Contacts & SNS

1. Ngubani igama lakho?

   N-gu-ba-ni i-ga-ma la-kho?

   What is your name?

   Usage

   Basic phrase for asking someone's name upon meeting them

   Grammar Note

   Reply: "Igama lami ngu-[name]" (My name is...). Sharing names is fundamental to Zulu social interaction.

2. Uvela kuphi?

   U-ve-la ku-phi?

   Where are you from?

   Usage

   Used to ask someone where they come from

   Grammar Note

   Reply: "Ngivela e-[place]" (I come from...). "vela" means "to come from / to emerge".

3. Ngijabule ukukwazi

   Ngi-ja-bu-le u-ku-kwa-zi

   Nice to meet you

   Usage

   Standard greeting when meeting someone for the first time

   Grammar Note

   Uses the short form "jabule" of "jabulela" (to be glad about). Natural conversational phrase.

4. I-imeyili yami ngu...

   I-i-mey-i-li ya-mi ngu...

   My email is...

   Usage

   Used to share your email address when exchanging contact details

   Grammar Note

   "ngu" is the Zulu copula meaning "it is". Used to state names and identifying information.

5. Singahlangana futhi

   Si-nga-hla-nga-na fu-thi

   We can meet again

   Usage

   Used at parting to suggest meeting again. A friendly farewell during travels.

   Grammar Note

   "singa-" is the first person plural potential prefix. "hlangana" means "to meet / come together".

6. Ungithinte nge-WhatsApp

   U-ngi-thin-te nge-What-sApp

   Contact me via WhatsApp

   Usage

   WhatsApp is the most common messaging app in South Africa. Used to exchange contacts

   Grammar Note

   "-ngi-" in "ungithinte" is the object infix meaning "me". "thinta" means "to touch/contact" in Zulu

7. Ikheli lami ngu...

   I-khe-li la-mi ngu...

   My address is...

   Usage

   Used to share a residential or hotel address with someone

   Grammar Note

   "ikheli" is borrowed from English "address". "lami" is the possessive "my" agreeing with the i-class noun

8. Ngingakushiya inombolo yami?

   Ngi-nga-ku-shi-ya i-nom-bo-lo ya-mi?

   Can I leave my number with you?

   Usage

   A polite way to ask permission before sharing your phone number

   Grammar Note

   "nginga-" is the first person potential prefix meaning "I can". "-ku-" is the object infix meaning "with/to you"

9. Usebenzisa iziphi izinkundla zokuxhumana?

   U-se-ben-zi-sa i-zi-phi i-zin-ku-ndla zo-ku-xhu-ma-na?

   Where do you spend time online? (What social media do you use?)

   Usage

   A conversational opener to find out someone's preferred social media platform

   Grammar Note

   "izinkundla" is a class 10 noun (plural of inkundla), and the question word "iziphi" (which) agrees with it. "zokuxhumana" means "for connecting with one another" (xhumana = connect with each other).

10. Ngizokuthinta ekupheleni kwesonto

    Ngi-zo-ku-thin-ta e-ku-phe-le-ni kwe-son-to

    I will contact you at the end of the week

    Usage

    Used to promise to get in touch at a specific time

    Grammar Note

    "ngi-zo-ku-thinta": "-zo-" is the future infix, "-ku-" is the object infix "you". "isonto" means "week"

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