Pharmacy & Health

1. Unawo umuthi wekhanda?

   U-na-wo u-mu-thi we-kha-nda?

   Do you have headache medicine?

   Usage

   Ask for headache medicine at a pharmacy in South Africa

   Grammar Note

   "Umuthi" means "medicine/tree" in Zulu. "We-" is the possessive linker "of" (wa- + ikhanda "head")

2. Ngidinga umuthi wesisu

   Ngi-di-nga u-mu-thi we-si-su

   I need stomach medicine

   Usage

   Use when you need stomach medicine

   Grammar Note

   "Ngidinga" = "I need" in Zulu. "Ng-" is the first-person subject prefix

3. Ngidinga umuthi wohudo

   Ngi-di-nga u-mu-thi wo-hu-do

   I need anti-diarrhea medicine

   Usage

   Ask for anti-diarrhea medicine

   Grammar Note

   Diarrhea is "uhudo" (class 11). "Umuthi" (medicine) is class 3, so its possessive wa- fuses with the u- of uhudo to give "wohudo" — the same fusion as in "wobuhlungu" and "womkhuhlane"

4. Nginomkhuhlane

   Ngi-no-mkhu-hla-ne

   I have a fever

   Usage

   Tell the pharmacist you have a fever

   Grammar Note

   "Nginomkhuhlane" = "I have a fever". "Ngi-no-" is the "I have" prefix combination

5. Nginokungezwani komzimba

   Ngi-no-ku-nge-zwa-ni ko-mzi-mba

   I have an allergy

   Usage

   Inform the pharmacist about your allergy

   Grammar Note

   "Ukungezwani" is a noun from the negative of "ukuzwana" (to agree with each other); on its own it means discord or conflict. Only with "komzimba" (of the body) does it mean allergy, so always keep the two words together. "Ngi-" + "na-" (have) + "uku-" fuse into "nginoku-"

6. Ngidinga ibhandeshi

   Ngi-di-nga i-bha-nde-shi

   I need bandages/plasters

   Usage

   Ask for bandages or plasters at a pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   "Ibhandeshi" is a class 5 loan from English "bandage". Used as in "esikhundleni sebhandeshi ngenxa yokulimala okuncane" (in place of a bandage for a minor injury). English "plaster" and "band-aid" are also understood in South Africa

7. Ngidinga i-insect repellent

   Ngi-di-nga i-insect repellent

   I need insect repellent

   Usage

   Ask for insect repellent at a pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   Zulu borrows English terms with the "i-" prefix. "I-insect repellent" is a typical English borrowing

8. Ngidinga i-sunscreen

   Ngi-di-nga i-sunscreen

   I need sunscreen

   Usage

   Ask for sunscreen at a pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   "I-sunscreen" is the Zulu adaptation of English "sunscreen". English borrowings are common in South Africa

9. Ngithatha kanjani lo muthi?

   Ngi-tha-tha ka-nja-ni lo mu-thi?

   How do I take this medicine?

   Usage

   Ask the pharmacist how to take the medicine

   Grammar Note

   "Kanjani" is the Zulu adverb "how". "Ngithatha" = "I take/administer"

10. Kudingeka i-prescription?

    Ku-di-nge-ka i-prescription?

    Do I need a prescription?

    Usage

    Check if a prescription is needed

    Grammar Note

    "Kudingeka" is the passive/neuter form meaning "is needed/necessary". "I-prescription" is English

11. Umuthi wobuhlungu

    Painkiller

    Usage

    Ask a pharmacy for painkillers — point at the sore spot as you show it

12. Umuthi wokukhwehlela

    Cough medicine

    Usage

    For asking for cough medicine — literally "medicine for coughing"

13. Amaconsi amehlo

    Eye drops

    Usage

    For itchy or red eyes — "amaconsi" means drops

14. Umuthi womkhuhlane

    Fever and cold medicine

    Usage

    For fever and cold symptoms — "umkhuhlane" covers feverish colds and flu

15. Ikhondomu

    Condom

    Usage

    At a pharmacy or shop — showing the screen saves you saying it out loud

16. Amaphedi okuya esikhathini

    Sanitary pads

    Usage

    At a pharmacy or supermarket — literally "pads for the period"

17. Ngicela umuthi wokuqunjelwa

    ngi-ce-la u-mu-thi wo-ku-qu-nje-lwa

    A laxative, please

    Usage

    Ask for a laxative at a pharmacy; literally "please, medicine for constipation"

    Grammar Note

    The same frame as "umuthi wohudo": the possessive wa- of "umuthi" (class 3) fuses with the u- of the infinitive ukuqunjelwa to give "wokuqunjelwa". "Ukuqunjelwa" means constipation

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