Like, love and "uku" before a verb

February 14, 2012, 11:46 am

Linjani bangani? (How are you friends?) Today I want to tell you about the word "thanda", which means to like or to love in isiNdebele.

Ngiyathanda- I like/ love it

Ngiyakuthanda= I love you (a very useful one for when you mean it)

Lami ngiyathanda ukubona ilanga- I myself like/ love to see the sun

ilanga= sun

lami= myself, e.g. lami futhi= me too

bona= see,

uku in front of a verb makes it "to do..." e.g ukubona= to see, ukuthanda= to like/ love

A common isiNdebele girl's name is Thandi, which is a beautiful name and means "loved one".

That is all for today, and yes, it was inspired by Valentine's day.

Lala kuhle bangane (sleep well friends)

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Ndebele Occupations- updated

February 14, 2012, 11:53 am

≫ Next: Some ndebele objects and verbs

≪ Previous: Like, love and "uku" before a verb

Yebo bangane, linjani? (Yes friends, how are you?)

Here are some names of common occupations

umtshayeli= driver ( from tshayela= to drive)
hulumende= government
udokotela= doctor
umpheki (from the verb stem "pheka"- to cook)= cook
umbalisi= teacher (perhaps from bala= to read)
sidetrack: bhala (to write) and bala (to read).
umphathisikolo= headmaster (from isikolo= school)

To say what you're occupation is, you would use "ngingu-".
e.g. udokotela is a doctor so you would say ngingudokotela (I am a doctor)
unesi is a nurse so you would say ngingunesi (I am a nurse)
A: Ngingudokotela
B: Hayi, mina ngingunesi! (No way, me, I am a nurse!) [This is the correct way of emphasizing.]
A: Hawu, kuhle sibili! Haha. (Wow, very nice)

So what does ngingumbalisi, ngingumtshayeli and ngingumpheki mean?

Ngizakuhamba esikolo ukukhuluma lombalisi- I will go to school to talk to the teacher

Sahle kahle (stay well)

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Some ndebele objects and verbs

February 14, 2012, 1:19 pm

≫ Next: Ndebele time

≪ Previous: Ndebele Occupations- updated

Linjani bangane. Here is some vocab:

Recap: ye/ yebo= yes
hayi, hatshi= no
unjani= how are you
ngiyaphila= I'm fine
ngiyabonga= I thank you

Inkhomitsho= cup
ilanga= sun
ugwalo= book
isinkwa= bread
uchago= milk
imibhida= vegetables
amanzi= water
ibhulungwe= trousers
phuma= come out
woza= come here
buya= come
ngena= come in
hamba= go (impolite)

"uku" in front of a verb means "to..." e.g. ukuhamba= to go, ukubuya= to come

asihambe= let's go
qoki= knock knock
ulokuza= the whats-it-ma-called/ "ummmm"
ukupopotha= to talk nonsense
njenge= like/ similar to
amapholisa= police
ukujayiva= to dance (slang)
ngicela= I ask (e.g. ngiyacela baba= C'mon, I'm asking you man, or ngicela sinkwa= I'd like some bread)

kuhle sibili (very good). Lala kuhle (sleep well)

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Ndebele time

August 12, 2012, 12:41 am

≫ Next: Ndebele counting

≪ Previous: Some ndebele objects and verbs

Salibonani bangane ( Hello friends). I know it has been a while since I put up a post. Today I'll talk about time, since it is fitting. As usual, if you are new, please start right at the bottom of the blog page and work up to this newest post today.

Isikhathi bani? -What's the time? ("Time what")
Usually you would reply in English because exact numbers like 12:42 are not used in isiNdebele that much.
kusasa- tomorrow e.g. sizakubona kusasa - we'll see tomorrow
izolo - yesterday
ekuseni - in the morning (the "e" means "at/ in the" i.e. at morning etc)
There was a song that we used to hear on the radio in the mornings that went "Cockadoodaldoo (rooster noise) vukani madoda sokuseni" (wake up men, it is morning)
emini - in the afternoon
entambama - in the evening

There is a gesture that is normally used which is to cup your hand with your palm facing down and then make a curved movement with that hand like a dolphin porpoising. If you do this forwards, it can mean, tomorrow (kusasa) and if you do it backwards by your shoulder, it means yesterday (izolo). It follows that if you want to show that something will happen 4 days in the future, you can use the gesture with a curved movement forwards 4 times to show in 4 days. If you do it backwards many times, this can show that something happened a long time ago i.e. kudala (old times/ long time ago). Also, stretching the word out helps to show it was a very long time ago i.e kudaaaaaaaala.

