayafunda They are studying
Mina Ngafunda I studied
Wena Wafunda You studied
Yena Wafunda He/she studied
Thina Safunda We studied
Nina Nafunda You all studied
Bona Bafunda They studied
Mina Ngangifunda I was studying
Wena Wawufunda You were studying
Yena Wayefunda He/she was studying
Thina Sasifunda We were studying
Nina Nanifunda You all were studying
Bona Babefunda They were studying
Mina Ngizofunda I will study
Wena Uzofunda You will study
Yena Uzofunda He/she will study
Thina Sizofunda We will study
Nina Nizofunda You all will study
Bona Bazofunda They will study
Mina Ngizobe ngifunda I will be studying
Wena Uzobe ufunda You will be studying
Yena Uzobe efunda He/she will be studying
Thina Sizobe sifunda We will be studying
Nina Nizobe nifunda You all will be studying
Bona Bazobe befunda They will be studying
Mina Ngifundile I have studied
Wena Ufundile You have studied
Yena Ufundile He/she has studied
Thina Sifundile We have studied
Nina Nifundile You all have studied
Bona Bafundile They have studied
Mina Ngangifundile I had studied
Wena Wawufundile You had studied
Yena Wayefundile He/she had studied
Thina Sasifundile We had studied
Nina Nanifundile You all had studied
Bona Babefundile They had studied
Mina Ngiyobe ngifundile I will have studied
Wena Uyobe ufundile You will have studied
Yena Uyobe efundile He/she will have studied
Thina Siyobe sifundile We will have studied
Nina Niyobe nifundile You all will have studied
Bona Bayobe befundile They will have studied
6- PASSIVE TENSES
Mina Ngiyafundwa I am being studied
Wena Uyafundwa You are being studied
Yena Uyafundwa He/She is being studied
Thina Siyafundwa We are being studied
Nina Niyafundwa You are being studied
Bona Bayafundwa They are being studied
Mina Ngafundwa I was studied
Wena Wafundwa You were studied
Yena Wafundwa He/She was studied
Thina Safundwa We were studied
Nina Nafundwa You were studied
Bona Bafundwa They were studied
Mina Ngifundiwe I have been studied
Wena Ufundwe You have been studied
Yena Ufundwe He/She has been studied
Thina Sifundiwe We have been studied
Nina Nifundiwe You have been studied
Bona Bafundiwe They have been studied
Mina Ngizofundwa I will be studied
Wena Uzofundwa You will be studied
Yena Uzofundwa He/She will be studied
Thina Sizofundwa We will be studied
Nina Nizofundwa You will be studied
Bona Bazofundwa They will be studied
Mina Ngangifundwa I was being studied
Wena Wawufundwa You were being studied
Yena Wayefundwa He/She was being studied
Thina Sasifundwa We were being studied
Nina Nanifundwa You were being studied
Bona Babefundwa They were being studied
Mina Ngizobe ngifundwa I will be being studied
Wena Uzobe ufundwa You will be being studied
Yena Uzobe efundwa He/She will be being studied
Thina Sizobe sifundwa We will be being studied
Nina Nizobe nifundwa You will be being studied
Bona Bazobe befundwa They will be being studied
7- NEGATION:
Mina Angifundi I do not study
Wena Awufundi You do not study
Yena Akafundi He/she does not study
Thina Asifundi We do not study
Nina Anifundi You all do not study
Bona Abafundi They do not study
Mina Angifundi I am not studying
Wena Awufundi You are not studying
Yena Akafundi He/she is not studying
Thina Asifundi We are not studying
Nina Anifundi You all are not studying
Bona Abafundi They are not studying
Mina Angifundanga I did not study
Wena Awufundanga You did not study
Yena Akafundanga He/she did not study
Thina Asifundanga We did not study
Nina Anifundanga You all did not study
Bona Abafundanga They did not study
Mina Bengingafundi I was not studying
Wena Wawungafundi You were not studying
Yena Wayengafundi He/she was not studying
Thina Sasingafundi We were not studying
Nina Naningafundi You all were not studying
Bona Babengafundi They were not studying
Mina Angizukufunda I will not study
Wena Awuzukufunda You will not study
Yena Akazukufunda He/she will not study
Thina Asizukufunda We will not study
Nina Anizukufunda You all will not study
Bona Abazukufunda They will not study
Mina Angizukube ngifunda I will not be studying
Wena Awuzukube ufunda You will not be studying
Yena Akazukube efunda He/she will not be studying
Thina Asizukube sifunda We will not be studying
Nina Anizukube nifunda You all will not be studying
Bona Abazukube befunda They will not be studying
Don't study! Ungafundi!
Don't eat! Ungadli!
Don't go! Ungahambi!
Mina Angifundanga I have not studied
Wena Awufundanga You have not studied
Yena Akafundanga He/she has not studied
Thina Asifundanga We have not studied
Nina Anifundanga You all have not studied
Bona Abafundanga They have not studied
Mina Bengingakafundi I had not studied
Wena Wawungakafundi You had not studied
Yena Wayengakafundi He/she had not studied
Thina Sasingakafundi We had not studied
Nina Neningakafundi You all had not studied
Bona Babengakafundi They had not studied
Mina Angiyikube ngifundile I will not have studied
Wena Awuyikube ufundile You will not have studied
Yena Akayikube efundile He/she will not have studied
Thina Asiyikube sifundile We will not have studied
Nina Aniyikube nifundile You all will not have studied
Bona Abayikube befundile They will not have studied
Mina Angikafundi I have not studied yet
Wena Awukafundi You have not studied yet
Yena Akakafundi He/she has not studied yet
Thina Asikafundi We have not studied yet
Nina Anikafundi You all have not studied yet
Bona Abakafundi They have not studied yet
not to study ukungafunda
not to eat ukungadla
not to go ukungahambi
Mina Angifundwa I am not studied
Wena Awufundwa You are not studied
Yena Akafundwa He/she is not studied
Thina Asifundwa We are not studied
Nina Anifundwa You all are not studied
Bona Abafundwa They are not studied
Mina Angifundwa I am not being studied
Wena Awufundwa You are not being studied
Yena Akafundwa He/she is not being studied
Thina Asifundwa We are not being studied
Nina Anifundwa You all are not being studied
Bona Abafundwa They are not being studied
Mina Angifundwanga I was not studied
Wena Awufundwanga You were not studied
Yena Akafundwanga He/she was not studied
Thina Asifundwanga We were not studied
Nina Anifundwanga You all were not studied
Bona Abafundwanga They were not studied
Mina Bengingafundwa I was not being studied
Wena Wawungafundwa You were not being studied
Yena Wayengafundwa He/she was not being studied
Thina Sasingafundwa We were not being studied
Nina Neningafundwa You all were not being studied
Bona Babengafundwa They were not being studied
Mina Angizukufundwa I will not be studied
Wena Awuzukufundwa You will not be studied
Yena Akazukufundwa He/she will not be studied
Thina Asizukufundwa We will not be studied
Nina Anizukufundwa You all will not be studied
Bona Abazukufundwa They will not be studied
Mina Angizukube ngifundwa I will not be being studied
Wena Awuzukube ufundwa You will not be being studied
Yena Akazukube efundwa He/she will not be being studied
Thina Asizukube sifundwa We will not be being studied
Nina Anizukube nifundwa You all will not be being studied
Bona Abazukube befundwa They will not be being studied
Mina Angifundwanga I have not been studied
Wena Awufundwanga You have not been studied
Yena Akafundwanga He/she has not been studied
Thina Asifundwanga We have not been studied
Nina Anifundwanga You all have not been studied
Bona Abafundwanga They have not been studied
Mina Bengingakafundwa I had not been studied
Wena Wawungakafundwa You had not been studied
Yena Wayengakafundwa He/she had not been studied
Thina Sasingakafundwa We had not been studied
Nina Neningakafundwa You all had not been studied
Bona Babengakafundwa They had not been studied
Mina Angiyikube ngifundiwe I will not have been studied
Wena Awuyikube ufundiwe You will not have been studied
Yena Akayikube efundiwe He/she will not have been studied
Thina Asiyikube sifundiwe We will not have been studied
Nina Aniyikube nifundiwe You all will not have been studied
Bona Abayikube befundelwe They will not have been studied
Mina Angikafundwa I have not been studied yet
Wena Awukafundwa You have not been studied yet
Yena Akakafundwa He/she has not been studied yet
Thina Asikafundwa We have not been studied yet
Nina Anikafundwa You all have not been studied yet
Bona Abakafundwa They have not been studied yet
8- QUESTIONS:
YES/NO QUESTIONS:
There are two ways to make a yes/no question:
1- Same sentence structure, we just add a question mark:
Uyafunda? Are you studying?
2- (Sentence) + na (Use for emphasis)
Uyafunda na? Are you studying?
QUESTION WORDS:
Who ubani / obani
What yini / ini
Where kuphi
Where from uvelaphi
Where to uya kuphi
When nini
Why kungani
How kanjani
Which yiphi / yisiphi / liphi
Whose kabani
How many mangaki
How much malini
How often kangaki
How old uneminyaka emingaki
How many books do you have? in Zulu: Unezincwadi ezingaki?
FORMATION:
u- you
ne- have
zi- them (Class 10 object agreement)
incwadi book
ezingaki how many
What are you doing? Wenzani?
9- ADVERBS:
Zulu Transliteration English
kahle kahle well
kabi kabi badly
kakhulu kakhulu very much / greatly
kancane kancane slowly / a little
ngokushesha ngokushesha quickly
masinyane masinyane immediately / quickly
ngokucophelela ngokucophelela carefully
ngokunembile ngokunembile accurately
ngendlela efanele ngendlela efanele correctly / properly
ngempela ngempela really / truly
ngokweqiniso ngokweqiniso truly
ngokuqondile ngokuqondile directly
ngokucacile ngokucacile clearly
ngokuthula ngokuthula quietly / peacefully
ngomsindo ngomsindo loudly
ngamandla ngamandla strongly / forcefully
kalula kalula easily
kanzima kanzima with difficulty / hard
ngokukhululekile ngokukhululekile freely
ngokuphelele ngokuphelele completely
ngokwengxenye ngokwengxenye partly
ngokufanayo ngokufanayo similarly
ngokuhlukile ngokuhlukile differently
ngokuzithandela ngokuzithandela voluntarily
ngengozi ngengozi accidentally
ngamabomu ngamabomu deliberately
ngasese ngasese privately
obala obala openly / publicly
ngokuyimfihlo ngokuyimfihlo secretly
Examples
Ufunda kahle.
Ufunda kahle.
He/she reads well.
Ugijima ngokushesha.
Ugijima ngokushesha.
He/she runs quickly.
Wenze umsebenzi ngokucophelela.
Wenze umsebenzi ngokucophelela.
He/she did the work carefully.
