'''Zulu''' is the language of the Zulu people, the majority of them living in South Africa.

Pronunciation guide

Vowels

Zulu vowels are very similar to those found in english. However, Zulu is a tonal language, so the meaning of some words depends on whether you use a high or low pitch. For instance, "Unjani?" with a high tone on the u means "how are you?" whereas a low thone on the u means "How are they?"

Consonants

'''t''' like the t in "tea"

'''k''' somewhere between a K and a G in English

'''kh''' this is a digraph; it is pronounced like a hard k in english, like k in "kick". Not pronounced like "ch" in the Scottish "loch"

'''h''' like English h

'''hh''' A digraph. this is a voiced h, like "ch" in the Scottish "loch", but softer.

'''y''' Like the English y

'''b''' Like the English b

Click Consonants

Zulu has three click consonants, represented by c, q, and x in written Zulu.

'''c''' click your tongue off the back of your teeth, like a disapproving "tch"

'''q''' sounds like the click made to summon a horse; click the side of your tongue off your molars, on either or oth sides of your mouth

'''x''' the Hardest click. Should sound somewhat like a cork being popped from a bottle. put your tongue on the edge of your hard palate, and pullif of sharply. Will take some practise.

Common diphthongs

Phrase list

Basics

'''Sawubona''' :"Hello" to one person

'''Sanibonani''' :"Hello" to a group of people

'''Unjani?''' :"How are you?" (singular 'you')

'''Ninjani?''' :"How are you?" (plural 'you')

'''Ungubani igama lakho?''' :"What's your name?"

'''Igama lami ngingu_____''' :"My name is _____"

'''Ungangisiza?''' :"Can you help me?"

'''Yimalini?''' :"How much (does it cost)?"

'''Isikhathisini?''' :"What's the time?"

'''Uphumaphi?''' :"Where are you from?"

'''Uyasikhuluma isiNgisi?''' :"Do you speak English?"

'''Ngiyabonga''' :"Thank you"

'''Sala kahle / Hamba kahle''' :"Stay well / Go well" (used as 'goodbye')

Problems

''' Police''' ''Amapoyisa''

Where is the Police Station?

Ikuphi iPolice Station?

I will call the Police.

