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Zulu phrasebook: 11 phrases
Zulu is a Bantu language of the Nguni group and is widely spoken in South Africa. It is one of the country's official languages.
- In its own name: isiZulu
- Writing system: Latin
- Family: Niger-Congo, Bantu
- Official language in: South Africa
Essential Zulu phrases
| English | Zulu | Romanisation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Sawubona | |
| Goodbye | Hamba kahle | |
| Good morning | Sawubona | |
| Thank you | Ngiyabonga | |
| Sorry | Uxolo | |
| Yes | Yebo | |
| No | Cha | |
| My name is ___ | Igama lami ngingu ___ | |
| What is your name? | Ungubani igama lakho? | |
| How are you? | Unjani? | |
| I love you | Ngiyakuthanda |
3 more phrases are held back until a second source or a native speaker confirms them. Phrases are cross-checked against independent sources but still await a native-speaker review.
Pronunciation
Zulu has click consonants written c, q and x, and it is tonal. The clicks are borrowed from neighbouring Khoisan languages.
Good to know
Greetings are important and are usually exchanged before anything else is said. Sawubona means "we see you" and the answer is yebo.
Mini quiz
A quick check of what you just read.
Play with Zulu
Meet Zulu in Mystery Phrase, Listen and Guess and Memory Match.
Questions
How do you say hello in Zulu?
Sawubona.
What writing system does Zulu use?
Zulu is written in Latin.