2. Time adverbs — When?
Zulu Transliteration English
manje manje now
namuhla namuhla today
izolo izolo yesterday
kusasa kusasa tomorrow
ngesikhathi samanje ngesikhathi samanje currently
manje nje manje nje just now
kamuva kamuva later
muva nje muva nje recently
maduzane maduzane soon
ngokushesha ngokushesha soon / quickly
ngaphambi kwalokho ngaphambi kwalokho before that
emva kwalokho emva kwalokho after that
phambilini phambilini previously
ngaphambilini ngaphambilini previously
ekuqaleni ekuqaleni initially / at first
ekugcineni ekugcineni finally / at the end
ekugcineni nje ekugcineni nje ultimately
ngaleso sikhathi ngaleso sikhathi at that time
ngaleso sikhathi ngaleso sikhathi then / at that time
ngemuva kwalokho ngemuva kwalokho afterwards
masinyane masinyane immediately
ngokushesha ngokushesha immediately / quickly
okwamanje okwamanje for now / currently
unomphela unomphela permanently / forever
njalo njalo always
kudala kudala long ago
sekuyisikhathi sekuyisikhathi it has been some time
3. Frequency adverbs — How often?
Zulu Transliteration English
njalo njalo always
kaningi kaningi often
njalo nje njalo nje continually / regularly
ngokuvamile ngokuvamile usually / generally
imvamisa imvamisa usually / generally
ngezikhathi ezithile ngezikhathi ezithile sometimes / occasionally
kwesinye isikhathi kwesinye isikhathi sometimes
ngezinye izikhathi ngezinye izikhathi sometimes
ngezikhathi ezithile ngezikhathi ezithile occasionally
akuvamile akuvamile rarely / not often
kancane kancane seldom / a little
nakanye nakanye ever / at all
nakancane nakancane at all / ever
futhi futhi again / also
kaninginingi kaninginingi very often / repeatedly
njalo njalo njalo njalo repeatedly / constantly
Frequency scale
njalo → kaningi → ngokuvamile → kwesinye isikhathi → akuvamile
= always → often → usually → sometimes → rarely
4. Place adverbs — Where?
Zulu Transliteration English
lapha lapha here
lapho lapho there
laphaya laphaya over there
lapha nje lapha nje right here
lapho nje lapho nje right there
phezulu phezulu above / upstairs
phansi phansi below / downstairs
ngaphezulu ngaphezulu above / on top
ngezansi ngezansi below / underneath
phakathi phakathi inside / in the middle
ngaphakathi ngaphakathi inside
ngaphandle ngaphandle outside
eduze eduze nearby / close
kude kude far away
phesheya phesheya across / on the other side
nxazonke nxazonke everywhere / all around
yonke indawo yonke indawo everywhere
noma kuphi noma kuphi anywhere
akukho ndawo akukho ndawo nowhere
phambili phambili forward / ahead
emuva emuva behind / backward
eceleni eceleni beside / aside
phezulu kakhulu phezulu kakhulu very high / far above
phansi kakhulu phansi kakhulu very low / far below
5. Directional adverbs
Zulu Transliteration English
phambili phambili forward
emuva emuva backward
phezulu phezulu upward
phansi phansi downward
ngaphakathi ngaphakathi inward / inside
ngaphandle ngaphandle outward / outside
phesheya phesheya across
ngasekunene ngasekunene to the right
ngakwesokudla ngakwesokudla to the right
ngakwesobunxele ngakwesobunxele to the left
nxazonke nxazonke around
kude kude far away
eduze eduze nearby
6. Degree / intensity adverbs
Zulu Transliteration English
kakhulu kakhulu very / very much
kancane kancane a little / slightly
kakhulu kakhulu kakhulu kakhulu extremely
ngempela ngempela really
ngempela impela ngempela impela really indeed
ngokwedlulele ngokwedlulele excessively / extremely
ngokuphelele ngokuphelele completely
cishe cishe almost / nearly
cishe nje cishe nje almost
ngokugcwele ngokugcwele fully
ngokwengxenye ngokwengxenye partly
kancane kakhulu kancane kakhulu very slightly
ngokwanele ngokwanele sufficiently / enough
ngaphezu kwalokho ngaphezu kwalokho furthermore / beyond that
ngokweqile ngokweqile excessively
Example:
Ujabule kakhulu.
Ujabule kakhulu.
He/she is very happy.
7. Affirmative adverbs
These express yes, certainty, agreement, confirmation.
Zulu Transliteration English
yebo yebo yes
ngempela ngempela indeed / really
impela impela indeed / certainly
ngokuqinisekile ngokuqinisekile certainly
ngokuqinisekileyo ngokuqinisekileyo definitely
nakanjani nakanjani definitely / certainly
ngempela impela ngempela impela absolutely
ngokuqondile ngokuqondile exactly / directly
impela impela exactly / indeed
8. Negative adverbs
Zulu Transliteration English
cha cha no
akunjalo akunjalo not so
neze neze never / absolutely not
nakancane nakancane not at all
nakanye nakanye ever / at all
lutho lutho nothing / at all
ndawo ndawo anywhere / nowhere
nanini nanini ever / ever at any time
akusoze akusoze never / will never
angisoze angisoze I will never
awusoze awusoze you will never
akaze akaze has never
Akaze afike.
Akaze afike.
He/she has never arrived.
9. Probability / possibility adverbs
Zulu Transliteration English
mhlawumbe mhlawumbe perhaps / maybe
mhlawumbe nje mhlawumbe nje perhaps
cishe cishe probably / almost
ngokunokwenzeka ngokunokwenzeka possibly
ngokungenzeka ngokungenzeka possibly
kungenzeka kungenzeka it is possible
kungenzeka ukuthi kungenzeka ukuthi it is possible that
ngokunokwenzeka kakhulu ngokunokwenzeka kakhulu very possibly
mhlawumbe mhlawumbe maybe
ngokungenzeka ngokungenzeka potentially
10. Certainty adverbs
Zulu Transliteration English
nakanjani nakanjani definitely
ngokuqinisekile ngokuqinisekile certainly
ngempela ngempela truly / indeed
impela impela indeed / certainly
ngokuqinisekileyo ngokuqinisekileyo definitely
ngempela impela ngempela impela absolutely
ngaphandle kokungabaza ngaphandle kokungabaza undoubtedly
akungabazeki akungabazeki undoubtedly
11. Approximation adverbs
Zulu Transliteration English
cishe cishe almost / approximately
cishe kube cishe kube approximately
ngokucishe ngokucishe approximately
ngaphezu noma ngaphansi ngaphezu noma ngaphansi more or less
okungenani okungenani at least
okungenani nje okungenani nje at least
kancane kancane somewhat / slightly
12. Focus / emphasis adverbs
Zulu Transliteration English
kuphela kuphela only
nje nje just / simply / only
futhi futhi also / again
nakhona nakhona also / too
ikakhulukazi ikakhulukazi especially / particularly
ngisho ngisho even
ngempela ngempela really
impela impela indeed
nakakhulu nakakhulu even more
ikakhulukazi ikakhulukazi especially
kakhulu kakhulu very much
Examples:
Ufunda kuphela.
Ufunda kuphela.
He/she only reads.
Ngisho naye ufikile.
Ngisho naye ufikile.
Even he/she arrived.
13. Addition adverbs
Zulu Transliteration English
futhi futhi also / again
nakhona nakhona also / too
ngaphezu kwalokho ngaphezu kwalokho furthermore / in addition
futhi futhi futhi futhi again / additionally
ngaphezu kwalokho ngaphezu kwalokho moreover
ngaphezu kwalokho futhi ngaphezu kwalokho futhi furthermore
14. Contrast adverbs
Zulu Transliteration English
noma kunjalo noma kunjalo nevertheless
noma kunjalo nje noma kunjalo nje nevertheless
nokho nokho however
kodwa kodwa however / but
ngakolunye uhlangothi ngakolunye uhlangothi on the other hand
kunalokho kunalokho instead / rather
noma kunjalo noma kunjalo anyway / nevertheless
Ubekhathele, nokho waqhubeka.
Ubekhathele, nokho waqhubeka.
He/she was tired; however, he/she continued.
15. Result / consequence adverbs
Zulu Transliteration English
ngakho ngakho therefore / so
ngakho-ke ngakho-ke therefore
ngalokho ngalokho therefore / because of that
ngenxa yalokho ngenxa yalokho because of that / as a result
ngakho lokho ngakho lokho therefore
ngokufanayo ngokufanayo accordingly / similarly
kanjalo kanjalo thus / like that
ngaleyo ndlela ngaleyo ndlela in that way
16. Conditional / alternative adverbs
Zulu Transliteration English
uma kungenjalo uma kungenjalo otherwise
kungenjalo kungenjalo otherwise
ngaphandle kwalokho ngaphandle kwalokho otherwise / besides that
uma kunjalo uma kunjalo if so
uma kunjalo-ke uma kunjalo-ke if that is so
noma kunjalo noma kunjalo even so / nevertheless
17. Sequential / ordering adverbs
Zulu Transliteration English
kuqala kuqala first / firstly
okokuqala okokuqala firstly / for the first time
bese bese then
ngemuva kwalokho ngemuva kwalokho afterwards
emva kwalokho emva kwalokho after that
ekugcineni ekugcineni finally
ekuqaleni ekuqaleni initially
okulandelayo okulandelayo next
ngokulandelayo ngokulandelayo subsequently
ngaleso sikhathi ngaleso sikhathi meanwhile / at that time
ngasikhathi sinye ngesikhathi sinye simultaneously / at the same time
18. Simultaneous-action adverbs
Zulu Transliteration English
ngasikhathi sinye ngasikhathi sinye at the same time
kanyekanye kanyekanye simultaneously
ngaleso sikhathi ngaleso sikhathi meanwhile
ngenkathi ngenkathi while
ngesikhathi esifanayo ngesikhathi esifanayo at the same time
19. Repetition adverbs
Zulu Transliteration English
futhi futhi again
futhi futhi futhi futhi again and again
kaninginingi kaninginingi repeatedly
njalo njalo continually
njalo njalo njalo njalo repeatedly
kaphinde kaphinde again / once more
ngokuphindaphindiwe ngokuphindaphindiwe repeatedly
20. Interrogative adverbs
These ask how, where, when, why, how much, etc.
Zulu Transliteration English
kanjani? kanjani? how?
kuphi? kuphi? where?
nini? nini? when?
kungani? kungani? why?
ngani? ngani? why? / with what?
kangakanani? kangakanani? how much/how greatly?
kaningi kangakanani? kaningi kangakanani? how often?
kude kangakanani? kude kangakanani? how far?
kusondele kangakanani? kusondele kangakanani? how close?
kuze kube nini? kuze kube nini? until when?
kusukela nini? kusukela nini? since when?
Examples:
Uya kuphi?
Uya kuphi?
Where are you going?
Wenza kanjani?
Wenza kanjani?
How does he/she do it?
Ufika nini?
Ufika nini?
When does he/she arrive?
21. Relative / indefinite adverbial words
Zulu can combine forms such as lapho, lapho-ke, noma kuphi, etc.
Zulu Transliteration English
lapho lapho where / when
lapho-ke lapho-ke then / where then
noma kuphi noma kuphi anywhere
noma nini noma nini anytime
noma kanjani noma kanjani however / anyway
noma kungani noma kungani for whatever reason
lapho kunesidingo lapho kunesidingo where necessary
ngalokho ngalokho thereby / by that
22. Adverbs of manner formed with ngo-
A very productive Zulu pattern is:
ngo- + noun/adjectival form → adverbial meaning “in a … manner / …ly”
Zulu Transliteration English
ngokucophelela ngokucophelela carefully
ngokushesha ngokushesha quickly
ngokucacile ngokucacile clearly
ngokuqondile ngokuqondile directly
ngokuphelele ngokuphelele completely
ngokufanayo ngokufanayo similarly
ngokuhlukile ngokuhlukile differently
ngokunembile ngokunembile accurately
ngokuzithandela ngokuzithandela voluntarily
ngokusemthethweni ngokusemthethweni officially
ngokomthetho ngokomthetho legally
ngokwesayensi ngokwesayensi scientifically
ngokomlando ngokomlando historically
ngokweqiniso ngokweqiniso truthfully
ngokwemvelo ngokwemvelo naturally
ngokujwayelekile ngokujwayelekile generally / normally
ngokuvamile ngokuvamile generally / usually
ngokukhethekile ngokukhethekile specifically / specially
This is important because Zulu can create many adverbial forms productively.