Ok, I'll try to include more sentences from now on, since you hopefully have the basics from the previous posts below.

Today's sentence:

Usitshelile ukuthi uzahamba kusasa - He told us that he is going tomorrow

kusasa, you now know is "tomorrow". Hamba, you know is "to go", with the u= he/you and the za showing future tense i.e. will go. Ukuthi is a very nice joining word to use to say "that" e.g. if you say ngicabanga ukuthi... I think that...(remember the "c" soft click here). Tshela is the verb- to tell, so usitshel ile is "he told us".

Another useful phrase is: ngubani? - Who is it?

Ok bangane (my friends) sizakubona kusasa, sahle kahle (we'll see you tomorrow, stay well)

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Ndebele counting

August 13, 2012, 2:19 pm

≫ Next: Uhamba njani? (How is it going?)

≪ Previous: Ndebele time

Linjani bangane? (How're you friends) Today I thought we'd go over some numbers. Again, if you're new, please start with the first post which is at the very bottom of this page, and then work your way up to today's post.

1	kunye
2	kubili
3	kuthathu
4	kune
5	kuyisihlanu
6	kuyisithupha
7	kuyisikhombisa
8	kuyisitshiyanga lombili
9	kuyisitshiyanga lolunye
10	tshumi

Just something from the above, when you say "and", you'd use "lo"e.g. ngihamba lomama- I go with my mother. Ngihamba lonyoko- I go with your mother.

Kancane means a little, so if someone asked you how you're doing, you could say "kancane kancane" like the French comme ci-comme ca, or "just ok/ surviving". (The c is the soft c click sound, remember?)

A nice thing to ask in the morning, is "Uvuke njani?" which is good morning, but actually is asking the person how they woke up. To which you would reply, ngivukile - I have woken. If you are speaking to many people, you can use "li" prefix instead of "u", e.g. livuke njani?- how did you (pl) wake?
Ulele njani? - how did you sleep?

Here is another good list I found. It is in French so I put the isiNgisi (English) after the French so lamhla (today) you can learn 2 languages at once:

bonjour (le matin) Good Morning	livuke njani
bonjour (l'après-midi) Good afternoon	litshonile
bonsoir Good evening	litshone njani
au revoir Goodbye	lisale sesihamba / lisale kuhle

excusez-moi Excuse me	uxolo / ngixolela
merci Thank you/ We thank you a lot	ngiyabonga / siyabonga kakulu
homme Man	indoda / amadoda
femme Woman/ women	umfazi / abafazi
où ? Where?	ngaphi
quand ? When	nini
comment ? How?	njani
pourquoi ? Why?	ngani
combien ? How much does it cost?	yimalini
argent Money	imali
cher Expensive	kuyadula
eau Water	amanzi
pain Bread	isinkwa
poisson Fish	inhlanzi or kapenta (small fish eaten from Kariba)
viande Meat	inyama
légumes Vegetable/ s	umbhida / imibhida
fruit	izithelo
froid It is cold	kuyaqanda (like Zulu word kuyabanda)
chaud it is hot	kuyatshisa
assez Enough	kwanele (sokwanele- it is enough)
de rien Your welcome/ it's ok	Kulungile (used very often to mean "it's ok", or "ok")

Sure bangane, ngicabanga ukuthi ugrand lamhla (Sure friends, I think that you're grand today. This is a bit of slang though but it's what you'd say in the City of Kings for instance)

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Uhamba njani? (How is it going?)

