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Common Ndebele South Phrases
Essential Ndebele South (isiNdebele) phrases with pronunciation guides.
👋Greetings & Basics
| English | Ndebele South | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Salibonani | sa-li-bo-NA-ni |
| Good morning | Sawubona ekuseni | sa-wu-BO-na e-ku-SE-ni |
| Good evening | Sawubona ntambama | sa-wu-BO-na nta-mba-MA |
| Good night | Lala kahle | la-LA ka-HLE |
| Goodbye | Sala kahle | sa-LA ka-HLE |
| How are you? | Unjani? | un-JA-ni |
| I'm fine | Ngiyaphila | ngi-ya-PHI-la |
| Please | Ngiyacela | ngi-ya-CE-la |
| Thank you | Ngiyabonga | ngi-ya-BON-ga |
| You're welcome | Kulungile | ku-lun-GI-le |
| Sorry | Ngiyaxolisa | ngi-ya-kho-LI-sa |
| Yes | Yebo | ye-BO |
| No | Cha | cha |
| My name is... | Igama lami ngu... | i-GA-ma la-MI ngu... |
| What is your name? | Ngubani igama lakho? | ngu-BA-ni i-GA-ma la-KHO |
| Nice to meet you | Ngiyajabula ukukwazi | ngi-ya-ja-BU-la u-ku-KWA-zi |
| Do you speak English? | Uyakhuluma isiNgisi? | u-ya-khu-LU-ma i-si-NGI-si |
| I don't understand | Angizwisisi | an-gi-zwi-SI-si |
| Help! | Ngisize! | ngi-SI-ze |
| I love you | Ngiyakuthanda | ngi-ya-ku-THAN-da |
✈️Travel
| English | Ndebele South | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Where is...? | ...ikuphi? | ...i-ku-PHI |
| How much does it cost? | Kuyimalini? | ku-yi-ma-LI-ni |
| I need help | Ngidinga usizo | ngi-DIN-ga u-SI-zo |
| Where is the hospital? | Isibhedlela sikuphi? | i-si-bhe-DLE-la si-ku-PHI |
| Police | Amaphoyisa | a-ma-pho-YI-sa |
| Airport | Isikhumulo sezindiza | i-si-khu-MU-lo se-zin-DI-za |
| Hotel | Ihotela | i-ho-TE-la |
| Restaurant | Indlu yokudlela | in-DLU yo-ku-DLE-la |
| Ticket | Ithikithi | i-thi-KI-thi |
| Train station | Isiteshi | i-si-TE-shi |
| Bus stop | Isitophi sebhasi | i-si-TO-phi se-BHA-si |
| Taxi | Itekisi | i-te-KI-si |
| Left | Kwesokunxele | kwe-so-kun-KHE-le |
| Right | Kwesokudla | kwe-so-ku-DLA |
| Straight ahead | Qhubeka phambili | qhu-BE-ka pham-BI-li |
| Passport | Iphasipoti | i-pha-si-PO-ti |
| Pharmacy | Indlu yemithi | in-DLU ye-mi-THI |
| Bank | Ibhange | i-BHA-nge |
| Market | Imakethe | i-ma-KE-the |
| Beach | Ogwini | o-GWI-ni |
🍽️Food & Dining
| English | Ndebele South | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| I'm hungry | Ngilambile | ngi-lam-BI-le |
| I'm thirsty | Ngomile | ngo-MI-le |
| The menu, please | Imenyu, ngiyacela | i-me-NYU ngi-ya-CE-la |
| Water | Amanzi | a-MAN-zi |
| Bread | Isinkwa | i-sin-KWA |
| Meat | Inyama | i-NYA-ma |
| Fish | Inhlanzi | in-HLAN-zi |
| Vegetables | Imifino | i-mi-FI-no |
| Delicious | Kumnandi | kum-NAN-di |
| Bill please | Irisithi, ngiyacela | i-ri-SI-thi ngi-ya-CE-la |