23. Adverbs of comparison
Zulu Transliteration English
ngaphezulu ngaphezulu more / above
ngaphansi ngaphansi less / below
kakhulu kakhulu more greatly
ngokulinganayo ngokulinganayo equally
ngokufanayo ngokufanayo similarly
ngokweqile ngokweqile excessively
ngokuncane ngokuncane to a lesser degree
ngokukhulu ngokukhulu to a greater degree
24. Adverbs of cause/reason
Zulu Transliteration English
ngakho ngakho therefore
ngakho-ke ngakho-ke therefore
ngenxa yalokho ngenxa yalokho as a result
ngalokho ngalokho because of that
ngaleso sizathu ngaleso sizathu for that reason
ngenxa yalokho-ke ngenxa yalokho-ke therefore / as a result
25. Adverbs of viewpoint / domain
Zulu Transliteration English
ngokomthetho ngokomthetho legally
ngokwesayensi ngokwesayensi scientifically
ngokomlando ngokomlando historically
ngokwepolitiki ngokwepolitiki politically
ngokwezomnotho ngokwezomnotho economically
ngokwenhlalo ngokwenhlalo socially
ngokwezinga ngokwezinga in terms of degree
ngokombono ngokombono in one's view / theoretically
ngokomqondo ngokomqondo conceptually
ngokoqobo ngokoqobo literally / in reality
26. Common sentence-linking adverbials
These are often called conjunctive adverbs / discourse adverbs in learner grammars rather than strict adverbs.
Zulu Transliteration English
ngakho-ke ngakho-ke therefore
noma kunjalo noma kunjalo nevertheless
nokho nokho however
kunalokho kunalokho instead
futhi futhi furthermore / also
ngaphezu kwalokho ngaphezu kwalokho moreover
ngakolunye uhlangothi ngakolunye uhlangothi on the other hand
ekugcineni ekugcineni finally
ngakho ngakho therefore
kanjalo kanjalo thus
ngaleyo ndlela ngaleyo ndlela in that way
ngaleso sizathu ngaleso sizathu for that reason
ngaphandle kwalokho ngaphandle kwalokho otherwise
ngaphezu kwalokho ngaphezu kwalokho in addition
10- CONJUNCTIONS:
# Zulu English
1 na- and; with
2 futhi and; also
3 kanye and; together with
4 kodwa but
5 kepha but; however
6 kodwana but; however
7 noma or
8 noma-ke or else
9 kanti whereas; but; and yet
10 kube and then; whereas
11 futhi-ke and furthermore; and then
12 ngakho therefore; so
13 ngakho-ke therefore; so then
Examples
Zulu Transliteration English
Mina naye siyahamba. Mina naye siyahamba. He and I are going.
Uyafunda futhi uyasebenza. Uyafunda futhi uyasebenza. He studies and he works.
Ngiyafuna ukuya, kodwa anginayo imali. Ngiyafuna ukuya, kodwa anginayo imali. I want to go, but I don't have money.
Ungahlala noma uhambe. Ungahlala noma uhambe. You can stay or leave.
Bekubanda, ngakho-ke sahlala ekhaya. Bekubanda, ngakho-ke sahlala ekhaya. It was cold, so we stayed home.
2. Subordinating conjunctions
These introduce subordinate clauses such as because, if, when, although, before, after, while, until, so that, etc.
# Zulu English
1 ukuthi that
2 ukuba that; so that; to
3 ukuze so that; in order that
4 ukuthi ukuze so that
5 ngoba because
6 ngokuba because; by the fact that
7 ngenxa yokuthi because of the fact that
8 njengoba because; since; as
9 uma if; when
10 uma kwenzeka ukuthi if it happens that
11 uma nje provided that; as long as
12 inqobo nje uma provided that; as long as
13 ngaphandle kokuba unless
14 ngaphandle kokuthi unless
15 noma whether; even if; although
16 noma ngabe even if; no matter whether
17 yize although; even though
18 yize noma although
19 nakuba although; even though
20 nanyana although; even though
21 kuba until; when
22 kuze until; so that
23 kuze kube until
24 ngaphambi kokuba before
25 ngaphambi kokuthi before
26 emva kokuba after
27 emva kokuthi after
28 ngemuva kokuba after
29 ngemuva kokuthi after
30 lapho when; where
31 ngenkathi while; when
32 ngesikhathi when; while; at the time that
33 njengenkathi while; as
34 kusukela lapho since then
35 selokhu since
36 njengoba nje just as
37 njengokungathi as if
38 sengathi as if; as though
39 ngisho noma even if
40 ngisho noma ngabe even if
41 noma ngabe no matter whether; even if
42 kungakhathaliseki ukuthi regardless of whether/that
43 kungakhathaliseki ukuthi ... regardless of whether ...
44 ngaphandle uma unless
45 ngoba nje simply because
46 ngoba-ke because then; because
47 ngakho-ke therefore; so
3. That clauses
Zulu commonly uses ukuthi to introduce a content clause.
Zulu Transliteration English
Ngiyazi ukuthi uyafunda. Ngiyazi ukuthi uyafunda. I know that he is studying.
Uthe ukuthi uzobuya. Uthe ukuthi uzobuya. He said that he would return.
Ngicabanga ukuthi kulungile. Ngicabanga ukuthi kulungile. I think that it is correct.
ukuthi is extremely important because it can introduce statements, thoughts, beliefs, reports, etc.
4. Cause / reason conjunctions
Zulu English
ngoba because
ngokuba because
njengoba because; since; as
ngenxa yokuthi because of the fact that
ngoba nje simply because
ngenxa yokuba because of
ngoba-ke because; for then
Example
Angihambi ngoba ngiyagula.
Angihambi ngoba ngiyagula.
I am not going because I am sick.
5. Conditional conjunctions
Zulu English
uma if; when
uma nje as long as; provided that
inqobo nje uma provided that
uma kwenzeka ukuthi if it happens that
ngaphandle uma unless
ngaphandle kokuba unless
ngaphandle kokuthi unless
uma kungenjalo otherwise; if not
noma ngabe even if; whether
noma whether; even if
ngisho noma even if
kungakhathaliseki ukuthi regardless of whether
Example
Uma ufunda, uzophumelela.
Uma ufunda, uzophumelela.
If you study, you will succeed.
6. Concessive conjunctions
These express although / even though / even if.
Zulu English
yize although
nakuba although
nanyana although
noma although; even if
noma ngabe even if
ngisho noma even if
yize noma although
noma kunjalo nevertheless; even so
Example
Nakuba lina, siyaqhubeka.
Nakuba lina, siyaqhubeka.
Although it is raining, we continue.
7. Purpose conjunctions
Zulu English
ukuze so that; in order that
ukuba so that; to
ukuze kube so that it may be
ukuze ... in order to
ngenjongo yokuba with the aim that
ngenhloso yokuba with the intention that
Example
Ngifunda ukuze ngiphumelele.
Ngifunda ukuze ngiphumelele.
I study so that I can succeed.
8. Time conjunctions
Zulu English
lapho when
uma when
ngenkathi while
ngesikhathi when; while
ngaphambi kokuba before
ngaphambi kokuthi before
emva kokuba after
emva kokuthi after
ngemuva kokuba after
ngemuva kokuthi after
kuze until
kuze kube until
selokhu since
kusukela lapho since then
kanye nje lapho as soon as
ngokushesha nje lapho as soon as
Example
Lapho efika, saqala ukudla.
Lapho efika, saqala ukudla.
When he arrived, we started eating.
9. Comparison / manner conjunctions
Zulu English
njengoba as; just as
njengokungathi as if
sengathi as if; as though
njengoba nje just as
ngendlela in the way that
ngokungathi as though
Example
Ukhuluma sengathi uyazi konke.
Ukhuluma sengathi uyazi konke.
He speaks as if he knows everything.
10. Alternative conjunctions
Zulu English
noma or
noma ... noma ... either ... or ...
kungaba ... noma ... whether ... or ...
noma ngabe ... noma ... whether ... or ...
kuphakathi kokuthi ... noma ... whether ... or ...
Example
Noma uyafunda noma uyasebenza.
Noma uyafunda noma uyasebenza.
Either you are studying or you are working.
11. Correlative conjunctions
Zulu can express English both...and, either...or, neither...nor, not only...but also through combinations rather than always having a single conjunction.
Zulu construction English
kokubili ... kanye ... both ... and ...
kokubili ... no- ... both ... and ...
noma ... noma ... either ... or ...
akukho ... noma ... neither ... nor ...
hhayi ... kuphela, kodwa futhi ... not only ... but also ...
hhayi nje ... kodwa futhi ... not just ... but also ...
kungaba ... noma ... either ... or ...
noma ngabe ... noma ... whether ... or ...
Example
Kokubili uSipho kanye noThandi bafikile.
Kokubili uSipho kanye noThandi bafikile.
Both Sipho and Thandi arrived.
12. Result / consequence connectors
These are often conjunction-like linking expressions rather than strict conjunctions.
Zulu English
ngakho therefore; so
ngakho-ke therefore; therefore then
ngalokho therefore; because of that
ngenxa yalokho because of that; consequently
kanjalo thus; in this way
ngaleyo ndlela in that way; thus
ngakho-ke consequently
Example
Wayegula, ngakho-ke akazange eze.
Wayegula, ngakho-ke akazange eze.
He was sick, so he did not come.
13. Contrast / opposition connectors
Zulu English
kodwa but
kepha but; however
kodwana but; however
kanti whereas; yet
noma kunjalo nevertheless
nokho however
noma kunjalo-ke nevertheless
ngakolunye uhlangothi on the other hand
kunalokho rather; instead
naphezu kwalokho despite that
Some of these, such as nokho and ngakolunye uhlangothi, are better classified as discourse connectors/adverbials rather than strict conjunctions.
14. Addition connectors
Zulu English
futhi and; also
na- and
kanye together with; and
ngaphezu kwalokho moreover; furthermore
futhi futhi again; furthermore
ngaphezu kwalokho futhi furthermore; in addition
ngaphezu kwalokho in addition
15. Negative conjunction constructions
Zulu English
nokuba nor; and not
nokuba ... nor
nangabe even if not / nor, depending on construction
hhayi ... kodwa ... not ... but ...
hhayi kuphela ... kodwa futhi ... not only ... but also ...
akukho ... noma ... neither ... nor ...
nokuba ... okanye ... neither ... nor ...
The exact negative construction depends strongly on the sentence structure and the type of negation.
16. “No matter / -ever” conjunction-like constructions
Zulu frequently expresses these meanings with noma + interrogative/relative word.
Zulu English
noma ubani whoever; anyone
noma yini whatever; anything
noma kuphi wherever; anywhere
noma nini whenever; anytime
noma kanjani however; in whatever way
noma ngubani whoever
noma ngabe ubani whoever
noma ngabe yini whatever
noma ngabe kuphi wherever
noma ngabe nini whenever
Examples
Noma ubani angangena.
Noma ubani angangena.
Anyone can enter.
Noma nini ungafika.
Noma nini ungafika.
You can come anytime.
17. Relative / clause-linking words
These can link clauses but are not all strict conjunctions.
Zulu English
lapho where; when
okuthi which/that
ukuthi that
ukuba that; so that
njengoba as; since
ngenkathi while
uma if; when
ngoba because
yize although
nakuba although
ukuze so that
kuze until
ngaphambi kokuba before
emva kokuba after
11- PREPOSITIONS:
# Zulu Transliteration English meaning
1 ku- ku- to; at; in; on; from, depending on construction
2 e- e- at; in; to
3 nga- nga- by; with; through; via; about; during
4 na- na- with; and
5 nge- nge- with; by means of; because of; about
6 ngo- ngo- with; by means of; through
7 ukuze ukuze in order to; so that
8 phakathi phakathi between; among; inside
9 phambi phambi in front of; before
10 ngemuva ngemuva behind; after
11 ngaphansi ngaphansi under; below
12 ngaphezulu ngaphezulu above; on top of
13 eceleni eceleni beside; next to
14 eduze eduze near; close to
15 kude kude far from
16 ngaphakathi ngaphakathi inside; within
17 ngaphandle ngaphandle outside; without
18 nxazonke nxazonke around
19 phesheya phesheya across; on the other side of
20 ngase ngase near; toward; by
2. ku- — to / at / in
ku- is one of the most important Zulu locative/prepositional elements.