Ngizobiza amaPoyisa

Numbers

zero- iqanda (q is click, put your tongue on the bottom of your jaw)<br /> one- kunye<br /> two- kubili<br /> three- kuthathu<br /> four- kune<br /> five- isihlanu<br /> six- isithupha<br /> seven-isikhombisa<br /> eight- isishiyagalombili<br /> nine- isishiyagalolunye<br /> ten- ishumi<br /> eleven- ishumi nanye<br /> twelve- ishumi nambili<br /> thirteen-ishumi nantathu<br /> fourteen- ishumi nane<br /> fifteen- ishumi nesihlanu<br /> sixteen- ishumi nesithupha<br /> seventeen- ishumi nesikhombisa<br /> eighteen- ishumi nesishiyagalombili<br /> nineteen- ishumi nesishiyagalolunye<br /> twenty- amashumi amabili <br /> twenty-one amashumi amabili nanye<br /> twenty-two amashumi amabili nambili <br /> twenty-three amashumi amabili nantathu<br /> twenty-four amashumi amabili nane<br /> twenty-five- amashumi amabili nesihlanu<br /> twenty-six amashumi amabili nesithupha<br /> twenty-seven- amashumi amabili nesikhombisa<br /> twenty-eight amashumi amabili nesishiyagalombili <br /> twenty-nine- amashumi amabili nesishiyagalolunye<br /> thirty- amashumi amathathu<br /> forty- amashumi amane<br /> fifty- amashumi amahlanu<br /> sixty- amashumi ayisithupha<br /> seventy- amashumi ayisikhombisa<br /> eighty- amashumi ayisishiyagalombili<br /> ninety- amashumi ayisishiyagalolunye <br /> hundred- ikhulu <br /> hundred and one- ikhulu nanye<br /> hundred and two ikhulu nambili <br /> two hundred- amakhulu amabili <br /> three hundred- amakhulu amathathu<br /> four hundred- amakhulu amane<br /> five hundred- amakhulu amahlanu<br /> six hundred- amakhulu ayisithupha <br /> seven hundred- amakhulu ayisikhombisa<br /> eight hundred- amakhulu ayisishiyagalombili<br /> nine hundred- amakhulu ayisishiyagalolunye <br /> thousand- inkulungwane <br /> two thousand- izinkulungwane ezimbili <br /> three thousand- izinkulungwane ezintathu<br /> four thousand- izinkulungwane ezine<br /> five thousand- izinkulungwane ezinhlanu <br /> six thousand- izinkulungwane eziyisithupha<br /> seven thousand- izinkulungwane eziyisikhombisa<br /> eight thousand- izinkulungwane eziyisishiyagalombili<br /> nine thousand- izinkulungwane eziyisishiyagalolunye <br /> ten thousand- izinkulungwane eziyishumi <br /> eleven thousand- izinkulungwane eziyishumi ezinanye<br /> twelve thousand- izinkulungwane eziyishumi ezimbili <br /> thirteen thousand- izinkulungwane eziyishumi ezintathu<br /> fourteen thousand- izinkulungwane eziyishumi ezine<br /> fifteen thousand- izinkulungwane eziyishumi ezinhlanu<br /> sixteen thousand- izinkulungwane eziyishumi eziyisithupha<br /> seventeen thousand- izinkulungwane eziyishumi eziyisikhombisa<br /> eighteen thousand- izinkulungwane eziyishumi eziyisishiyagalombili<br /> nineteen thousand- izinkulungwane eziyishumi eziyisishiyagalolunye<br /> twenty thousand- izinkulungwane eziamashumi eziamabili <br /> thirty thousand- izinkulungwane eziamashumi eziamathathu<br /> forty thousand- izinkulungwane eziamashumi eziamane<br /> fifty thousand- izinkulungwane eziamashumi eziamahlanu<br /> sixty thousand- izinkulungwane eziamashumi eziamathupha <br /> seventy thousand- izinkulungwane eziamashumi eziamakhombisa<br /> eighty thousand- izinkulungwane eziamashumi eziamaisishiyagalombili <br /> ninety thousand- izinkulungwane eziamashumi eziamaisishiyagalolunye<br /> hundred thousand- izinkulungwane eziyikhulu <br /> two hundred thousand- izinkulungwane eziamakhulu eziamabili <br /> three hundred thousand- izinkulungwane eziamakhulu eziamathathu<br /> four hundred thousand- izinkulungwane eziamakhulu eziamane<br /> five hundred thousand- izinkulungwane eziamakhulu eziamahlanu<br /> six hundred thousand- izinkulungwane eziamakhulu eziamathupha<br /> seven hundred thousand- izinkulungwane eziamakhulu eziamakhombisa<br /> eight hundred thousand izinkulungwane eziamakhulu eziamaisishiyagalombili<br /> nine hundred thousand- izinkulungwane eziamakhulu eziamaisishiyagalolunye<br /> million- isigidi<br />

Time

Clock time

Duration

Days

Monday- uMsombuluko Tuesday- uLwesibili Wednesday- uLwesithathu Thursday- uLwesine Friday- uLwesihlanu Saturday- uMgqibelo Sunday- iSonto

Months

Writing time and date

Colors

Blue - luhlaza okwesibhakabhaka orange- i-orenji purple- iPhephuli green- luhlaza gray- mpunga brown-nsundu black- mnyama white- mhlophe

Transportation

car- imoto(amamoto, plural) bus- ibhasi(amabhasi) ship-umkhumbhi, (imikhumbhi) plane- indiza/ibhanoyi(izindiza, amabhanoyi) motorcycle- ithukathuka(amathukathuka) train- isitimela(izitimela)

Bus and train

(ibhasi) (isitimela)

Directions

====Taxi====(itexsi)

===Lodging===(ihhotela)

===Money===iMali

Eating

Bars

Shopping

Driving

Authority

iphoyisa (amaphoyisa) police