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ZUL1507/1/2019–2026
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(contents)
Okungaphakathi (Contents)
OKUNGAPHAKATHI (Contents)
Isingeniso ‘Introduction’
Iyunithi yesifundo 1
Iyunithi yesifundo 2
Iyunithi yesifundo 3
Iyunithi yesifundo 4
Iyunithi yesifundo 5
Iyunithi yesifundo 6
Iyunithi yesifundo 7
Iyunithi yesifundo 8
Iyunithi yesifundo 9
Iyunithi yesifundo 10
v
‘Learning Unit 1’
‘Learning Unit 2’
‘Learning Unit 3’
‘Learning Unit 4’
‘Learning Unit 5’
‘Learning Unit 6’
‘Learning Unit 7’
‘Learning Unit 8’
‘Learning Unit 9’
‘Learning Unit 10’
1
9
13
18
23
31
38
47
57
67
ZUL1507/1iii
iv
Okungaphakathi (contents)
ISINGENISO (INTRODUCTION)
OUTCOMES
At the end of this INTRODUCTION you should be able to:
•• distinguish between the African language families;
•• identify the languages belonging to the Nguni group;
•• explain the basics of the system of noun classes in isiZulu;
•• pronounce the various isiZulu speech sounds.
WELCOME
Welcome to module ZUL1507 Applied African Language Communicative Competence
for Second Additional Languages. You are about to enrich yourself and improve your
opportunities in life, as well as in your career by learning isiZulu.
This module is designed to enable you to greet people, ask them questions about
themselves, make requests, describe everyday situations, ask for assistance, talk about
yourself and, in short, hold a basic conversation. On completion of the module, you
should have a good foundation for improving your spoken and written isiZulu through
regular practice.
Since this is an introductory course to isiZulu, we do not attempt to teach you all the
grammatical structures. We rather try to apply the principle ‘learn a little, use it a lot’.
Therefore, although structures such as the formation of adjectives (e.g. ‘the tall man’),
possessives (e.g. ‘the book of the student’) and relative verbs (e.g. ‘the child who is
listening’) might be encountered informally in dialogues and phrases to learn, they
are not explained or discussed in detail. If you would like to know more about such
structures, we strongly recommend that you consult isiZulu.net: Bilingual Zulu-English
dictionary https://isizulu.net/. This on-line dictionary offers bidirectional lookups of
isiZulu and English words, as well as automatic morphological decomposition and
phonetic spelling of isiZulu words, translation of simple isiZulu and English phrases,
spell checking, and the basics of isiZulu grammar. In your Tutorial Letter 101 you will
also find a list of additional resources that can be consulted.
In order to derive maximum benefit from this module, it is of utmost importance that
you revise the work regularly, and that you use any possible opportunity to practise your
knowledge with isiZulu speakers. You will find that most isiZulu speakers are thrilled
with the idea of people trying to speak their language, and that they are keen to help
you. We wish you success in this endeavour, and hope that you will enjoy your studies.
You will be guided through your learning units by means of the following:
Activity icon: Activities to be done as you continue working through each
learning unit.
Dialogue icon: Click to see and hear the dialogue taking place.
Knowledge/explanation icon: Grammatical and cultural information
given as you progress through each learning unit.
Self-assessment icon: Exercises at the end of each learning unit to selfassess your progress.
ZUL1507/1v
The official African languages of South Africa
The South African constitution recognises eleven official languages. Nine of these
languages are African languages, namely, isiZulu, isiXhosa, Siswati, isiNdebele,
Tshivenḓa, Xitsonga, Sesotho sa Leboa (or Sepedi), Sesotho and Setswana. These
languages belong to a large family of languages called the “Bantu languages” spoken
south of the Sahara region.
The African languages of South Africa are divided into four
main groups, namely:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
NGUNI, which includes isiZulu, isiXhosa, isiNdebele and Siswati;
SOTHO, which includes Sesotho sa Leboa (Sepedi), Sesotho and Setswana;
XITSONGA; and
TSHIVENḒA.
What is interesting about the Nguni language group is that each language is mutually
intelligible to the native speakers of the other languages. This means that an isiZulu
speaker would for instance, understand isiXhosa while an isiXhosa speaker would
understand Siswati and so forth. IsiZulu is spoken predominantly in KwaZulu-Natal,
but also in Mpumalanga, Gauteng (especially Johannesburg) and parts of the Free State.
The wealth of Khoisan words and sounds bears witness to the early contact including
intermarriage and a sharing of cultures between the isiXhosa and Khoisan people.
This sharing also became evident in isiZulu, especially the click sounds.
The grammatical structure of isiZulu
It is important that you understand the structure of isiZulu, especially the way in
which it differs from the European languages which may be familiar to you. Firstly you
should take note that isiZulu has its own unique structure:
•• The structure of isiZulu is mainly based on a noun class system, i.e. each noun
belongs to a particular noun class which is determined by its class prefix. The noun
abantu (people) for instance, belongs to the aba- class (also known as class 2).
•• IsiZulu has a system of concords which links the noun or proper noun concerned
with the verb or qualificative. In the sentence Abantu bayafunda (The people are
learning/The people are reading), the noun abantu (people) is linked to the verb
–funda (learn) by means of the agreeing concord ba-. In the noun phrase abantu
abaningi (people who are many/many people), the noun abantu (people) is linked
to the adjective stem –ningi (many) by means of the agreeing concord aba-.
•• IsiZulu is an agglutinating language in so far as the orthography is concerned, i.e.
parts of a word (called morphemes) are not written separately but as part of the
same word. Very often a single isiZulu word is actually a whole sentence, for
instance, Basazomtshela (They will still tell him/her). This word can be broken
down into the following morphemes: ba-sa-zo-m-tshel-a. Please look up these
words in the following isiZulu-English online dictionary: https://isizulu.net/
vi
Isingeniso (Introduction)
Okungaphakathi
(contents)
The analysis that you will find is:
The following list of isiZulu phrases will give you an idea of how the concordial system
functions. The noun prefixes and their corresponding concords are underlined.
Umfana usebenza ekhaya (The boy works at home)
Abantu basebenza edolobheni (People work in town)
Umuthi ukhula masinyane (The tree grows fast)
Imithi ikhula masinyane (The trees grow fast)
Izwe lifuna abantu (The country needs people)
Amazwe afuna abantu (Countries need people)
Isifo sibulala abantu (The disease kills people)
Izifo zibulala abantu (Diseases kill people)
Inja iyakhonkotha (The dog is barking/The dog barks)
Izinja ziyakhonkotha (The dogs are barking/The dogs bark)
Uthando luyalimaza (Love hurts)
Ubuhle buyabonakala (Beauty is noticed)
Ukudla kuphekwa ngumama (The food is cooked by mother)
The speech sounds of isiZulu
In order to acquire a proper isiZulu pronunciation, you should make use of the help of
an isiZulu mother-tongue speaker. Also listen to the recordings as explained in
Tutorial letter 101 and repeat the sounds you hear until you get them right. Pay attention
to length, vowel elision and types of speech sounds.
Vowels
a compares with the English a in bark
ubaba (father)
ZUL1507/1vii
e has two pronunciations. The first e compares with the English e in red when
it is followed by the high vowels i and u
-thengile (bought)
The second e is pronounced somewhat differently from the one above. It compares with the English ei in heir, when followed by the vowel a
letha (bring)
i compares with the English ee in knee
mina (I)
o has two pronunciations. The first o compares with the English o as in sore
when followed by a.
bona (see)
The second o is pronounced somewhat differently from the one above when it
is followed by the high vowels i and u. It compares with the English o as in low
bonisa (show)
u compares with the English oo in fool
ufudu (tortoise)
Semi-vowels
w compares with the English w in wool
wena (you singular)
y compares with the English y in yet
yebo (yes)
Consonants
f is the same as the English f in fix
umfula (river)
v compares with the English v in veterinarian
vala (close)
sh compares with the English sh in sharp
shaya (hit)
tsh compares with the English ch as in cheque and is also an ejective sound
tshela (tell)
th compares with the English t in tea
thatha (take)
t compares with the Afrikaans t in ‘tog’ but has an abrupt sharp pronunciation,
thus ejective
intombi (young lady/girl)
viii
Isingeniso (Introduction)
Okungaphakathi
(contents)
ph compares with the English p in pin
pheka (cook)
p compares with the English p in speak but has an abrupt sharp pronunciation.
This type of pronunciation is known as ejection
impi (war)
kh compares with the English c in cat but is followed by a breath of air (aspiration).
isikhathi (time)
k has two pronunciations. The first k compares with the English g in get. It is
usually found between vowels
ukuvuka (to wake up)
The second k compares with the Afrikaans k as in ‘kop’ but has an abrupt sharp
pronunciation. This type of pronunciation is known as ejection
inkunzi (bull)
g compares with the English g in gun and is pronounced with delayed voicing
ugogo (grandmother)
n compares with the English n in neat
inkomo (cow/head of cattle)
ng compares with the English ng in singer.
ingane (child)
ny compares with the English n in news
inyama (meat)
d compares with the English d in duck and is pronounced with delayed voicing
amadoda (men)
b does not have an equivalent in English. It is called an implosive because air
from the outside is drawn into the mouth when this sound is pronounced after
the lips have been opened
ubaba (father)
ubani? (who?)
bh compares with the English b in boy but is pronounced with delayed voicing
ibhola (ball)
ibhokisi (box)
h compares with the English h in hand and is voiceless
hamba (walk/go)
Note that sometimes this h is pronounced like the Afrikaans g in ‘gaan’
ihansi (goose); –hona (snore); –hola (earn); ibhuloho (bridge)
hh does not have an English equivalent but is actually the voiced version of the
voiceless h above
ZUL1507/1ix
ihhashi (horse)
ihhovisi (office)
hl is not found in English and Afrikaans. When pronounced the air flows out at
the one side of the tongue.
hlala (sit)
hlaba (stab/prick/stick/slaughter)
dl is not found in English or Afrikaans. It is the voiced version of hl
dlala (play)
dla (eat)
j compares with the English j as in joy
jabula (rejoice/be happy)
Clicks
Clicks don’t have equivalents in English. Their pronunciation is somewhat difficult
for the beginner and they need to be practiced extensively as explained below.
Perhaps you have been exposed to the clicks in an isiXhosa click song sung by
Miriam Makeba (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_V3YOBUKN58)
Three types of clicks can be distinguished, namely the dental, the palatal and the alveolateral click. The basic clicks are voiceless but become voiced when they combine
with voiced speech sounds, such as the nasals.
c is the dental click. To pronounce it the tongue tip touches the upper teeth. The
sides of the tongue suck against the roof of the mouth. The jaw is now slightly
open. The body of the tongue is lowered; the tongue tip is drawn away from
the teeth and the air from outside is drawn into the mouth to pronounce the
dental click. This voiceless click sound can be compared to the sucking sound
of a drinking calf.
cela (request)
icala (offence/case)
q is the palatal click. To pronounce it the tongue tip touches the palate. The sides
of the tongue suck against the roof of the mouth. The jaw is now slightly open.
The body of the tongue is lowered; the tongue tip is drawn away from the palate and the air from outside is drawn into the mouth to pronounce the palatal
click. This voiceless click sound can be compared to the popping sound of a cork
when opening a champagne bottle.
qala (begin/start/provoke)
qonda (understand/be straight/direct yourself towards)
x is the alveolateral click. To pronounce it the tongue tip touches the teeth ridge
(alveolus). The sides of the tongue suck against the roof of the mouth. The
jaw is now slightly open. The body of the tongue is lowered; the tongue tip is
drawn away from the teeth ridge and the air is drawn in at the one side of the
tongue; that is the reason why the term ‘lateral’ is used. This voiceless click sound
can be compared to the sound a person is making when he/she is irritated or
annoyed.
x
Isingeniso (Introduction)
Okungaphakathi
(contents)
xoxa (discuss/tell/narrate a story)
ixoxo (frog)
Consult the following youtube videos for some pronunciation exercises:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31zzMb3U0iY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCMj7da5Da4
Sound combinations
It is also important that you listen to the following isiZulu sound combinations
(instructions given in Tutorial Letter 101). We suggest that you repeat this exercise
until you get all the sounds right.
bi
-
biza (call)
ba
-
baleka (run away)
be
-
beka (put down)
bo
-
bona (see)
bhe
-
bhema (smoke)
bhu
-
ibhuku (book)
de
-
deka (lay a table)
dlu
-
edlula (pass)
fi
-
fika (arrive)
gi
-
gibela (ride)
gwi
-
gwinya (swallow/fat cake)
ho
-
hola (earn)
hho
-
ihhotela (hotel)
bho -
ibholoho (bridge)
da
-
idada (duck)
do
-
udonga (wall)
dla
-
dla (eat)
dle
-
idlelo (pasture)
fa
-
faka (put in)
fu
-
funda (learn)
ge
-
geza (wash)
go
-
goba (bend)
gwa -
ugwayi (tobacco)
gwe -
ingwenya (crocodile)
ha
-
hamba (walk)
he
-
uhele (hawk)
hha -
ihhashi (horse)
hhe -
ihhembe (shirt)
hlo
-
hlola (check)
hla
-
hlala (sit down)
hle
-
hleka (laugh)
hlu
-
hlupha (bother)
ZUL1507/1xi
xii
ja
jo
-
igeja (hoe)
iJozi (Johannesburg)
ji
ju
-
jika (turn)
juluka (sweat)
va
vi
-
vala (close)
vimba (stop)
ve
vu
-
vela (appear)
vula (open)
we
wa
-
wena (you)
phiwa (be given)
wo
-
wona (it)
ka
ko
-
ikati (cat)
isikole (school)
ki
-
ikilasi (class)
ka
ki
-
kahle (good)
kithi (with us)
ku
-
kuphela (only)
ka
ki
-
nika (give)
kwakithi (at our place)
ku
-
ukuhamba (to walk)
kha khe -
khala (cry)
khetha (choose)
khu
kho
-
khula (grow)
khona (be there)
la
lu
-
landa (fetch)
lutho (nothing)
le
-
lenga (hang)
ma
mo
-
umama (my mother)
mosha (waste)
mi
-
mina (I/ me)
mba mbi -
imamba (mamba)
intombi (girl)
mbe
mbo
-
imbewu (seed)
imbobo (hole)
mpi mpe -
impilo (life )
impela (really)
mpo
-
umpompi (tap)
mfa mfi -
umfana boy
umfino (vegetables)
mfu
-
umfundisi (preacher)
mfe mfi -
imfene (baboon)
imfiliji (mouth organ)
fa
-
imfaduko (dish cloth)
mvu mva -
imvu sheep
imvali gate-(keeper)
mve
-
imvelo (nature)
ndla ndlo -
indlala (hunger)
indlovu (elephant)
ndle
ndlu
-
indlela (path)
indlu (house)
nga
ngi
nge
ngu
ngani (why)
iNgisi (Englishman/woman)
ngena (enter)
ingubo (blanket)
nge
-
ngenhla (upper side)
ngo
-
ingozi (danger)
-
Isingeniso (Introduction)
Okungaphakathi
(contents)
nhla nhlo -
inhlanhla (luck)
inhloko (head)
nhle
- inhle (is good)
nka nku -
inkabi (ox)
inkunzi (bull)
nko
- inkosi (king)
mnya -
omnyama (which is black)
mn
- mningi (it is much)
nsi
nse
-
insimu (field)
insephe (springbuck)
nsu
- usuku day
nta
nto
-
intaba (mountain)
into (thing)
nte
- intethe (locust)
ntshe ntsho-
intshe (ostrich)
ntshontsha (steal)
ntshi
nya nyo -
inyama (meat)
inyoka (snake)
nye
- ezinye (some)
nza nzu -
inzalo (offspring)
inzuzo (profit/benefit)
nzi
- amanzi (water)
pa
pi
ipaki (park)
isipikili (nail)
-
pe
pha phu -
phansi (below)
phukile (broken)
sa
su
-
sala remain (behind)
susa (take away)
sha
shi
-
shanela (sweep)
shisa (burn)
she
shu
ta
to
-
isitaladi (street)
isitofu (stove)
ti
tha
thi
-
thatha (take)
thinta (touch)
phe
si
- ujantshi (railway)
- ipeni (pen)
- phela (finish)
- sika (cut)
- shesha (hurry)
- ushukela (sugar)
- itiye (tea)
the
- thela (pour)
tshe
- tshela (tell)
tsha tshu -
tshala (plant)
isitshudeni (student)
ya
yo
-
yakhe (his/hers)
yona (it)
ye
- yena (he/she)
za
zi
-
zama (try)
izinja (dogs)
ze
– izeze (flea)
zwi
- izwi (voice)
zwa zwe -
zwa (hear)
izwe (land)
ce
cu
cela (request)
cula (sing)
-
ci
- icici (earring)
ZUL1507/1xiii
gci
gce
-
gcina (end)
igceke (yard)
gcwa -
gcwala (becomes full)
cha chu -
cha (no)
chusha (creep through)
nca
nci
-
ncane (small)
ncibilika (melt)
qa
qi
-
qala (begin)
iqili (cunning person)
gca
-
gcagca (marry)
gcwe
-
gcwele (is full)
chi
-
chitha (throw out)
nce
ngco
-
ncela (suck)
ngcono (better)
qe
-
qeda (complete)
gqa gqi gqo -
ugqayinyanga (gate-keeper/night guard)
ngoMgqibelo (on Saturday)
gqoka (dress)
qha qhu -
qha (no)
qhubeka (proceed)
qhe
-
qhela (give way)
nqa nqo -
nqamula (cut off)
inqola (wagon)
nqe
nqu
-
isinqe (buttock)
nquma (cut)
xo
xoxa (chat)
xu
-
xuba (mix)
-
xwa -
xwayisa (warn)
xho
xhu
xha
xhi
-
isiXhosa (Xhosa language)
xhuma (jump/join together)
unoxhaka (mouse-trap)
ixhiba (traditional Zulu kitchen)
nxe
nxi
-
ukunxele (left)
isinxibi (beggar)
nxu
-
nxusa (beg)
isigxobo (pole )
umgxala (crow-bar)
gxu
-
gxuma (join)
gxo gxa -
For the fun of it listen to the following tongue twister and try to
repeat it :
Ixoxo liqhaqhazela emgwaqeni
(The frog trembles on the road).
xiv
Okungaphakathi (contents)
Tone and length
The term tone refers to the speed at which the vocal cords vibrate during speech
production. Each syllable of a word in isiZulu has a specific tone. When the vocal
cords vibrate slowly, the syllable will have low tone. When the vocal cords are vibrating
fast, the tone of the syllable will be high. Tone is important, since it can differentiate
between the meanings of identically written words such as uyaphi?, when the tone of
u is high, it means “he/she” as in “where is he/she going”, but when the tone of u is
low, it means “you” as in “where are you going?” However, it is difficult to distinguish
between high and low tone for the untrained ear and even more difficult to produce
it! Therefore, no emphasis is put on the study of tone in this module. Nonetheless, as
you get conversant with the language, you should try to distinguish between the two
tones–when you are listening to mother tongue-speakers as well as when you yourself
are speaking.