Zulu Transliteration English
kuSipho kuSipho at/to Sipho's place
kubaba kubaba to/at father
kudokotela kudokotela to/at the doctor
phesheya komfula phesheya komfula across the river
Example
Ngiya kuSipho.
Ngiya kuSipho.
I am going to Sipho's place.
3. e- — at / in / to
The e- ... -ini locative construction is extremely important.
Zulu Transliteration English
ekhaya ekhaya at home
esikoleni esikoleni at school
emsebenzini emsebenzini at work
edolobheni edolobheni in the city
egumbini egumbini in the room
emzini emzini at/in the homestead
Example
Ngisebenza esikoleni.
Ngisebenza esikoleni.
I work at a school.
4. nga- — by / with / through / during
Zulu Transliteration English
ngemoto ngemoto by car
ngendiza ngendiza by plane
ngesandla ngesandla by hand
ngendlela ngendlela by/in a way
ngobusuku ngobusuku at night/during the night
ngonyaka ngonyaka per year/in the year
Example
Siya khona ngemoto.
Siya khona ngemoto.
We are going there by car.
5. na- — with
na- is attached to the following word.
Zulu Transliteration English
nami nami with me
nawe nawe with you
naye naye with him/her
nathi nathi with us
nani nani with you
nabo nabo with them
nomama nomama with mother
nobaba nobaba with father
Example
Ngihamba naye.
Ngihamba naye.
I am going with him/her.
6. nge- / ngo- — with / by means of
These forms commonly express means or instrument.
Zulu Transliteration English
ngemoto ngemoto by car
ngendiza ngendiza by plane
ngocingo ngocingo by telephone
ngemali ngemali with money
ngamandla ngamandla with force/by force
ngesandla ngesandla by hand
7. Position prepositions / locative expressions
Zulu Transliteration English
phambi kwe- phambi kwe- in front of
ngemuva kwe- ngemuva kwe- behind
ngaphansi kwe- ngaphansi kwe- under
ngaphezulu kwe- ngaphezulu kwe- above
phakathi kwe- phakathi kwe- between/among
eceleni kwe- eceleni kwe- beside
eduze kwe- eduze kwe- near
kude ne- kude ne- far from
ngaphakathi kwe- ngaphakathi kwe- inside
ngaphandle kwe- ngaphandle kwe- outside/without
nxazonke ze- nxazonke ze- around
phesheya kwe- phesheya kwe- across
ngase- ngase- near/by/toward
Examples
Ikati lingaphansi kwetafula.
Ikati lingaphansi kwetafula.
The cat is under the table.
Umi phambi kwendlu.
Umi phambi kwendlu.
He is standing in front of the house.
Isikole siseduze kwendlu.
Isikole siseduze kwendlu.
The school is near the house.
8. Direction / destination
Zulu Transliteration English
ku- ku- to; toward
e- e- to; at
ngase- ngase- toward; near
phesheya phesheya across/to the other side
phakathi phakathi into/between
ngaphakathi ngaphakathi into/inside
ngaphandle ngaphandle outside/out of
Example
Ngiyaya edolobheni.
Ngiyaya edolobheni.
I am going to the city.
9. Source / origin
Zulu often uses ku-, e-, or kuvela constructions rather than a single equivalent of English from.
Zulu English
ku- from/to/at, depending on context
e- from/to/at, depending on locative construction
kuvela come from; originate from
kusuka from; starting from
evela coming from
ngaphandle kwe- from outside; without
Examples
Uvela eThekwini.
Uvela eThekwini.
He comes from Durban.
Suka lapha!
Suka lapha!
Move away from here!
10. Time-related prepositional expressions
Zulu Transliteration English
ngaphambi kwe- ngaphambi kwe- before
ngemuva kwe- ngemuva kwe- after
kusukela kusukela since; from
kuze kube kuze kube until
ngesikhathi ngesikhathi during; at the time of
ngalesi sikhathi ngalesi sikhathi at this time
ngaleso sikhathi ngaleso sikhathi at that time
ngonyaka ngonyaka in/per year
ngenyanga ngenyanga in/per month
ngosuku ngosuku on/per day
ebusuku ebusuku at night
ekuseni ekuseni in the morning
ntambama ntambama in the afternoon
11. Manner / instrument
Zulu English
ngendlela by means of; in the manner of
ngemoto by car
ngendiza by plane
ngesandla by hand
ngomlomo by mouth
ngamandla by force; forcefully
ngocingo by telephone
ngemali with/by money
ngolimi in/by language
ngendlela efanayo in the same way
12. Benefactive / for
Zulu does not have one universal preposition corresponding exactly to English for. It commonly uses verbal extensions and constructions.
Zulu construction English
-thengela buy for
-enzela do/make for
-fundela study/read for
ngenxa ka- because of / on account of
ukuze for the purpose of / so that
Example
Ngimthengela isipho.
Ngimthengela isipho.
I am buying him/her a gift.
The -el- applicative extension is particularly important for expressing beneficiary meanings.
13. Cause / reason
Zulu English
ngenxa ka- because of
ngenxa yokuthi because of the fact that
ngenxa yokuba because of
ngokwe- according to; in terms of
ngenxa yalokho because of that
Example
Wahlala ekhaya ngenxa yemvula.
Wahlala ekhaya ngenxa yemvula.
He stayed at home because of the rain.
14. About / concerning
Zulu commonly uses mayelana na- and related expressions.
Zulu Transliteration English
mayelana na- mayelana na- about; concerning
ngokuphathelene na- ngokuphathelene na- concerning; regarding
maqondana na- maqondana na- regarding; concerning
ngokwe- ngokwe- according to; concerning/in terms of
Example
Sikhulume mayelana nomsebenzi.
Sikhulume mayelana nomsebenzi.
We talked about the work.
15. Possession / association
Possession itself is normally expressed with possessive constructions, rather than a simple preposition equivalent to English of.
Construction English
ka- of; belonging to
kwa- of/at the place of
we- of
ye- of
le- of
lwe- of
ze- of
za- of
The exact form depends on the noun class of the possessed noun.
Example
Incwadi kaSipho.
Incwadi kaSipho.
Sipho's book / the book of Sipho.
Indlu yomuntu.
Indlu yomuntu.
The person's house.
16. Comparison-related prepositional expressions
Zulu English
kune- than; compared with
kunokuba rather than
ngaphezu kwe- more than; above
ngaphansi kwe- less than; below
ngokufana na- similarly to; like
njenge- like; as
Example
Mude kunami.
Mude kunami.
He is taller than me.
Usebenza njengothisha.
Usebenza njengothisha.
He works as a teacher.
17. Like / as
njenge- is especially useful.
Zulu English
njengami like me
njengawe like you
njengaye like him/her
njengathi like us
njengabo like them
njengomuntu like a person
njengothisha as a teacher
Example
Ukhuluma njengothisha.
Ukhuluma njengothisha.
He speaks like/as a teacher.
18. Against / opposition
Zulu English
ngokumelene na- against
phikisana na- oppose; argue against
maqondana na- in relation to; against, depending on context
Example
Baphikisana nalo mthetho.
Baphikisana nalo mthetho.
They oppose this law.
19. Without
Zulu commonly uses ngaphandle kwe-.
Zulu English
ngaphandle kwe- without
ngaphandle kokuba without being/doing; unless
ngaphandle kokuthi without the fact that; unless
Example
Wahamba ngaphandle kwemali.
Wahamba ngaphandle kwemali.
He left without money.
20. Complex prepositional phrases
Zulu English
phambi kwe- in front of
ngemuva kwe- behind
ngaphansi kwe- under
ngaphezulu kwe- above
phakathi kwe- between/among
eceleni kwe- beside
eduze kwe- near
kude ne- far from
ngaphakathi kwe- inside
ngaphandle kwe- outside/without
nxazonke ze- around
phesheya kwe- across
ngase- near/by/toward
mayelana na- about/concerning
maqondana na- regarding/concerning
ngokuphathelene na- concerning/regarding
ngenxa ka- because of
ngenxa yokuthi because of the fact that
ngokumelene na- against
ngaphezu kwe- above/more than
ngaphansi kwe- below/less than
njenge- like/as
ngokwe- according to/in terms of
kusukela ku- from/since
kuze kube until
12- DETERMINERS
Zulu Transliteration English
i- i- noun-class marker; contributes to definiteness/reference
ili- ili- noun-class marker
isi- isi- noun-class marker
izi- izi- noun-class marker
umu- umu- noun-class marker
aba- aba- noun-class marker
ama- ama- noun-class marker
These are not articles in the strict grammatical sense. They are noun-class prefixes.
Example
Umfana ufunda incwadi.
Umfana ufunda incwadi.
The boy is reading a book/the book.
Context determines whether incwadi means a book or the book.
2. Demonstrative determiners
Zulu demonstratives are very important determiners.
They distinguish roughly between this/these, that/those, and that/those over there.
Zulu Transliteration English
lo lo this
lona lona this one
lolu lolu this
leli leli this
lesi lesi this
lezi lezi these
laba laba these
lawa lawa these
lena lena this one
leyo leyo that
yona yona that one
leyo leyo that
le le this/that, depending on construction
leyo leyo that
lezo lezo those
labo labo those
lawo lawo those
leyo leyo that
lena lena this one
lowo lowo that one
Zulu demonstratives change according to the noun class.
Examples
Lo mfana.
Lo mfana.
This boy.
Leli bhuku.
Leli bhuku.
This book.
Lesi sikole.
Lesi sikole.
This school.
Lezi zincwadi.
Lezi zincwadi.
These books.
3. Three-way demonstrative system
A particularly useful way to understand Zulu demonstratives is by distance.
Distance Function Example
First position near the speaker this/these
Second position near the listener / relatively distant that/those
Third position far from both that/those over there
For example, with class 9:
Zulu English
le ndawo this place
leyo ndawo that place
leyo ndawo laphaya that place over there
4. Possessive determiners
Zulu possessive determiners correspond to:
my, your, his/her, our, your, their.
They are formed using a possessive concord + possessive stem/pronoun.
Zulu Transliteration English
wami wami my
wako wako your
wakhe wakhe his/her
wethu wethu our
wenu wenu your
wabo wabo their
But the form changes according to the noun class of the possessed noun.
Examples
Zulu Transliteration English
umfana wami umfana wami my boy
incwadi yami incwadi yami my book
isikole sami isikole sami my school
izincwadi zami izincwadi zami my books
indlu yethu indlu yethu our house
abafundi bethu abafundi bethu our students
5. Full possessive determiner patterns
The possessive stem remains the same while the concord changes.
Noun class “my” Example English
1 wami umfana wami my boy
2 bami abafana bami my boys
3 wami umuzi wami my homestead
4 yami imizi yami my homesteads
5 lami igama lami my name
6 ami amagama ami my names
7 sami isandla sami my hand
8 zami izandla zami my hands
9 yami indlu yami my house
10 zami izindlu zami my houses
11 lami ulimi lwami my language
14 bami ubungane bami my friendship
15 kwami ukudla kwami my food
17 kwami ukude kwami my being far
6. Interrogative determiners
Zulu has interrogative words corresponding to which? / what? / whose?
Zulu Transliteration English
yiphi? yiphi? which?
liphi? liphi? which?
yisiphi? yisiphi? which?
ziphi? ziphi? which?
baphi? baphi? which people? / where are...?
yini? yini? what?
ubani? ubani? who?
okabani? okabani? whose?
Examples
Iyiphi incwadi?
Iyiphi incwadi?
Which book?
Yiziphi izincwadi?
Yiziphi izincwadi?
Which books?
Yisiphi isikole?
Yisiphi isikole?
Which school?
