Cooking & Markets

1. Ngifuna ukufunda ukupheka isitambu.

   I want to learn how to cook umngqusho.

   Usage

   Used when wanting to learn to cook samp and beans, a staple South African dish. Zulu calls it isitambu; the Xhosa name is umngqusho.

   Grammar Note

   "ukufunda ukupheka" is "to learn to cook". Two infinitives are used in sequence. Note the dish name: Zulu uses isitambu (class 7); umngqusho is the Xhosa form and is not used in a Zulu sentence.

2. Izithako zesitambu zithengwa kuphi?

   Where can I buy the ingredients for umngqusho?

   Usage

   Used when asking where to buy cooking ingredients. The dish called "umngqusho" in the translations is the Xhosa name; Zulu calls the same samp-and-beans dish isitambu.

   Grammar Note

   "zithengwa" is the passive voice meaning "are bought". "zi-" is the subject prefix. "zesitambu" is the possessive za- (agreeing with class 8 izithako) plus isitambu, with the usual a+i→e coalescence. Note the dish name: Zulu uses isitambu (class 7); umngqusho is the Xhosa form (class 3) and is not used in a Zulu sentence.

3. Ngicela isilinganiso sokushisa somlilo.

   Please tell me the cooking temperature.

   Usage

   Used when asking about the right cooking temperature.

   Grammar Note

   "so-" is a connective prefix. "mlilo" means "fire" and is used for stoves/heat sources.

4. Ubhontshisi nojeqe kuyingxenye yesidlo.

   Beans and jeqe (steamed bread) are part of the meal.

   Usage

   Used when explaining components of a traditional South African meal.

   Grammar Note

   "no-" is the conjunction "and". "yingxenye" means "part of".

5. Ngipheka uphuthu ngommbila.

   I cook uphuthu (maize porridge) with maize.

   Usage

   Used when cooking uphuthu, a staple South African maize porridge.

   Grammar Note

   "ngo-" is a prefix indicating means "with/using". "ummbila" is the Zulu word for maize.

6. Ngicela usizo lokusika imifino.

   Please help me with cutting the vegetables.

   Usage

   Used when asking for help with cutting vegetables while cooking together.

   Grammar Note

   "lokusika" is the connective "lo-" agreeing with the class 11 noun "usizo" (help) plus the infinitive "uku-": "help for cutting".

7. Inyama inukela kahle empanini.

   The meat smells good in the pan.

   Usage

   Used when expressing that food smells good while cooking.

   Grammar Note

   "e-…-ini" is a locative circumfix. "empanini" means "in the pan".

8. I-ovini yokubhaka ikhona yini?

   Is there an oven for baking?

   Usage

   Used when checking if there is an oven available in the kitchen.

   Grammar Note

   "yini" is a question particle emphasizing the question, meaning "is it so?/really?"

9. Izinhlanzi zihlanzwa kanjani?

   How do you clean fish?

   Usage

   Used when asking how to clean/prepare fish before cooking.

   Grammar Note

   "zihlanzwa" is passive voice. "kanjani" is the question word "how".

10. Isidlo sizodliwa uma sesipholile kancane.

    The food will be eaten after it cools a little.

    Usage

    Used when telling someone to wait for hot food to cool down.

    Grammar Note

    "sizo-" is a future passive prefix. Zulu often uses figurative expressions in everyday speech.

11. Ngicela ungafaki upelepele

    Please do not add chilli

    Usage

    Pass it to the kitchen when ordering — "ungafaki" means do not put in

12. Ngicela ungafaki usawoti

    Please do not add salt

    Usage

    Show it to the kitchen when you are on a low-salt diet

13. Ngicela kuphekwe kahle

    Please cook it thoroughly

    Usage

    Show it to the kitchen when you want nothing left undercooked

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