Length is always on the second last syllable of the word or the last word in the sentence
in isiZulu. For example, Sawubona (hello) is divided into the syllables sa/wu/bo/na, thus
the length will be on /bo/ when pronounced. In the sentence Sawubona mfana wami
(Hello my boy), the length will be on /wa/ when pronounced.
ZUL1507/1xv
xvi
IYUNITHI YESIFUNDO 1
(LEARNING UNIT 1)
1
UKUBINGELELA (To greet)
LESSON OUTCOMES
At the end of this lesson you should be able to:
•• use the vocabulary given in this lesson;
•• greet any person in isiZulu (singular/plural/form of respect);
•• ask about the well-being of any person;
•• ask the name of a person;
•• introduce yourself;
•• say goodbye in isiZulu.
NEW WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS
A variety of words and expressions (with their English translations) that you will come
across in this learning unit are listed below:
yebo (yes)
cha (no)
ubaba (father)
umama (mother)
udade (sister)
usisi (sister)
ubhuti (brother)
umfowethu (brother)
uThemba (Themba)
uPhindi (Phindi)
uthisha (teacher)
othisha (teachers)
isiZulu (Zulu language)
umnumzane (gentleman)
inkosikazi (woman/married woman)
amakhosikazi (women/married women)
umngane (friend)
intombi (young lady/girl)
insizwa (young man)
mina (I)
wena (you) (sg.)
thina (we)
nina (you) (pl.)
Sawubona (Hello/Good day) (sg.)
Unjani? (How are you?) (sg.)
Ngikhona (I am well)
Sikhona (We are well/We are here)
Sivukile (We are well/We got up)
Sala kahle (Goodbye/Stay well) (sg.)
Hamba kahle (Goodbye/Go well) (sg.)
Uphila kanjani? (How are you?) (sg.)
Uxolo (Excuse me)
Uyangiqonda? (Do you understand me?)
Ngiyajabula ukukwazi. (I am pleased to
know you)
ZUL1507/11
ACTIVITY 1
Add any new words and expressions that you come across in this learning unit in the
space provided in the table above.
INGXOXO (DIALOGUE)
When people meet, the very first thing they do, is greet one another.
••
Greeting one person
A
B
Phindi: Sawubona Themba!
(Hello Themba/Good morning/day
Themba!)
Themba: Yebo, sawubona Phindi!
(Yes, hello Phindi!)
Phindi: Unjani? (How are you?)
Themba: Ngikhona, wena unjani?
(I am well, and how are you?)
Phindi: Nami ngikhona. (I am alsowell)
Themba: Hamba kahle.
(Go well/Goodbye.)
Phindi: Sala kahle! (Stay well!)
••
Greeting more than one person
A
B
Uthisha: Sanibonani bafundi!
(Good day, students!)
Abafundi: Yebo, sawubona thisha!
(Yes, good day, teacher!)
Uthisha: Ninjani? (How are you all?)
Abafundi: Sikhona. Wena unjani? (We are
well, and how are you?)
Uthisha: Nami ngikhona. (I am also well)
Abafundi: Hamba kahle! (Go well/Goodbye)
Uthisha: Salani kahle! (Stay well, all of you!)
••
Greeting politely
A
B
Phindi: Sanibonani mnumzane!
(Good day, sir!)
Umnumzane: Yebo, sawubona Phindi!
(Yes, hello Phindi!)
Phindi: Ninjani, mnumzane? (How are you, Umnumzane: Ngikhona, wena unjani?
(I am well, and how are you?)
sir?)
Phindi: Nami ngikhona. (I am also, well)
Phindi: Salani kahle! (Stay well!)
Umnumzane: Hamba kahle, Phindi. (Go
well/Goodbye, Phindi)
ACTIVITY 2
Complete the isiZulu forms of greeting in the following table:
Greeting one person
Good day, Peter
Goodbye, Peter
Greeting more than one person Good day, students
Goodbye, students
Greeting politely
2
Good day, Mrs Shabangu
Goodbye, Mrs Shabangu
Ukubingelela (To greet)
ULWAZI (KNOWLEDGE/EXPLANATION)
(a) UKUBINGELELA NGESIZULU (TO GREET IN ISIZULU)
In true Zulu tradition, greeting is a very important procedure. It is a structured
encounter and it is considered ill-mannered not to greet either a friend or a stranger in passing.
Initial greetings are made by the person who arrives first and you will notice
that when a person is asked about his/her well-being they often answer cha, ‘no’,
before saying they are well. Cha, ngisaphila or Ngisaphila saka ‘No, I am fine’.
The phrase ending with saka could mean ‘I am perfectly well/fine’ in English.
Within the following text you will come across a number of different forms of
address which are used for various persons. When greeting a person older than
yourself (parent’s age) baba ‘father’ would be used for a man and mama, ‘mother’
for a woman. For greetings of people of grandparents’ age mkhulu, ‘grandfather’
and gogo ‘grandmother’. Greeting a female person of your own age or slightly
older than you, you would address her as sisi/dade, ‘sister’, and a male person as
bhuti/mfowethu, ‘brother’ for the male counterpart or slightly older than you.
You may have noticed that the initial vowels of these nouns have fallen away in
the direct address form:
umama
ubaba
udade
uThemba
–> mama
–> baba
–> dade
–> Themba.
When greeting one person one would say sawubona and more than one person
sanibonani. Sawubona/Sanibonani can be used at any time of the day or night to
greet, e.g. ‘good day’, ‘good morning’, ‘good night’, etc. The reply after the greeting
is simply Yebo. When saying goodbye to one person you would say hamba kahle
or uhambe kahle which when translated, literally means ‘go well’. This form of
goodbye would normally be reciprocated by nawe which means ‘and you’. When
saying goodbye to more than one person, hambani kahle or nihambe kahle is
used. When saying ‘stay well’ to one person you would say sala kahle or usale
kahle. However, ‘stay well’ to more than one person would be salani kahle or
nisale kahle. Yet another form of goodbye may be used which is sobonana which
means ‘we will see each other again’. It should also be noted that often when greeting the plural form is used which implies that all family members not present are
included in the concern for their well-being.
Having greeted, one then normally enquires about the person’s well-being by asking the question ‘how are you’? This is done by saying:
Uphila kanjani?
Unjani?
Kunjani kuwe?
Usaphila?
Kunjani?
Ninjani?
Nisaphila?
Niphila kanjani?
‘How are you?’ (singular)
‘How are you?’ (singular)
‘How is it with you?’ (singular)
‘Are you still well?’ (singular)
‘How is it’?
‘How are you?’ (plural)
‘Are you all still well?’ (plural)
‘How are you?’
ZUL1507/13
There are many expressions which may be used which are related to the procedure
of an encounter and greeting. The more common of these will be listed below
together with their translations.
Akusizi lutho ukukhala.
Ngiyajabula ukukubona.
Ngiyajabula ukukwazi.
Uxolo.
Uxolo, ngicela ukukubona.
Uxolo, ngicela ukukhuluma nawe.
Uxolo, singakhuluma?
Uyangiqonda?
‘It does not help to complain.’
‘I am glad to see you.’
‘I am pleased to know you.’
‘Excuse me.’
‘Excuse me, may I see you?’
‘Excuse me, may I talk with you?’
‘Excuse me, may we talk?’
‘Do you understand me?’
The sound recordings that form part of this course will be of great value in assisting you with the correct pronunciation. Please consult Tutorial Letter 101 for
guidelines to the sound recordings. However, the secret to acquiring this or any
other language is to practise a greeting or a simple phrase each day with a mother
tongue speaker. You will find that with practise (as with everything) comes greater
confidence, and you will also find that your willingness to communicate is so appreciated that your efforts are rewarded with a positive response by the speakers.
ACTIVITY 3
Approach 5 or more people you think may greet you in isiZulu. Ask each person to react to
your greeting: “Sawubona” or “Sanibonani”. Ask them to assist you to write the greeting
down. You can also record the different forms of greeting you encounter on your mobile
phone and use the recording to practise greeting people in isiZulu.
Answer the following questions:
– Whom did you greet?
– Did you encounter other forms of greeting different from the ones given above?
– How did the people react?
(b)
4
GREETINGS IN THE SINGULAR FORM
Insizwa:
Sawubona ntombi!
Intombi:
Sawubona nsizwa!
Insizwa:
Unjani?
Intombi:
Ngiyaphila nsizwa, unjani wena?
Insizwa:
Nami ngiyaphila. Sala kahle, ntombi
Intombi
Hamba kahle nsizwa
UDanisile:
Sawubona Themba!
UThemba:
Yebo, sawubona Danisile!
UDanisile:
Kunjani?
UThemba:
Cha, ngikhona. Wena unjani?
UDanisile:
Nami ngikhona. Sala kahle, Themba.
UThemba:
Hamba kahle, Danisile!
Ukubingelela (To greet)
Umfana:
Sawubona ntombazane!
Intombazane: Yebo, sawubona bhuti!
Umfana:
Usaphila?
Intombazane: Cha, ngisaphila. Wena usaphila na?
Umfana:
Nami ngisaphila. Usale kahle, sisi!
Intombazane: Uhambe kahle, bhuti.
Yebo (yes) and cha (no) could be used in an affirmative manner. When addressing a person, we use the direct address form (vocative), e.g. nkosikazi (married
woman), nkosazana (unmarried woman); mnumzane (adult male), ndoda (mature
male of equal status); nsizwa (young man); mfana (boy); ntombi (teenage girl/
young lady) ntombazane (very young girl), Danisile (female name) Themba
(male name); thisha (teacher). Unjani? kunjani? usaphila na? are different ways
of saying ‘how are you?’ Ngisaphila, ngisekhona and ngikhona mean ‘I’m well’
literally however, they mean ‘I’m still living’, ‘I’m still here/present’ and ‘I’m here/
present’, respectively. Nami means ‘I’m also’. Na is included at times to make a
statement, a question. Wena means ‘you’ and its subject concord is u-. The subject
concord of mina (I), is ngi-. Hamba kahle (go well) is used to address the person
who departs/leaves. Sala kahle is used to address the person who stays behind.
Uhambe and usale kahle are regarded as polite forms of saying goodbye. All
these different ways of greeting are used and can be varied as one wishes. Let us
also look at other ways of interesting traditional greetings:
Ngisawadla amabele
(I am still eating sorghum).
Ngisawunyathela umhlaba (I am still treading the earth).
(Both mean ‘I’m well’ in a more concrete way.)
(c)
GREETINGS IN THE PLURAL AND POLITE FORM
Amadoda:
Sanibonani makhosikazi! Yebo, sanibonani madoda!
Amakhosikazi:
Ninjani?
Amadoda:
Cha, siyaphila, nina ninjani?
Amakhosikazi:
Nathi siyaphila madoda.
Amadoda:
Hambani/Nihambe kahle.
Amakhosikazi:
Salani kahle madoda!
Abafundi:
Sanibonani, thisha!
Uthisha:
Sanibonani, bafundi!
Abafundi:
Ninjani?
Uthisha:
Ngiyaphila bafundi, nina ninjani?
Abafundi:
Nathi sikhona thisha. Nihambe kahle.
Uthisha:
Salani kahle, bafundi.
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Abafana:
Sanibonani, Mnumzane Sibiya!
Inkosi:
Yebo, sanibonani bafana!
Abafana
Nisaphila na baba?
Inkosi:
Sivukile bafana. Kunjani?
Abafana:
Cha, sisaphila, azikho izindaba ezimbi. Nisale kahle baba!
Inkosi:
Nihambe kahle bafana!
Sanibona/Sanibonani is used when more than one person is being greeted. In the first
dialogue men are greeting women; in the second, pupils are greeting their teacher; in the
third, boys greet their chief whom they respect. When greeting a superior, one would
use the plural form to address and greet such a person (even being singular) in order to
show respect. Baba (father) or mama (mother) is not used for addressing parents only,
but as a polite form for any older man or woman you respect. For the plural we would
use plural address forms such as madoda (men); makhosikazi (women); zintombi
(teenage girls/young ladies); bafundi (students), etc. Remember about the elision of the
initial vowel when addressing these people directly!
Plural personal names replace u- with o-, thus:
uSipho (Sipho, singular) > oSipho (Sipho and others, plural). When addressing people
by plural personal names, b- is mostly added to the name, e.g.
oSipho (Sipho and company) > boSipho;
oThandi (Thandi and others) > boThandi.
The ni-/-ni in hambani/nihambe; salani/nisale and sanibonani denotes the plural
or polite form (you). The subject concord of nina (you pl.) is ni-, thus ninjani (how are
you?) and nisaphila (are you still alive?). The subject concord of thina (we) is si-, thus
siyaphila (we are alive), sikhona (we are here). Nathi means ‘we as well’. Sivukile
literally means ‘we have gotten up’ (pl.).
Other examples of polite greeting:
Sanibonani nkosi! (We greet you headman /chief!)
Sanibonani mama! Ninjani? (Be greeted mother! How are you?)
Salani kahle malume! (Stay well uncle!)
Sivukile. Nivuke kanjani nina? (We have gotten up. How was your getting up?)
ACTIVITY 4
Now that you are acquainted with all the different ways of greeting in isiZulu, greet the
following people, enquire about their well-being and say goodbye to them:
amadoda (men)
amakhosikazi (women)
umngane (friend)
intombi (girl/young lady)
insizwa (young man)
uMnzumzane Ntuli (Mr Ntuli)
uBongile (Bongile)
uthisha (teacher)
6
Ukubingelela (To greet)
Note that umngane (friend) is the correct spelling, but it is also written as umngani
(friend).
(d) UKUZAZISA (TO INTRODUCE ONESELF)
When getting acquainted, you might be asked the following question:
Ungubani? (Who are you?)
You will need to introduce yourself and the response could be a name only, or a name
and a surname:
NginguThoko (I am Thoko)
NginguThoko Sibiya (I am Thoko Sibiya)
The following structure is useful in getting acquainted:
Ngingu- =
I am
Ungu=
you are
(sing.)
Singo=
we are
Ningo=
you are
(plural)
A
B
Ungubani? (Who are you (sing.)?)
NginguSipho. (I am Sipho.)
Ningobani? (Who are you (pl.)?)
SingoBrowns. (We are the Browns.)
SELF-ASSESSMENT
(a)
In the following dialogue, you are the person arriving, and you are greeting John.
Complete the missing words or phrases:
You (insert your name)
Sawubona, ………….
………….?
Nami ………………….
………. kahle.
uJohn
Yebo, …………….
Cha, ngisaphila, wena unjani?
Sala kahle.
(b) Now let’s practise greeting each other formally. Since we don’t know each other,
we will use the plural form and titles to indicate respect.
You (insert your name)
Sanibonani………………
Ninjani?
Nathi …………….
………… kahle.
(c)
uDokotela Ndlovu (Dr Ndlovu)
Yebo, …………………
Cha, sisaphila, nina ninjani?
Nisale kahle!
How would you introduce yourself to someone you do not know?
(d) Give a short explanation in terms of people meeting each other and greeting each
other in isiZulu:
– Who is supposed to greet first?
– Does status or seniority play a role?
ZUL1507/17
(e)
Explain the difference between greeting one person and greeting more than one
person.
(f)
What is the polite way of greeting a person in isiZulu?
(g) Which forms of address would you use when greeting a person older than yourself
(more or less your parents’ age)?
(h) For greeting people of your grandparents’ age which forms of address would be
used?
(i)
Having greeted, one then normally enquires about the person’s well-being by
asking the question ‘How are you’? Give the different forms of such enquiries.
(j)
Give an example of the use of cha, ‘no’, before saying you are well.
(k) Explain what the use of the plural form implies when enquiring about another
person’s well-being.
(l)
When is yebo ‘yes’ used during the process of greeting? Give an example.
(m) Give a discussion of when the plural form is used when greeting. Give examples
to illustrate every statement you make in terms of its use.
8
IYUNITHI YESIFUNDO 2
(LEARNING UNIT 2)
2
UMNDENI WAMI (My family)
LESSON OUTCOMES
At the end of this lesson you should be able to:
•• use the vocabulary given in this lesson;
•• answer the questions, ngubani lo? and yini lokhu?
•• identify the kinship terms (immediate family);
•• explain how the noun class system functions (singular and plural forms of nouns);
•• make polite requests by means of -cela.
NEW WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS
A variety of words and expressions (with their English translations) that you will come
across in this learning unit are listed below.
ocingweni (on the phone)
-sebenza (work)
nobani? (with whom?)
akekho (he/she is not here)
ngo-5 (at 5 o’clock)
Ngubani lo (who is this?)
nini? (when?)
umndeni wami (my family)
yini? (what?)
inkosikazi yami (my wife)
manje (now)
ubaba (father)
kulungile (it is in order/it is fine)
abafowethu (my/our brothers)
ukuthi (that)
odadewethu (my/our sisters)
manje (now)
umalume (uncle)
okhulumayo (who talks)
u-anti (aunt)
-cela (ask/request)
indodakazi yami (my daughter)
-xolisa (be sorry/apologise)
abafana bami (my sons)
-buya (return)
abazukulu (grandchildren)
-tshela (tell)
usikhwiza (sister-in-law)
-shayela ucingo (make a phone call) usibali (brother-in-law)
-bonga (thank)
ACTIVITY 1
Add any new words and expressions that you come across in this learning unit in the
space provided in the table above.
ZUL1507/19
INGXOXO (DIALOGUE)
Identifying family members
UPhindi (umzukulu–grandchild)
Ugogo (grandmother)
Sanibonani gogo!
(Hello grandmother!)
Yebo, sawubona mzukulu! (Yes, hello
grandchild!)
Ninjani? (How are you?)
Ngikhona, wena unjani? (I am well, and
how are you?)
Nami ngikhona. (I am also well)
Ngubani lo? (Who is this?)
Ngudadewethu (It/she is my sister)
Ngubani igama lakhe? (What is her name?)
NguSonto. (It/she is Sonto).
Hamba kahle, mzukulu! (Go well /
Goodbye, grandchild.)
