Sawubona! Hello!

Sanibonani! Hello! (to several people)

Unjani? How are you?

Ninjani? How are you? (plural/respectful)

Ngiyaphila. I'm fine.

Hamba kahle! Go well! / Goodbye!

Sala kahle! Stay well! / Goodbye!

Sizobonana! See you!

2. Politeness

Zulu English

Ngiyabonga. Thank you.

Ngiyabonga kakhulu. Thank you very much.

Ngiyacela. Please.

Uxolo. Sorry. / Excuse me.

Ngiyaxolisa. I'm sorry.

Kulungile. It's okay.

Wamukelekile. You're welcome.

Akunankinga. No problem.

3. Introducing Yourself

Zulu English

Igama lami ngu-Ali. My name is Ali.

Ubani igama lakho? What is your name?

Uvelaphi? Where are you from?

Ngivela eSiriya. I'm from Syria.

NgingumSiriya. I'm Syrian.

Ngifunda isiZulu. I'm learning Zulu.

Ngikhuluma isiNgisi. I speak English.

Ngifunda izilimi. I'm learning languages.

4. Questions

Zulu English

Kuyini lokhu? What is this?

Ubani lo? Who is this?

Kuphi? Where?

Nini? When?

Kungani? Why?

Kanjani? How?

Malini? How much?

Wenzani? What are you doing?

Uya kuphi? Where are you going?

5. Yes / No / Agreement

Zulu English

Yebo. Yes.

Cha. No.

Mhlawumbe. Maybe.

Impela. Certainly. / Indeed.

Yiqiniso. That's true.

Ngiyavuma. I agree.

Angivumi. I don't agree.

Kulungile. Okay.

6. Everyday Conversation

Zulu English

Unjani namuhla? How are you today?

Ngiyaphila, wena? I'm fine, and you?

Wenzani? What are you doing?

Ngiyasebenza. I'm working.

Ngiyafunda. I'm studying.

Ngiya ekhaya. I'm going home.

Linda kancane. Wait a little.

Woza lapha. Come here.

Asihambe. Let's go.

7. Feelings

Zulu English

Ngijabule. I'm happy.

Ngidangele. I'm sad.

Ngikhathele. I'm tired.

Ngilambile. I'm hungry.

Ngomile. I'm thirsty.

Nginovalo. I'm nervous.

Ngiyesaba. I'm afraid.

Ngijabule kakhulu. I'm very excited/happy.

Ngikhathazekile. I'm worried.

8. Likes & Dislikes

Zulu English

Ngiyakuthanda lokhu. I like this.

Ngiyakuthanda. I like/love you.

Angikuthandi lokhu. I don't like this.

Ngithanda umculo. I like music.

Ngithanda ukufunda izilimi. I like learning languages.

Angikuthandi ukudla lokhu. I don't like this food.

Uthandani? What do you like?

Yini oyithandayo? What do you like?

9. Family & People

Zulu English

Lona umndeni wami. This is my family.

Lo ngumfowethu. This is my brother.

Lona udadewethu. This is my sister.

Lona ngumama wami. This is my mother.

Lo ngubaba wami. This is my father.

Nginomngane. I have a friend.

Ungumngane wami. He is my friend.

Ungumngane wami. She is my friend.

Bangabangane bami. They are my friends.

10. School

Zulu English

Ngiya esikoleni. I'm going to school.

Ngisesikoleni. I'm at school.

Uphi uthisha? Where is the teacher?

Nginesifundo. I have a lesson.

Nginomsebenzi wasekhaya. I have homework.

Angiqondi. I don't understand.

Ngicela ungichazele. Please explain it to me.

Lokhu kunzima. This is difficult.

Lokhu kulula. This is easy.

11. Food & Drink

Zulu English

Ngilambile. I'm hungry.

Ngomile. I'm thirsty.

Ngicela amanzi. Please give me water.

Ngifuna amanzi. I want water.

Ukudla kumnandi. The food is delicious.

Kumnandi kakhulu. It's very delicious.

Ufuna ukudlani? What do you want to eat?

Ufuna ukuphuza ini? What do you want to drink?

Ngifuna ukudla. I want to eat.

12. Shopping

Zulu English

Kubiza malini lokhu? How much does this cost?