7. Quantifier determiner: “all”
The main Zulu equivalent of all is:
Zulu Transliteration English
-onke -onke all; every
wonke wonke all/every
bonke bonke all
wonke wonke all
yonke yonke all
lonke lonke all
sonke sonke all
zonke zonke all
onke onke all
The form agrees with the noun class.
Examples
Bonke abafundi bafikile.
Bonke abafundi bafikile.
All the students arrived.
Zonke izincwadi zikhona.
Zonke izincwadi zikhona.
All the books are here.
Yonke imizi mikhulu.
Yonke imizi mikhulu.
All the homesteads are big.
8. “Every / each”
Zulu commonly uses -onke and ngamunye / ngamunye depending on the intended meaning.
Zulu Transliteration English
wonke wonke every/all
bonke bonke every/all, class 2
yilowo nalowo yilowo nalowo each/every one
ngamunye ngamunye each/one each
ngamunye ngamunye ngamunye ngamunye each individually
Example
Umfundi ngamunye ufunda incwadi.
Umfundi ngamunye ufunda incwadi.
Each student reads a book.
9. “Both”
Zulu Transliteration English
bobabili bobabili both, people
yomibili yomibili both
zombili zombili both
zombili lezi zombili lezi both of these
kokubili kokubili both
Example
Bobabili abafana bayahamba.
Bobabili abafana bayahamba.
Both boys are going.
10. “Many”
Zulu Transliteration English
abaningi abaningi many, people
eminingi eminingi many
eziningi eziningi many
amaningi amaningi many
okuningi okuningi much/many
eziningi eziningi many
Example
Abantu abaningi bafikile.
Abantu abaningi bafikile.
Many people arrived.
11. “Few”
Zulu Transliteration English
abambalwa abambalwa few
emifushane emifushane few/short, depending on context
ezimbalwa ezimbalwa a few
ambalwa ambalwa few
okumbalwa okumbalwa little/few
Example
Abafundi abambalwa bafikile.
Abafundi abambalwa bafikile.
A few students arrived.
12. “Much / many”
Zulu Transliteration English
okuningi okuningi much/many
abaningi abaningi many
eziningi eziningi many
amaningi amaningi many
omningi omningi much/many
13. “Little / a little”
Zulu Transliteration English
okuncane okuncane little
okuncane nje okuncane nje just a little
kancane kancane a little; slightly
ambalwa ambalwa a few
Example
Ngifuna amanzi amancane.
Ngifuna amanzi amancane.
I want a little water.
14. “Enough”
Zulu generally uses an expression rather than a dedicated article-like determiner.
Zulu Transliteration English
okwanele okwanele enough
okuningi ngokwanele okuningi ngokwanele enough/much enough
ngokwanele ngokwanele sufficiently; enough
Example
Sinokudla okwanele.
Sinokudla okwanele.
We have enough food.
15. “Any”
Zulu commonly uses noma yisiphi / noma iyiphi / noma ubani / noma yini, depending on the noun or pronoun.
Zulu Transliteration English
noma iyiphi noma iyiphi any
noma yisiphi noma yisiphi any
noma yikuphi noma yikuphi any
noma yiliphi noma yiliphi any
noma yiziphi noma yiziphi any
noma yibaphi noma yibaphi any (people)
noma ubani noma ubani anyone
noma yini noma yini anything
Example
Khetha noma iyiphi incwadi.
Khetha noma iyiphi incwadi.
Choose any book.
16. “No / none”
Zulu usually expresses no/none through negation rather than a single indefinite article.
Zulu Transliteration English
akukho akukho there is no/none
akekho akekho there is no one
akukho muntu akukho muntu nobody/no person
akukho lutho akukho lutho nothing
ayikho ayikho there is none, class 9
azikho azikho there are none, class 10
Example
Akukho muntu lapha.
Akukho muntu lapha.
There is nobody here.
17. “Another”
Zulu uses forms based on -nye.
Zulu Transliteration English
omunye omunye another/one other
abanye abanye other/others
enye enye another/other
elinye elinye another
esinye esinye another
ezinye ezinye other/another
olunye olunye another
okunye okunye another/other
Example
Ngifuna enye incwadi.
Ngifuna enye incwadi.
I want another book.
18. “Other”
Zulu Transliteration English
omunye omunye another
abanye abanye other/others
enye enye other/another
elinye elinye another/other
esinye esinye another/other
ezinye ezinye other
okunye okunye other
19. “Same”
Zulu commonly uses -fanayo and related forms.
Zulu Transliteration English
ofanayo ofanayo same
abafana abafana same, class-dependent form
efanayo efanayo same
elifanayo elifanayo same
esifanayo esifanayo same
ezifanayo ezifanayo same
Example
Sisebenzisa incwadi efanayo.
Sisebenzisa incwadi efanayo.
We use the same book.
20. “Such”
Zulu commonly uses -njalo and constructions with njengale / njengaleyo, depending on meaning.
Zulu Transliteration English
njalo njalo such/as that; thus
njengale njengale like this/such
njengaleyo njengaleyo like that/such
uhlobo olunjalo uhlobo olunjalo such a type/kind
into enjalo into enjalo such a thing
21. “What kind/type of”
Zulu Transliteration English
uhlobo luni? uhlobo luni? what kind?
uhlobo luni lwento? uhlobo luni lwento? what kind of thing?
hlobo luni? hlobo luni? what kind?
yiluphi uhlobo? yiluphi uhlobo? which type?
Example
Ufuna uhlobo luni lwemoto?
Ufuna uhlobo luni lwemoto?
What kind of car do you want?
22. Numerical determiners
Numbers can function as noun modifiers/determiners.
Zulu Transliteration English
munye munye one
babili babili two
bathathu bathathu three
bane bane four
bahlanu bahlanu five
bayisithupha bayisithupha six
bayisikhombisa bayisikhombisa seven
bayisishiyagalombili bayisishiyagalombili eight
bayisishiyagalolunye bayisishiyagalolunye nine
ishumi ishumi ten
The number form agrees with the noun class.
Examples
Abafana ababili.
Abafana ababili.
Two boys.
Izincwadi ezimbili.
Izincwadi ezimbili.
Two books.
Izimoto ezintathu.
Izimoto ezintathu.
Three cars.
23. “First / second / third” as determiners
Zulu ordinal numbers use forms such as -okuqala, -esibili, -esithathu, etc.
Zulu Transliteration English
okuqala okuqala first
esibili esibili second
esithathu esithathu third
esine esine fourth
esihlanu esihlanu fifth
esesithupha esesithupha sixth
esesikhombisa esesikhombisa seventh
esesishiyagalombili esesishiyagalombili eighth
esesishiyagalolunye esesishiyagalolunye ninth
yeshumi yeshumi tenth
Example
Umfundi wokuqala.
Umfundi wokuqala.
The first student.
Isahluko sesibili.
Isahluko sesibili.
The second chapter.
24. “One / a certain”
Zulu -nye can also have an indefinite/specific sense.
Zulu Transliteration English
omunye omunye one/another/certain
enye enye another/certain one
elinye elinye another/certain one
esinye esinye another/certain one
ezinye ezinye other/certain ones
25. Indefinite / specificity expressions
Zulu Transliteration English
othile othile a certain person/someone
okuthile okuthile something
abathile abathile certain people/some people
ezithile ezithile certain/some
enye enye a certain/another
omunye omunye a certain/another
Example
Umuntu othile ungibizile.
Umuntu othile ungibizile.
A certain person called me.
26. “Every single”
For emphasis, Zulu can use constructions such as:
Zulu Transliteration English
yilowo nalowo yilowo nalowo each and every one
ngamunye ngamunye ngamunye ngamunye each individually
wonke umuntu wonke umuntu every person
zonke izinto zonke izinto everything/all things
Example
Wonke umuntu kufanele afunde.
Wonke umuntu kufanele afunde.
Everyone should study.
13- IF CONDITIONAL
Zero Conditional uma + present tense, present tense Uma lina, umhlaba uba manzi. If it rains, the ground becomes wet.
First Conditional uma + present tense, future tense Uma ngifunda, ngizophumelela. If I study, I will succeed.
First Conditional Negative uma + negative present, ngeke + verb Uma ungafundi, ngeke uphumelele. If you do not study, you will not succeed.
Second Conditional ukube + past tense, bengizo-/ngabe + verb Ukube benginemali, bengizothenga imoto. If I had money, I would buy a car.
Third Conditional ukube + past perfect, ngabe/bengizo- + past result Ukube ngangifundile, ngangizophumelela. If I had studied, I would have succeeded.
Mixed Conditional ukube + past perfect, bengizo- + present result Ukube ngangifunde ubudokotela, bengizoba udokotela manje. If I had studied medicine, I would be a doctor now.
Even If noma ngabe + condition, result Noma ngabe kunzima, ngizozama. Even if it is difficult, I will try.
Unless main clause + ngaphandle uma + condition Angihambi ngaphandle uma ufika. I will not leave unless you arrive.
Mina Bengizofunda. I would study.
Wena Ubuzofunda. You would study.
Yena Ubengafunda / Ubengazofunda. He/she would study.
Thina Besizofunda. We would study.
Nina Benizofunda. You (plural) would study.
Bona Babezofunda. They would study.
Mina Bengizoba ngifunda. I would be studying.
Wena Ubuzoba ufunda. You would be studying.
Yena Ubengaba efunda. He/she would be studying.
Thina Besizoba sifunda. We would be studying.
Nina Benizoba nifunda. You (plural) would be studying.
Bona Babezoba befunda. They would be studying.
Mina Bengizofundile. I would have studied.
Wena Ubuzofundile. You would have studied.
Yena Ubengazofundile. He/she would have studied.
Thina Besizofundile. We would have studied.
Nina Benizofundile. You (plural) would have studied.
Bona Babezofundile. They would have studied.
Mina Bengizoba ngifunda. I would have been studying.*
Wena Ubuzoba ufunda. You would have been studying.*
Yena Ubengaba efunda. He/she would have been studying.*
Thina Besizoba sifunda. We would have been studying.*
Nina Benizoba nifunda. You (plural) would have been studying.*
Bona Babezoba befunda. They would have been studying.*
Mina Bengingeke ngifunde. I would not study.
Wena Ubungeke ufunde. You would not study.
Yena Ubengengeke afunde. He/she would not study.
Thina Besingeke sifunde. We would not study.
Nina Beningeke nifunde. You (plural) would not study.
Bona Babengeke bafunde. They would not study.
Mina Bengingeke ngibe ngifunda. I would not be studying.
Wena Ubungeke ube ufunda. You would not be studying.
Yena Ubengengeke abe efunda. He/she would not be studying.
Thina Besingeke sibe sifunda. We would not be studying.
Nina Beningeke nibe nifunda. You (plural) would not be studying.
Bona Babengeke babe befunda. They would not be studying.
Mina Bengingeke ngifundile. I would not have studied.
Wena Ubungeke ufundile. You would not have studied.
Yena Ubengengeke afundile. He/she would not have studied.
Thina Besingeke sifundile. We would not have studied.
Nina Beningeke nifundile. You (plural) would not have studied.
Bona Babengeke bafundile. They would not have studied.
Mina Bengingeke ngibe ngifunda. I would not have been studying.*
Wena Ubungeke ube ufunda. You would not have been studying.*
Yena Ubengengeke abe efunda. He/she would not have been studying.*
Thina Besingeke sibe sifunda. We would not have been studying.*
Nina Beningeke nibe nifunda. You (plural) would not have been studying.*
Bona Babengeke babe befunda. They would not have been studying.*
Mina Bengizofundwa. I would be studied.
Wena Ubuzofundwa. You would be studied.
Yena Ubengazofundwa. He/she would be studied.
Thina Besizofundwa. We would be studied.
Nina Benizofundwa. You (plural) would be studied.
Bona Babezofundwa. They would be studied.