Salani kahle, gogo! (Stay well,
grandmother!)
In this dialogue the plural form is used by the grandchild to address the grandmother, as
a form of respect and submission. The terms mkhulu/gogo (grandfather/grandmother),
mzukulwana (grandchild) and mntanami (my child) do not necessarily indicate biological relationship, but rather some kind of affection in the greeting situation. Above
all, mutual respect and courtesy are expressed by means of these terms.
ACTIVITY 2
Answer the following question Ngubani lo? (Who is this?) OR Ngobani laba? (Who
are these (people)?) by using the correct form of the kinship term in the first column:
Examples:
umndeni wami (my family)
inkosikazi yami (my wife)
umyeni wami (my husband)
ubaba (father)
umama (mother)
umfowethu/ubhuti (my brother)
udadewethu/udade/usisi (my sister)
abafowethu (my/our brothers)
u-anti (aunt)
indodakazi yami (my daughter)
abafana bami/amadodana ami (my boys/
my sons)
abazukulu (grandchildren)
usikhwiza (sister-in-law)
usibali (brother in law)
ugogo (grandmother)
umkhulu/ubabamkhulu (grandfather)
umzala (cousin)
10
Ngumndeni wami (It is my family)
Yinkosikazi yami (It is my wife)
Ngumyeni wami (It is my husband)
Umndeni wami (My family)
ULWAZI (KNOWLEDGE/EXPLANATION)
(c)
WHO IS THIS? NGUBANI LO?
In isiZulu we use Ngubani lo? ‘Who is this?’ for persons, e.g.
NguSipho. (It is Sipho.)
Ngabantu. (It is the people.)
Yindodakazi yami (It is my daughter)
Note that we usually add y- in front of nouns which start with i-, and ng- in front of
nouns which start with a-, o- and u- to express ‘it is ...’.
(d) WHAT IS THIS? YINI LOKHU?
Yini lokhu? (What is this?) is used for animals and objects, e.g.
Yinja. (It is a dog.)
Ngumuthi (It is a tree.)
Note again that we usually add y- in front of nouns which start with i-, and ng- in front
of nouns which start with a-, o- and u- to express ‘it is ...’.
(c)
SINGULAR AND PLURAL NOUNS
Nouns in isiZulu can be divided into classes of singular and plural, according to the
sounds they start with (class prefixes). The following noun classes are distinguished
in isiZulu:
CLASS NO. CLASS PREFIX
EXAMPLE OF A NOUN IN EACH CLASS
1
umu-
umuntu (a person)
2
aba-
abantu (people)
1a
u-
umama (mother)
2a
o-
omama (mother and company)
3
umu-
umuthi (tree)
4
imi-
imithi (trees)
5
i(li)-
izwe (country)
6
ama-
amazwe (countries)
7
isi-
isifo (disease)
8
izi-
izifo (diseases)
9
in-/im-
inja (dog); imvu (sheep sg.)
10
izin-/izim-
izinja (dogs); izimvu (sheep pl.)
11
ulu-
ufudu (tortoise)
10
izin-/izim-
izimfudu (tortoises)
14
ubu-
utshani (grass); ubuhlalu (beads)
15
uku-
ukudla (food)
ZUL1507/111
ACTIVITY 3
Use the table above as guideline to find the plural forms of the following nouns:
ihhashi ‘horse’ >
uthisha ‘teacher’ >
umfundi ‘pupil’ >
indlovu ‘elephant’ >
imfundo ‘study’ >
isitsha ‘dish’ >
SELF-ASSESSMENT
Read the following questions and repeat the answers. Practise this until you can give
the answers without looking in your manual.
uLindi
uPeter
1. Ngubani igama lakho? (What’s Igama lami nguPeter. (My name is Peter)
your name?)
2.
Isibongo sakho ngubani? (What is Isibongo sami nguJones. (My surname
your surname?)
is Jones.)
3.
Uhlalaphi? (Where do you live?)
4.
Lithini ikheli lakho? (What is your Lithi 512 South Road. (It’s 512 South
Road.)
address?)
5.
Wazalelwaphi? (Where were you Ngazalelwa eGilonko. (I was born in
Glencoe.)
born?)
6.
Ukhulelephi? (Where did you grow Ngikhulele khona. (I also grew up there.)
up?)
7.
Usifunda kuphi isiZulu? (Where Ngisifunda e-Unisa. (I learn it at Unisa.)
do you learn isiZulu?)
8.
Uyasazi isiZulu? (Do you know Cha, ngiyasazi kancane kuphela. (No,
isiZulu?
I only know a little.)
9.
Yisikhathi sini? (What is the time?) Ngu-9. (It is 9 o’clock.)
Ngihlala eGoIi. (I live in Johannesburg.)
10. Unjani umama wakho? (How is Uphila kahle. (She is well.)
your mother?)
11. Unjani ubaba wakho? (How is your Akaphilanga, ugula kakhulu. (He is not
father?)
well, he is very sick indeed.)
12. Uyaphila umntwana wakho? (How Yebo, uyaphila. (He/she is well.)
is your child?)
13. Banjani abantwana? (How are the Bajabulile. (They are happy.)
children?)
14. Usebenzaphi? (Where do you work?) Ngisebenza eTelkom. (I work at Telkom.)
12
IYUNITHI YESIFUNDO 3
(LEARNING UNIT 3)
3
WENZANI? (What are you doing?)
LESSON OUTCOMES
At the end of this lesson you should be able to:
•• respond to the question: What are you (singular) doing, wenzani?
•• respond to the question: What are you (plural) doing, nenzani?
•• use the question words -ni/ini? (what) and ubani? (who)
NEW WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS
A variety of words and expressions (with their English translations) that you will come
across in this learning unit are listed below.
-vuka (wake up)
ekuseni (in the morning)
-enza (do/make)
umdokwe (soft porridge)
-sebenza (work)
itiye (tea)
-pheka (cook)
incwadi/ibhuku (letter/book)
-dla (eat)
ubuso (face)
-phuza (drink)
ikhofi (coffee)
-biza (call)
iqanda (egg)
-geza (wash)
ibhulakufesi (breakfast)
-funa (want to)
manje (now)
-fundisa (teach)
namhlanje/namuhla (today)
-bhala (write)
edolobheni (in town/city)
-funda (learn)
ubisi (milk)
-ya (to go to)
ocingweni (on the phone)
-cula (sing)
ACTIVITY 1
Add any new words and expressions that you come across in this learning unit in the
space provided in the table above.
ZUL1507/113
INGXOXO (DIALOGUE)
Wenzani?
UPhindi: Wenzani wena ekuseni?
UThemba: Ekuseni ngiyavuka. Ngigeza ubuso. Ngidla ibhulakufesi. Ngidla umdokwe.
Ngiphuza ikhofi. Wena wenzani ekuseni na?
UPhindi: Nami ngiyavuka. Ngidla iqanda. Ngiphuza itiye.
TRANSLATION:
What are you (singular) doing?
Phindi: What are you doing in the mornings/ what do you do in the mornings?
Themba: In the mornings I wake up. I wash my face. I eat breakfast. I eat porridge.
I drink coffee. What are you doing in the mornings?
Phindi: I also wake up. I eat an egg. I drink tea.
Nenzani?
OBetty: Nenzani, zintombi?
OJane: Siyasebenza. Sifunda incwadi. Sifunda isiZulu. USipho usifundisa kahle
thina. Nenzani nina?
OBetty: Siya edolobheni.
TRANSLATION:
What are you (plural) doing?
Themba and friends: What are you doing girls?
Phindi and friends: We are working. We read a book. We learn isiZulu. Sipho teaches
us well. What are you doing?
Themba and friends: We are on our way to town.
ACTIVITY 2
Complete the answers to the isiZulu questions in the following table:
Asking one person:
…yahamba
I am leaving.
Wenzani?
…hlala ekhaya
I am staying at home.
Asking more than one person: ...dla inyama
Nenzani?
...funda esikoleni
We eat meat.
We learn at school.
Have you noticed that “I” is translated as “ngi-” in isiZulu?
Have you noticed that “we” is translated as “si-” in isiZulu?
The hyphen after ngi- and si- is a convention used to indicate that this morpheme
cannot stand alone, but must be attached to another part of the word.
ULWAZI (KNOWLEDGE/EXPLANATION)
(a) NOUNS AND PRONOUNS
It is a fact that each isiZulu noun has a class prefix. The class prefixes in the following nouns are underlined, e.g. isiZulu (Zulu), iqanda (egg), incwadi (letter/
book), ubisi (milk), izitsha (dishes), etc. However, the whole noun class system
will be dealt with in detail in the learning units to follow. You can also refer back
to Learning Unit 2 where we briefly touched on this topic.
14
Wenzani? (What are you doing?)
Besides nouns, we also have persons or pronouns wena (you singular), mina (I),
nina (you plural) and thina (we) which we have to know in order to communicate
effectively. Let us study the following structures so that we can ask our own questions in isiZulu and also respond to isiZulu questions:
Wenzani wena, uyafunda na?
(Mina) ngiyafunda.
What are you doing, do you study?
I study.
Nenzani nina, nifunda manje?
(Thina) sifunda manje.
What are you doing, do you study now?
We study/now.
ACTIVITY 3
Answer the following questions by using the given words in brackets:
Isibonelo: Wenzani? (-dla iqanda)
Example: Ngidla iqanda.
(i)
Wenzani? (-phuza ikhofi)
(ii)
Wenzani? (-pheka iphalishi)
(iii)
Nenzani? (-funda)
(iv)
Wenzani? (-geza ubuso)
(v)
Nenzani? (-ya edolobheni)
(b) THE PRESENT TENSE
The sentences above are all in the present tense describing what is happening now
and can therefore be used with the time words manje (now), namuhla (today) or
namhlanje (today). We have to use the isiZulu verb in order to make sentences.
In our vocabulary list we usually give the basic part, the stem of such a verb, e.g.
-funda (read/study).
In order to make a proper isiZulu sentence, the verb must be preceded by an
agreeing concord, called the subject concord. The subject concord in the sentence
Sifunda manje above precedes the verb stem -funda. The subject thina (we)
agrees with the verb -funda (read/study/learn) by means of its subject concord
si-. In the same way the subject mina (I) agrees with the verb–sebenza (work) in
ngiyasebenza by means of the subject concord ngi-.
A sentence like Ngidla manje (I eat now) on the other hand, is known as the short
form of the present tense. The verb -dla also does not end off the sentence but is
followed by manje. The short form is also used in sentences to form questions, e.g.
Ufunani? (What do you want?)
Have you noticed that some sentences like Ngiyasebenza (I work) contain -yaand others not? A sentence like Ngiyasebenza, which contains the -ya- form, is
called the long form of the present tense. In the long form the verb (-sebenza)
usually ends off the sentence.
ZUL1507/115
ACTIVITY 4
Wenzani?
Nenzani?
Wenzani?
Nenzani?
-hamba
-funda
-cula
-sebenza
-pheka
-vuka
-khuluma
NgiyaSiya-
-ya
-funda
-fundisa
-phuza
-vuka
-dla
-geza
-khuluma
NgiSi-
edolobheni
isiZulu
abantwana
itiye
ekuseni
umdokwe
ubuso
ocingweni
Do not confuse the -ya- form, called the long form of the present tense, with the
verb stem -ya which means “go to” as in the sentence:
Ngiya esikoleni (I go to school)
Go to https://isizulu.net/ and query ngiya and siya. The result will give you a much
better idea of how to use the verb stem –ya.
(c)
QUESTIONS
In order to enhance your communication skills, see to it that you understand and
know the following questions: ini? / -ni? (what) and ubani? (who?). Questions
with ini? / -ni? can only be used to refer to objects while questions with ubani?
can only be used to ask about persons, e.g.
Ufunani? (What do you want?)
Ngifuna ikhofi (I want coffee).
Nifuna ini? (What do you want?) (plural)
Sifuna incwadi (We want the
book).
Ufuna ubani? (Whom do you want?) (singular) Ngifuna uPhindi (I want Phindi).
Have you noticed that -ni is written as part of the verb as in Ufunani? The question
word -ni is also part of wenzani?
ACTIVITY 5
A:
Answer the following questions by making use of the given words.
Isibonelo:
Udlani?
What are you eating?
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)
16
(iqanda)
(an egg)
Ufundani? (isiZulu)
Ubiza ubani? (uZodwa)
Nifuna ubani? (uMandla)
Niphuzani? (itiye)
Wena uphuza ini? (ubisi)
>
>
Ngidla iqanda.
I am eating an egg.
Wenzani? (What are you doing?)
B:
Ask a question so that the underlined part is the answer.
Isibonelo:
Ngiphuza itiye.
I drink tea.
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)
>
>
Uphuzani?
What are you drinking?
Ngidla iphalishi.
Sifunda isiZulu.
Sibiza uThoko.
Niyasebenza.
Ngifuna ubisi.
SELF-ASSESSMENT
1.
2.
3.
A friend asks you: Wenzani namhlanje? Answer orally in five short sentences.
Write down two questions each by means of the following words: -ni?; ubani?
Now ask your friend to answer these questions.
ZUL1507/117
IYUNITHI YESIFUNDO 4
(LEARNING UNIT 4)
BENZANI NGEZINSUKU ZESONTO?
(What are they doing on the days of the
week?)
4
5
LESSON OUTCOMES
At the end of this lesson you should be able to:
•• use the vocabulary given in this lesson;
•• respond to the question: What is he/she/it doing (wenzani/yenzani)?
•• respond to the question: What are they doing (benzani)?
•• express the days of the week (izinsuku zesonto/zeviki);
•• explain the basics of the noun class system of isiZulu;
•• demonstrate the correct use of subject concords.
NEW WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS
A variety of words and expressions (with their English translations) that you will come
across in this learning unit are listed below:
-zwa (know/hear)
ngoMsombuluko (on Monday)
-enza (do/make)
ngoLwesibili (on Tuesday)
-qala (start)
ngoLwesithathu (on Wednesday)
beshayisa/bephumula (they knock off/ ngoLwesine (on Thursday)
rest–work)
-bukela (watch/look)
ngoLwesihlanu (on Friday)
-gula (be sick)
ngezinsuku zesonto/ngezinsuku zeviki
(on weekdays)
-thenga (buy)
-phumula (rest)
-gunda (mow/shear/cut hair or grass)
-nisela (water for)
-dlala (play)
-ya (to go to)
-vamisa (do regularly)
ilanga liyashisa (the sun is hot/shines)
libalele (it is hot)
izinsuku zeviki/zesonto (days of the week)
ngoba (because)
18
indoda (man)
iphephandaba/inyuziphepha (newspaper)
esinema/ebhayisikobho (to the cinema)
ngempelasonto/ngempelaviki (over the
weekend)
intombazane (girl)
intombi (girl/lady)
umndeni (family)
abanye abantu (some people/other people)
utshani (grass/lawn)
izimbali (flowers)
Benzani ngezinsuku zesonto? (What are they doing on the days of the week?)
ibhola (ball)
imidlalo (games/sports)
itiye (tea)
kudokotela (to the doctor)
ubisi (milk)
ngoMgqibelo (on Saturday)
abantu abaningi (many people)
ngeSonto (on Sunday)
bese (and then)
olwandle (to the beach/sea)
umsebenzi (work)
iragbhi (rugby)
isikole (school)
ithenisi (tennis)
isiNgisi (English)
isibhakela (boxing/fist)
ithelevishini (television)
esontweni (to church)
njalo (always)
uma (when/if)
You will notice that some words have alternative forms in isiZulu, e.g. isonto (week) is
also known as iviki (week). Some isiZulu words also have two or more English alternatives, e.g. -zwa (know OR hear).
ACTIVITY 1
Add any new words and expressions that you come across in this learning unit in the
space provided in the table above.
ISIGABA SOKUFUNDA
(Passage for reading)
Listen to the recording as explained in Tutorial letter 101.
Benzani ngezinsuku zesonto?
Sifuna ukuzwa ukuthi abantu benzani ngezinsuku zesonto. Abantu abaningi
baqala umsebenzi ngoMsombuluko bese beshayisa ngoLwesihlanu. Isikole sivula
ngoMsombuluko. NgoLwesibili abafundi bafunda isiNgisi. NgoLwesithathu uThoko
uya kudokotela ngoba uyagula. NgoLwesine indoda ithenga iphephandaba. OTom baya
esinema ngoLwesihlanu.
Abantu abaningi baphumula ngempelasonto. NgoMgqibelo umndeni usebenza
engadini ngoba ilanga liyashisa. Umfana ugunda utshani. Umama unisela izimbali.
Abanye abantu badlala imidlalo. Badlala ibhola noma iragbhi noma ithenisi.
Ubaba ubukela isibhakela kuthelevishini. Intombi iya olwandle uma libalele. Umndeni
uvamise ukuya esontweni njalo ngeSonto.
TRANSLATION
What are they doing on the days of the week?
We want to know what people are doing during the week. Many people start working
on Monday and stop working on Friday. The school opens on Monday. On Tuesday the
students learn English. On Wednesday Thoko goes to the doctor because she is ill. On
Thursday the man buys a newspaper. Tom and company go to the cinema on Friday.
ZUL1507/119
Many people rest over the weekend. On Saturday the family works in the garden because
the sun is shining. The boy mows the lawn. Mother waters the flowers. Other people play
games. They play soccer or rugby or tennis. Father watches boxing on television. The
girl goes to the beach when it is sunny. The family regularly goes to church on Sunday.
ULWAZI (KNOWLEDGE/EXPLANATION)
(a) The noun class system
In the introduction and previous Learning Units you have already been made aware
that nouns in Zulu are grouped together into various classes according to their prefixes.
A prefix is that part that is added to the beginning of a word, e.g. um- in umfana (boy)
and in- in indoda (man). Nouns that have the same prefix belong to the same class.
Most of the classes occur in pairs, of which one is the singular and the other, the plural.
Nouns mentioned in the text belong to different noun classes as recognised by their
prefixes. Umuntu (human) for instance, belongs to the um(u)- class; abantu (people) its
plural, belongs to the aba- class; uThoko belongs to the u- class and its plural oThoko
to the o- class and isibhakela (fist) belongs to the isi- class and its plural izibhakela
to the izi-class. It is thus easy to predict the plural form of the noun once you know
the singular and vice versa.
(b) Subject concords
The subject noun in a Zulu sentence agrees with the verb by means of a concord called
the subject concord. Nouns in the um(u)- class for instance, are linked to the verb by
means of the subject concord u-, e.g.
umu- class: Umfana uyasebenza (The boy is working).