September 16, 2012, 3:48 am

≫ Next: Ndebele click sounds pronounciation

≪ Previous: Ndebele counting

Salibonani tshomi, uhamba njani? (Hello buddy/pal, how is it going?) I hope you're enjoying using some of the isiNdebele words previously discussed.

*If you're new, please start at the bottom of the page and then work your way up to this newest post. The isiNdebele words appear in bold.

Today I'll talk a bit about modes of transport.
car- imota
train- isitimela
bus- ibhasi
bicycle- ibhayisikili
aeroplane- indizamtshina
walking- hamba lenyawo ( you know hamba= "go" lo means "with" and inyawo means "foot" so "to go by foot")
To ride= ukugada (just a side note, the part uku in front of a verb means "to do something" e.g. gada= ride (like you telling someone to ride) whereas ukugada means "to ride")

Sentences:Ngiyagada ibhayisikili- I am riding a bicycle
Ngitshayela imota- I drive a car

More vocab: inombolo= a number
(uku)xoxa= (to) chat
indaba= news so khuluma indaba= talk about the news, xoxa indaba= chat about news
phezulu= up/ lift up (for anything from faka phezulu- put it up to Nkhosi esezulwini- God in heaven)
phansi= down e.g. hlala phansi= sit down (e.g. you would say to children in class)

An example of a teacher greeting his students. Students stand as the teacher enters the room:
Teacher: Salibonani bantwana- hello children
Class (children): Salibonani mnumzana/ mbalisi - hello sir/ teacher
Teacher: Yebo, linjani?- yes, how are you (plural)
Class: Ngiyaphila ngingabuza wena?- I am fine and I ask about you?
Teacher: Ngiyaphila. Hlala phansi- I am fine, sit down
Class: All sit down

Yebo tshomi, sizakubona kusasa futhi. Hamba kuhle (yes buddy, we will see eachother tomorrow again. Go well/ goodbye)

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Ndebele click sounds pronounciation

January 23, 2013, 12:23 pm

≫ Next: Ndebele classes

≪ Previous: Uhamba njani? (How is it going?)

Salibonani mngan'ami (hello my friend or literally "we have seen eachother friend of mine"). If you're new, please start reading from the bottom of this blog upwards. Let us just recap the basic isiNdebele sounds today bangane.

Pronunciation of vowels

There are five basic vowel sounds; a, o, u are very constant and e and i have only slight variation

a is pronounced like a in father; e.g. abantwana (children)
e is pronounced like e in bed; e.g. emoyeni (in the air)
i is pronounced like ee in see; e.g. siza (help)
o is pronounced like o in bone; e.g. okhokho (ancestors)
u is pronounced like oo in soon; e.g. umuntu (person)

In isiNdebele there are three click sounds c, q and x.

c is made by placing the tip of the tongue against the front upper teeth and gums, the centre of the tongue is depressed and the tip of the tongue is drawn backwards. The resulting sound is similar to the sound used in English to express annoyance. Some examples are cina (end), cela (ask)
The q sound is made by raising the back of the tongue to touch the soft palate and touching the gums with the sides and tip of the tongue. The centre of the tongue is depressed and the tip drawn quickly away from the gum. The resulting sound is like the "pop" heard when quickly removing the cork from a bottle. Some examples are qalisa (start), qeda (finish)
The x sound is made by placing the tongue so that the back of the tongue touches the soft palate and the sides and tip of the tongue touch the gums. One side of the tongue is quickly withdrawn from the gums. Some examples are xoxa (discuss), ixoxo (frog).

One last thing: The "tsh" sound in siNdebele is pronounced as "ch" in "chain" or "change". So the word, umtshayeli (driver) would sound like "oom-cha-yeli" and not "oom-sha-yeli" as it does it languages such as isiZulu. Also, kuyatshisa (it is hot e.g. the weather or an object) is pronounced "ku-ya-chisa". Another example would be tshaya (hit) is pronounced "cha-ya" e.g. ngizakutshaya (I am going to hit you). I obviously hope you never hear that phrase though, but there it is.

