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| | ==Pronunciation guide== | | ==Pronunciation guide== |
| | + | Note that 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?" |
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| | ===Vowels=== | | ===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. | + | Zulu vowels are very similar to those found in English. |
| − | 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?"
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| | ===Consonants=== | | ===Consonants=== |
| − | '''t''' like the t in "tea"
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| − | '''k''' somewhere between a K and a G in English
| + | Zulu has three click consonants, represented by "c," "q," and "x" in written Zulu. |
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| − | '''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" | + | '''c''': Click your tongue off the back of your teeth, like a disapproving "tsk tsk." |
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| − | '''h''' like English h | + | '''x''': This 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. |
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| − | '''hh''' A digraph. this is a voiced h, like "ch" in the Scottish "loch", but softer. | + | '''q''': This is the hardest click. It should sound somewhat like a cork being popped from a bottle. Put your tongue on the edge of your hard palate, and pull it of sharply. This will take some practice. |
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| − | '''y''' Like the English y
| + | Here are the other consonants that can be difficult: |
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| − | '''b''' Like the English b | + | '''t''' like the "t" in "tea" |
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| − | == Click Consonants ==
| + | '''k''' somewhere between English "k" and English "g" |
| − | Zulu has three click consonants, represented by "c," "q," and "x" in written Zulu.
| + | |
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| − | '''c''': Click your tongue off the back of your teeth, like a disapproving "Tsk tsk." | + | '''kh''' this is a digraph; it is pronounced like a hard k in Eglish, like k in "kick". |
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| − | '''x''': This 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. | + | '''hh''' A digraph, this is a voiced "h", like "ch" in the Scottish "loch" but softer. |
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| − | '''q''': This is the hardest click. It should sound somewhat like a cork being popped from a bottle. Put your tongue on the edge of your hard palate, and pull it of sharply. This will take some practice. | + | '''y''' Like the English "y" |
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| − | ===Common diphthongs===
| + | '''b''' Like the English "b" |
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| | ==Phrase list== | | ==Phrase list== |
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| | ===Time=== | | ===Time=== |
| | + | ; now : (manje/njengamanje...) |
| | + | ; later : (esikhathini esizayo...) |
| | + | ; before : (esikhathini esidlulile...) |
| | + | ; morning : (ekuseni...) |
| | + | ; afternoon : (ntambama...) |
| | + | ; evening : (ntambama...) |
| | + | ; night : (ebusuku...) |
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| | ====Clock time==== | | ====Clock time==== |
| | + | ; What time is it? : (ubani/sithini isikhathi...) |
| | + | ; one o'clock (when AM/PM is obvious) : (ihora lokuqala...) |
| | + | ; two o'clock (when AM/PM is obvious) : (ihora lesibili...) |
| | + | ; one o'clock AM : (ihora lokuqala ekuseni...) |
| | + | ; two o'clock AM : (ihora lesibili ekuseni...) |
| | + | ; noon : (ntambama...) |
| | + | ; one o'clock PM : (ihora lokuqala ntambama...) |
| | + | ; two o'clock PM : (ihora lesibili ntambama...) |
| | + | ; midnight : (phakathi kwamabili...) |
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| | ====Duration==== | | ====Duration==== |
| | + | ; _____ minute(s) : (imizuzu...) |
| | + | ; _____ hour(s) : (amahora...) |
| | + | ; _____ day(s) : (izinsuku...) |
| | + | ; _____ week(s) : (amaviki...) |
| | + | ; _____ month(s) : (izinyanga...) |
| | + | ; _____ year(s) : (iminyaka...) |
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| | ====Days==== | | ====Days==== |
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| | ====Months==== | | ====Months==== |
| | + | ; January : (...) |
| | + | ; February : (...) |
| | + | ; March : (...) |
| | + | ; April : (...) |
| | + | ; May : (...) |
| | + | ; June : (...) |
| | + | ; July : (...) |
| | + | ; August : (...) |
| | + | ; September : (...) |
| | + | ; October : (...) |
| | + | ; November : (...) |
| | + | ; December : (...) |
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| | ====Writing time and date==== | | ====Writing time and date==== |
| | + | ; day : (usuku...) |
| | + | ; week : (iviki...) |
| | + | ; month : (inyanga...) |
| | + | ; year : (unyaka...) |
| | + | ; century : (...) |
| | + | ; leap year : (...) |
| | + | ; <nowiki>1:00 PM</nowiki> : (...) |
| | + | ; <nowiki>2:00 PM</nowiki> : (...) |
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| | ===Colors=== | | ===Colors=== |
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| | ===Authority=== | | ===Authority=== |
| − | iphoyisa (amaphoyisa) police
| + | ; I haven't done anything wrong. : (...) |
| − | | + | ; It was a misunderstanding. : (...) |
| | + | ; Where are you taking me? : (...) |
| | + | ; Am I under arrest? ; (...) |
| | + | ; I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen. : (...) |
| | + | ; I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate. : (...) |
| | + | ; I want to talk to a lawyer. : (...) |
| | + | ; Can I just pay a fine now? : (...) |
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| − | {{outlinephrasebook}}
| + | Zulu traffic is a big thing in the Zulu they say thaat there traffic goes by very fast by day and day it goes by faster and faster everyday when they when it is going by faster they is goes they it goes to fast by day and a dy when it goes by they say the Zulu people even drive fast in the night they go a little faster at night then they do in the daylight they do not travel only when they immeaditlly have to. |
Note that 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?"
Zulu vowels are very similar to those found in English.
Zulu has three click consonants, represented by "c," "q," and "x" in written Zulu.
Numbers in Zulu are quite complex, with all of them 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.
Zulu traffic is a big thing in the Zulu they say thaat there traffic goes by very fast by day and day it goes by faster and faster everyday when they when it is going by faster they is goes they it goes to fast by day and a dy when it goes by they say the Zulu people even drive fast in the night they go a little faster at night then they do in the daylight they do not travel only when they immeaditlly have to.
