🇿🇦Afrique du Sud (KwaZulu-Natal)
Zulu vocabulary: 98 essential words to communicate
Learn essential Zulu vocabulary with 98 words and phrases organized by theme. Perfect for beginners and travellers who want to communicate confidently.
98words & phrases
9themes
ENtranslations
Greetings & politeness
| isiZulu | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Sawubona | Hello (one person) | Culture: "Sawubona" signifie littéralement "Je vous vois", une reconnaissance de l'humanité de l'autre. Réponse : "Yebo, sawubona". |
| Sanibonani | Hello (several people) | |
| Yebo | Yes / OK | |
| Cha | No | |
| Ngiyabonga | Thank you | |
| Ngiyabonga kakhulu | Thank you very much | |
| Sala kahle | Goodbye (to one staying) | |
| Hamba kahle | Goodbye (to one going) | |
| Uxolo | Sorry | |
| Unjani? | How are you? |
Food & drinks
| isiZulu | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Ukudla | Food | |
| Amanzi | Water | |
| Inyama | Meat | |
| Inhlanzi | Fish | |
| Uphuthu | Corn porridge | |
| Umngqusho | Corn and beans stew | |
| Ujeqe | Steamed bread | Culture: L'ujeqe est un pain traditionnel zoulou cuit à la vapeur, souvent servi lors des fêtes. |
| Ubisi | Milk | |
| Utshwala | Traditional sorghum beer | Culture: L'utshwala est la bière traditionnelle zouloue, préparée par les femmes et consommée lors des cérémonies. |
| Itiye | Tea |
Family
| isiZulu | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Ubaba | Father | |
| Umama | Mother | |
| Ingane | Child | |
| Umfowabo | His/her brother | |
| Usisi | Sister | |
| Indoda | Husband / Man | |
| Umfazi | Wife / Woman | |
| Umkhulu | Grandfather | |
| Ugogo | Grandmother | |
| Umngane | Friend |
Human body
| isiZulu | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Ikhanda | Head | |
| Iso | Eye | |
| Ikhala | Nose | |
| Umlomo | Mouth | |
| Indlebe | Ear | |
| Isandla | Hand | |
| Unyawo | Foot | |
| Inhliziyo | Heart | |
| Isisu | Stomach | |
| Umzimba | Body |
Numbers (1-20)
| isiZulu | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| kunye | One | |
| kubili | Two | |
| kuthathu | Three | |
| kune | Four | |
| kuhlanu | Five | |
| isithupha | Six | |
| isikhombisa | Seven | |
| isishiyagalombili | Eight | |
| isishiyagalolunye | Nine | |
| ishumi | Ten | |
| ishumi nanye | Eleven | |
| ishumi nambili | Twelve | |
| ishumi nantathu | Thirteen | |
| ishumi nane | Fourteen | |
| ishumi nanhlanu | Fifteen | |
| ishumi nesithupha | Sixteen | |
| ishumi nesikhombisa | Seventeen | |
| ishumi nesishiyagalombili | Eighteen | |
| ishumi nesishiyagalolunye | Nineteen | |
| amashumi amabili | Twenty |
Colors
| isiZulu | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| mhlophe | White | |
| mnyama | Black | |
| bomvu | Red | |
| luhlaza okwesibhakabhaka | Blue | |
| luhlaza | Green | |
| phuzi | Yellow | |
| gri | Grey | |
| nsundu | Brown |
Animals
| isiZulu | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Ibhubesi | Lion | |
| Indlovu | Elephant | |
| Inja | Dog | |
| Inkukhu | Chicken | |
| Inkomo | Cow | Culture: Les vaches sont fondamentales dans la culture zouloue. La lobola (dot) se paye traditionnellement en bétail. |
| Imbuzi | Goat | |
| Inhlanzi | Fish | |
| Inyoni | Bird | |
| Ingwe | Leopard | |
| Imvubu | Hippopotamus |
Home & daily life
| isiZulu | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Indlu | House | |
| Ucango | Door | |
| Igumbi | Room | |
| Imakethe | Market | |
| Isikole | School | |
| Imali | Money | |
| Izingubo | Clothes | |
| Umlilo | Fire | |
| Umsebenzi | Work | |
| Ubuntu | Humanity | Culture: "Ubuntu ngumuntu ngabantu", Une personne est une personne à travers les autres. Ce proverbe zoulou incarne la philosophie africaine ubuntu. |
Time & weather
| isiZulu | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Namhlanje | Today | |
| Izolo | Yesterday | |
| Kusasa | Tomorrow | |
| Ilanga | Sun / Day | |
| Ubusuku | Night | |
| Imvula | Rain | |
| Ubandlakuzo | Cold | |
| Ukushisa | Heat | |
| Umoya | Wind | |
| Isikhathi semvula | Rainy season |
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