Sharp sharp bangane(slang for "cool my friends" used in many places in Southern Africa)

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Ndebele classes

March 27, 2013, 5:24 am

≫ Next: Ndebele Body parts and Ndololwane Super Sounds

≪ Previous: Ndebele click sounds pronounciation

Salibonani bangane. If you are new, please start at the post right at the bottom of the blog and work your way up to today's newest post. Kulungile (ok), lamuhla (today) we will go over the 8 classes in isiNdebele. Nansi (here it is):

njalo (and) some vocabulary:

bonga- thank
bhonga- roar

The difference in the "h" must thus be expressed, and we make the h sound by a sudden rush of air in an aspirated sound. It is not difficult, imagine the first "h" in "hahaha", now put that "h" sound after the "b" in bhonga, so it is b-(air aspirated)-onga.

Now you can say Ngiyabonga (I am thankful/ thank you) and Isilwane iyabhonga (The lion is roaring)

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Ndebele Body parts and Ndololwane Super Sounds

May 12, 2013, 10:29 am

≫ Next: Ndebele books

≪ Previous: Ndebele classes

Salibonani bangane, as always, if you are new, please start with the posts at the bottom of the page and work your way up.
Kulungile, lamuhla sizakubona: the human body (umzimba)

There is a song that goes : ikhanda, inhlombe, isifuba, idolo, amadolo, phansi, amadolo, phansi
which translates to the heads-shoulders-knees-and-toes song
i.e. head, shoulders, chest, knee, knees, down, knees, down (respectively)

So we know:

ikhanda (the head)
inhlombe (the shoulders)
isifuba (the chest)
amadolo (the knees)
phansi (down)

Khathesi (now), let's look at some other useful nouns.

Izinwele - Hair
Amehlo - eyes
Amadlebe/Izindlebe - ears
Amakhala - nose
Amafinyela - mucous
Izihlathi - cheeks
Umlomo - mouth
Izindebe - lips
Amazinyo - teeth
Izinsini - gums
Ulimi - tongue
Mandevu - beards

Indololwane - elbow (there is a band called Ndololwane Super Sounds. I recommend a listen to some of their Ndebele songs e.g. http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=GkslNjqC268&feature=fvwp or try this for tastes of their album http://www.simfy.co.za/artists/633701-Ndolwane-Super-Sounds/albums/1375824-Izambane-lika-pondo?locale=en)

Amazwane - toes
Umdidi - anus
Isandla - hand (palm)
Inhliziyo - heart
Isibindi - liver
Amathambo - bones
Impama - open hand slap
Ingalo - arm
Unyawo - foot (e.g. ibhola lenyawo - ball of the foot/ football)
Inqindi - fist
Iqondo - mind/ brain

Vuli' qondo, ngizakufake 'qindi - it has 2 "q" sharp clicks and means "open your mind or I will use my fists". Obviously not for polite company.

Ye, sizakubona kusasa bakhithi (Yeah, we'll see you tomorrow my people)

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Ndebele books

June 4, 2013, 8:51 am

≫ Next: Ndebele You, me, mine, yours

≪ Previous: Ndebele Body parts and Ndololwane Super Sounds

Hawu, salibonani bakhithi (wow, greetings folks). As always, if you are new, please read from the post right at the bottom (scroll down) and then finish with today's newest post.

Lamhla sizakuxoxa amabhuku (today we will chat books). There are new links to amazon.com and other places you can order Ndebele books from. Khathesi siyakhangela ilink "Books"phezulu njenge mafree pdf's (now we'll look at the "Books" link at the top for links like these free pdf's):

http://www.biblica.com/bibles/ndebele/ e.g. http://www.biblica.com/uploads/pdf-files/bibles/ndebele/nt/UMathewu.pdf for UMathewu (Matthew).

or a list of Ndebele books at:

http://sites.relzim.org/mambo-press/mambo-press-catalogue/literature-in-ndebele/

such as Ithemba Kalibulali (Hope does not kill):

http://thelionpress.com/productdetail.php?prod_id=440

Nxa uyafuna ukuhamba e"Books", tshova (If you'd like to go to the "Books", push) : http://northernndebele.blogspot.com/p/books-and-resources.html