In the same manner nouns in the in- class for instance, are linked to the verb by means
of the subject concord i-, e.g.
in- class: Indoda ifuna udokotela (The man wants a doctor).
For the plural noun classes aba- and o-, the subject noun is also linked to the verb by
means of an agreeing subject concord, ba-, e.g.
aba- class: Abafana bayasebenza (The boys are working),
o- class: OThoko baqeda umsebenzi (Thoko and company finish the work).
You can now also go on and answer more questions using -enza such as:
Wenzani? (What does he/she do/ What is s/he doing?)
Uyadlala (He/she is playing)
Benzani? (What do they do/What are they doing?)
Bathenga ukudla (They buy food)
Yenzani inja? (What does the dog do/What is the dog doing?)
Iyaluma (It bites)
Zenzani izingane? (What do the children do/What are the children doing?)
Zilalela kahle (They listen well).
However, see to it that you use the correct subject concords as indicated above. Below
follows a table which will help you to get used to the concordial system of Zulu, i. e.
to recognise the noun class prefix and then to bring the noun into agreement with the
applicable subject concord. Try to put all the nouns you come across in the following
lessons into their specific noun classes.
20
Benzani ngezinsuku zesonto? (What are they doing on the days of the week?)
(c) Summary of noun class prefixes and subject concords
What follows is a summary of all the noun class prefixes and their subject concords
in the positive. This list also includes the subject concords for the persons. The noun
classes are numbered from 1 to 18. Our list includes only the noun classes that are still
functional in Zulu. The classes 12 and 13 do not exist in Zulu anymore and class 17 is
hardly functional. Moreover, the pha- (16) and mu- classes (18), are not actually noun
classes any more but are now mainly adverbs.
class number
class prefix
s/c pos.
example noun
1
2
1a
2a
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
14
15
umu-/umaba-/abeuoumu-/umimii(li)amaisi-/isizi-/izin-/imizin-/izimulu-/ul-/uubu-/ubuku-/uk-
ubaubauiliasizilizilubuku-
umuntu
abantu
uThoko/ushizi
oThoko
umndeni
imindeni
ibhola
amabhola
isikole
izikole
intombi/imvu
izintombi/izimvu
uthando (love)
ubuso
ukuhamba
Persons
mina (I)
wena (you singular)
yena (he/she)
thina (we)
nina (you plural)
bona (they)
ngiuusiniba-
ACTIVITY 2
1. Revisit the vocabulary in this Learning Unit and then fill in the missing noun class
prefixes in the following singular nouns and also give the plural (if applicable).
Isibonelo: -fana
umfana > abafana
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)
(vi)
-ntu
-fundi
-mama
-doda
-tiye
-Tom
ZUL1507/121
(vii)
(viii)
(ix)
(x)
-phephandaba
-tshani
-bisi
–dlalo
Go to https://isizulu.net/ in order to verify your answers.
2. Try the following exercises in order to identify the specific noun classes certain isiZulu
nouns belong to. See whether you can fill in the correct subject concords according
to noun classes. Do not repeat the subject noun.
Isibonelo: Wenzani uThandi? (-biza umfana)
Ubiza umfana.
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)
(vi)
(vii)
(viii)
Wenzani udokotela? (-qeda umsebenzi)
Benzani abafana? (-dlala iragbhi)
Yenzani intombi? (-funda isiZulu)
Benzani abantwana? (-bukela ithelevishini)
Wenzani wena? (-thenga iphephandaba)
Abafundi benzani? (-qala isikole)
Wenzani umndeni? (-phumula)
Linjani ilanga? (-shisa)
Have you noticed that the table of noun class prefixes and subject concords is a
useful guideline to determine the correct subject concord?
SELF-ASSESSMENT
1. Look up the following words in a dictionary (isiZulu entries) or on https://isizulu.net/
and find out what noun class they belong to and what their meaning is. Note that
when looking up the noun isinkwa (bread), for instance, in most paper dictionaries,
you should isolate the prefix isi- first and look under the stem -nkwa.
imoto, ufudu, imifula, umlilo, amantombazane, ikhehla, isalukazi, uthisha, amandla,
izinyoka, umZulu.
2. Complete the following sentences by giving the isiZulu words for the English names
of the days of the week in brackets.
Isibonelo: UThandi uya esikoleni (on Monday).
UThandi uya esikoleni ngoMsombuluko.
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)
(vi)
22
UVusi uya edolobheni (on Tuesday).
Abafana badlala ibhola (on Thursday).
Umntwana wenza umsebenzi (on Wednesday).
Indoda ibukela isibhakela (on Saturday).
Intombi idla ibhulakufesi (on Friday morning).
Umndeni uya esontweni (on Sunday).
IYUNITHI YESIFUNDO 5
(LEARNING UNIT 5)
UMNTANAMI AKAPHILILE KAHLE
(My child is not well)
6
LESSON OUTCOMES
At the end of this lesson you should be able to:
•• say what persons/things are NOT doing at the moment, i.e. the negative of the
present tense;
•• use the word cha (no) effectively;
•• respond to the question Linjani izulu? (What is the weather like?)
NEW WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS
A variety of words and expressions (with their English translations) that you will come
across in this learning unit are listed below:
-khwehlela (cough)
nina nonke (all of you (pl.))
-vuka (get/wake up)
futhi (also)
-lele (asleep/to lie down)
nje (just)
-hlupha (bother/be problematic)
ngempela (really)
alishisi (it is not hot)
(nga)phandle (outside)
-na (to rain)
umuthi wakhe (her/his medicine)
-phuma (go out)
lokhu (this)
-baba (bad tasting/bitter)
hawu! (interjection of surprise)
akukuhle (it is not good)
ngani? (with what?)
ngingakusiza (I can help you)
ukuthi (that)
kulungile (it is in order/good)
ngesonto/ngeviki elizayo (next week)
-ethemba (to hope)
uzobe esephile kahle (she/he will be well)
ndoda/mfowethu (man/brother–direct
address form)
ACTIVITY 1
Add any new words and expressions that you come across in this learning unit in the
space provided in the table above.
ZUL1507/123
INGXOXO (DIALOGUE)
UMNTANAMI AKAPHILILE KAHLE
UJohn:
Sawubona ndoda!
UMandla: Yebo, sawubona mfowethu!
UJohn:
Unjani?
UMandla: Ngiyaphila mina, ninjani nina nonke?
UJohn:
Sisaphila sonke, kodwa umntanami, uKen akaphilile kahle, uyagula.
UMandla: Uphethwe yini?
UJohn:
Uyakhwehlela futhi akafuni ukudla.
UMandla: Usekhaya na?
UJohn
Yebo. Akavuki, ulele nje. Izulu liyahlupha ngoba ilanga alishisi liyana
ngempela. Manje uKen yena akaphumeli ngaphandle.
UMandla: Uphuza umuthi na?
UJohn:
Cha, akaphuzi umuthi wakhe ngoba uyababa.
UMandla: Hawu, akukuhle lokhu ndoda. Ngingakusiza ngani?
UJohn:
Cha, kulungile, uMary uyamsiza ekhaya. Siyethemba ukuthi uzobe esephile
kahle ngesonto elizayo.
TRANSLATION
My child is not well
John:
Hallo man!
Mandla: Yes, hello my brother.
John:
How are you?
Mandla: I am well, how are all of you?
John:
We are all still well but my child, Ken is not well, he is ill.
Mandla: What is wrong with him?
John:
He is coughing and does not want to eat.
Mandla: Is he at home?
John:
He does not get up, and just lies there. The weather is problematic since the
sun does not shine and it rains quite hard. Now Ken does not go outside.
Mandla: Does he drink his medicine?
John:
He does not drink his medicine because it is bitter.
Mandla: Hey, this is not good man. How can I help you?
John:
24
It is all right, Mary helps him at home. We hope that he gets well/he will
be well by next week.
Umntanami akaphilile kahle (My child is not well)
ACTIVITY 2
Make a list of all the negative verbs that you can find in the isiZulu dialogue above.
Write the English translation next to each verb as shown in the first example:
Negative verb
akaphuzi
English translation
he does not drink
What do most of the isiZulu verbs in the dialogue have in common? Do you see that
they all start with a-?
Go to https://isizulu.net/ and query each one of the above negative verbs. The result
will give you a much better idea of how to form negatives in the present tense.
ULWAZI (KNOWLEDGE/EXPLANATION)
(e)
The negative
In this lesson we will learn how to say what a person is NOT doing or what people are
NOT doing. To confirm a sentence we use the word yebo (yes) and to negate it we use
the word cha or qha (no). We are still dealing with the present tense but this time not
with the positive but with the negative.
Remember the following points when forming negative sentences:
To form the negative you simply add a- in front of the subject concord and change the
verb ending -a to -i, e.g.
Positive:
Negative:
Abafana baphuza umuthi (The boys drink medicine)
Abafana abaphuzi umuthi (The boys do not drink medicine)
>
a + ba > abaphuzi
Positive:
Negative:
Ilanga liyashisa (The sun shines)
Ilanga alishisi (The sun does not shine)
>
a + li > alishisi
Positive:
Negative:
Indoda iphuza amanzi (The man drinks water)
Indoda ayiphuzi amanzi (The man does not drink water)
>
a + i > ayiphuzi
Note that we use -y- to separate the vowels a- and -i- (subject concord).
Positive:
Negative:
Abafana baphila kahle (The boys are very well)
Abafana abaphilile kahle (The boys are not very well)
>
a + ba > abaphilile.
ZUL1507/125
Note that we use -ile to indicate a state in the present tense and the
verb does not end in -i the negative in this case.
The negatives of the persons are formed in the same manner, e.g.
mina (I):
a- + ngi- > angiphilile (I am not well)
thina (we): a- + si- > asiphumi (we do not go out)
wena (you singular): a- + u- > awudlali (you do not play)
nina (you plural):
a- + ni- > anidli (you do not eat)
bona (they): a- + ba- > abafundi (they do not learn)
Note that we use -w- to separate the vowels a- and -u- (subject concord).
For the um(u)- and u- classes and yena, we must remember to use aka- as negative
prefix, e.g.
Positive: Umfana uyadla (The boy eats)
Negative: Umfana akadli (The boy does not eat)
>
a + ka > akadli.
Positive: Yena ufuna umuthi (He/she wants the medicine)
Negative: Yena akafuni umuthi (He/she does not want the medicine)
>
a + ka > akafuni.
There is no long or short form in the negative as -ya- falls away, e.g.
Uyagula? (Is he ill?)
Cha, akaguli. (No he is not ill.)
Ugula ngempela na? (Is he very ill?)
Cha, akaguli ngempela. (No, he is not very ill.)
If you now add the negative subject concords to your previous summary table of Learning
Unit 4, you will have an even better understanding of concordial agreement in isiZulu.
26
Umntanami akaphilile kahle (My child is not well)
SUMMARY
class number
class prefix
s/c pos.
s/c neg.
example noun
1
2
1a
2a
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
14
15
umu-/umaba-/abeuoumu-/umimii(li)amaisi-/isizi-/izin-/imizin-/izimulu-/ul-/uubu-/ubuku-/ukpersons
mina
wena
yena
thina
nina
bona
ubaubauiliasiziizilubuku-
akaabaakaabaawuayialiawaasiaziayiazialuabuaku-
umuntu
abantu
ugogo/ushizi
ogogo
umndeni
imindeni
ibhola
amabhola
isikole
izikole
inja/imvu
izinja/izimvu
uthando
ubuso
ukuhamba
ngiuusiniba-
angiawuakaasianiaba-
ACTIVITY 3
1.
Make the following sentences meaningful by making use of the CORRECT subject
concord positive or negative.
Isibonelo: Umfana -dlala ibhola
Umfana udlala ibhola.
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)
(vi)
(vii)
(viii)
(ix)
(x)
2.
Wena -saphila na?
Isikole -vula namhlanje.
Cha, abafana -fun- ibhola. (negative)
USipho -dlala kahle.
Cha, amadoda (men) -vuk- ngeSonto ukuya esontweni.
UThemba -siz- ubaba. (negative)
Intombazane -sebenz- ngoMsombuluku.
-enzani umntwana? -funda incwadi.
Mina -phuza itiye kodwa umfowethu -phuz- itiye (negative), -thanda ikhofi.
Izulu -yahlupha ngoba ilanga –shisi.
See how many meaningful negative sentences you can form by adding verbs that
you are already familiar with to the last column in this table, e.g.
ZUL1507/127
Intombazane
ayi-
-sebenzi
-hambi
-dli
Remember to change the verb ending -a to –i in the negative (as in the examples
above).
Thina
Abafana
Mina
USipho
Ilanga
Indoda
Umndeni
Wena
Umfana
(f)
asiabaangiakaaliayiawuawuaka-
The weather
Ilanga and izulu are important nouns when one wants to talk about the weather
or when one has to answer questions about the weather, e.g.
Izulu linjani namuhla? (How is the weather today?)
Lihle. (It is fine weather.)
Note that it is not always necessary to use the nouns izulu and ilanga in a conversation, because they are implied by the use of the subject concord li-, e.g.
Liyana. (It is raining.)
Liyashisa. (It is hot.)
Liyabanda. (It is cold.)
Lipholile. (It is cool.)
Libalele. (It is sunny.)
Liyahloma. (A storm is threatening.)
Libuyisile. (It is overcast.)
Liyaduma. (It is thundering.)
Liyabaneka. (It/there is lightning.)
Liyakhiza. (It is drizzling.)
Liwisa amatshe. (It is hailing.)
Libi. (The weather is bad.)
Lihle. (The weather is fine.)
Note that -baneka (light up or flash, as in lightening the heavens in a storm) is
the spelling that you will find in dictionaries but it is also written as -banika (light
up or flash, as lightening the heavens in a storm) in some texts.
28
Umntanami akaphilile kahle (My child is not well)
ACTIVITY 4
Find a friend, neighbour, colleague or acquaintance who speaks isiZulu and then ask
him/her about the weather on different days. You can use the expression: Izulu linjani?
Write down the answers that you get.
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)
(vi)
(vii)
….
….
….
….
….
….
….
SELF-ASSESSMENT
1. Answer the following questions by starting with Cha.... and changing the verb to
the negative.
Isibonelo:
Abafana bayasebenza na?
Cha, abasebenzi.
(i)
Baqeda umsebenzi na?
Cha, …
(ii)
Liyakhiza na?
Cha, …
(iii)
USipho uyagula?
Cha ….
(iv)
Umfana uya ekhaya?
Cha, ….
(v)
Izulu liwisa amatshe?
Cha, ….
(vi)
Wena ufuna umuthi?
Cha, ….
(vii) Umuthi uyababa?
Cha, ….
(viii) Umndeni uyaphila na?
Cha, ….
(ix)
Indoda idla ukudla?
Cha, ….
(x)
Ogogo bavuka ekuseni na?
Cha, ….
2. Provide answers to the following enquiries about weather conditions by translating
the English version in brackets into isiZulu:
Isibonelo:
Ilanga liyashisa na? (No, it is cold)
Cha, liyabanda.
ZUL1507/129
30
(i)
Ilanga libalele na? (No, it is overcast)
Cha, ….
(ii)
Izulu libi na? (No, it is fine)
Cha, ….
(iii)
Liyaduma na? (No, a storm is threatening)
Cha, ….
(iv)
Izulu liwisa amatshe? (No, it is drizzling)
Cha, …
(v)
Izulu lipholile? (No, it is hot)
Cha, ….
IYUNITHI YESIFUNDO 6
(LEARNING UNIT 6)
7
ERESTORANTI (In the restaurant)
LESSON OUTCOMES
At the end of this lesson you should be able to:
•• use the new vocabulary;
•• form questions in three different ways;
•• answer questions;
•• use nga- to say ‘with/by means of (instrumental prefix);
•• change nouns to say ‘in/at/on’ (locatives).
NEW WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS
uweta (waiter)
ushokoledi (chocolate)
isiteki (steaks)
amaqanda (eggs)
iziphuzo (drinks)
amazambane (potatoes)
inkinga (problem)
inhlanzi (fish)
u-ayisikhilimu (ice cream)
iwayini (wine)
isonto/iviki (week)
endleleni (in/at the road)
-ni?/yini? (what?)
emsebenzini (to/at work)
ngani? (with what?)
emhlanganweni (to/at the meeting)
kanjani? (how?)
ehlobo (in summer)
malini? (how much?)
ebusika (in winter)
nini? (when?)
-lethela bring (for someone)
-phi?/kuphi? (where?)
-lindela (wait for)
kangaki? (how many times?)
-mnandi (tasty)
ekhoneni (to/in/at the corner)
ekhishini (to/in/at the kitchen)
ehhovisi (to/in/at the office)
erestoranti (to/in/at the restaurant)
esitolo (to/in/at the shop)
eDandi (to/in/at Dundee)
eposini (to/in/at the post office)
engadini (in/at the garden)
ekamelweni/egumbini (to/in/at the room)
ithekisi (taxi)
ngomile (I am thirsty)
okudliwayo (something to eat)
ngicela/ngiyacela (please, I request)
izinyawo (feet)
imoto (car)
kulungile (it is all right /in order)
kusekhona okunye (is there still something
else)
iphunga lokudla (the smell of the food)
-consisa amathe (to make one’s mouth
water)
ZUL1507/131
isitimela (train)
asihlaleni (let’s sit)
ibhasi (bus)
laphaya (over there)
ibhayisikili (bicycle)
habe!/maye! (wow!/good grief!)
indiza (aeroplane)
khona manje (just now)
isithuthuthu (motor bike)
imenyu (menu)
ibhodlela le-Cabernet Sauvignon (a bottle umkami/unkosikazi wami (my wife)
of Cabernet Sauvignon)
inyama yenkukhu (chicken)
ingilazi ye-Coke (a glass of Coke)
inyama yengulube (pork)
umyeni wami (my husband)
inyama yemvu (mutton/ lamb’s meat)
ACTIVITY 1
Add any new words and expressions that you come across in this learning unit in the
space provided in the table above.
INGXOXO (DIALOGUE)
Erestoranti
32
Ubaba:
Sizohlala kuphi mkami?
Umama:
Asihlaleni ekhoneni.
Ubaba:
Uphi uweta?
Umama:
Usekhishini.
Ubaba:
Weta! Weta!
Uweta:
Sawubona mnumzane!
Ubaba:
Yebo, mnumzane. Unjani?
Uweta:
Ngikhona wena unjani?
Ubaba:
Cha, ngisaphila.
Uweta:
Ngingakusiza ngani baba?
