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Greetings

July 6, 2014, 5:02 am
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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. Kulungile, lamhla (ok, today) let us look at polite greetings you can use in an isiNdebele society:

Ekuseni (in the morning):

Person 1: Uvukile! (Good morning, or more literally "you have woken up")
Person 2: Ngivukile, uvuke njani lawe? (Good morning, how did you sleep yourself?)
Person 1: Ngivukile, ngibuza wena (I slept well if you also slept well)
Person 2: Ngivukile (I have slept well)

Emini (in the afternoon)

Person 1: Utshonile! (Good afternoon)
Person 2:  Ngitshonile, utshone njani wena? (Good afternoon, have you spent the day well yourself?)
Person 1: Ngitshonile, ngingabuza wena (I have spent it well, if you have also spent it well)
Person 2: Ngitshonile (I have spent it well)


Person 1:  Kunjani? (How are you?)
Person 2: Ngiyaphila, kunjani? (I am fine (healthy), how are you?)
Person 1:  Ngiyaphila (I am fine)

People may say 'linjani' instead of 'kunjani' when talking to one person. To this you would reply "siphilile' instead of 'ngiphilile'. If you remember the tenses lesson earlier, 'li' and 'si' are the plural (you pl and we).

After you have finished reading the blog posts from the bottom of this page, you can check out the other tabs at the top of the site such as the formal, free Ndebele lessons. Lesson 5 is now up if you go to the lessons tab above or click here:

Lessons
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Learning isiNdebele lessons kancane kancane

November 23, 2014, 7:56 am
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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. Kulungile, lamhla (ok, today) we would just like to direct you to the new, formal siNdebele lesson.
Lesson 7 is now up if you go to the lessons tab above or click here:

Lessons

Sharp sharp.
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isiNdebele Songs

March 28, 2015, 6:32 am
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New lesson 9 out

July 26, 2015, 2:49 am
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Salibonani bangane (nice to see you friends). As always, if you are new, please read from the first post at the bottom of this page and work your way up to the newer posts. There is a new lesson up now (Lesson 9) if you would like to learn more about asking questions and answering them.
e.g. Abantwana bathanda ukudla - Ye, sibili!
       Children like eating - Yes, indeed (definitely)!

Lessons

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Greetings in isiNdebele continued

October 17, 2015, 5:04 am
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Salibonani bangane (nice to see you friends). Banjani ekhaya? (How are they all at home?). As always, if you are new, please read from the first post at the bottom of this page and work your way up to the newer posts. Lamhla, let us briefly talk about greeting people in siNdebele. For more detail, please see the new lesson post out here:

Lessons

Kulungile. When one enters a traditional isiNdebele village, one should stand at the gate a call out "Ekuhle". When someone responds to say yes, "Yebo", one may approach the housing and take a seat so that people from that village may greet one.

The greeting dialogue to address some people could be as follows (with an English translation with a similar meaning):

Salibonani (we see you)

Yebo, salibonani (yes, we see you)

Linjani? (how are you [plural]?)

Sikhona, singabuza lina? (We are here [present], may we ask you?)

Sikhona (We are present)



For more details, see the lessons. Good luck in your journey of learning this southern African language.

Kanti, mina ngizakuhamba khathesi
Hambani kuhle, bangane (go well, friends)
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Alternative isiNdebele greetings

June 5, 2016, 3:27 am
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Salibonani bangane (nice to see you friends).

If you are just starting your journey to learn and have fun with isiNdebele, please look at the first posts at the bottom of this page (scroll down) and work your way to this, the newest post.

To continue with learning about the best isiNdebele greetings, see the new lesson 12 here:

Lessons

Kulungile, lamhla, let us briefly talk about different options for greeting in siNdebele. For example, we can use the verb 'ukubona' (to see) or 'ukubingelela' (to greet):

  • ubabone ekhaya/ abantwana - greet those at home/ the children for me (or literally 'see them at home/ the children'). isiNdebele is a cool language hey?
  • ubabingelela abantwana - greet the children

Remember to give a handshake with your greeting. Until next week, have fun, bakhithi.
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Article 0

July 26, 2016, 2:22 am
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Salibonani bangane (nice to see you friends).