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Ndebele You, me, mine, yours

June 10, 2013, 8:09 am

≫ Next: Modern new Ndebele words and some Ndebele vocab

≪ Previous: Ndebele books

Salibonani mngane (hello friend). Today, let's look at some vocab about possession and people. If you are new, as always, please start at the bottom of the blog and work up to this post. Ngiyabonga (thanks).

mina - me
wena - you (singular)
thina - we/ us
lina - you (plural)

e.g. Mina, ngingumtshayeli, wena? - Me, I am a driver, and you?
Mina ngudokotela - me, I'm a doctor

Lami - my
Lakho - your
Lakhe - his/ hers

e.g. Ibizo lakho ngubani? - What is your name? (lit: name your is what?)
Ibizo lami nguJohn - My name is John (lit: name of mine is John)
ungaphi umama wami? - where is my mother?
remember that "your mother" has a whole different name to "my mother" i.e. unyoko and umama respectively (similarly uyihlo and ubaba for your/ my father)

(uku)Hlala - (to) stay
Ngaphi - where

Together, they can be put together as: Uhlalaphi? - Where do you stay?

remember that I use "u" for you/him/her but use "ngi" for I, "ba" for they, "si" for we
e.g. mina, ngihlala koBulawayo - me, I stay in Bulawayo
uhlala eGweru - He stays in Gweru
uhlala eGwanda, angithi? you stay in Gwanda, isn't it so?
bahlala eHwange - they stay in Hwange

If you are going to say a place with an "r" in it, just remember that siNdebele technically does not use the "r" sound and so replace it with an "l". e.g. France = eflansi

Yebo mngane, so... uhlalaphi? (yes friend so... where do you stay?)

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Modern new Ndebele words and some Ndebele vocab

July 24, 2013, 11:41 am

≫ Next: Local food in Ndebele

≪ Previous: Ndebele You, me, mine, yours

Salibonani bangane (hello friends), today I want to make a short post. Again, if you are new, please look at the posts right at the bottom (scroll down) and then work your way up to today's newest post.

Ok, I just want to talk about the fact that there are some new/ modern words that there is no real Ndebele words for. The words used are sometimes made by simply placing an "i" in front of the English word, e.g. keyboard= ikeyboard, speaker= ispeaker etc. There are other words for izinto (things) like an aeroplane, which some people say is "iflying machine" but is actually indizamtshina. Also, the name for some things comes from the sound they make e.g. umdududu = motorbike, imoto = motorcar. Kanti, ngicambanga ukuthi (but I think that) you are now worried about the language, so I will leave you with a few real Ndebele phrases to restore your faith:

Uyasebenza lapha aze athole omunye umsebenzi = He is working here until he finds another job.
Izilwane zibulala zibuye zidle = The lions kill and then eat.
Nxa efika abongibona = When he comes he should see me.
Ubatshele ukuthi babohamba ekuseni = Tell them that they should go in the morning.
kanzima = with difficulty
utshani obuluhlaza = grass green (green grass)
ubumnene = kindness
igabha lamanzi = a water container/ tin
amandla okunqoba = power to conquer
kahle = beautifully, nicely, carefully
kakhulu = very, greatly, a lot

Sure bakhithi, ngiyakhuluma kakhulu khathesi (sure folks, I am speaking a lot now)

Hamba kahle bangane (go well friends), sizakubona ( we will see) next time

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Local food in Ndebele

October 14, 2013, 5:51 pm

≫ Next: Ndebele music. Try translate some of these songs bangane

≪ Previous: Modern new Ndebele words and some Ndebele vocab

Salibonani bangane (It is nice to see you/ hello friends).As always, if you are new, please read the siNdebele lessons from the bottom (scroll down) and work up to this, the newest post. Kahle, (good) let us look at some ukudla (foods), indigenous fruit and umbhida (vegetables) lamhla (today).

