Massage & Spa

1. Ngicela ukunyakaziselwa umzimba wonke

   Ngi-ce-la u-ku-nya-ka-zi-se-lwa um-zim-ba wo-nke

   Please give me a full body massage

   Usage

   Used to request a full body massage at a spa or massage parlour

   Grammar Note

   "-selwa" is the applied passive meaning "to be done for someone". "wonke" means "whole/all".

2. Kuyoba isikhathi esingakanani?

   Ku-yo-ba i-si-kha-thi e-si-nga-ka-na-ni?

   How long will it take?

   Usage

   Used to ask how long a massage session will last

   Grammar Note

   "isikhathi esingakanani" asks about duration. "-kanani" is the suffix questioning "how much/many".

3. Kunzima kakhulu. Ngicela kancane.

   Ku-nzi-ma ka-khu-lu. Ngi-ce-la ka-nca-ne.

   It is too hard. Please be gentler.

   Usage

   Used to tell the therapist when the massage pressure is too strong

   Grammar Note

   "kancane" means "a little/slowly/gently" and is useful for giving instructions during a massage.

4. Kumnandi kakhulu — ngiyaphumula

   Ku-mna-ndi ka-khu-lu — ngi-ya-phu-mu-la

   This is very pleasant — I am relaxing

   Usage

   Used to tell the therapist you are enjoying the massage

   Grammar Note

   "phumula" means "to rest/relax". "ngiya-" is the present continuous prefix meaning "I am [doing]".

5. Ngiyabonga — wayenza umsebenzi omuhle

   Ngi-ya-bo-nga — wa-ye-nza um-se-ben-zi o-mu-hle

   Thank you — you did excellent work

   Usage

   Used to thank the therapist after a massage session

   Grammar Note

   "omuhle" is adjective "-hle" (good/beautiful) with the class prefix "o-" to agree with "umsebenzi".

6. Ngicela ukucindezelwa okuwukuphumula

   Ngi-ce-la u-ku-cin-de-ze-lwa o-ku-wu-ku-phu-mu-la

   Please give me a relaxation massage

   Usage

   Used to request a gentle relaxation massage at a spa

   Grammar Note

   "ukucindezelwa" is the passive infinitive of "cindezela" (to press/apply pressure). Common spa vocabulary

7. Kuyishwa lapha. Ngicela ubheke lapha.

   Ku-yi-shwa la-pha. Ngi-ce-la u-bhe-ke la-pha.

   It is painful here. Please look here.

   Usage

   Used to indicate a painful spot to the therapist during a massage

   Grammar Note

   "kuyishwa" derives from "ishwa" (pain/trouble). "ubheke" is the polite imperative of "bheka" (to look)

8. Ngifuna ukunambitha amafutha ezihlahla

   Ngi-fu-na u-ku-nam-bi-tha a-ma-fu-tha e-zi-hla-hla

   I want an aromatic oil massage

   Usage

   Used to request an aromatherapy or herbal oil massage

   Grammar Note

   "amafutha" is an ama-class noun meaning "oils/fats". "ezihlahla" means "of plants/trees" (possessive)

9. Ngicela isikhathi eside kancane

   Ngi-ce-la i-si-kha-thi e-si-de ka-nca-ne

   Please give me a little more time

   Usage

   Used to request an extension of a massage session

   Grammar Note

   "eside" is the adjective "-de" (long/far) with "esi-" prefix agreeing with "isikhathi" (time, isi-class)

10. Ingabe kukhona ishawa emuva kokunyakaziswa?

    In-ga-be ku-kho-na i-sha-wa e-mu-va ko-ku-nya-ka-zi-swa?

    Is there a shower after the massage?

    Usage

    Used to ask about shower facilities at a spa or massage centre

    Grammar Note

    "ishawa" is the Zulu word for shower. "emuva ko-" means "after [something]" as a postpositional phrase

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