Directions

1. Ngicela ungikhombise indlela

   ngi-ce-la u-ngi-khom-bi-se in-dle-la

   Please show me the way

   Usage

   A polite request for directions

   Grammar Note

   "Ungikhombise" is the subjunctive form of "khombisa" (to show) with "ungi-" (to me). Zulu commonly uses the subjunctive for requests and polite instructions

2. Qhubeka uye phambili

   Qhu-be-ka u-ye pha-mbi-li

   Go straight ahead

   Usage

   Used when directing someone to go straight ahead

   Grammar Note

   "Qhubeka uye phambili" is the standard direction "continue straight ahead"; "qhubeka" is the imperative of "continue / proceed"

3. Phenduka kwesokunxele

   phen-du-ka kwe-so-ku-nxe-le

   Turn left

   Usage

   Used when directing someone to turn left

   Grammar Note

   "Sokunxele" (left) contains the click "nx" — a nasalized lateral click. Directions: "sokunxele" (left) and "sokwesokudla" (right). Clicks distinguish Zulu from most world languages

4. Phenduka kwesokunene

   phen-du-ka kwe-so-ku-ne-ne

   Turn right

   Usage

   Used when directing someone to turn right

   Grammar Note

   "Sokunene" = right side. "Nene" also means "correct/straight". Zulu directional phrases begin with "kwe-" (to/toward the side of), a locative preposition

5. Kukude?

   Ku-ku-de?

   Is it far?

   Usage

   Used to ask if a destination is far away

   Grammar Note

   With no explicit destination noun, impersonal/locative ku- combines with "kude" (far) to form "Kukude?"

6. Ngilahlekile

   Ngi-la-hle-ki-le

   I think I am lost

   Usage

   Used to communicate that you are lost and need help

   Grammar Note

   "-Lahleka" means to get lost or go astray; its perfect "-lahlekile" with first-person subject ngi- gives the standard phrase "Ngilahlekile" (I am lost)

7. Ngicela unginikeze imephu yemigwaqo

   Ngi-ce-la u-ngi-ni-ke-ze i-me-phu ye-mi-gwa-qo

   Could you give me a road map?

   Usage

   Used to politely request a road map

   Grammar Note

   "Imephu" means map and "imigwaqo" is the plural of road; possessive connective ye- forms "imephu yemigwaqo" (road map)

8. Uhlala kuphi?

   u-hla-la ku-phi

   Where do you live?

   Usage

   Used to ask where someone lives in a friendly way (for "where are you from", use Uvelaphi?)

   Grammar Note

   "Kuphi" = "ku-" (locative prefix) + "-phi" (interrogative "where"). Zulu question words appear at the end. "U-" in "uhlala" is the 2nd person singular subject prefix

9. Ngima lapha

   Ngi-ma la-pha

   I am stopping here

   Usage

   Used in taxis or vehicles to indicate you want to stop here

   Grammar Note

   "-Ma" means to stand or stop; first-person singular subject concord ngi- gives "Ngima" (I stop / I am stopping)

10. iTheku liseduze?

    i-the-ku li-se-du-ze

    Is Durban (iTheku) nearby?

    Usage

    Used to ask how far Durban is, the largest Zulu-speaking city in South Africa

    Grammar Note

    "iTheku" = Zulu name for Durban (also "eThekwini" — which is Durban's official city name). "Li-" is the Class 5 subject prefix. Durban has the world's largest Zulu-speaking urban population

11. Kwesokunene

    On the right

    Usage

    Short enough to read in a moving taxi

12. Kwesokunxele

    On the left

    Usage

    One word for which way to turn — hold the screen up for the driver

13. Qonda phambili

    Go straight ahead

    Usage

    Show it when you want the driver to keep going

14. Buyela emuva

    Go back

    Usage

    When you have gone too far

15. Yima

    Stop

    Usage

    Show it where you want to get out — a single word the driver can read at speed

16. Inyakatho

    North

    Usage

    The compass word — clearest shown with a map

17. Iningizimu

    South

    Usage

    The compass word, also used in the name of the KwaZulu-Natal south coast

18. Impumalanga

    East

    Usage

    Literally "where the sun rises" — note that a South African province carries the same name

19. Intshonalanga

    West

    Usage

    Literally "where the sun sets"

20. Phezulu

    Up / upstairs

    Usage

    Point at it when asking which floor something is on

21. Phansi

    Down / downstairs

    Usage

    For pointing downstairs or toward ground level

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