amaputi - roasted maize
impuphu - maize meal (used to make isitshwala/ sadza/ pap)
utshwala- local shake-shake beer made with lots of amanzi (water)
inyawuthi - millet (milled into flour or used in beer brewing)
amabele - sorghum (milled into flour or used in beer brewing)
impuphu yamabele - sorghum flour
amazambane - ground nuts/ peanuts
idobi - peanut butter
amasi - sour milk/ lacto
idelele - bush okra
amatamatisi - tomatoes
izinhlwa - flying ants (you can fry them and they are tasty and oily enough on their own)
intethe- locusts
amacimbi (there is that "c" click to practice) - worms that are dried and eaten as a delicacy

umhobohobo - Mahobohobo/ wild loquat. Similar to loquat yellow fleshy tasty fruit

umganu - marula tree and fruit. Very tasty fruit which can also be made into alcohol

umhlali - sweet monkey orange

uxhakuxhaku (remember the soft click "x" sounds) - snot apple/ African chewing gum

inhlanzi - fish

ihabahaba - dried fruit pith from Monkeybread tree (similar to baobab)

umhlabangubo - black jack

More isiNdebele vocabulary:

ukupheka - to cook e.g. Ngizakupheka 'mabhida - I will cook some vegetables.
igwayi - tobacco
isifuba - chest
abazali - parents
isigubhu - drum/ container
isivalo - lid
isipho - gift (also a good name- "Sipho")
amathumbu- entrails/ stomach lining
lawe futhi - and you also/ as well

Yebo bangane, ngidiniwe kakhulu. Ngifuna ukulala khathesi (Yes friends, I am tired a lot. I want to sleep now). Lala kahle - sleep well!

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Ndebele music. Try translate some of these songs bangane

October 28, 2013, 4:34 pm

≫ Next: Ndebele names

≪ Previous: Local food in Ndebele

Ok zwana bangane (listen friends), I want you to listen to some good old siNdebele music lamuhla (today). Awufuni (you don't want)? Hayibo (no way), lalela kuphela bangane (just listen only friends) njalo dinga ma'artists leyi (and find these artists). Some of these old but good songs from kudala (a long time ago) are here so just click and it will open a new window:

https://vimeo.com/user22211806

or start with one of my favourites: http://vimeo.com/78022136 or http://vimeo.com/78023619

Dorothy Masuka- a great jazz singer and friend and contemporary collaborator of Miriam Makeba

(she wrote the original "Pata Pata" song, "MaGumede""Khawuleza", "Somandla" etc)

Lovemore Majaivana - one of the most popular Ndebele singer e.g. Tshilamoya, Umoya Wami, Uzakufa Kubi, Ngifuna imali etc.

Nxa uyafuna ichallenge (if you would like...), try pick up the words njalo sizakuxoxa (and we will chat) about them. Some vocabulary to help a bit:

Ntombi - girl

umfazi / abafazi - wife/ wives

ngabantu - of the people (abantu = people)

tshisa - (sounds like chisa in Ndebele pronounciation) hot/ burn, but its slang meaning is "that's hot" or "cool"

umoya wami - spirit/ soul of mine

tshilamoya - dustdevil/ spirit, it is used for the football team, Highlander's slogan alongside "Bosso"

pata pata - usually refers to the slip-slop/ pata-pata beach shoes but also refers to dance

Ngifuna imali - I want money

Putting "Ma" in front of someone's name is like saying mama someone, or Mrs, so MaDube is Mother Dube (the name "Dube" means zebra by the way)
khawuleza - hurry up, similar to tshetsha baba, asihambe (hurry man, we are going)
ngithanda - I like e.g. ngithanda isiNdebele (I like Ndebele)
Sihawukele- "have mercy on us". Used in mass and prayers e.g. Nkosi sihawukele, Kristu sihawkele, Nkosi sihawukele (Lord have mercy)
Angizwa - I don't understand (zwa = understand)
Angazi - I don't know (remember, starting with an "a" and ending with an "i" makes a verb negative)

Ok tshomi, hlala kahle (ok buddy, stay well)

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Ndebele names

October 28, 2013, 5:18 pm

≫ Next: Vocab and a funny Ndebele/ Zulu video

≪ Previous: Ndebele music. Try translate some of these songs bangane

Salibonani bangane (It is nice to see you/ hello friends). As always, if you are new, please read the siNdebele lessons from the bottom (scroll down) and work up to this, the newest post. As usual, the Ndebele words are in bold where possible and translated in brackets.