If you are just starting your journey to learn and have fun with isiNdebele, please look at the first posts at the bottom of this page (scroll down) and work your way to this, the newest post.

We are always happy to have contributions. Thanks to those who have contributed Ndebele phrases so far. This is a shout out to all other would-be contributors. If there is anything you would like us to put up, please comment or pop an email to:

northernndebeleblog@gmail.com  

or on Northern Ndebele on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/northernndebele

Northern Ndebele on Facebook
Northern Ndebele

Thanks for your suggestions and help in teaching people more about the fascinating Ndebele language. Siyabonga kakhulu.



Kulungile, lamuhla, let us go over the numbering again.

Though English numbers are often used in urban settings, these are the numbers in siNdebele:
1kunye
2kubili
3kuthathu
4kune
5kuyisihlanu
6kuyisithupha
7kuyisikhombisa
8kuyisitshiyanga lombili
9kuyisitshiyanga lolunye
10tshumi
Enjoy your journey, njalo siyabonga bakithi.
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The Prefix for the Negative

October 2, 2016, 5:19 am
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Salibonani bangane (nice to see you friends).

If you are just starting your journey to learn and have fun with isiNdebele, please look at the first posts at the bottom of this page (scroll down) and work your way to this, the newest post.

Kulungile, lamhla, let us look at some grammar.

Manje, we can all make sentences like this by now, angithi?

  1. Ngiyahamba (Ngi-ya-hamba) - I am going
  2. Ngifuna itiye eletshukela - I want tea with sugar
  3. Umama ulabantwana - Mother has children
  4. Ngilemali - I have money
Right, well, now we can add the prefix for the negative "a-", so that we say ukuthi:

  • Angihambi (a-ngi-hambi) - I do not go
  • Angifuni - I do not want
  • Angila (a-ngi-la) - I do not have
For example, angilemali (I don't have money). Remember, as shown above, with the negative prefix "a-", oftens comes the ending "-i". For example, it is not angihamba, but angihambi, and it is not angikhuluma, but angikhulumi.

For more formal lessons, see the lessons tab. Have fun bakithi.

Lessons
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Article 0

February 26, 2017, 7:14 am
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Today's story: Money Matters

Samukele! (Welcome).

If you are just starting your journey to learn and have fun with isiNdebele, please look at the first posts at the bottom of this page (scroll down) and work your way to this, the newest post.

Lamhla, let us explore some parts about money in siNdebele.

We know that imali (money) is a ways to a means, angithi? Kulungile, let us explore some words.

A dollar is idola and dollars are amadola. 
Change is intshintshi so you could ask someone, "Lilentshintshi na?"(do you have money please?).

If something is cheap, it is "tshipa", from the noun "ukutshipa", to be cheap. So you could say, "
kutshipile"(it is cheap).

As we saw, imali is "money" and thus malini is "how much money?/ how much does it cost?" If you didn't hear the answer, you could say "utheni?"(what did you say?) or "khuluma futhi"(say it again). You might be saying this at the "isitolo"(the store/ shop).

For more of the formal lessons, see the lessons tab or for some vocabulary, check the vocab tab. Have fun bakithi.
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Article 0

March 5, 2017, 7:41 am
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Some Animals in isiNdebele

Salibonani bangane! (Nice to see you friends).

If you are just starting your journey to learn and have fun with isiNdebele, please look at the first posts at the bottom of this page (scroll down) and work your way to this, the newest post.