Ubaba:
Ngicela imenyu.
Uweta:
Nansi baba!
Ubaba:
Ngiyabonga. Libiza malini ibhodlela le-Cabernet Sauvignon?
Uweta:
Libiza u-R100.
Ubaba:
Habe liyadula! Yini inkinga Thembi?
UThembi:
Ngomile baba! Ngicela ingilazi ye-Coke.
Ubaba:
Ake usilethele ingilazi ye-Coke nebhodlela le-Cabernet Sauvignon.
Uweta:
Kulungile, baba. Nifuna okudliwayo na?
Ubaba:
Yebo. Bona bafuna i-Monkey Gland, kanti mina ngifuna i-Pepper Steak.
Uweta:
Kulungile, baba. Nizifuna nini iziphuzo? Khona manje, kanye nokudla?
Ubaba:
Sizocela khona manje.
Uweta:
Kusekhona okunye na?
Ubaba:
Cha, kulungile. Siyabonga. Mmm, iphunga lokudla liconsisa amathe!
Erestoranti (In the restaurant)
TRANSLATION
At the restaurant
Dad:
Where should we sit, my dear?
Mother:
Let’s sit over there in the corner.
Dad:
Where is the waiter?
Mother:
He’s over there in the kitchen.
Dad:
Waiter! Waiter!
Waiter:
Good day, sir!
Dad:
Hallo. How are you?
Waiter:
I am fine. How are you?
Dad:
I am also fine, thank you.
Waiter:
How can I help you, sir?
Dad:
Could you please bring me a menu?
Waiter:
Here it is, sir!
Dad:
Thank you. How much is a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon?
Waiter:
It is R100.
Dad:
Good grief! It is expensive. What is wrong, Thembi?
Thembi:
I am thirsty, dad. I would like a glass of Coke.
Dad:
Please bring us a glass of Coke and a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon.
Waiter:
All right, sir. Do you want something to eat?
Dad:
Yes. They want Monkey Gland Steaks, and I would like a Pepper Steak.
Waiter:
All right, sir. When do you want your drinks? Now, or with the food?
Dad:
Now, now please.
Waiter:
Is there something else?
Dad:
No, that will be all, thank you. Wow, the smell of the food is making
my mouth water!
ULWAZI (KNOWLEDGE/EXPLANATION)
(a)
Questions
A statement can be changed into a question in one of the following ways:
••
••
••
by changing your tone of voice and shortening the last word in the sentence;
by adding na? to the end of the sentence;
by adding yini? to the end of the sentence.
For example, the statement Uyafunda (She is studying) can be converted to
(i) Uyafunda? (Is s/he studying?/You are studying?)
(ii) Uyafunda na? (Is s/he is studying?/ Are you studying?)
(ii) Uyafunda yini? (Is s/he is studying, or not?/Are you studying?)
ZUL1507/133
Question words are used to get specific information, e.g.
-phi / kuphi? (where?) as in:
Ufundaphi? / Ufunda kuphi? (Where do you study?)
nini? (when?) as in:
Ufunda nini? (When do you study?)
-ni?/ ini? / yini? (what?) as in:
Ufundani? / Ufunda ini? / Ufunda yini? (What are you studying?/What is s/he studying?)
Malini? / Kubiza malini? (How much does it cost?)
ACTIVITY 2
Answer the following questions in the first person singular.
“I”, first as an affirmative answer, then as a negative answer, e.g.
Yebo, ngithanda amanzi.
Cha, angithandi amanzi.
imali
u-ayisikhilimu
amazambane
ushokoledi
amaqanda
Uthanda
inhlanzi
inyama yenkukhu
na?
inyama yenkomo
ingilazi yewayini
isiteki
ukudla
ubisi
(b)
‘With/by means of’
In isiZulu we use nga- to express ‘with’ or ‘by means of’ to indicate the ‘instrument’
through which an action is performed, e.g. ngepeni (with a pen) or ngethekisi (with
a taxi). Sometimes nga- also means ‘on’, or ‘in’, e.g. ngoLwesiblli (on Tuesday) or
ngesiZulu (in isiZulu). Also note that the merging of vowels takes place, when ng- is
followed by a vowel. This is the pattern:
34
a+i>e
nga + ithekisi >
ngethekisi (by taxi)
a+u>o
nga + uLwesibili >
ngoLwesibili (on Tuesday)
a+a>a
nga + amandla >
ngamandla (with strength)
Erestoranti (In the restaurant)
ACTIVITY 3
Answer the following questions by giving the correct form of the noun in brackets.
Test your answers by logging into https://isizulu.net/ and see the result of your query.
Isibonelo (Example):
Uhamba ngani ukuya esikoleni? (How / with what do you go to school?) (nga+imoto)
Ngiya esikoleni ngemoto.
Ngiya
esikoleni
(nga+ithekisi)
(nga+ibhasi)
(nga+isitimela)
(nga+izinyawo)
(nga+isitimela)
(c)
Locality
To indicate the place where an action is taking place, the formative e- is often added to
the front of the noun. It is then translated with ‘in’, ‘at’ or ‘on’. This also mostly applies to
the names of places.
umnyango (door)
->
emnyango (at/on the door)
isitolo (shop)
->
esitolo (at/to/in the shop)
ikhaya (home)
->
ekhaya (at home)
ibhange (bank)
->
ebhange (at/to/in the bank)
ihhovisi (office)
->
ehhovisi (at/to/in the office)
ikholiji (college)
->
ekholiji (at/to the college)
irestoranti (restaurant)
->
erestoranti (at/to/in the restaurant)
iyunivesithi (university)
->
eyunivesithi (at/to/in the university)
iGoli (Johannesburg)
->
eGoli (to/in Johannesburg)
iKwaZulu-Natali (KwaZulu-Natal)
->
eKwaZulu-Natali (to/in KwaZulu-Natal)
iJozi (Johannesburg)
->
eJozi (to/in Johannesburg)
i-Unisa (Unisa)
->
e-Unisa (at/to/in Unisa)
In other instances both e- and -ini are used. The e- is added in front and the -ini at the
end of the noun, e.g.
itafula (table)
->
etafuleni (at/on the table)
isitaladi (street)
->
esitaladini (at/on/in the street)
ipulazi (farm)
->
epulazini (at/on the farm)
umfula (river)
->
emfuleni (in/at the river)
isikole (school)
->
esikoleni (at/to/in the school)
iposi (post office)
->
eposini (at/to/in the school)
umsebenzi (work)
->
emsebenzini (at/to work)
iTheku (Durban)
->
eThekwini (at/to/in Durban)
ZUL1507/135
To indicate locality with regard to people, ku- is usually placed before the word, to express ‘at’/with someone’, e.g.
uSarah (Sarah)
->
kuSarah (with Sarah)
Examples of usage with translations are as follows:
Ngithanda ukuhlala kubaba. (I like to sit with/next to dad/on his lap.)
Hlala kumama, mntwana. (Sit with your mother, child.)
Ukhala kumalume ngoba ufuna iswidi. (He cries to uncle because he wants a sweet.)
To express ‘at the place / homestead of someone’, the formative kwa- is used, e.g.
i-Shoprite (Shoprite)
udokotela (doctor)
umkhulu (grandparent)
->
->
->
kwa-Shoprite (the place of Shoprite)
kwadokotela (at the place of the doctor)
kwamkhulu (at the homestead of the grandparent)
Examples of usage with translations are as follows:
Bahlangana kwamfundisi. (They are meeting at the house/place of the priest.)
Sivakashela kwaMkhize. (We are visiting the Mkhize homestead /place.)
Nouns that have been changed to express locality, are called locatives or locative nouns.
ACTIVITY 4
Answer the following questions by giving the correct form of the noun (indicating locality).
Test your answers by logging into https://isizulu.net/ and see the result of your query.
Isibonelo (example):
Uyaphi? (isikole)
Ngiya esikoleni/Uya esikoleni.
Niyaphi? (isikole)
Siya esikoleni.
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)
Niyaphi? (irestoranti)
Niya kuphi? (isitolo)
Niyaphi? (ubaba)
Niyakuphi? (iGauteng)
Niyaphi? (ugogo)
Uyaphi? (ikhaya)
Uya kuphi? (iposi)
Uyaphi? (uJohn)
Uya kuphi? (iGoli)
Uyaphi? (ibhange)
SELF-ASSESSMENT
When you request an isiZulu speaker to ask the following questions, you need to pay
careful attention to the intonation of the speaker’s voice. Practise asking questions until
you get the intonation right. A mother-tongue speaker will be able to confirm the correct
pronunciation.
Answer the following questions in isiZulu:
1.
Uthanda ukuya erestoranti?
(Do you like to go to a restaurant?)
(Yes, I like to go to a restaurant.)
2. Uyamazi uweta na?
(Do you know the waiter?)
(No, I don’t know the waiter.)
3. Nithanda iwayini na?
Do you (plural) like wine?)
(No, we don’t like wine.)
4. Uthanda amazambane yini?
(Do you like potatoes?)
(Yes, I like potatoes.)
36
Erestoranti (In the restaurant)
5. Uyaphi?
(Where are you going/ where is s/he going?)
6.
(I am going to the restaurant.)
Ufuna ukudla ini?
(What do you want to eat/What does s/he wants to eat?) (I want to eat mutton.)
7.
Yimalini ihambhega?
(How much is a hamburger?) (It is R50.)
8. Uya nini ekhaya?
(When are you going home/ When is s/he going home?)
(I am going just now.)
9. Uhamba nobani ukuya erestoranti?
(With whom are you going to the restaurant/With whom is s/he going to the restaurant?)
(I am going with Mandla and others.)
10. OThandi benzani?
(What are Thandi and others doing?) (They are waiting for food.)
11. Kunjani ukudla?
(How is the food?) (It is very nice.)
12. Ubaba ufunani?
(What does father want?)
(He wants to eat.)
13. Uyasebenza ngamaSonto na?
(Do you work on Sundays?) (No, I don’t work on Sundays.)
14. Zikuphi iziphuzo?
(Where are the drinks?)
(They are on the table.)
15. Uphi umntanami?
(Where is my child?) (He is sitting with the boys.)
16. Ivela kuphi insizwa?
(From where is the young man?)
(He is from the farm.)
17. Izingane zibuya kuphi?
(Where are the children coming from?) (They are coming from Pietermaritzburg.)
18. Uthengaphi ukudla?
(Where do you buy food/Where does s/he buy food?) (I buy it at Pick & Pay.)
19. Umfana uyagula. Uya kuphi?
(The boy is ill. Where is he going?)
(He is going to the doctor.)
20. Amakhosikazi asebenza kuphi?
(Where are the women working?)
(They are working at home.)
ZUL1507/137
IYUNITHI YESIFUNDO 7
(LEARNING UNIT 7)
8
EBHANGE (At the bank)
LESSON OUTCOMES
At the end of this lesson you should be able to:
•• use the vocabulary given in this lesson;
•• say ngiyakwazi uku- ‘I am able to (do something)’ in isiZulu (infinitives);
•• use -na- (copula)
•• say ‘have/own’ in isiZulu.
NEW WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS
A variety of words and expressions (with their English translations) that you will come
across in this learning unit are listed below.
kufanele (must/ought to)
-ehla (go down)
-thatha (take)
-themba (hope)
-amukela (receive)
-thengisa (sell)
-thunga (sew)
-gcwalisa (fill/complete)
-cela uku- (request to/’please’)
-sayina (sign)
-jaha (to hasten/hurry)
-vula i-akhawunti (open an account)
-siza (help)
-londoloza/-onga (save)
-kopisha (copy)
-qala (start/be first)
-buya (return)
umphathimali (cashier)
ilayisense (licence)
ikhompyutha (computer)
-funa (want)
uqinisile (you are right)
-chitha isikhathi (waste time)
esandleni sobunxele/ngakwesobunxele
(on the left hand side)
ibhuku lamasheke (cheque book)
ngeshwa (unfortunately)
usizo lokuqala (first aid)
inkulungwane (1000)
38
Uphila kanjani? (How are you?) (sg.)
Uxolo (Excuse me)
Uyangiqonda? (Do you understand me?)
Ngiyajabula ukukwazi. (I am pleased to
know you.)
iselula (cell phone)
izimbali (flowers)
amaswidi (sweets)
umninibhange (bank owner)
umphathibhange (bank manager)
ebhange (at the bank)
ekhefi (at the cafe)
kulayini (in the line)
indlu encane (toilet/little house)
i-akhawunti yamasheke (cheque account)
inkulungwane yamarandi (a thousand rand)
i-akhawunti yendodana yami yokonga/
yokulondoloza (my son’s savings account)
incwadi kamazisi (ID-book)
ngephaseji (with/through the passage)
esandleni sokudla ngakwesokudla (on the
right hand side)
-shayela ucingo (phone)
-mukisa/-hambisa ku- (take to)
-khipha imali (draw money)
kuna-/kukhona (there is)
-hola (earn)
Ebhange (At the bank)
-vakashela (visit someone)
-cula (sing)
-gijima ngejubane (run fast)
-thanda (like)
phansi (below/ down/ at the start)
kunjalo (it is so)
bonke abantu (everyone/all people)
ushokoledi (chocolate)
isicelo (application/request)
la mafomu (these forms)
samukelwe (it has been approved)
ACTIVITY 1
Add any new words and expressions that you come across in this learning unit in the
space provided in the table above.
INGXOXO (DIALOGUE)
Ebhange
UJoyce:
Sawubona Mnumzane!
Umphathibhange:
Yebo sawubona, Nkosikazi!
UJoyce:
Unjani?
Umphathibhange:
Ngiyaphila. Wena unjani?
UJoyce:
Nami ngiyaphila.
Umphathibhange:
Ngingakusiza ngani?
UJoyce:
Ngifuna ukuvula i-akhawunti yamasheki kanye nokulondoloza amarandi ayinkulungwane e-akhawuntini
yendodana yami.
Umphathibhange:
Kulungile Nkosikazi. Gcwalisa la mafomu. Unencwadi
kamazisi na?
UJoyce:
Yebo, Mnumzane. Nansi.
Umphathibhange:
Ngiyabonga. Kufanele ngenze ikhophi. Ngizobuya khona
manje.
UJoyce:
Ngifuna ukuya endlini encane. Ikuphi?
Umphathibhange:
Yehla ngephaseji, ungene emnyango wokuqala esandleni
sokudla.
UJoyce:
Ngiyabonga Mnumzane.
(Ngemuva kwesikhashana)
Umphathibhange:
Konke kulungile Nkosikazi. Ngicela usayine lapha. Ngiyabonga, Nkosikazi. Ngizokukushayela ucingo uma isicelo
sakho se-akhawunti samukelwe. Kanti ungeza uzokuthola
ibhuku lamasheki. Manje ungamukisa ifomu lakho
kumphathimali. Uzofakela imali e-akhawuntini yendodana
ZUL1507/139
yakho. Kukhona okunye na?
UJoyce:
Yebo, Mnzumzane. Ngifuna ukukhipha u-R100.
Umphathibhange:
Cela umphathimali. Uzokusiza.
UJoyce:
Maye! Ngiyethemba ukuthi abazukuchitha isikhathi.
Ngijahile.
Umphathibhange:
Yebo, Nkosikazi. Bonke abantu bajahile. Uhambe kahle.
Joyce:
Yebo Mnumzane, uqinisile. Ngiyabonga.
TRANSLATION
In the bank
Joyce:
Good morning, sir!
Banker:
Good morning, Madam
Joyce:
How are you?
Banker:
I am fine thanks, and you?
Joyce:
I’m well too, thank you.
Banker:
How can I help you?
Joyce:
I would like to open a cheque account, and I want to
deposit a thousand rand into my son’s account.
Banker:
All right, Madam. Please fill in these forms. Do you have
an ID-book?
Joyce:
Yes, sir. Here it is.
Banker:
Thank you. I need to photocopy it. I will be back just now.
Joyce:
I want to go to the toilet. Where is it?
Banker:
Go down the passage, it is the first door on the right.
Joyce:
Thank you, sir.
(After a while.)
40
Banker:
There you are, madam. Please sign here. Thank you.
I will phone you as soon as your application has been
approved. Then you can come and pick up your cheque
book. Now you must take this form to the cashier over
there. He will transfer the money into your son’s account.
Is there anything else?
Joyce:
Yes sir. I want to withdraw R100.
Banker:
Ask the cashier. He will help you.
Joyce:
Heavens! I hope they won’t waste time! I am in a hurry.
Banker:
Yes, madam. Everybody is in a hurry. Go well.
Joyce:
Yes sir, you are right. Thank you.
Ebhange (At the bank)
ACTIVITY 2
Complete the correct form of the verb in brackets in the following table, and provide an
English translation. If you are unsure about the translation, query it in https://isizulu.net/
Isibonelo (example):
Ngifuna (-hamba) > ukuhamba (I want to go).
Ngifuna
(-vula)
Nicela
(-phuma)
Sithanda
(-funda)
Baqala
(-khuluma)
Ukwazi
(-bhala)
ULWAZI (KNOWLEDGE/EXPLANATION)
(a) UKU-VERBS
This simple form of the verb in isiZulu uku- is used to express ‘to’ as in ‘to eat’, ‘to
run’, ‘to love’, etc. This uku- can be used with any verb stem e.g.
ukwazi
ukuthanda
ukudlala
ukupheka
ukufuna
(to know)
(to like/love)
(to play)
(to cook)
(to look for/want)
In sentences these uku-verbs are often used immediately after other verbs, e.g.
Ngithanda ukukhuluma isiZulu.
(I like to speak IsiZulu.)
Siyakwazi ukudlala ikhilikithi.
(We know (how) to play cricket.)
Uya ebhange ukuyokhipha imali.
(He goes to the bank to withdraw money/You are going to the bank to withdraw money.)
Baqala ukufunda iBhayibeli.
(They start to read the Bible.)
Niyakwazi ukusebenza kakhulu.
(You (plural) are able to work hard.)
Ngiyakwazi ukuvula i-akhawunti.
(I can open an account.)
UPiti uthanda ukulondoloza imali.
(Piet is fond of saving money/Piet likes to save money.)
Angifuni ukuma kulayini.
(I don’t want to wait in the queue/in line.)
ZUL1507/141
Listen carefully to the recordings of spoken isiZulu. You will hear that the final vowel
-a of the verb preceding uku- is often elided, and then it sounds as follows:
Ngifun’ ukuya eThekwini. (I want to go to Durban.)
Siyakwaz’ ukudlala iragbhi. (We know (how) to play rugby.)