Obviously kulamabizo eminengi kodwa (there are names in a great number but) sizakubona khathesi amabizo 'mnandi (we will look now at nice names [in terms of meanings]).
Key: g = usual girl's name and b = usual boy's name but only in my general view.

Nomandla - g "mother of strength"
Noxolo - g "mother of peace/ forgiveness"
Thembile - g "Hopeful"
Nonhlanhla - g "Mother of luck"
Thembeka - g "be reliable"
Thandiwe (Thandi) - g "Beloved" or g "loved one"
Nobuhle/ buhle - g "mother of beauty"/ "beauty"
Thandeka - g "Lovely"
Nomagugu - g "Mother of treasures/ precious things"
Gugulethu - g "our treasure"
Zenzile - g "you are responsible for what you have become"
Nomandla - g "mother of strength"
Nomzamo - g "mother of effort/ attempts"
Nomvula - g "mother of opening rains"
Nomalanga - g "mother of sunshine"
Nomasonto - g "mother of Sunday/ church"
Sibusiswe/ busiswe - g "we're blessed"/ the baby is a blessed one
Sibongile - g "we are grateful/ give thanks"

Xolani - b "peace upon all of you"
Siyabonga - b "we are grateful"
Mandla - b "strength"
Jabulani - b "be happy all"
Lunga - b "be kind"
Themba - b "hope/ trust"
Musa - b "kindness/ mercy"
Nhlanhla - b "good luck/ lucky one"
Njabulo - b "joy/ happiness"
Sandile - b "we have extended in number"
Thabani - b "you all be joyful"
Vusumuzi - b "rekindle the family"
Sifiso - b "what we wished for"
Mthokozisi - b "The one who gives joy"
Simphiwe - b "he is our gift" e.g. simphiwe yiNkosi (he is our gift from God)
Zenzele - b "do it yourself"
Mandlakhe - b "his efforts"
Mlungisi - b "the one who brings order"
Langelihle - b "good day"
Sibusiso - b "blessing"
Mandlenkosi - b "strength of God"
Bonginkosi - b/g "be grateful to God"
Sihawukele - b "have mercy on us"
Dumisani - b "You all give praises". Shortened to "Dumi" sometimes
Ndumiso- b "Praise" a quite common Ndebele name

Sure bangane, lilale kahle (sure friends, sleep well).

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Vocab and a funny Ndebele/ Zulu video

November 10, 2013, 5:02 am

≫ Next: Introduction to the NEW 'Lessons' tab

≪ Previous: Ndebele names

Salibonani bangane (It is nice to see you/ hello friends). As always, if you are new, please read the siNdebele lessons from the bottom (scroll down) and work up to this, the newest post. As usual, the Ndebele words are in bold where possible and translated in brackets.

Lamuhla kulamavocabulary kuphela (today there is vocabulary only):

(uku)donsa - (to) pull
(uku)tshova - (to) push. The old taxis used to breakdown often so were called "Tshovas" because you had to push them often.
imfe - sugar cane. Yum!
(uku)khipha - (to) take out/ remove
(uku)dobha - (to) pick up
(uku)thatha - (to) take/ grab
unwabu - chameleon. Also, because chameleons move slowly, they are known as "hamba bijana" in chilapalapa slang i.e. "go slowly".
upahla - roof
igwayi - tobacco (there is an area in Zimbabwe called "Gwayi")
(uku)dubula - (to) shoot with a gun
UNkulunkulu - God. e.g. UNkulunkulu angeke ehluleke = God can't fail.
ijodo/ amajodo - pig melon/ pig melons. Some people like to use this to describe a fat person in a mildly derogatory fashion.
ithambo - bone e.g. of animals
inyathi - buffalo
inja - dog. e.g. Inja isayidla inyama (the dog is still eating the meat)
umuthi - medicine
idlozi/ amadlozi - spirit/ spirits of ancestors or just ghosts
ukhokho/ izikhokho - ancestor/ ancestors. For some fun, see the "Izikhokho" youtube videos of the South African comic artist, Mdu, such as: http://goo.gl/4r2nDW.

