Weather & Climate

1. Kushisa namuhla, akunjalo?

   Ku-shi-sa na-mu-hla, a-ku-nja-lo?

   It's hot today, isn't it?

   Usage

   Common weather conversation opener in South Africa

   Grammar Note

   Zulu is Bantu. "Ku-" is an impersonal subject prefix used for weather expressions

2. Kubonakala ukuthi lizokuna

   Ku-bo-na-ka-la u-ku-thi li-zo-ku-na

   It looks like it will rain

   Usage

   Used when rain appears likely

   Grammar Note

   "Li-" marks the weather subject class. "Zo-" indicates near future

3. Isiphepho siyasondela

   I-si-phe-pho si-ya-so-nde-la

   A storm is approaching

   Usage

   Warning when a storm is approaching

   Grammar Note

   "Isi-" is Zulu noun class 7 prefix. Verb prefix "si-" agrees with the noun class

4. Kubanda namuhla, akunjalo?

   Ku-ba-nda na-mu-hla, a-ku-nja-lo?

   It's cool today, isn't it?

   Usage

   Used on cool days

   Grammar Note

   "Kubanda" = "ku-" (impersonal) + "banda" (cold) — a weather predicate

5. Ngicela ungazise ngezimo zezulu

   Ngi-ce-la u-nga-zi-se nge-zi-mo ze-zu-lu

   Please tell me the weather forecast

   Usage

   Politely ask about the weather forecast

   Grammar Note

   "Izimo zezulu" = "conditions of the sky". "Zulu" also means "sky/heaven"

6. Ngidinga i-sunscreen?

   Ngi-di-nga i-sunscreen?

   Do I need sunscreen?

   Usage

   Ask before going out under South Africa's strong sun

   Grammar Note

   English loanwords are often incorporated with class 9 prefix "i-" in Zulu

7. Ngithwale isambulela?

   Ngi-thwa-le i-sa-mbu-le-la?

   Should I bring an umbrella?

   Usage

   Check whether to carry an umbrella when rain is possible

   Grammar Note

   "Isambulela" is borrowed from Portuguese "sombrela". "Ng-" is the 1st person singular prefix

8. Isikhathi esomileyo siqala nini?

   I-si-kha-thi e-so-mi-le-yo si-qa-la ni-ni?

   When is the dry season?

   Usage

   Ask about South Africa's dry season (May–September)

   Grammar Note

   "Esomileyo" is the relative form of "soma" (to be dry), agreeing with noun class

9. Isikhathi sezimvula siqala nini?

   I-si-kha-thi se-zi-mvu-la si-qa-la ni-ni?

   When is the rainy season?

   Usage

   Ask about South Africa's rainy season (October–April)

   Grammar Note

   "Izimvula" is the plural of "imvula" (rain). Noun class prefixes indicate plurality

10. Ilanga linamandla kakhulu namuhla

    I-la-nga li-na-ma-ndla ka-khu-lu na-mu-hla

    The sun is really strong

    Usage

    Describe the intense South African sun

    Grammar Note

    "Linamandla" = "li-" (subject) + "na-" (have) + "amandla" (power/strength)

11. Imvula

    Rain

    Usage

    Summer, from November to March, brings heavy afternoon storms in much of the country

12. Umoya

    Wind

    Usage

    The same word also means air, breath and spirit — keep it in a weather context

13. Ilanga

    Sun

    Usage

    For talking about strong sunshine — the same word also means a day

14. Kubalele

    It is clear and sunny

    Usage

    Describes a hot, cloudless sky

15. Kunamafu

    It is cloudy

    Usage

    "Amafu" is clouds — often the sign that rain is coming

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