Malini lokhu? How much is this?

Kubiza kakhulu. It's very expensive.

Kushibhile. It's cheap.

Ngifuna ukuthenga lokhu. I want to buy this.

Unakho lokhu? Do you have this?

Ngingakhokha ngekhadi? Can I pay by card?

Ngingakwazi ukukuzama? Can I try it?

Ngizokuthatha lokhu. I'll take this.

13. Directions & Travel

Zulu English

Sikuphi isiteshi? Where is the station?

Sikuphi isikhumulo sezindiza? Where is the airport?

Ngingafika kanjani lapho? How can I get there?

Hamba uqonde. Go straight.

Jikela kwesokunxele. Turn left.

Jikela kwesokudla. Turn right.

Kuseduze. It's nearby.

Kukude. It's far.

Ngilahlekile. I'm lost.

Ungangisiza? Can you help me?

14. Time

Zulu English

Isikhathi sini? What time is it?

Manje. Now.

Namuhla. Today.

Kusasa. Tomorrow.

Izolo. Yesterday.

Kamuva. Later.

Ekuseni. In the morning.

Ntambama. In the afternoon.

Kusihlwa. In the evening.

Nsuku zonke. Every day.

15. Weather

Zulu English

Sinjani isimo sezulu? How is the weather?

Liyana. It's raining.

Libalele. It's sunny.

Kuyabanda. It's cold.

Kuyashisa. It's hot.

Kunomoya. It's windy.

Liyakhithika. It's snowing.

Isimo sezulu sihle. The weather is nice.

Isimo sezulu sibi. The weather is bad.

16. Phone & Internet

Zulu English

Ithini inombolo yakho yocingo? What is your phone number?

Ngishayele ucingo. Call me.

Ngithumele umlayezo. Send me a message.

Ngithumele i-imeyili. Send me an email.

I-inthanethi ayisebenzi. The internet isn't working.

I-Wi-Fi ihamba kancane. The Wi-Fi is slow.

Ifoni yami ayisebenzi. My phone isn't working.

Ibhethri lefoni yami seliphelile. My phone battery is dead.

17. Problems & Emergencies

Zulu English

Siza! Help!

Ngisize! Help me!

Shayela amaphoyisa! Call the police!

Shayela i-ambulensi! Call an ambulance!

Ngidinga usizo. I need help.

Kunenkinga. There is a problem.

Angazi. I don't know.

Angiqondi. I don't understand.

Kukhona okungalungile. Something is wrong.

Ungakhathazeki. Don't worry.

18. Common Conversational Expressions

Zulu English

Ngempela? Really?

Kunjalo. That's right.

Impela! Of course! / Certainly!

Akunandaba. It doesn't matter.

Angazi. I don't know.

Kulungile. That's okay.

Mhlawumbe. Maybe.

Hawu! Wow!

Halala! Congratulations!

Inhlanhla! Good luck!

Kuhle kakhulu! Very good!

Kuyahlekisa. That's funny.

19. Useful Sentence Patterns

Zulu English

Ngifuna... I want...

Angifuni... I don't want...

Ngidinga... I need...

Angidingi... I don't need...

Ngingakwazi... I can...

Angikwazi... I can't...

Ngizoya... I will go...

Ngithanda... I like...

Angithandi... I don't like...

Ngicela... Please / I would like...

Ngicabanga ukuthi... I think that...

Ngiyazi ukuthi... I know that...

20. Short Natural Dialogue

Zulu English

A: Sawubona! Unjani? A: Hello! How are you?

B: Sawubona! Ngiyaphila, ngiyabonga. Wena? B: Hello! I'm fine, thank you. And you?

A: Nami ngiyaphila. Ubani igama lakho? A: I'm fine too. What is your name?

B: Igama lami ngu-Ali. Wena? B: My name is Ali. And you?

A: Igama lami nguSipho. A: My name is Sipho.

B: Uvelaphi? B: Where are you from?

A: Ngivela eNingizimu Afrika. A: I'm from South Africa.

B: Ngifunda isiZulu. B: I'm learning Zulu.

A: Kuhle kakhulu! A: Very good!

B: Ngiyabonga! B: Thank you!