On that funny note, ngizakuhamba bangane (I will go friends)

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Introduction to the NEW 'Lessons' tab

November 29, 2013, 9:42 pm

≫ Next: Lessons 2 and 3 are now out

≪ Previous: Vocab and a funny Ndebele/ Zulu video

Lamuhla, ngifuna ukulala njengengwenya (today, I want to sleep like a crocodile [made up phrase]) so I will just give you a few new phrases to continue your fun journey. There are other tabs above for you to investigate.

funa = to want e.g. uyafuna ukuhamba, baba? (do you want to leave, man?)
phakathi = inside
indlu = house
ngwenya = crocodile e.g. amandla ethu njengengwenya emanzini ayesemphakathini (our/ my strength is like a crocodile in the water)
Hayi, suka, ngidiniwe = No, get lost (playful use usually), I am tired) e.g. if someone says a funny joke or plays a prank, you can say "Hayi, suka!" or "hayi, usile!"
Usile = you are silly

Kulungile bangane, khathesi, ngizakulala njengengwenya (Alright friends, now, I am going to sleep like a flat dog (crocodile))

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Lessons 2 and 3 are now out

January 13, 2014, 3:54 am

≫ Next: iGrammar ncane (a little grammar)

≪ Previous: Introduction to the NEW 'Lessons' tab

Sure bangane, lalekahle (sure friends, sleep well).

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iGrammar ncane (a little grammar)

January 20, 2014, 4:45 am

≫ Next: Ndebele songs and dancing

≪ Previous: Lessons 2 and 3 are now out

Sure, lamuhla sizakuxoxa izindaba eziGrammar (today we will chat about grammar). We hope you are enjoying learning Ndebele and you must feel free to ask questions at any stage in our journey.

Nouns

Plural nouns are often formed in Ndebele by using the prefixes:
o-
ama-
aba-
imi- and
izi-

for example:
ugogo/ ogogo - grandmother/ grandmothers
ilitshe/ amatshe - stone/ stones
umfana/ abafana - boy/ boys
umuzi/ imizi - homestead/ homesteads
indlu/ izindlu - house/ houses

Present tense

For grammar on verbs, see lessons 2 and 3 in the lessons tab. We just want to give you the present tense for 'to be' and 'to have'lamuhla. They are used as prefixes before nouns and verbs respectively.

to be:
ngingu - I am
ungu - you are
ungu - he/ she is
singo - we are
lingo - you are
bango - they are

to have:
ngile - I have
ule - you have
ule - he/she has
sile - we have
ule - you have
bale - they have

for example: ibizo lami ngingu... (my name, I am ...)
hawu, ulamandla babamkhulu! (wow, you have strength grandfather [father big]!)

Sure bangane, hamba kahle (sure friends, go well).

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Ndebele songs and dancing

May 3, 2014, 1:26 pm

≫ Next: Greetings

≪ Previous: iGrammar ncane (a little grammar)

Salibonani bangane (It is nice to see you/ hello friends). As always, if you are new, please read the siNdebele lessons from the bottom (scroll down) and work up to this, the newest post. Lamhla, I want to just show you an interesting siNdebele song we were listening too. It is called Vumelani Isangoma and you can see it on Youtube here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hABYloxZh6I

Also, here is some old but good songs:
by Black Umfolosi: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJw18UhMzVo

by Dorothy Masuku: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oL8c7ZAdNU

Njalo, nxa uyafuna ukujiva (And, if you'd like to jive/dance), you can pick up some of the dance moves from these videos:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=4846991574932

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gj7Y2Mq6jvI

After you have finished reading the blog posts at the bottom of this page, you can check out the other tabs at the top of the site such as the free Ndebele lessons. Lesson 4 is up if you go to the lessons tab above or click here:

Sure bakhithi, enjoy the music, tshaya ngoma (hit that song).

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