Akathand’ ukugcwalisa ifomu. (S/he does not like filling in a form.)
Umphathibhange uthand’ uk’sebenza nabantu. (The banker likes to work with people.)
ACTIVITY 3
Choose any suitable verb stem from the list given in A to complete the sentences in B.
Write down the translation of the sentence as well.
Isibonelo (example):
Ngithanda uku- ….
[dlala] > ukudlala ibhola
A
-funda isiXhosa
-hola imali
-bhala incwadi
-shayela imoto
-dla ushokoledi
-phuza utshwala
-phumula ngeSonto
-siza abampofu/abahluphekile
-dlala iLotto
-bheka ithelevishini /i-tv
-ya endlini encane
-khuluma nomphathimali
-vakashela abangane
-cula kamnandi
-gijima ngejubane
-pheka ukudla
-khuluma isiBhunu
-thunga izingubo
-fundisa abantwana
-shayela imoto
-sebensiza ikhompyutha
-shayela imoto
42
I like playing soccer/bal
Ebhange (At the bank)
B
Ngifuna uku-….
Sifuna uku-….
Ufuna uku-….(you/s/he sing.)
Nifuna uku-….
Ufuna uku-… (he/she/it)
Bafuna uku-….
Ngiyakwazi uku-….
Siyakwazi uku-….
Uyakwazi uku- (you/s/he sing.)
Niyakwazi uku-….
Uyakwazi uku-…. (he/she/it)
Ngithanda uku-….
Sithanda uku-….
Uthanda uku-…(you sing.)
Nithanda uku-….
Uthanda uku-… (he/she/ it)
Bathanda uku-….
(b) -NA- ‘TO HAVE’ / ‘TO BE’
In isiZulu the formative -na- is used to express ‘have’ or ‘possess’. This expression is
called a copula and is used just like a verb stem, together with a subject concord, e.g.
Nginemoto. (I have a car.)
Sinemali. (We have money.)
UJabulani unelayisense. (Jabulani has a licence.)
Have you noticed that vowel merging occurs, i.e. na- + imoto > nemoto?
To negate these sentences, in other words to say ‘do/does not have’, we use a- in front
of the subject concord (just like you would negate a verb), e.g.
Anginamoto. (I don’t have a car.)
Asinamali. (We don’t have money.)
UJabulani akanalayisense. (Jabulani does not have a licence.)
Have you noticed that no vowel merging occurs in the negative, -na- stays as it is after
the initial vowel of the noun has been deleted. If ku- is used in front of -na-, then it
means ‘there is/are’, e. g.
Kunetafula. (There is a table.)
Kunabantu abaningi. (There are many people.)
Ebhange kunemali. (There is money in the bank.)
These sentences are negated by placing a- in front of ku-. Again, no vowel merging
happens after -na-, e.g.
Akunatafula. (There isn’t a table.)
ZUL1507/143
Akunabantu abaningi. (There are not many people.)
Ebhange akunamali. (There isn’t money in the bank.)
Instead of kuna- we can use its equivalent kukhona for any class, i.e. Kukhona
amatafula. (There are tables.)
Kukhona ibhasi na? (Is there a bus?)
Kukhona indoda. (There is a man.)
The negative is simply akukho, e.g.
Akukho amatafula. (There aren’t tables.)
SELF-ASSESSMENT
A. Phendula imibuzo elandelayo (Answer the following questions):
1.
Ngingakusiza ngani?
(How can I help you?)
(I want to open an account.)
……………………………….
2.
Ufuna ukwenzani ebhange?
(What do you want to do at the bank?)
(I want to make a deposit.)
………………………………
3.
Unencwadi kamazisi na?
(Do you have an ID-book?)
(Yes, I have an ID-book.)
……………………………..
4.
Uyaphi?
(Where are you going?)
(I want to go to the toilet.)
……………………………..
5.
Ikuphi indlu encane?
(Where is the toilet?)
(It is the first door on the right.)
…………………………………..
6.
Likuphi ibhange?
(Where is the bank?)
(It is at the second door on the left.)
………………………………………….
7.
Uthanda ukuvakashela abangane na?
(Do you like to visit friends?)
(Yes, I like to visit friends.)
………………………………………..
44
Ebhange (At the bank)
8.
Ubaba uyakwazi ukusebenzisa ikhompyutha na?
(Does dad know (how) to use a computer?)
(No, he doesn’t know how to use a computer.)
…………………………………………………….
9.
Umfana uyakwazi ukugijima ngejubane na?
(Is the boy able to run fast?)
(No, he’s not able to run fast.)
………………………………….
10.
Nizodla erestoranti na?
(Are you (plural) going to eat in/at a restaurant?)
(Yes, we are going to eat in/at a restaurant.)
……………………………………………….
11.
Izintombi zithanda ukudla ushokoledi ?
(Do the girls/ladies like eating chocolate?)
(No, they don’t like eating chocolate.)
………………………………………
12.
Izinsizwa ziyakwazi ukushayela imoto na?
(Do the young men know how to drive a car?)
(Yes, they know how to drive a car.)
………………………………………………….
13.
Abafundisi bayakwazi ukunakekela abantwana/izingane na?
(Are the teachers able to look after the children?)
(Yes, they are able to look after the children)
…………………………………………………..
14.
Unabantwana/unezingane na?
(Do you have children?)
(No, I don’t have children.)
…………………………………..
15.
Abesifazane banemisebenzi na?
(Do the women have jobs?)
(No, they don’t have jobs.)
……………………………………..
16.
Ngabe abampofu/abahluphekile banezingubo zokugqoka na?
(Do the poor have clothes?)
(No, they do not have clothes.)
………………………………………
ZUL1507/145
17. Abantwana banezincwadi na?/Izingane zinezincwadi na?
(Do the children have books?)
(Yes, they have books.)
………………………………………
18. Nina ninemali na?
(Do you (plural) have money?)
(No, we don’t have money.)
……………………………
B.
Provide the translation/equivalent of isiZulu for the following sentences:
1.
Please fill in the following forms.
2.
I have to make a copy of your ID-book
3.
I shall come back just now.
4.
Please sign here, Sir.
5.
Your application has been approved.
6.
You can come to pick up your cheque book.
7.
Take this form to the cashier.
8.
I hope that they will not waste time.
9.
I am in a hurry.
10. I want to withdraw money.
46
IYUNITHI YESIFUNDO 8
(LEARNING UNIT 8)
9
IZOLO (Yesterday)
LESSON OUTCOMES
At the end of this lesson you should be able to:
•• use the vocabulary given in this lesson;
•• construct meaningful sentences in the perfect (immediate past) tense;
•• construct meaningful sentences in the remote past tense;
•• use verbs to indicate a specific state.
NEW WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS
A variety of words and expressions (with their English translations) that you will come
across in this learning unit are listed below.
-vela (come from)
khona (there)
-fika (arrive)
lapha nalaphaya (here and there)
awuzwe (please listen)
izingubo zasebusika (winter clothes)
-ya (go)
kwa-Burgundy’s (at Burgundy’s)
-bheka (look at)
ngemuva kwalokho (after that)
-thatha (take)
noMandla (with Mandla)
-ehluleka (fail/lose)
futhi (and/again)
-thenga (buy)
mntanami (my child)
-pha (give)
kepha (but/though)
awungiphe (please give it to me)
amaswidi (sweets)
-nikeza (hand to/give)
izolo (yesterday)
-qeda (finish)
kuthangi (day before yesterday)
-khanuka (crave for)
ngonyaka odlule (last year)
awume kancane (wait a little please)
ngenyanga edlule (last month)
-posa (mail)
ngeviki eledlule (last week)
-thola (get/find)
umculo/ingoma (song)
-khipha (take out)
-phuka (break)
-fa (die/break)
-lala (sleep)
-geza (wash)
-lamba (become hungry)
edolobheni (in town)
-gcwala (fill up)
Jabulani (Jabulani)
i-pizza (pizza)
ZUL1507/147
iposi (mail)
-ngqongqoza (knock)
ikhofi (coffee)
-gijima (run)
-phumula (rest)
-bhema (smoke)
-lalela (listen)
i-Jazz (Jazz)
-vula (open)
umhlangano (meeting)
-hlala (stay)
umthandazo (prayer)
-tshela (say)
eduze kwami (close/next to me)
-thela (pour)
emnyango (on/at the door)
-khula (grow)
ACTIVITY 1
Add any new words and expressions that you come across in this learning unit in the
space provided in the table above.
INGXOXO (DIALOGUE)
Edolobheni
48
Sindile:
Uvelaphi Jabulani?
Jabulani:
Bengiye edolobheni noMandla.
Sindile:
Nenzeni khona?
Jabulani:
Siye lapha nalaphaya.
Sindile:
Awuzwe-ke! Ngitshele ukuthi niye kuphi!
Jabulani:
Sibheke izingubo zasebusika.
Sindile:
Nenzeni futhi?
Jabulani:
Ngemuva kwalokho siphuze ikhofi kwa-Burgundy’s.
Sindile:
Nilithathile iposi, na?
Jabulani:
Yebo, Sindile.
Sindile:
Niyidlalile i-Lotto na?
Jabulani:
Yebo, kepha sehlulekile.
Sindile:
Niwathengile yini amaswidi?
Jabulani:
Yebo, ntombi.
Sindile:
Awungiphe, Jabulani!
Jabulani:
Awume kancane. Ulambile na?
Sindile:
Cha, Jabulani! Ngikhathele!
Izolo (Yesterday)
TRANSLATION
In town
Sindile:
Where were you, Jabulani?
Jabulani:
I went to town with Mandla.
Sindile:
What did you do there?
Jabulani:
We went here and there.
Sindile:
At least tell me where you went!
Jabulani:
We looked at the winter clothes.
Sindile:
And what else did you do?
Jabulani:
After that, we drank coffee at Burgundy’s.
Sindile:
Did you take out the mail?
Jabulani:
Yes, Sindile.
Sindile:
Did you play the Lotto?
Jabulani:
Yes, but we lost.
Sindile:
Did you buy sweets?
Jabulani:
Yes, girl.
Sindile:
Give to me, Jabulani!
Jabulani:
Wait a bit. Are you hungry?
Sindile:
No, Jabulani! I am tired.
ACTIVITY 2
After working through the dialogue, try to find the isiZulu version of the English given
in the table below. Now write them down in the table as illustrated:
English translation
isiZulu
I went…
Bengiye …
We went…
We looked at …
We drank …
Did you take …?
Nilithathile …?
Did you play …?
… we lost.
Did you buy …?
So far in the previous Learning Units, we have been dealing with the present tense.
Have you noticed that the English verbs in the table above are NOT in the present
tense? Do you recognise a pattern in the isiZulu versions of the verbs? Yes, they all end
in either –e or –ile. Query the above isiZulu verbs in https://isizulu.net/. The following
are examples of results of the query:
ZUL1507/149
niye [niˈje] ← ni + ye
Recent Past Tense [←ya (v/i.)]
SC: ni- (2p pl.)
you went to
nilithathile [nilitʰaˈtʰiːle] ← ni + li + thathile
Recent Past Tense (long form) [←thatha (v/t.)]
SC: ni- (2p pl.)
OC: li- (cl. 5)
you took him; you took her; you took it
In https://isizulu.net/ you are presented with the basic form of the verbs, i.e. -ya and
–thatha. In addition it is indicated that these two examples are in the recent past tense
(also called the perfect tense). The second example with –ile at the end, represents the
long form of the recent past tense. Do you recall the long form of the present tense
that we discussed in Learning Unit 3? The long form of the perfect tense is used in the
same contexts as the long form of the present tense.
ULWAZI (KNOWLEDGE/EXPLANATION)
In isiZulu, there are various ways of expressing actions that have taken place in the past.
In this lesson, we deal with two forms of ‘past tense’ in isiZulu, namely, the perfect
(or recent past) tense and the remote past tense. We also show you verbs that indicate
a specific state.
(g) Perfect tense
We use the perfect tense to refer to actions or processes that have recently been
completed. To change a verb to its perfect tense form, we add -ile or -e to the end of
the verb. If the verb concludes the sentence, we use -ile, otherwise we use -e, e.g.
Hawu, sisebenzile! (Goodness, we have worked!)
Isitimela sisukile. (The train has just departed.)
Izolo ngifune umsebenzi. (Yesterday I looked for a job.)
Abapheki bathenge ukudla kuthangi. (The cooks bought food the day before yesterday.)
Izinsizwa zidlale ibhola izolo. (The young men played soccer yesterday.)
Ngisebenzile. (I have worked.)
Have you noticed that some sentences like Ngisebenzile (I have worked) end with
-ile and others not? A sentence like Ngisebenzile, which ends with the -ile form, is
called the long form of the perfect tense. The short form of the perfect tense usually
occurs somewhere in the middle of the sentence, and ends in -e, as in Izolo ngifune
umsebenzi. (Yesterday I looked for a job.)
ACTIVITY 3
Answer the following questions (Wenzeni?/Nenzeni? “What did you do?”) in the same
way as the first example given in A and B below. Pay attention to the use of the short or
long form of the perfect tense.
50
Izolo (Yesterday)
A.
-hamba
Ngihambile.
Sihambile.
-funda
Wenzeni?
Ngi-
-cula
Nenzeni?
Si-
-pheka
-sebenza
-vuka
-khuluma
B.
Wenzeni?
Nenzeni?
NgiSi-
-ya
edolobheni
-funda
isiZulu
-fundisa
abantwana
-phuza
itiye
-vuka
ekuseni
-dla
umdokwe
-geza
ubuso
-khuluma
ocingweni
Ngiye edolobheni.
Siye edolobheni.
(h) Remote past tense
This form is used to refer to an action that occurred sometime in the past, but this is
of course only in relative terms. To construct this form of the past tense, a formative
a- is added to the subject concord as you know it so far, e.g. ngi + a > nga-; si + a >
sa-; u + a > wa and so forth.
In this table you will find a list of the subject concords in the past tense:
CLASS NO. CLASS PREFIX
SC PAST TENSE
EXAMPLE NOUN
1
2
1a
2a
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
14
15
umuabauoumuimii(li)amaisiiziin-/imizin-/izimuluubuuku-
wabawabawayalaasazayazalwabakwa-
umuntu (a person)
abantu (people)
umama (mother)
omama (mother and others)
umuthi (tree/medicine)
imithi (trees/medicines)
izwe (country)
amazwe (countries)
isifo (disease)
izifo (diseases)
inja (dog);
izinja (dogs); izimvu (sheep pl.)
ufudu (tortoise)
utshani (grass)
ukudla (food)
Persons
mina (I)
wena (you)
yena (he/she)
thina (we)
nina (you plural)
bona (they)
ngawawasanaba-
ZUL1507/151
Ngifuna umsebenzi.
<= => Ngonyaka odlule ngafuna umsebenzi.
(I am looking for a job.)
(Last year I looked for a job).
Umama uthenga ukudla.
<= => Umama wathenga ukudla ngeviki eledlule.
(Mother buys food.)
(Mother bought food last week).
Izinsizwa zidlala ibhola.
<= => Izolo izinsizwa zadlala ibhola.
(The young men are playing soccer.)
(The young men played soccer yesterday).
For a quick overview of the subject concords of the tenses that we have dealt with so
far (present and remote past tense) see https://isizulu.net/grammar/.
ACTIVITY 4
Answer the following questions in the remote past tense as given in the first example below.
Wenzeni umfana?
(What did the boy do?)
Wabaleka.
(He ran away.)
Benzeni abazali?
(What did the parents do?)
………………………
(They went to work.)
Senzeni edolobheni?
(What did we do in town?)
……………………
(We drank coffee.)
Zenzeni izingane esitolo?
(What did the children do at the shop?)
…………………..
(They bought sweets.)
Nenzeni eposini?
(What did you do at the post office?)
………………….
(We collected/fetched the post.)
If you are in doubt about any of the translations in the above activity, you are welcome
to query them in https://isizulu.net/. For instance, querying the translation of “sweets”,
will give you the following result:
Direct Matches
(i)
Stative meaning
Some verbs which have been used in the dialogue differ from those that indicate the
perfect (recently completed action) in that they indicate a state in the present tense. It
is sometimes only the context which can indicate the difference between stative and
perfect because the formation is the same, e.g. Uhambile (He/she has gone), for instance, indicates a recently completed action, but Ulambile (He/she is hungry) indicates
a state in the present. Ngikhathele (I am tired) indicates a specific state. Although
these verbs appear in the perfect form, they do not indicate tense as such but rather a
state in the present, e.g.
52
Izolo (Yesterday)
Balele. (They are asleep–in the state of lying down.)
Sihlezi phansi. (We are seated–in the state of sitting.)
Imoto iphukile, manje imi esitaladini. (The car is broken, now it is standing in the street.)
Abafana bakhuthele. (The boys are diligent.)
Thina sikhathele. (We are tired.)
Unyawo lwakhe lulimele. (His foot is hurt.)
Amantombazane alahlekile edolobheni. (The girls are lost in town.)
Uthisha uthukuthele. (The teacher is angry.)
Inyama yemvu idulile. (Mutton is expensive.)
Isitolo sigcwele abantu. (The store is full of people.)
Izithelo zibolile. (The fruits are rotten.)
Inja yethu ikhuluphele. (Our dog is fat.)
Ingane iyakhala ngoba ilambile. (The child cries because it/she/he is hungry.)
ACTIVITY 5
The underlined perfect stems are all useful in conversation and together with the appropriate subject concord, they can be used productively to form other sentences. Try
to form a few such sentences on your own.
…-lele. (You are asleep–in the state of lying down.)
…-hlezi phansi. (They are seated–in the state of sitting.)
…-ephukile. (The machine is broken.)
…-khuthele. (The students are diligent.)
…-khathele. (She is tired.)
…-thukuthele. (The parents are annoyed.)
…-gcwele amanzi. (The bucket is full of water.)
…-lambile. (The children are hungry.)
If you are not sure of the isiZulu translations for nouns such as machine, bucket etc.
query these nouns in https://isizulu.net/ for instant answers.
SELF-ASSESSMENT
A.
Phendula imibuzo elandelayo ngesiZulu (Answer the following questions in isiZulu):
1. Wenzeni izolo?
(What did you do yesterday?)
................
(I went to Johannesburg.)
2. Wenzeni khona?
(What did you do there?)
................
(I wanted to buy a new car.)
3. Uyithengile yini?
(Did you buy it?)
....................
(I really bought it brother!)
4. Uye kuphi ngemoto entsha?
(Where did you go with the new car?)
................................................
(I went to my friends.)
5. Bathini abangane bakho?
(What did your friends say?)