| Tea | Itiye | i-TI-ye |
| Coffee | Ikhofhi | i-KHO-fhi |
| Beer | Utshwala | ut-SHWA-la |
| Wine | Iwayini | i-wa-YI-ni |
| I am vegetarian | Angidli inyama | an-gi-DLI i-NYA-ma |
| Breakfast | Ukudla kwasekuseni | u-ku-DLA kwa-se-ku-SE-ni |
| Lunch | Ukudla kwemini | u-ku-DLA kwe-MI-ni |
| Dinner | Ukudla kwasebusuku | u-ku-DLA kwa-se-bu-SU-ku |
| Spicy | Nomlilo | no-mli-LO |
| Sweet | Mnandi | mnan-DI |
🚨Emergency
| English | Ndebele South | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Help! | Ngisize! | ngi-SI-ze |
| Call the police | Shaya amaphoyisa | sha-YA a-ma-pho-YI-sa |
| I need a doctor | Ngidinga udokotela | ngi-DIN-ga u-do-ko-TE-la |
| Fire! | Umlilo! | u-mli-LO |
| Thief! | Isela! | i-SE-la |
| I'm lost | Ngilahlekile | ngi-la-hle-KI-le |
| I had an accident | Nginengozi | ngi-nen-GO-zi |
| I'm sick | Ngiyagula | ngi-ya-GU-la |
| Ambulance | Ambulensi | am-bu-LEN-si |
| Hospital | Isibhedlela | i-si-bhe-DLE-la |
| Emergency | Isimo esiphuthumayo | i-SI-mo e-si-phu-thu-MA-yo |
| I need medicine | Ngidinga umuthi | ngi-DIN-ga u-MU-thi |
| Danger | Ingozi | in-GO-zi |
| Stop! | Yima! | yi-MA |
💼Business
| English | Ndebele South | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Meeting | Umhlangano | um-hla-NGA-no |
| Contract | Isivumelwano | i-si-vu-me-LWA-no |
| Invoice | Ifakhuri | i-fa-KHU-ri |
| Payment | Inkokhelo | in-ko-KHE-lo |
| Price | Intengo | in-TEN-go |
| Office | Ihhovisi | i-hho-VI-si |
| Manager | Umphathi | um-PHA-thi |
| Company | Inkampani | in-kam-PA-ni |
| I-imeyili | i-i-me-YI-li | |
| Phone | Ucingo | u-cin-GO |
| Schedule | Uhlelo | u-HLE-lo |
| Project | Iphrojekthi | i-pro-JEK-thi |
| Report | Umbiko | um-BI-ko |
| Deadline | Usuku lokugcina | u-SU-ku lo-ku-GCI-na |
🔢Numbers & Time
| English | Ndebele South | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| One | Kunye | ku-NYE |
| Two | Kubili | ku-BI-li |
| Three | Kuthathu | ku-THA-thu |
| Four | Kune | ku-NE |
| Five | Kuhlanu | ku-HLA-nu |
| Six | Isithupha | i-si-THU-pha |
| Seven | Isikhombisa | i-si-khom-BI-sa |
| Eight | Isishiyagalombili | i-si-shi-ya-ga-lom-BI-li |
| Nine | Isishiyagalolunye | i-si-shi-ya-ga-lo-LU-nye |
| Ten | Ishumi | i-SHU-mi |
| Twenty | Amashumi amabili | a-ma-SHU-mi a-ma-BI-li |
| Hundred | Ikhulu | i-KHU-lu |
| Thousand | Inkulungwane | in-ku-lun-GWA-ne |
| What time is it? | Yisikhathi sini? | yi-si-KHA-thi SI-ni |
| Today | Namuhla | na-MU-hla |
| Tomorrow | Kusasa | ku-SA-sa |
| Yesterday | Izolo | i-ZO-lo |
| Monday | UMsombuluko | u-msom-bu-LU-ko |
| Friday | ULwesihlanu | u-lwe-si-HLA-nu |
| Weekend | Impelasonto | im-pe-la-SON-to |
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