Mina Bengizoba ngifundwa. I would be being studied.*
Wena Ubuzoba ufundwa. You would be being studied.*
Yena Ubengaba efundwa. He/she would be being studied.*
Thina Besizoba sifundwa. We would be being studied.*
Nina Benizoba nifundwa. You (plural) would be being studied.*
Bona Babezoba befundwa. They would be being studied.*
Mina Bengizofundiwe. I would have been studied.
Wena Ubuzofundiwe. You would have been studied.
Yena Ubengazofundiwe. He/she would have been studied.
Thina Besizofundiwe. We would have been studied.
Nina Benizofundiwe. You (plural) would have been studied.
Bona Babezofundiwe. They would have been studied.
Mina Bengizoba ngifundwa. I would have been being studied.*
Wena Ubuzoba ufundwa. You would have been being studied.*
Yena Ubengaba efundwa. He/she would have been being studied.*
Thina Besizoba sifundwa. We would have been being studied.*
Nina Benizoba nifundwa. You (plural) would have been being studied.*
Bona Babezoba befundwa. They would have been being studied.*
Mina Bengingeke ngenziwe. I would not be done.
Wena Ubungeke wenziwe. You would not be done.
Yena Ubengengeke enziwe. He/she would not be done.
Thina Besingeke senziwe. We would not be done.
Nina Beningeke nenziwe. You (plural) would not be done.
Bona Babengeke benziwe. They would not be done.
Mina Bengingeke ngibe ngenziwa. I would not be being done.*
Wena Ubungeke ube wenziwa. You would not be being done.*
Yena Ubengengeke abe enziwa. He/she would not be being done.*
Thina Besingeke sibe senziwa. We would not be being done.*
Nina Beningeke nibe nenziwa. You (plural) would not be being done.*
Bona Babengeke babe benziwa. They would not be being done.*
Mina Bengingeke ngenziwe. I would not have been done.
Wena Ubungeke wenziwe. You would not have been done.
Yena Ubengengeke enziwe. He/she would not have been done.
Thina Besingeke senziwe. We would not have been done.
Nina Beningeke nenziwe. You (plural) would not have been done.
Bona Babengeke benziwe. They would not have been done.
Mina Bengingeke ngibe ngenziwa. I would not have been being done.*
Wena Ubungeke ube wenziwa. You would not have been being done.*
Yena Ubengengeke abe enziwa. He/she would not have been being done.*
Thina Besingeke sibe senziwa. We would not have been being done.*
Nina Beningeke nibe nenziwa. You (plural) would not have been being done.*
Bona Babengeke babe benziwa. They would not have been being done.*
if uma uma + clause Uma ufunda, uzophumelela. If you study, you will succeed.
when uma uma + clause Uma efika, sizodla. When he arrives, we will eat.
when (at the time that) lapho lapho + clause Lapho efika, sajabula. When he arrived, we were happy.
whenever noma nini lapho noma nini lapho + clause Noma nini lapho efika, siyajabula. Whenever he arrives, we are happy.
every time that njalo lapho njalo lapho + clause Njalo lapho lina, sihlala ekhaya. Every time it rains, we stay at home.
if (unreal) ukube ukube + past clause Ukube benginemali, bengizothenga imoto. If I had money, I would buy a car.
if only ukube ukube + clause Ukube ubukhona! If only you were here!
would (conditional result) ngabe / be + zo ngabe / be + zo + verb Bengizohamba. I would go.
even if noma ngabe noma ngabe + clause Noma ngabe lina, sizohamba. Even if it rains, we will go.
unless ngaphandle uma main clause + ngaphandle uma + clause Ngeke ngihambe ngaphandle uma ufika. I will not leave unless you arrive.
as long as uma nje uma nje + clause Uzophumelela uma nje ufunda. You will succeed as long as you study.
provided that uma nje uma nje + clause Ngizokusiza uma nje uzama. I will help you provided that you try.
in case uma kwenzeka uma kwenzeka + clause Uma kwenzeka lina, thatha isambulela. In case it rains, take an umbrella.
whether ukuthi ... noma ukuthi + clause + noma Angazi ukuthi uzofika noma cha. I don't know whether you will come or not.
whether...or noma...noma noma + X + noma + Y Noma uya noma uhlala, ngiyajabula. Whether you go or stay, I am happy.
otherwise kungenjalo main clause + kungenjalo Funda, kungenjalo uzohluleka. Study, otherwise you will fail.
then bese / khona-ke condition + bese + result Uma efika, bese sihamba. When he arrives, then we leave.
therefore / so ngakho / ngakho-ke clause + ngakho-ke + result Lina, ngakho-ke sihlala ekhaya. It is raining, so we stay home.
14- COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE
Positive adjective noun + adjective Indlu inkulu. The house is big.
Comparative adjective adjective + ukwedlula + noun Inkulu ukwedlula leyo. Bigger than that.
Superlative adjective adjective + kunabo bonke/kunazo zonke Inkulu kunazo zonke. Biggest.
Equality adjective + njenga-/njengo- Mude njengobaba. As tall as his father.
Not as...as negative + adjective + njenga-/njengo- Akasheshi njengaye. Not as fast as him.
More (nouns) -ningi Abantu abaningi. More/many people.
Less (nouns) -ncane / abambalwa Abantu abambalwa. Fewer people.
Most -ningi + kunabo bonke Imali eningi kunabo bonke. The most money.
Least okuncane kunakho konke Imali encane kunabo bonke. The least money.
More (verbs) verb + kakhulu Ufunda kakhulu. He studies more.
Comparative verbs verb + ukwedlula Ufunda ukwedlula mina. He studies more than me.
Superlative verbs verb + kakhulu kunabo bonke Ufunda kakhulu kunabo bonke. He studies the most.
Better -ngcono + ukwedlula Ingcono ukwedlula leyo. Better than that.
Best -ngcono + kunabo bonke Ingcono kunazo zonke. The best.
Worse -bi + ukwedlula Sibi ukwedlula leso. Worse than that.
Worst -bi + kunabo bonke Sibi kunazo zonke. The worst.
More and more siya ngokuya + adjective/verb Siya ngokuya siba ngcono. Getting better and better.
The more...the more... Uma..., uba... Uma ufunda kakhulu, uba ngcono. The more you study, the better you become.
UJohn mude kunoPeter. UJohn mude kunoPeter. John is taller than Peter.
Le ndlu inkulu kunaleyo. Le ndlu inkulu kunaleyo. This house is bigger than that one.
Le moto iyashesha kunaleyo. Le moto iyashesha kunaleyo. This car is faster than that one.
UMary muhle kunoJane. UMary muhle kunoJane. Mary is more beautiful than Jane.
Inja inkulu kunekati. Inja inkulu kunekati. The dog is bigger than the cat.
Lo msebenzi ulula kunalowo. Lo msebenzi ulula kunalowo. This work is easier than that one.
15- RELATIVE CLAUSES
Relative concords:
1 umuntu o- umuntu oculayo (the person who is singing)
2 abantu aba- abantu abaculayo (the people who are singing)
3 umuthi o- umuthi okhulayo (the tree that is growing)
4 imithi e- imithi ekhulayo (the trees that are growing)
5 itshe eli- itshe eliwile (the stone that fell)
6 amatshe a- amatshe awile (the stones that fell)
7 isikole esi- isikole esikhulu (the school that is big)
8 izikole ezi- izikole ezinkulu (the schools that are big)
9 inja e- inja edlayo (the dog that is eating)
10 izinja ezi- izinja ezidlayo (the dogs that are eating)
11 ulwandle olu- ulwandle olukhulu (the sea that is big)
14 ubuhle obu- ubuhle obukhulu (the great beauty)
15 ukuhamba oku- ukuhamba okuhle (the walking that is good)
Subject relative noun + RC + verb umuntu oculayo the person who is singing
Object relative noun + RC + subject + object marker + verb incwadi engiyifundayo the book that I am reading
Adjective relative noun + RC + adjective isikole esikhulu the school that is big
Possession noun + RC + ne- + noun umuntu onemoto the person who has a car
Whose noun + RC + possessed noun umfana onobaba ongudokotela the boy whose father is a doctor
Location noun + RC + locative indlu engihlala kuyo the house where I live
Time noun + RC + time phrase usuku esahlangana ngalo the day when we met
Reason noun + RC + ngaso isizathu engihambe ngaso the reason why I left
Manner noun + indlela + ngayo indlela akhuluma ngayo the way he speaks
Quantity noun + number + RC izincwadi ezimbili engizithengile the two books that I bought
Negative RC + negative verb umuntu ongasebenzi the person who does not work
Present RC + present verb osebenza who is working
Past RC + past/perfect verb osebenzile who worked / has worked
Future RC + zo + verb ozosebenza who will work
16- REPORTED SPEECH AND DIRECT SPEECH
Direct Speech: Subject + said + ":" + quotation OR: Subject + wathi + "..."
Reported Speech:
Statement -thi + ukuthi + clause Wathi ukuthi uyafunda.
Negative statement -thi + ukuthi + negative clause Wathi ukuthi akafundi.
Yes/No question -buza + ukuthi + clause + yini Wabuza ukuthi uyafunda yini.
Wh-question -buza + ukuthi + question word + clause Wabuza ukuthi kuphi.
Command -thi/-yalela + subjunctive Wathi makahambe.
Request -cela + ukuthi + subjunctive Wacela ukuthi ngimsize.
Advice -eluleka + ukuthi + subjunctive Wangeluleka ukuthi ngifunde.
Warning -xwayisa + ukuthi + negative subjunctive Waxwayisa ukuthi ngingahambi.
Permission -vumela + ukuthi + subjunctive Wavumela ukuthi ngihambe.
Prohibition -enqabela + ukuthi + negative subjunctive Wenqabela ukuthi bangangeni.
Promise -thembisa + ukuthi + future clause Wathembisa ukuthi uzobuya.
Thought -cabanga + ukuthi + clause Wacabanga ukuthi kulungile.
Feeling -thi/-zizwa + ukuthi + clause Wathi ukuthi ujabule.
Passive -thi + ukuthi + passive clause Wathi ukuthi umsebenzi wenziwa.
17- INFINITIVES AND VERBAL NOUNS
to eat uku- + verb ukudla to eat
eating (noun) uku- + verb Ukudla kubalulekile Eating is important
want to do funa + uku-verb Ngifuna ukudla I want to eat
like doing thanda + uku-verb Ngithanda ukufunda I like studying
plan to do hlela + uku-verb Ngihlela ukuhamba I plan to go
happy doing jabula ngok(u)-verb Ngijabula ngokukubona I am happy seeing you
in order to ukuze + clause ukuze ngifunde in order to study
after doing emva koku-verb emva kokudla after eating
before doing ngaphambi koku-verb ngaphambi kokuhamba before leaving
without doing ngaphandle koku-verb ngaphandle kokukhuluma without speaking
by doing ngoku-verb ngokufunda by studying
I am happy seeing you Ngiyajabula ngokukubona. happy + ngoku- + object + verb
I am happy to see you Ngiyajabula ukukubona. happy + uku- infinitive
I plan to eat Ngihlela ukudla. plan + uku- + verb
I plan eating Ngihlela ukudla. plan + uku- + verb
I see him run Ngimbona egijima. see + object + participle
I see him running Ngimbona egijima. see + object + participle
I eat to play Ngidla ukuze ngidlale. verb + ukuze + subjunctive
I eat in order to play Ngidla ukuze ngidlale. purpose clause
18- SUBJUNCTIVE
Basic subjunctive verb stem + e afunde may study
Let me ma + ngi + verb-e Mangifunde Let me study
Let us ma + si + verb-e Masifunde Let us study
Let him ma + a + verb-e Makafunde Let him study
Let them ma + ba + verb-e Mabafunde Let them study
Negative command nga + verb Ungafundi Don't study
Purpose ukuze + subject + verb-e ukuze ngifunde in order to study
Request cela + ukuthi + subjunctive Ngicela ungisize Please help me
Advice kufanele + subjunctive Kufanele ufunde You should study
Wish ngifisa ukuthi + subjunctive Ngifisa ukuthi uphumelele I wish you succeed
Before ngaphambi kokuba + subjunctive ngaphambi kokuba ahambe before he goes
19- TAG QUESTIONS
..., isn't it? statement + angithi? Kuhle, angithi?