…………………………….
(They were happy.)
ZUL1507/153
B.
Change the following sentences into the perfect tense (recently completed action):
1. Baya edolobheni.
(They go to town.)
Izolo ……….
(Yesterday they went to town.)
2. Ngizama ukufunda isiZulu.
(I try to learn isiZulu.)
Izolo ………..
(Yesterday I tried to learn isiZulu.)
3. Sithenga izingubo.
(We buy clothes.)
Izolo …………….
(Yesterday we bought clothes.)
4. Ngibona abantu abaningi.
(I see many people.)
Izolo …………………
(Yesterday I saw many people.)
5. Thina sihamba ngethekisi.
(We go by taxi.)
Izolo ………………
(Yesterday we went by taxi.)
6. Amadoda alalela umculo we-Jazz.
(The men listen to Jazz music.)
Kuthangi …………….
(The day before yesterday the men listened
to Jazz music.)
7. Sidla i-pizza kwa-Caesers.
(We eat pizza at Caesers.)
Kuthangi ……………….
(The day before yesterday we ate pizza at
Caesers.)
8. Sizwa ingoma kaMandoza
9. (We hear a song of Mandoza.)
Kuthangi …………………
(The day before yesterday we heard a song
of Mandoza.)
10. Wena usebenza kakhulu.
(You are working hard.)
Kuthangi ……………..
(The day before yesterday you worked hard.)
11. Nibhala amaminithi.
(You write the minutes.)
Kuthangi ………………
(The day before yesterday you wrote the
minutes.)
C.
Change the following sentences into the remote tense (action completed some
time ago, relatively speaking):
Ngonyaka odlule ........................
1. Bavula umhlangano ngomthandazo.
(They open the meeting with a prayer.) (Last year they opened the meeting with
a prayer.)
54
2. UJohn uhlala eduze kwami.
(John lives close to me.)
Ngonyaka odlule ........................
(Last year John lived close to me.)
3. Wena utshela abantwana amanga.
(You tell lies to the children.)
Ngonyaka odlule ........................
(Last year you told lies to the children.)
4. Izinsizwa ziqala ukubhema.
(The young men start to smoke.)
Ngonyaka odlule ........................
(Last year the young men started to smoke.)
Izolo (Yesterday)
5. Uthela itiye.
(She pours the tea.)
Ngenyanga edlule.......................
(Last month she poured the tea.)
6. Umfana uyakhula.
(The boy is growing.)
Ngenyanga edlule.......................
(Last month the boy grew.)
7. Bangqongqoza emnyango.
(They are knocking on the door.)
Ngenyanga edlule.......................
(Last month they knocked on the door.)
8. Sigijima i-Comrades Marathon.
(We are running the Comrades
marathon.)
Ngenyanga edlule.......................
(Last month we ran the Comrades
marathon.)
9. Abalimi batshala ummbila.
(The farmers plant maize.)
Ngesikhathi sonyaka odlule …….
(Last season the farmers planted maize.)
10. Umlimi uvuna amabele.
(The farmer harvests sorghum.)
Ngesikhathi sonyaka odlule …….
(Last season the farmer harvested
sorghum.)
D. Change the following sentences so that they indicate state:
1. Ngiyahlala.
(I am sitting.)
……………………......
(I am seated.)
2. Intombazane iyalala.
(The young girl sleeps.)
……………………......
(The young girl is asleep.)
3. Ababulali bayafa.
(The murderers are dying.)
……………………….
(The murderers are dead.)
4. Imoto iyaphuka.
(The car is breaking)
………………………..
(The car is broken.)
5. Indoda iyahamba.
(The man is leaving.)
………………………..
(The man has left.)
……………………......
6. Siyalamba.
(We are getting hungry/we are starving.) (We are hungry.)
7. Uthisha wethu uyakhuthala.
(Our teacher is becoming diligent.)
……………………..
Our teacher is diligent.)
8. Umfula uyagcwala.
(The river is getting full.)
…………………..
(The river is full.)
ZUL1507/155
56
9. Ingilazi iyafa.
(The glass is breaking.)
…………………….
(The glass is broken.)
10. Ugogo uyakhathala.
(Granny is becoming tired.)
……………………….
(Granny is exhausted.)
IYUNITHI YESIFUNDO 9
(LEARNING UNIT 9)
10
EHHOVISI (In the office)
LESSON OUTCOMES
At the end of this lesson you should be able to:
•• use the vocabulary given in this lesson;
•• give the negative form of sentences in the perfect tense;
•• give the negative form of sentences in the remote past tense;
•• use the object concord in a verb.
NEW WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS
A variety of words and expressions (with their English translations) that you will come
across in this learning unit are listed below.
-dinga (need)
-khohlwa (forget)
-ethemba (hope)
-bona (see)
-beka (put down)
-ntshontsha (steal)
angazi (I don’t know)
-buya (return)
ayikho (is not there)
angikaqedi (I have not yet finished)
ukungenzi lutho (not do anything)
-siza (help)
kuzoba (there will be)
-thumela (send to)
-khumbula (remember)
amafothokhophi (photocopies)
umbiko (report)
umthengi (client)
umphathisihlalo (chairperson)
i-ajenda (agenda)
mhlawumbe (perhaps)
ngempela (really)
kusasa (tomorrow)
esitezi esithathu (third floor)
ediloweni (in the drawer)
ukuthi (so that)
omunye umhlangano (another meeting)
nge-imeyili (per e-mail)
imeneja (manager)
ACTIVITY 1
Add any new words and expressions that you come across in this learning unit in the
space provided in the table above.
INGXOXO (DIALOGUE)
Ehhovisi
UJabu:
Cathy, iselula yami awuyibonanga?
UCathy:
Cha, angiyibonanga. Uyibeke kuphi?
UJabu:
Angazi. Ngiye esitezi sesithathu ukuyokwenza amafothokhophi. Lapho
ngibuya ibingekho lapha iselula. Uqedile ukuwubhala umbiko?
ZUL1507/157
UCathy:
Cha, angiqedanga. Ikhompiyutha iphukile. Angikwazi ukwenza lutho.
URoger ukuphi? Mhlawumbe angangisiza.
UJabu:
Cha, uhambile. Uye ebhange. Ungakhohlwa ukuthi uMnumzane Msimang
ubize omunye umhlangano.
UCathy:
Ngempela?
UJabu:
Yebo. Kusasa ngo-3.
UCathy:
Angiyitholanga i-ajenda.
UJabu:
Basithumele yona nge-imeyili.
UCathy:
Kulungile, ngibona ukuthi uJohn uyibeke etafuleni.
UJabu:
Nkosi yami! lyakhala iselula yami! Manje ngiyakhumbula. Ngiyifake ediloweni.
Ngijabulile ngoba ayintshontshwanga.
UCathy:
Uthini Jabu? Angizwanga, awuphinde futhi.
UJabu:
Ngithi ngiyitholile iselula yami.
UCathy:
Halala mngane wami, ngiyajabula uma uyitholile!
UJabu:
Ngiyabonga Cathy.
TRANSLATION
In the office
58
Jabu:
Cathy, have you not seen my cell phone?
Cathy:
No, I haven’t seen it. Where did you put it?
Jabu:
I don’t know. I went to the third floor to make photocopies. When I came
back, it wasn’t there. Have you finished writing the report?
Cathy:
No, I haven’t finished. My computer is broken. I wasn’t able to do anything.
I hope that I will finish today. Where is Roger? Perhaps he can help me.
Jabu:
No, he left. He went to the bank. You must not forget that Mr Msimang
has called another meeting.
Cathy:
Really?
Jabu:
Yes. Tomorrow, at 3 o’ clock.
Cathy:
I didn’t receive the agenda.
Jabu:
They sent it to us by e-mail.
Cathy:
It is all right. I see that John put it on the table.
Jabu:
Good grief! My cell phone is ringing! Now I remember. I put it in the
drawer. I am glad that it was not stolen.
Ehovisi (In the office)
Cathy:
What are you saying, Jabu? I did not hear that. Please repeat it.
Jabu:
I said I found my cellphone.
Cathy:
Well done, my friend, I am glad if you have found it.
Jabu
Thank you Cathy.
ACTIVITY 2
After working through the dialogue, try to find the isiZulu version of the English expressions given in the table below. Now write them down in the table as illustrated:
English
isiZulu
Have you not seen it?
Awuyibonanga?
I have not seen it.
I have not finished.
I didn’t receive it.
It was not stolen.
I did not hear.
All the verbs in the table above are in the negative. Do you recognise a pattern in the
isiZulu versions of the verbs? Yes, they all end in –anga. Query the above isiZulu verbs
in https://isizulu.net/. The following are examples of results of the query:
awubonanga [awuɓɔˈnaːŋa] ← a + wu + bona + anga
Recent or Remote Past Negative [←bona (v/t.)]
SC: wu- (2p sg., cl. 3)
you did not see
he did not see
she did not see
it did not see
In https://isizulu.net/ you are presented with the basic form of the verb, i.e. -bona. In
addition it is indicated that this example is in negative or remote past tense negative. If
we revisit the dialogue, we will notice that the recent past tense (also called the perfect
tense) was used most of the time, e.g. uyibeke (you put it); ngiyitholile (I found it). See
Learning Unit 8 for the positive form of the perfect tense.
ULWAZI (KNOWLEDGE/EXPLANATION)
In isiZulu, there are various ways of expressing actions that have taken place in the
past. In this lesson, we deal with two forms of ‘past tense’ in isiZulu, namely the perfect
(or recent past) tense and the remote past tense. We also show you verbs that indicate
a specific state.
(a)
Negative of the perfect tense
To negate the perfect tense, we use a- before the subject concord, ending the verb in
-anga, e.g.
ZUL1507/159
Ngiye ekhaya.
Angiyanga ekhaya.
(I went home.)
(I didn’t go home.)
Ogogo badle amazambane.
Ogogo abadlanga amazambane.
(Granny and company ate potatoes.)
(Granny and company didn’t eat potatoes.)
Indoda ibize umhlangano.
Indoda ayibizanga umhlangano.
(The man called a meeting.)
(The man didn’t call a meeting.)
Abantwana bahambile.
Abantwana abahambanga.
(The children have left.)
(The children have not left.)
UPiti usebenze kahle.
UPiti akasebenzanga kahle.
(Piet worked hard.)
(Piet didn’t work hard.)
Take note that the negative for both the long and short form -ile and -e respectively are
the same. Compare the last two examples above.
ACTIVITY 3
Write the verbs in the table below in the negative.
Hawu, sisebenzile!
(Goodness, we have worked!)
…………………….
(Goodness, we have not worked!)
Isitimela sisukile.
(The train has just departed.)
…………………….
(The train has not departed.)
Izolo ngifune umsebenzi.
(Yesterday I looked for a job.)
………………………..
(Yesterday I did not look for a job.)
………………………..
Abapheki bathenge ukudla kuthangi.
(The cooks bought food the day before (The cooks did not buy food the day before
yesterday.)
yesterday.)
Izinsizwa zidlale ibhola izolo.
…………………….
(The young men played soccer yesterday.) (The young men did not play soccer
yesterday.)
Ngisebenzile.
(I have worked.)
…………………….
(I have not worked.)
(b) Negative of the remote past tense
This form is used to negate an action that occurred sometime in the past, but this is of
course only in relative terms. To construct the negative of the past tense, a formative
a- is added before the subject concord and the verb ends with -anga.
60
Ehovisi (In the office)
In this table you will find a list of the subject concords in the negative of the past tense:
CLASS NO. CLASS PREFIX
1
2
1a
2a
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
14
15
umuabauoumuimii(li)amaisiiziin-/imizin-/izimuluubuuku-
SC PAST TENSE.
NEGATIVE
akaabaakaabaawaayialiawaasiaziayiazialuabuaku-
Persons
mina (I)
wena (you singular)
yena (he/she)
thina (we)
nina (you plural)
bona (they)
angiawuakaasianiaba-
EXAMPLE NOUN
umuntu (a person)
abantu (people)
umama (mother)
omama (mother and others)
umuthi (tree/medicine)
imithi (trees/medicines)
izwe (country)
amazwe (countries)
isifo (disease)
izifo (diseases)
inja (dog); imvu (sheep sg.)
izinja (dogs); izimvu (sheep pl.)
ufudu (tortoise)
utshani (grass)
ukudla (food)
Ngifuna umsebenzi.
(I am looking for a job.)
<= => Ngonyaka odlule angifunanga umsebenzi.
(Last year I did not look for a job.)
Umama uthenga ukudla.
(Mother buys food.)
<= => Umama akathenganga ukudla ngeviki eledlule.
(Mother did not buy food last week.)
Izinsizwa zidlala ibhola.
<= => Izolo izinsizwa azidlalanga ibhola.
(The young men are playing soccer.)
(The young men did not play soccer yesterday.)
For a quick overview of the subject concords of the tenses that we have dealt with so
far (present and remote past tense) see https://isizulu.net/grammar/.
ACTIVITY 4
Answer the following questions in the remote past tense as given in the first example
below.
Wenzeni umfana?
(What did the boy do?)
Akabalekanga.
(He did not run away.)
Benzeni abazali?
(What did the parents do?)
………………………
(They did not go to work.)
Senzeni edolobheni?
(What did we do in town?)
……………………
(We did not drink coffee.)
Zenzeni izingane esitolo?
(What did the children do at the shop?)
…………………..
(They did not buy sweets.)
Nenzeni eposihhovisi?
(What did you do at the post office?)
………………….
(We did not collect/fetch the post.)
ZUL1507/161
If you are in doubt about any of the translations in the above activity, you are welcome to
query them in https://isizulu.net/. For instance, querying the translation of “umthengi”,
will give you the following result:
Direct Matches
umthengi/abathengi n. 1/2 (-thengi)
buyer; customer; purchaser; shopper
(c)
Negative of the stative
For negating stative sentences the same formation applies as for negating the perfect
tense, except that the stative endings -ile, -i or -ele are retained, e.g.
Abantu balambile.
(The people are hungry.)
Abantu abalambile.
(The people are not hungry.)
Bakhathele.
(They are tired.)
Abakhathele.
(They are not tired.)
Inkosikazi ihlezi phansi.
(The woman is sitting down.)
Inkosikazi ayihlezi phansi.
(The woman is not sitting down.)
ACTIVITY 5
(d) Object concord
As you know, the subject noun is linked to the verb by means of the subject concord.
The object noun then is also linked to the verb by means of the object concord. Before
you learn how to use the object concord you first of all have to know what an object is.
The object is usually the person or thing that undergoes the action expressed by the
verb. In the sentence USipho uthenga izithelo (Sipho buys the fruit), Sipho is the subject
(doer) and izithelo (fruit) the object as it undergoes the action (of being bought). If we
add the object concord (in this case -zi-) to the verb in the latter sentence, i.e. USipho
uyazithenga izithelo, the meaning of the sentence is still the same. The use of an object
concord is thus optional. Actually the object concord is exactly the same as the subject
concord. Where the subject concord is only a vowel, semi-vowels are inserted (see table)
to separate the vowels in order to form the object concord. Compare the table below in
which the object concords for the different noun classes are listed.
62
Class no. Class
prefix
Object
concord
Example
1
umu-
-m(u)*-
ngiyambona (umfana)
(I see him (the boy))
Ngiyamuzwa (umfana)
(I hear him (the boy))
2
aba-
-ba-
ngiyababona (abafana)
(I see them (the boys))
1a
u-
-m(u)*-/-wu-
ngiyamthanda (uSipho)
(I like him (Sipho))
ngiyawubona (unogwaja)
(I see it (the rabbit))
2a
o-
-ba-
ngiyababiza (obaba)
(I call them (father and company))
Ehovisi (In the office)
3
umu-
-wu-
ngiyawubasa (umlilo)
(I kindle it (the fire))
4
imi-
-yi-
ngiyayibona (imililo)
(I see them (the fires))
5
i(li)
-li-
ngiyalithanda (ikati)
(I like it (the cat))
6
ama-
-wa-
ngiyawabona (amakati)
(I see them (the cats))
7
isi-
-si-
ngiyasidla (isinkwa)
(I eat it(the bread))
8
izi-
-zi-
ngiyazigeza (izitsha)
(I wash them (the dishes))
9
in-
-yi-
ngiyayixosha (imfene)
(I chase it away (the monkey))
10
izin-
-zi-
ngiyazixosha (izimfene)
(I chase them away (the monkeys))
11
u(lu)
-lu-
ngiyalubona (ufudu)
(I see it (the tortoise))
14
ubu-
-bu-
ngiyabuphuza (utshwala)
(I like it (beer))
15
uku-
-ku-
ngiyakupheka (ukudla)
(I cook it (the food))
*You may have noticed the variants in the object concords of the umu-(1) and the u(1a) classes. The object concord is -mu- when a verb stem consists of one syllable such
as the verb stem -pha, e.g.
Ngiyamupha imali. (I give him/her money.)
On the other hand, -m- is used as object concord for all other verbs consisting of more
than one syllable, such as -thanda, e.g.
Ubaba wamthanda umfana. (Father liked (him) the boy.)
The u- class also shows variation in its object concord. For human objects the object
concord will be -m(u)- as explained above, and for non-human objects it will be -wu-, e.g.
Sizombiza unesi. (We shall call the nurse.)
Yena uyawuthanda uthayi. (He likes a tie.)
The following is a list of the object concords for the 1st and 2nd persons; note the
exceptional object concord for wena, namely -ku-.
Persons
Singular
Object
Example
concord
1. (mina)
me
-ngi-
in uyangibona (s/he sees me/you see me)
2. (wena)
you
-ku-
in uyakubona (s/he sees you (sg.))
us
you
-si-ni-
in uyasibona (s/he sees us/you see us)
in uyanibona (s/he sees you (pl.))
Plural
1. (thina)
2. (nina)
ZUL1507/163
The reason why we use the object concord in isiZulu is to avoid unnecessary repetition
of the object noun but then the object must have been mentioned before, e.g.
UThandeka uzosula itafula na? (Will Thandeka wipe the table?)
Yebo uzolisula. (Yes she will wipe it–the table.)
Uyangizwa mina na? (Do you understand/hear me?)
Cha, angikuzwa. (No, I don’t understand/hear you.)
The object concord combines well with the long form of the present and perfect tenses,
regardless of the position of the verb in the sentence e.g.
Ngiyayidinga imali (I need money).
USipho usithengile isinkwa (Sipho bought bread).
The short form of both these tenses, however, would preferably be used if the verb,
containing an object concord, is followed by an adverb, e.g.
