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Zulu is the language of the Zulu people, the majority of them living in South Africa.

[edit] Pronunciation guide

[edit] Vowels

Zulu vowels are very similar to those found in english. However, Zulu is a tonal language, so the meaning of some words depends on whether you use a high or low pitch. For instance, "Unjani?" with a high tone on the u means "how are you?" whereas a low thone on the u means "How are they?"

[edit] Consonants

t like the t in "tea"

k somewhere between a K and a G in English

kh this is a digraph; it is pronounced like a hard k in english, like k in "kick". Not pronounced like "ch" in the Scottish "loch"

h like English h

hh A digraph. this is a voiced h, like "ch" in the Scottish "loch", but softer.

y Like the English y

b Like the English b

[edit] Click Consonants

Zulu has three click consonants, represented by c, q, and x in written Zulu.

c click your tongue off the back of your teeth, like a disapproving "tch"

x sounds like the click made to summon a horse; click the side of your tongue off your molars, on either or both sides of your mouth

q the Hardest click. Should sound somewhat like a cork being popped from a bottle. put your tongue on the edge of your hard palate, and pullif of sharply. Will take some practise.

[edit] Common diphthongs

[edit] Phrase list

[edit] Basics

Sawubona

"Hello" to one person

Sanibonani

"Hello" to a group of people

Unjani?

"How are you?" (singular 'you')

Ninjani?

"How are you?" (plural 'you')

Ngikhona

I'm fine.

Sikhona We;re fine

Ungubani igama lakho?

"What's your name?"

Igama lami ngingu_____

"My name is _____"

Ungangisiza?

"Can you help me?"

Yimalini?

"How much (does it cost)?"

Isikhathisini?

"What's the time?"

Uphumaphi?

"Where are you from?"

Ngiphuma ______.

"I come from" ___________.

Uyasikhuluma isiNgisi?

"Do you speak English?"

Ngiyabonga

"Thank you"

Sala kahle / Hamba kahle

"Stay well / Go well" (used as 'goodbye')

[edit] Problems

Police Amapoyisa

Where is the Police Station?

Ikuphi iPolice Station?

I will call the Police.

Ngizobiza amaPoyisa

[edit] Numbers

Numbers in Zulu are quite complex, with them all acting as adjectives that alter the subsequent word. the numbers listed below are the traditional Zulu numbers, but virtually all Zulu speakers use the English counting system for convenience.

zero- iqanda (

one- kunye

two- kubili

three- kuthathu

four- kune

five- isihlanu

six- isithupha

seven-isikhombisa

eight- isishiyagalombili

nine- isishiyagalolunye

ten- ishumi

eleven- ishumi nanye

twelve- ishumi nambili

thirteen-ishumi nantathu

fourteen- ishumi nane

fifteen- ishumi nesihlanu

sixteen- ishumi nesithupha

seventeen- ishumi nesikhombisa

eighteen- ishumi nesishiyagalombili

nineteen- ishumi nesishiyagalolunye

twenty- amashumi amabili

twenty-one amashumi amabili nanye

twenty-two amashumi amabili nambili

twenty-three amashumi amabili nantathu

twenty-four amashumi amabili nane

twenty-five- amashumi amabili nesihlanu

twenty-six amashumi amabili nesithupha

twenty-seven- amashumi amabili nesikhombisa

twenty-eight amashumi amabili nesishiyagalombili

twenty-nine- amashumi amabili nesishiyagalolunye

thirty- amashumi amathathu

forty- amashumi amane

fifty- amashumi amahlanu

sixty- amashumi ayisithupha

seventy- amashumi ayisikhombisa

eighty- amashumi ayisishiyagalombili

ninety- amashumi ayisishiyagalolunye

hundred- ikhulu

hundred and one- ikhulu nanye

hundred and two ikhulu nambili

two hundred- amakhulu amabili

three hundred- amakhulu amathathu

four hundred- amakhulu amane

five hundred- amakhulu amahlanu

six hundred- amakhulu ayisithupha

seven hundred- amakhulu ayisikhombisa

eight hundred- amakhulu ayisishiyagalombili

nine hundred- amakhulu ayisishiyagalolunye

thousand- inkulungwane

two thousand- izinkulungwane ezimbili

three thousand- izinkulungwane ezintathu

four thousand- izinkulungwane ezine

five thousand- izinkulungwane ezinhlanu

six thousand- izinkulungwane eziyisithupha

seven thousand- izinkulungwane eziyisikhombisa

eight thousand- izinkulungwane eziyisishiyagalombili

nine thousand- izinkulungwane eziyisishiyagalolunye

ten thousand- izinkulungwane eziyishumi

eleven thousand- izinkulungwane eziyishumi ezinanye

twelve thousand- izinkulungwane eziyishumi ezimbili

thirteen thousand- izinkulungwane eziyishumi ezintathu

fourteen thousand- izinkulungwane eziyishumi ezine

fifteen thousand- izinkulungwane eziyishumi ezinhlanu

sixteen thousand- izinkulungwane eziyishumi eziyisithupha

seventeen thousand- izinkulungwane eziyishumi eziyisikhombisa

eighteen thousand- izinkulungwane eziyishumi eziyisishiyagalombili

nineteen thousand- izinkulungwane eziyishumi eziyisishiyagalolunye

twenty thousand- izinkulungwane eziamashumi eziamabili

thirty thousand- izinkulungwane eziamashumi eziamathathu

forty thousand- izinkulungwane eziamashumi eziamane

fifty thousand- izinkulungwane eziamashumi eziamahlanu

sixty thousand- izinkulungwane eziamashumi eziamathupha
seventy thousand- izinkulungwane eziamashumi eziamakhombisa

eighty thousand- izinkulungwane eziamashumi eziamaisishiyagalombili

ninety thousand- izinkulungwane eziamashumi eziamaisishiyagalolunye

hundred thousand- izinkulungwane eziyikhulu

two hundred thousand- izinkulungwane eziamakhulu eziamabili

three hundred thousand- izinkulungwane eziamakhulu eziamathathu

four hundred thousand- izinkulungwane eziamakhulu eziamane

five hundred thousand- izinkulungwane eziamakhulu eziamahlanu

six hundred thousand- izinkulungwane eziamakhulu eziamathupha

seven hundred thousand- izinkulungwane eziamakhulu eziamakhombisa

eight hundred thousand izinkulungwane eziamakhulu eziamaisishiyagalombili

nine hundred thousand- izinkulungwane eziamakhulu eziamaisishiyagalolunye

million- isigidi

[edit] Time

[edit] Clock time

[edit] Duration

[edit] Days

Monday- uMsombuluko Tuesday- uLwesibili Wednesday- uLwesithathu Thursday- uLwesine Friday- uLwesihlanu Saturday- uMgqibelo Sunday- iSonto

[edit] Months

[edit] Writing time and date

[edit] Colors

Blue - luhlaza okwesibhakabhaka orange- i-orenji purple- iPhephuli green- luhlaza gray- mpunga brown-nsundu black- mnyama white- mhlophe

[edit] Transportation

car- imoto(amamoto, plural) bus- ibhasi(amabhasi) ship-umkhumbhi, (imikhumbhi) plane- indiza/ibhanoyi(izindiza, amabhanoyi) motorcycle- ithukathuka(amathukathuka) train- isitimela(izitimela)

[edit] Bus and train

   (ibhasi)  (isitimela) 

[edit] Directions

====Taxi====(itexsi)

===Lodging===(ihhotela)

===Money===iMali

[edit] Eating

[edit] Bars

[edit] Shopping

[edit] Driving

[edit] Authority

iphoyisa (amaphoyisa) police