..., right? statement + hhayi? Uzofika, hhayi?
Isn't that so? statement + akunjalo? Muhle, akunjalo?
Correct? statement + kulungile? Uqinisile, kulungile?
Don't you think? statement + awucabangi? Kuhle, awucabangi?
Present negative question negative verb + ? Awufundi? Don't you study?
Past negative question negative + -anga Awufundanga? Didn't you study?
Future negative question ngeke + verb Ngeke ufunde? Won't you study?
Negative "be" question aku-/awu-/aka- + yena Akayena udokotela? Isn't he a doctor?
Negative "have" question negative + na Awunayo imali? Don't you have money?
Negative modal question negative modal + verb Akufanele uhambe? Shouldn't you go?
Negative continuous question negative + sa Awusafundi? Aren't you still studying?
20- MODAL WORDS
Zulu Transliteration English
ukwazi ukwazi to be able to; know how to
-azi -azi know how to
ngakwazi ngakwazi I can / am able to
uyakwazi uyakwazi you/he/she can
uyakwazi ukwenza uyakwazi ukwenza he/she can do
singakwazi singakwazi we can
ningakwazi ningakwazi you can
bayakwazi bayakwazi they can
-nga- -nga- can/may; modal potential
ngingakwazi ngingakwazi I can / I am able to
ngingakwazi uku- ngingakwazi uku- I can ...
Example
Ngiyakwazi ukubhala.
Ngiyakwazi ukubhala.
I can write.
Bayakwazi ukukhuluma isiZulu.
Bayakwazi ukukhuluma isiZulu.
They can speak Zulu.
2. “Could”
Zulu does not have one universal word corresponding to English could. Context and tense/modal constructions determine the meaning.
Zulu Transliteration English
ngangingakwazi ngangingakwazi I could / was able to
wayekwazi wayekwazi he/she could
sasikwazi sasikwazi we could
babekwazi babekwazi they could
ngabe ngakwazi ngabe ngakwazi I could have / would have been able
-nga- -nga- could/might; potential
Example
Ngangikwazi ukubhukuda ngisemncane.
Ngangikwazi ukubhukuda ngisemncane.
I could swim when I was young.
3. Permission — “may / can / be allowed to”
Zulu Transliteration English
ukuvunyelwa ukuvunyelwa to be allowed
vumela vumela allow; permit
imvume imvume permission
ukuba nemvume ukuba nemvume to have permission
ukuthola imvume ukuthola imvume to obtain permission
kuvunyelwe kuvunyelwe it is allowed
uvunyelwe uvunyelwe you/he/she is allowed
uvunyelwe uku- uvunyelwe uku- be allowed to
ungakwazi uku- ungakwazi uku- you may/can
ungavunyelwa uku- ungavunyelwa uku- you may be allowed to
Example
Uvunyelwe ukungena.
Uvunyelwe ukungena.
You are allowed to enter.
Ngingangena?
Ngingangena?
May I enter? / Can I enter?
4. Possibility — “may / might / can”
Zulu commonly uses -nga-, kungenzeka, and related expressions.
Zulu Transliteration English
kungenzeka kungenzeka it is possible; may happen
kungenzeka ukuthi kungenzeka ukuthi it is possible that
kungenzeka kube kungenzeka kube it may be
mhlawumbe mhlawumbe perhaps; maybe
mhlawumbe ... mhlawumbe ... perhaps...
-nga- -nga- may; might; can
kungaba kungaba it could/might be
angaba angaba he/she may/might be
ingaba ingaba it may/might be
kungase kungase it may/might
kungase kube kungase kube it may/might be
kungenzeka kube kungenzeka kube it may be possible
Example
Mhlawumbe uzofika kusasa.
Mhlawumbe uzofika kusasa.
Maybe he will arrive tomorrow.
Kungase kube nemvula.
Kungase kube nemvula.
There may be rain.
5. Necessity — “must / have to”
This is commonly expressed with kufanele, kumele, and related constructions.
Zulu Transliteration English
kufanele kufanele must; should; ought to
kufanele uku- kufanele uku- must/should
kumele kumele must; have to
kumele uku- kumele uku- must/have to
kufanele kube kufanele kube it must/should be
kumele kube kumele kube it must be
kuphoqelekile kuphoqelekile it is compulsory/required
kudingeka kudingeka it is necessary
kudingeka ukuthi kudingeka ukuthi it is necessary that
kudingeka uku- kudingeka uku- it is necessary to
isidingo isidingo necessity; need
Examples
Kufanele ufunde.
Kufanele ufunde.
You must/should study.
Kumele sihambe manje.
Kumele sihambe manje.
We must leave now.
6. “Should / ought to”
The main expressions are kufanele and kumele.
Zulu Transliteration English
kufanele kufanele should; ought to
kumele kumele should; must
kufanele u- kufanele u- you should
kufanele a- kufanele a- he/she should
kufanele si- kufanele si- we should
kufanele ba- kufanele ba- they should
kufanele kube kufanele kube it should be
kufanele ngabe kufanele ngabe should have / ought to have
Example
Kufanele ufunde kakhulu.
Kufanele ufunde kakhulu.
You should study hard.
7. “Should have / ought to have”
Zulu Transliteration English
bekufanele bekufanele should have; was supposed to
bekumele bekumele should have; was supposed to
bekufanele kube bekufanele kube it should have been
bekumele kube bekumele kube it should have been
bekufanele enze bekufanele enze he/she should have done
bekumele ahambe bekumele ahambe he/she should have gone
Example
Bekufanele ufike ngaphambi kwesikhathi.
Bekufanele ufike ngaphambi kwesikhathi.
You should have arrived earlier.
8. Prohibition — “must not / may not”
Zulu Transliteration English
akufanele akufanele should not; must not
akumele akumele must not; should not
akuvunyelwe akuvunyelwe it is not allowed
awuvunyelwe awuvunyelwe you are not allowed
akuvunyelwe uku- akuvunyelwe uku- it is forbidden to
ungavunyelwe uku- ungavunyelwe uku- not be allowed to
ungaphinde u- ungaphinde u- do not do ... again
ungakwazi uku- ungakwazi uku- cannot/may not, depending on context
Example
Akufanele ubheme lapha.
Akufanele ubheme lapha.
You must not smoke here.
Akuvunyelwe ukungena.
Akuvunyelwe ukungena.
Entry is not allowed.
9. “Need / need to”
Zulu Transliteration English
kudingeka kudingeka need; be necessary
kudingeka uku- kudingeka uku- need to
kudingeka ukuthi kudingeka ukuthi need that
udinga uku- udinga uku- you need to
ngidinga uku- ngidinga uku- I need to
sidinga uku- sidinga uku- we need to
badinga uku- badinga uku- they need to
isidingo isidingo need; necessity
Example
Ngidinga ukuhamba.
Ngidinga ukuhamba.
I need to leave.
10. “Need not / don't have to”
Zulu Transliteration English
akudingeki akudingeki it is not necessary
akudingeki uku- akudingeki uku- do not need to
awudingi uku- awudingi uku- you don't need to
angidingi uku- angidingi uku- I don't need to
asidingi uku- asidingi uku- we don't need to
abadingi uku- abadingi uku- they don't need to
akufanele akufanele need not / should not, depending on context
Example
Awudingi ukuza namuhla.
Awudingi ukuza namuhla.
You don't need to come today.
11. Obligation / duty
Zulu Transliteration English
kufanele kufanele should; must
kumele kumele must
kuphoqelekile kuphoqelekile it is compulsory
phoqa phoqa force; compel
ukuphoqeleka ukuphoqeleka be forced/compelled
umsebenzi umsebenzi duty; obligation
isibopho isibopho obligation; duty
inesibopho soku- inesibopho soku- has an obligation to
Example
Kumele siwufeze umsebenzi wethu.
Kumele siwufeze umsebenzi wethu.
We must fulfill our duty.
12. Advice
Zulu Transliteration English
kufanele kufanele should
kumele kumele should
kungcono kungcono it is better
kungcono uku- kungcono uku- it is better to
kungaba ngcono uku- kungaba ngcono uku- it would be better to
ngikweluleka ukuthi ngikweluleka ukuthi I advise you to
ukweluleka ukweluleka advise
iseluleko iseluleko advice
Example
Kungcono uphumule.
Kungcono uphumule.
You'd better rest / It is better that you rest.
13. “Had better”
There is no single dedicated Zulu modal equivalent to English had better.
Zulu Transliteration English
kungcono u- kungcono u- you'd better
kungcono ukuthi u- kungcono ukuthi u- you'd better
kungaba ngcono u- kungaba ngcono u- it would be better if you
kungcono kakhulu u- kungcono kakhulu u- you'd really better
Example
Kungcono uhambe manje.
Kungcono uhambe manje.
You'd better leave now.
14. Probability
Zulu Transliteration English
mhlawumbe mhlawumbe maybe; perhaps
cishe cishe almost; approximately
kungenzeka kungenzeka it is possible
kungase kungase may; might
kungenzeka ukuthi kungenzeka ukuthi it is possible that
kungenzeka kube kungenzeka kube it may be
cishe kube cishe kube probably approximately; almost
kungenzeka kakhulu kungenzeka kakhulu very likely/possible
15. Certainty
Zulu Transliteration English
ngokuqinisekile ngokuqinisekile certainly
nakanjani nakanjani definitely
impela impela indeed; certainly
ngempela ngempela truly; really
ngokuqinisekiswa ngokuqinisekiswa with certainty
ngaphandle kokungabaza ngaphandle kokungabaza without doubt
akungabazeki akungabazeki it is undeniable/certain
Example
Nakanjani uzobuya.
Nakanjani uzobuya.
He will definitely return.
16. Deduction — “must be”
Zulu can use kumele / kufanele plus a copulative or clause to express deduction.
Zulu Transliteration English
kumele kube kumele kube must be
kufanele kube kufanele kube must/should be
kumele ngabe kumele ngabe must have
kufanele ngabe kufanele ngabe must have / should have
kumele ukuthi kumele ukuthi it must be that
kufanele ukuthi kufanele ukuthi it must/should be that
Example
Kumele ngabe usekhaya.
Kumele ngabe usekhaya.
He must be at home by now.
17. Intention — “be going to / intend to”
Zulu Transliteration English
hlela uku- hlela uku- plan to
uhlela uku- uhlela uku- you/he/she plans to
ngihlela uku- ngihlela uku- I plan to
sihlela uku- sihlela uku- we plan to
bahlela uku- bahlela uku- they plan to
zimisele uku- zimisele uku- be determined to
inhloso inhloso intention/purpose
ngihlose uku- ngihlose uku- I intend to
uhlose uku- uhlose uku- he/she intends to
ngihlela ukuthi ngihlela ukuthi I plan that
Example
Ngihlela ukuhamba kusasa.
Ngihlela ukuhamba kusasa.
I am planning to leave tomorrow.
18. Willingness
Zulu Transliteration English
ukuzimisela ukuzimisela be willing/determined
ukuzimisela uku- ukuzimisela uku- be willing to
ukuvuma ukuvuma agree; consent
ukuvuma uku- ukuvuma uku- agree to
ukuzimisela ukwenza ukuzimisela ukwenza be willing to do
ngiyavuma ngiyavuma I agree
ngiyazimisela ngiyazimisela I am willing/determined
Example
Ngizimisele ukukusiza.