Simbone izolo (We saw him yesterday).
USipho ubasiza kahle odade wabo (Sipho helps his sisters well).
ACTIVITY 6
Fill in the object concord in the following words:
Example: Ukhokhele uswidi na Sibongile? Yebo, ngi_khokhele.
Yebo, ngiwukhokhele.
(a) Bazodonsa imali ebhange na? Yebo, bazo_donsa.
(b) Wena uthanda abangane bakho na? Yebo, ngiya_thanda.
(c) UJames ubingelela isalukazi? Yebo, uya_bingelela.
(d) Isisebenzi siyolanda amafothokhophi? Yebo, siyo_landa.
(e) UThoko wazi uJohn Shabalala na? Yebo, uya_azi.
SELF-ASSESSMENT
Answer the following questions in the negative form:
1. Ubugula izolo?
(Were you ill yesterday?)
Cha, ............................................
(No, I wasn’t ill.)
2. Ubufuna ukuthenga imoto izolo?
(Did you want to buy a car yesterday?)
Cha,.............................................
(No, I didn’t want to buy a car.)
3. Nivule i-akhawunti na?
(Did you (plural) open an account?)
Cha, .............................................
(No, we did not open an account.)
64
Ehovisi (In the office)
4. Baye edolobheni izolo?
(Did they go to town yesterday?)
Cha, .............................................
(No, they didn’t go to town.)
5. Wenze amafothokhophi na?
(Did you make the photocopies?)
Cha, .............................................
(No, I didn’t make the photocopies.)
6. Uwubhalile umbiko na?
(Have you written the report?)
Cha, .............................................
(No, I haven’t written the report.)
7. Ikhompyutha isebenzile?
(Did the computer work?)
Cha, .............................................
(No, it didn’t work.)
8. UMnumzane Hadebe ubize umhlangano?
(Did Mr Hadebe call a meeting?)
Cha, .............................................
(No, he didn’t call a meeting.)
9. Uyitholile i-ajenda?
(Did you receive the agenda?)
Cha, .............................................
(No, we didn’t receive the agenda.)
10. Uye kwa-Spar ngeSonto?
(Did you go to Spar on Sunday?)
Cha, .............................................
(No, I didn’t go to Spar.)
11. USuzi uvule i-akhawunti?
(Did Suzi open an account?)
Cha, .............................................
(No, she did not open it.)
12. Izintombi zithenge izingubo izolo?
(Did the ladies/girls buy clothes yesterday?)
Cha, .............................................
(No, they didn’t buy clothes.)
13. Kukhona abantu abaningi ehhovisi?
(Are there many people in the office?)
Cha, .............................................
ZUL1507/165
(No, there aren’t many people.)
14. Abantwana bahambe ngebhasi izolo na? (Did the children go by bus yesterday?)
Cha,...............................:...............
(No, they didn’t go by bus yesterday.)
15. Imeneja ilalele izindaba? (Did the manager listen to the news?)
Cha, ..............................................
(No, he didn’t listen to the news.)
16. UJoyce uwabhalile amaminithi?
(Did Joyce write the minutes?)
Cha, ...............................................
(No, she didn’t write the minutes.)
66
IYUNITHI YESIFUNDO 10
(LEARNING UNIT 10)
11
NGAMAHOLIDE (During the holidays)
TOMORROW (Future tense)
LESSON OUTCOMES
At the end of this lesson you should be able to:
•• use the vocabulary given in this lesson;
•• make meaningful sentences in the future tense by means of – zo-;
•• negate sentences in the future tense;
•• use the object concord in a verb.
NEW WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS
A variety of words and expressions (with their English translations) that you will come
across in this learning unit are listed below.
-na izulu (to rain)
ngamaholide (during the holidays)
-doba (to fish)
iholide (holiday)
-zama (try)
izinhlanzi (fish)
-esaba (to fear)
olwandle (in/at the sea)
-suka (leave/go away)
ibanga elide (a long stretch)
-sebenzisa (use)
ebhishi (on the beach)
-fisela (wish someone something) ekilabhini (in/to the club)
kuhle (it’s good)
esinema (in/at the cinema)
edisko (to/at the disco)
noma (or)
ibanji jamp (bungee jumping)
lokhu (this)
ngomhla ka- (date/on the date of) ngendiza (by plane)
uKhisimuzi omuhle (merry Christmas)
nonyaka omusha omuhle (and a happy new year)
ividiyo (video)
kamnandi (pleasant)
-thamela ilanga (bask in the sun/tan)
uKhisimuzi (Christmas)
-osa inyama (make a braaivleis/braai
ithikithi (ticket)
the meat)
eThekwini/eMdubane (in Durban)
-bhukuda (bathe/swim)
ACTIVITY 1
Add any new words and expressions that you come across in this learning unit in the
space provided in the table above.
ZUL1507/167
INGXOXO (DIALOGUE)
Ngamaholide
UBheki:
Niya kuphi ngamaholide kaKhisimuzi?
UThemba:
Siya eThekwini.
UBheki:
Nizokwenzani khona?
UThemba:
Sizobhukuda olwandle. Sizodoba izinhlanzi. Sizohamba ibanga elide
ebhishi. Lapho lina izulu sizoya ekilabhini noma esinema noma ezitolo.
UBheki:
Uzokwenza ibanji jamp?
UThemba:
Cha, angizukukwenza lokho ngoba ngiyesaba.
UBheki:
Nizosuka nini?
UThemba:
Sizosuka ngomhla ka-14 Disemba.
UBheki:
Nizohamba ngemoto na?
UThemba:
Cha asizukusebenzisa imoto. Sizohamba ngendiza.
UBheki:
Kuhle, Themba. Ngikufisela uKhisimuzi omuhle nonyaka omusha
omuhle.
UThemba:
Ngiyabonga. Bheki, nami ngikufisela uKhisimuzi omuhle nonyaka omusha omuhle.
TRANSLATION
During the holidays
68
Bheki:
Where are you going during the Christmas holidays?
Themba:
We are going to Durban.
Bheki:
What will you do there?
Themba:
We will swim in the sea. We will catch fish. We will also walk on the
beach. If it rains, we will go to the club, to the movies or to the shops.
Bheki:
Will you do a bungee jumping?
Themba:
No, I won’t do that. I am scared.
Bheki:
When will you leave?
Themba:
On 14 December.
Bheki:
Will you go by car?
Themba:
No, we won’t use the car. We will go by plane.
Bheki:
All right, Themba. I wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
Themba:
Thank you, Bheki. May you also enjoy Christmas and the New Year.
(During the
the holidays)
holidays)
NNgamaholide
gamaholide (during
ACTIVITY 2
After working through the dialogue, try to find the isiZulu version of the English expressions given in the table below. Now write them down in the table as illustrated:
English translation
What will you do there?
isiZulu
Nizokwenzani khona?
We will swim in the sea.
We will catch fish.
We will also walk on the beach.
When will you leave?
Will you go by car?
All the verbs in the table above are in the future tense. Do you recognise a pattern in
the isiZulu versions of the verbs? Yes, they all include -zo- after the subject concord.
Query these isiZulu verbs in https://isizulu.net/. The following is the result of the query
of Sizobhukuda:
-bhukuda v/i. [buˈɠuːda]
bathe
swim
sizobhukuda [sizobuˈɠuːda] ← si + zo + bhukuda
Future tense [←bhukuda (v/i.)]
SC: si- (1p pl., cl. 7)
we will bathe
he will bathe
she will bathe
it will bathe
In https://isizulu.net/ you are presented with the basic form of the verb, i.e. -bhukuda.
In addition it is indicated that this example is in the future tense. If we revisit the
dialogue, we will notice that the future tense was used most of the time, e.g. sizohamba
(we will go); sizosuka (we will leave) etc.
ULWAZI (KNOWLEDGE/EXPLANATION)
(a) The future tense
To indicate that an action is going to take place some time in the future, we mostly use
-zo- (or -yo-) after the subject concord and before the verb stem, e.g.
Ngiyabhukuda.
(I swim.)
=> Ngizobhukuda.
(I shall swim.)
UThemba uya ekhaya.
(Themba is going home.)
=> UThemba uzoya ekhaya kusasa.
(Themba will go home tomorrow.)
ZUL1507/169
Sithenga isinkwa kwa-Spar.
(We buy bread at Spar.)
=> Siyothenga isinkwa kwa-Spar.
(We shall buy bread at Spar.)
When we use vowel verbs and stems with one syllable, we use zoku- or yoku, e.g.
Izulu liyana.
(It rains.)
=> Izulu lizokuna. < (zo + ku + na)
(It is going to rain.)
Ngenza umsebenzi.
(I do work.)
=> Ngizokwenza umsebenzi. < (zo + ku + enza)
(I shall do work.)
Bakha izindlu.
(They build houses.)
=> Bayokwakha izindlu. < (yo + ku + akha)
(They will build houses.)
ACTIVITY 3
Answer the questions in A below by using the clues in column B below:
A:
(Wena) uzokwenzani ngamaholide?
(Yena) uzokwenzani ngamaholide?
Nizokwenzani ngamaholide?
Bazokwenzani ngamaholide?
B:
-dla isiteki erestoranti.
-phumula kamnandi.
-zama ukudlala i-Lotto.
-ya eMargate.
-thenga izingubo kwa-Woolworths.
-doba izinhlanzi.
NgizoUzoSizoBazo-
-bhukuda olwandle.
-hamba ibanga elide.
-dlala ebhishi.
-lalela ingoma kaBarry White.
-thamela ilanga.
-ya esinema.
-sebenza engadini.
-phuza ikhofi e-Wimpy.
-bheka ividiyo.
70
(During the
the holidays)
holidays)
NNgamaholide
gamaholide (during
(b) Negative of the future tense
A verb in the future tense is negated by replacing -zo- (or -yo-) with -zu- (or -yu-) and
keeping the final -a of the verb stem. Alternatively -zoku- (or -yoku-) can be replaced
with -zuku- (or -yuku-) keeping the final -a of the verb stem:
UBusi uzothamela ilanga.
(Busi will bask in the sun.)
=> UBusi akazuthamela ilanga.
(Busi will not bask in the sun.)
Abantwana bazoya esikoleni.
(The children will go to school.)
Abantwana abazukuya esikoleni.
=> (The children won’t go to school.)
Udokotela uzosebenza esibhedlela.
Udokotela akazukusebenza esibhedlela.
(The doctor will work in the hospital.) => (The doctor won’t work in the hospital.)
ACTIVITY 4
Write the future tense verbs in the table below in the negative as given in the first example.
Yebo, sizobenza!
(Yes, we will work!)
Cha, asizusebenza!
…………………….....
(No, we will not work!)
Bazohamba nesitimela.
(They will go by train.)
…………………….
(They will not go by train.)
Kusasa ngizothenga ithikithi.
(Tomorrow I will buy a ticket.)
………………………..
(Tomorrow I will not buy a ticket.)
UThemba uzokosa inyama ebhishi.
(Themba will braai meat on the beach.)
………………………..
(Themba will not braai meat on the beach.)
Izinsizwa zizodlala ibhola.
(The young men will play soccer.)
…………………….
(The young men will not play soccer.)
(c) Object concord
In a language such as English, a pronoun is used to replace a noun in a discourse if the
speaker or writer does not want to repeat the noun. Consider the following examples:
Do you like Joan? Yes, I like her very much.
Have you seen my key? No, I don’t know where you put it.
However, in isiZulu we do not use a pronoun to replace an object noun in a discourse.
Instead we use so-called object concords. Before you learn how to use the object concord
you first of all have to know what an object is. The object is usually the person or thing
that undergoes the action expressed by the verb. In the following sentence Sipho is
the subject (doer) and izithelo the object as it undergoes the action (of being bought):
USipho uthenga izithelo (Sipho buys fruit).
So if we do not wish to repeat the object noun izithelo, it is replaced with its object
concord.
USipho uyazithenga (Sipho buys it).
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Note that the object concord, like its counterpart, the subject concord (discussed in
Learning Unit 4), is not a word on its own, but rather forms part of the verb. It always
directly precedes the verb. In other words, no other formative can separate the object
concord from the verb. The object concord is, like the subject concord, derived from
the noun class prefix as you can see in the table given in Learning Unit 9.
You may have noticed the variants in the object concords of the umu- (1) and the u- (1a)
classes. The object concord is -mu- when a verb stem consists of one syllable such as
the verb stem -pha, e.g.
Ngiyamupha imali
(I give him money).
On the other hand, -m- is used as object concord for all other verbs consisting of more
than one syllable, such as -thanda, e.g.
Ubaba wamthanda umfana
(Father liked (him) the boy).
The u- class also shows variation in its object concord. For human objects the object
concord will be -m(u)- as explained above, and for non-human objects it will be -wu-, e.g.
Sizombiza unesi
(We shall call the nurse).
Yena uyawuthanda uthayi
(He likes a tie).
When an object concord precedes a verb stem that begins with a vowel e.g. -enza (do),
-azi (know) and -akha (build), the following happens:
•• the vowel part of the object concord is discarded as in
ngi-wu-enza > ngiwenza (umsebenzi)
(I do it (the work))
si-yi-akha > siyakha (indlu)
(We build it (the house))
•• for object concords -lu- and -ku- the vowel part of the object concord changes to
-w- as in
ngi-ku-azi > ngiyakwazi (wena)
(I know you).
As mentioned before, the reason why we use the object concord in isiZulu is to avoid
unnecessary repetition of the object noun but then the object must have been mentioned
before, e.g.
UThandeka uzosula itafula na?
(Will Thandeka wipe the table?)
Yebo uzolisula
(Yes she will wipe it–the table).
Uyangizwa mina na?
(Do you understand/hear me?)
Cha, angikuzwa
(No, I don’t understand/hear you).
72
(During the
the holidays)
holidays)
NNgamaholide
gamaholide (during
The object concord combines well with the long form of the present and perfect tenses,
regardless of the position of the verb in the sentence e.g.
Ngiyayidinga imali
(I need money).
USipho usithengile isinkwa
(Sipho bought bread).
The short form of both these tenses, however, would preferably be used if the verb,
containing an object concord, is followed by an adverb, e.g.
Simbone izolo
(We saw him yesterday).
USipho ubasiza kahle odade
(Sipho helps his sisters well).
ACTIVITY 5
Provide the missing object concords, using the table above as guideline. Do not forget to
note the form of the class prefix of the object noun before you choose the correct object
concord, as illustrated in the first example below:
Wazi uSipho Ndlovu na?
(Do you know Sipho Ndlovu?)
Yebo, ngiyamazi.
(Yes, I know him.)
Bakhuluma isiZulu na?
(Are they speaking isiZulu?)
Yebo, baya..khuluma!
(Yes, they are speaking it!)
Sizothenga ithikithi?
(We will buy a ticket.)
Yebo, sizo..thenga.
(Yes, we will buy it)
Yebo,uya..osa.
UThemba wosa inyama ebhishi?
(Does Themba braai meat on the beach?) (Yes, he braais it.)
Abantwana bazodlala ibhola na?
(Will the children play soccer?)
Yebo, bazo..dlala.
(Yes, they will play it.)
Abafana bazodoba izinhlanzi na?
(Will the boys catch fish?)
Yebo, bazo..doba.
(Yes, they will catch them.)
You can query your answers in isiZulu.net. The following is the result of the query of
ngiyamazi:
-azi v. [ˈaːzi]
know
~ uku-
be able to
ngiyamazi [ŋijaˈmaːzi] ← ngi + ya + m + azi
Present Tense [←azi (v.)]
SC: ngi- (1p sg.)
OC: m- (cl. 1, cl. 1a)
I know him; I know her
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SUMMARY OF TENSES
What follows is a summary of the formation of the main actions or verbal forms (tenses),
positive and negative, that we discussed thus far.
POSITIVE
NEGATIVE
present
Umfana udla isinkwa
Umfana akadli isinkwa
Inja iyahamba
Inja ayihambi
perfect
Umfana udle isinkwa
Inja ihambile
Umfana akadlanga isinkwa
Inja ayihambanga
stative
Umfana ukhuthele
Indoda ilambile
Umfana akakhuthele/akakhuthalanga
Inja ayilambile/ayilambanga
remote past
Umfana wadla isinkwa
Inja yahamba
Umfana akadlanga isinkwa
Inja ayihambanga
future
Umfana uzodla isinkwa
Inja iyohamba
Umfana akazukudla isinkwa
Inja ayiyukuhamba
SELF-ASSESSMENT
Answer the following questions in isiZulu:
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1. Nizoya nini erestoranti?
(When are you going to the restaurant?)
……………………………..
(We shall leave at six o’clock.)
2. Uya olwandle na?...............
(Are you going to the sea?)
Cha,…………………………
(No, I won’t go there today.)
3. Uyakwazi ukubhukuda ugogo?
(Can Granny swim?)
Yebo,...................................
(Yes, she can swim well.)
4. OJames bazothatha ilivu na?
(Will James and company take leave?)
Cha .....................................
(No, they won’t take it now.)
5. Bazokosa inyama na? ........
(Will they have a braai?)
Yebo, …………………….
(Yes, they like.to braai.)
6. Umalume uzofika ngendiza?
(Will Uncle come with the plane?)
Cha, ..........................................
(No, he will come by bus.)
7. Amadoda azohlangana kwangqongqoshe?
(Will the men meet at the minister’s place?)
Yebo,........................
(Yes, they will meet there tomorrow.)
8. Amantombazane azodla i-pizza?
(Will the young girls eat pizza?)
Cha, ..........................................
(No, they won’t eat it.)
N gamaholide (during the holidays)
9. Amaphoyisa azobamba amasela?
(Will the policemen catch the thieves?)
Yes, ..........................................
(Yes, they will catch them.)
10. Ingane izokhala na?
(Will the baby cry?)
Cha, ..........................................
(No, it will sleep just now.)
11. Umnumzane Ndlovu uzobiza
umhlangano na?
(Will Mr. Ndlovu call a meeting?)
Cha, ..........................................
12. Umama uzokhipha kuphi imali?
(Where will mom withdraw money?)
…………………………………….
(She will draw it from the bank.)
13. Uzothenga iselula na bhuti?
(Will you buy a cell phone pal?)
Cha, ..........................................
(No, I don’t have money.)
14. Uthanda ukuya esinema?
(Do you like to go to the movies?)
Yebo, ........................................
(Yes, I like it a lot sister!)
15. Ikhompyutha izosebenza kahle na?
(Will the computer work well?)
........................................................
(No, it won’t work. It broke yesterday.)
(No, he wants to rest a little.)
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