Ngizimisele ukukusiza.
I am willing to help you.
19. Refusal
Zulu Transliteration English
ukwenqaba ukwenqaba refuse
ukwenqaba uku- ukwenqaba uku- refuse to
wenqaba uku- wenqaba uku- refuse to
angifuni uku- angifuni uku- I don't want to
akafuni uku- akafuni uku- he/she doesn't want to
Example
Wenqaba ukusiza.
Wenqaba ukusiza.
He refused to help.
20. Desire / volition
These are important modal-like words because they express wanting, wishing, and preference.
Zulu Transliteration English
ukufuna ukufuna want
funa uku- funa uku- want to
ngifuna uku- ngifuna uku- I want to
ufuna uku- ufuna uku- you/he/she wants to
sifuna uku- sifuna uku- we want to
bafuna uku- bafuna uku- they want to
ukufisa ukufisa wish; desire
fisa uku- fisa uku- wish to
isifiso isifiso desire; wish
ukulangazelela ukulangazelela long for; desire
ngingathanda uku- ngingathanda uku- I would like to
ungathanda uku- ungathanda uku- you would like to
Example
Ngifuna ukufunda isiZulu.
Ngifuna ukufunda isiZulu.
I want to learn Zulu.
21. “Would like”
A very useful construction is -thanda in the conditional/polite form.
Zulu Transliteration English
ngingathanda uku- ngingathanda uku- I would like to
ungathanda uku- ungathanda uku- you would like to
angathanda uku- angathanda uku- he/she would like to
singathanda uku- singathanda uku- we would like to
ningathanda uku- ningathanda uku- you would like to
bangathanda uku- bangathanda uku- they would like to
Example
Ngingathanda ukuphuza amanzi.
Ngingathanda ukuphuza amanzi.
I would like to drink water.
22. “Try to”
Zulu Transliteration English
ukuzama ukuzama try
zama uku- zama uku- try to
ngizama uku- ngizama uku- I try to
uzama uku- uzama uku- he/she tries to
sizama uku- sizama uku- we try to
bazama uku- bazama uku- they try to
Example
Ngizama ukufunda isiZulu.
Ngizama ukufunda isiZulu.
I am trying to learn Zulu.
23. “Manage to”
Zulu Transliteration English
ukukwazi uku- ukukwazi uku- manage/be able to
ukuphumelela uku- ukuphumelela uku- succeed in managing to
ngikwazile uku- ngikwazile uku- I managed to
wakwazi uku- wakwazi uku- he/she managed to
sikwazile uku- sikwazile uku- we managed to
bakwazile uku- bakwazile uku- they managed to
Example
Ngikwazile ukuqeda umsebenzi.
Ngikwazile ukuqeda umsebenzi.
I managed to finish the work.
24. Dare
Zulu Transliteration English
ukuba nesibindi soku- ukuba nesibindi soku- dare to
ukuba nesibindi ukuba nesibindi have the courage
isibindi isibindi courage
nesibindi soku- nesibindi soku- dare to
Example
Unesibindi sokukhuluma naye?
Unesibindi sokukhuluma naye?
Do you dare to speak to him/her?
25. “Be supposed to”
Zulu Transliteration English
bekufanele bekufanele was supposed to
bekumele bekumele was supposed to
kufanele kufanele be supposed to
kumele kumele be supposed to
kulindeleke ukuthi kulindeleke ukuthi be expected/supposed to
kulindeleke uku- kulindeleke uku- be expected to
Example
Bekumele afike izolo.
Bekumele afike izolo.
He was supposed to arrive yesterday.
26. Expectation
Zulu Transliteration English
ukulindela ukulindela expect
kulindeleke kulindeleke it is expected
kulindeleke ukuthi kulindeleke ukuthi it is expected that
kulindeleke uku- kulindeleke uku- be expected to
okulindelekile okulindelekile expected
27. “About to”
Zulu expresses this with sezokwenza, sekusele kancane, and related constructions.
Zulu Transliteration English
sekuzokwenzeka sekuzokwenzeka it is about to happen
sezohamba sezohamba is about to leave
sezokudla sezokudla is about to eat
sekuseduze nokuthi sekuseduze nokuthi it is close to
sekusele kancane sekusele kancane it is almost time/about to
cishe cishe almost
kusele kancane uku- kusele kancane uku- almost/about to
Example
Sengizohamba.
Sengizohamba.
I am about to leave.
28. “Almost”
Zulu Transliteration English
cishe cishe almost
sekusele kancane sekusele kancane almost
kusele kancane uku- kusele kancane uku- almost to
Example
Sengicishe ngaqeda.
Sengicishe ngaqeda.
I have almost finished.
29. Continuation — “keep on / continue to”
Zulu Transliteration English
ukuqhubeka ukuqhubeka continue
qhubeka uku- qhubeka uku- continue to
qhubeka nokwenza qhubeka nokwenza continue doing
sala u- sala u- remain doing
qhubeka qhubeka continue
Example
Qhubeka nokufunda.
Qhubeka nokufunda.
Continue studying.
30. “Used to”
Zulu generally expresses habitual past meaning through past-tense/habitual constructions rather than one dedicated modal verb.
Zulu Transliteration English
wayevame uku- wayevame uku- he/she used to
ngangivame uku- ngangivame uku- I used to
sasivame uku- sasivame uku- we used to
bab evame uku- babevame uku- they used to
-vame uku- -vame uku- usually/often do
Example
Ngangivame ukuhamba ngezinyawo.
Ngangivame ukuhamba ngezinyawo.
I used to walk.
31. “Would” — conditional
Zulu uses the conditional ngabe and related forms rather than a direct equivalent of English would.
Zulu Transliteration English
ngabe ngabe would; if
ngabe ngiya- ngabe ngiya- I would go
ngabe uya- ngabe uya- you would go
ngabe uya- ngabe uya- he/she would go
ngabe siya- ngabe siya- we would go
ngabe niya- ngabe niya- you would go
ngabe baya- ngabe baya- they would go
bengizo- bengizo- I was going to / I would
ngabe ... ngabe ... would/if
Example
Ngabe ngiyahamba.
Ngabe ngiyahamba.
I would go.
32. “Would have”
Zulu Transliteration English
ngabe ngenze ngabe ngenze I would have done
ngabe wenze ngabe wenze you would have done
ngabe wenze ngabe wenze he/she would have done
ngabe senze ngabe senze we would have done
ngabe benze ngabe benze they would have done
ngabe ngabe ... ngabe ngabe ... conditional perfect constructions
Example
Ngabe ngifikile ukube ngangazi.
Ngabe ngifikile ukube ngangazi.
I would have arrived if I had known.
33. Conditional modality
Zulu Transliteration English
uma uma if
ukube ukube if; if only
ngabe ngabe would; if
ngabe ... ngabe ... would
ngabe bekukhona ngabe bekukhona there would be
ukube bengazi ukube bengazi if I had known
uma ngabe uma ngabe if
34. Hope / wish
Zulu Transliteration English
ukwethemba ukwethemba hope/trust
ngiyethemba ukuthi ngiyethemba ukuthi I hope that
ngethemba ukuthi ngethemba ukuthi hopefully/I hope
ukufisa ukufisa wish
fisa ukuthi fisa ukuthi wish that
ngifisa ukuthi ngifisa ukuthi I wish that
Example
Ngiyethemba ukuthi uzofika.
Ngiyethemba ukuthi uzofika.
I hope that he will come.
35. Apparent / seem
These are modal-like because they express evidentiality or appearance.
Zulu Transliteration English
kubonakala sengathi kubonakala sengathi it seems that
kubonakala kubonakala it appears
kubukeka sengathi kubukeka sengathi it looks/seems as if
kubonakala ukuthi kubonakala ukuthi it appears that
kubukeka sengathi kubukeka sengathi it seems as if
Example
Kubukeka sengathi uyagula.
Kubukeka sengathi uyagula.
It looks as if he is sick.
36. Likelihood
Zulu Transliteration English
kungenzeka kungenzeka it is possible
mhlawumbe mhlawumbe perhaps
cishe cishe probably/almost, depending on context
kungase kungase may/might
kulindeleke kulindeleke expected
kulindeleke ukuthi kulindeleke ukuthi expected that
kungenzeka kakhulu kungenzeka kakhulu very likely/possible
37. Certainty vs possibility
Modal meaning Zulu English
certain nakanjani definitely
certain ngokuqinisekile certainly
certain impela indeed/certainly
probable cishe probably/almost
possible kungenzeka possibly
possible kungase may/might
possible mhlawumbe perhaps
necessary kufanele must/should
necessary kumele must
necessary kudingeka need to/be necessary
impossible/not possible akunakwenzeka it is impossible
not necessary akudingeki need not
38. Impossible / inability
Zulu Transliteration English
akunakwenzeka akunakwenzeka it is impossible
akakwazi akakwazi cannot/is unable to
angikwazi angikwazi I cannot
asikwazi asikwazi we cannot
abakwazi abakwazi they cannot
akunakuba akunakuba it cannot be
ngeke ngeke will not; cannot, depending on context
Example
Angikwazi ukukusiza namuhla.
Angikwazi ukukusiza namuhla.
I cannot help you today.
39. “Will / shall”
Zulu normally expresses future meaning with the future tense, rather than a separate modal word equivalent to English will.
Zulu Transliteration English
ngizo- ngizo- I will
uzo- uzo- you/he/she will
sizo- sizo- we will
nizo- nizo- you will
bazo- bazo- they will
-zo- -zo- future marker
Examples
Ngizohamba kusasa.
Ngizohamba kusasa.
I will leave tomorrow.
Sizofunda kusasa.
Sizofunda kusasa.
We will study tomorrow.
40. “Was going to”
This is expressed with past forms of the future/intentional construction.
Zulu Transliteration English
bengizo- bengizo- I was going to
wawuzo- wawuzo- you were going to
wayez o- wayezo- he/she was going to
sasizo- sasizo- we were going to
nanizo- nanizo- you were going to
babez o- babezo- they were going to
Example
Bengizohamba izolo.
Bengizohamba izolo.
I was going to leave yesterday.
21- THERE IS / HAVE / BE
There is a book Kukhona incwadi kukhona + noun
There are books Kukhona izincwadi kukhona + plural noun
There is no book Akukho ncwadi akukho + noun
There are no books Akukho zinto akukho + noun
Was there? Kwakukhona? past existence
There was Kwakukhona kwa + khona
There will be Kuzoba khona future + khona
There will not be Ngeke kube khona negative future
Here is Nansi pointing singular
Here are Nazi pointing plural
I Nginencwadi I have a book
You Unencwadi You have a book
He/She Unencwadi He/she has a book
We Sinencwadi We have a book
You plural Ninencwadi You have a book
They Banencwadi They have a book
Have subject + na + noun Nginemali = I have money
Do not have negative + na Anginayo imali
Had past + na Nganginemali
Did not have negative past + na Ngangingenayo imali
Will have zo/ba + na Ngizoba nemali
Will not have ngeke + be + na Ngeke ngibe nemali
IMPERATIVES:
Basic command verb stem Hamba! Go!
Plural command verb + ni Hambani! Go! (all)
Object command verb + object marker Yivule! Open it!
Polite request ngicela + subjunctive Ngicela uhlale Please sit
Negative singular unga + verb + i Ungahambi! Don't go
Negative plural ninga + verb + i Ningahambi! Don't go
Let me ma + ngi + verb-e Mangihambe Let me go
Let us ma + si + verb-e Masihambe Let us go
Let him ma + a + verb-e Makahambe Let him go
Let them ma + ba + verb-e Mabahambe Let them go
Be done passive + -we Yenziwe
Let it be done ma + ku + passive Makwenziwe
Let it not be done ma + nga + passive Makungenziwa
Must be done kumele + passive Kumele kwenziwe
Should be done kufanele + passive Kufanele kwenziwe