Lamhla, let us look at some names of animals (inyamazana) in siNdebele. Some words you may have encountered already. Also, note that we have lessons out here:

Lessons

Ok, here are some animals that come to mind. Check this list for how many you know, and then test yourself below. Good luck and let us know what your score was or if you think of any other words:
  1. isibaya
  2. ubhabhemi
  3. ibhiza
  4. bhonga
  5. imbuzi
  6. uchago
  7. ichibi
  8. idada
  9. udaka
  10. isidleke
  11. indlovu
  12. indwangu
  13. elusa
  14. ufudu
  15. umfula
  16. iganga
  17. ingulube
  18. igundwane
  19. igwala
  20. ingwe
  21. isihlahla
  22. umhlambi
  23. ihlamvu
  24. inhlanyelo
  25. inhlanzi
  26. umuhlwa
  27. ubuhlungu
  28. inja
  29. inkabi
  30. inkawu
  31. ukhokho
  32. inkomo
  33. inkukhu
  34. inkume
  35. inkunzi
  36. umlindi
  37. luma
  38. isilwane
  39. umangoye
  40. nona
  41. unwabu
  42. amanzi
  43. phapha
  44. impukane
  45. iqaqa
  46. umsila
  47. intanga
  48. ithole
  49. isithutha
  50. isitshebo
  51. inwele
  52. ixoxo
  53. inyamazana
  54. inyathi
  55. inyoka
  56. inyoni
  57. zimuka
  58. zingela

  1. A bit of a trick but this is "a kraal/ holding pen for animals"
  2. donkey
  3. horse
  4. Another trick, it's a "roar/ bellow"
  5. goat (don't be so hard on yourself, manje, you're not that bad)
  6. yet another trick, this is "milk", but it can come from animals
  7. a pond, body of water
  8. a duck
  9. mud, which ducks might walk on
  10. a "nest", perhaps for ducks
  11. elephant (back to animals now)
  12. a name for a "baboon"
  13. a "herd"
  14. tortoise
  15. a river, kanti, pet tortoises don't swim, qaphela!
  16. bushveld, open country
  17. pig, not you though
  18. rat, do you smell one?
  19. a "coward", trick question again
  20. leopard
  21. a tree. Did you think it was only animals?
  22. a "herd or flock" of animals (or people maybe too)
  23. a leaf, fallen from isihlahla above
  24. a seed. It seems the tree comes before the seed, funny hey?
  25. fish
  26. termites (white ants)
  27. pain. These ants bite
  28. dog
  29. an ox
  30. monkey, yes you are silly
  31. ancestor, a good word
  32. cow/ cattle
  33. chicken
  34. scorpion
  35. bull, just a bull
  36. a burrow/ hole animals use
  37. bite, what the animal might do if you go into their burrow
  38. lion. Run!
  39. cat, don't need to run
  40. be fat (especially animals being fat)
  41. chameleon, otherwise known as a hamba bijana
  42. water, another place you might find the idada
  43. fly. A trick, this is "to fly". Ukuphapha
  44. a fly, this one
  45. skunk, uyanuka?
  46. a tail (of the skunk even)
  47. another trick, these are "pumpkin (or squash) seeds"
  48. a calf
  49. another trick, I couldn't resist. This is an "idiotic person"
  50. relish accompanying the starch in a meal to spice it up
  51. hair
  52. a frog. Remember your soft click sound for the X
  53. animals
  54. buffalo
  55. snake
  56. bird
  57. be fat, but only used for people this time
  58. to hunt, animals or people
  59. A bit of a trick but this is "a kraal/ holding pen for animals"
If you scored more than 30, you should be sending me an email with information/ links to share or that you would like us to post on NorthernNdebele: northernndebeleblog@gmail.com. Amhlophe, mngan'ami. If not, see the lessons tab or for some vocabulary, check the vocab tab. Have fun bakithi, we look forward to hearing from you.
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Contact reminder

June 27, 2017, 12:02 am
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Salibonani bangane. Kuyagodola lamhlanje (it is cold today).

We are always happy to have volunteers to help with Northern Ndebele for Beginners.

Nxa uyafuna ukusiza (if you would like to help), especially those that have commented who would like to get involved, or you have questions, please email us to say hi:


northernndebeleblog@gmail.com

Kulungile, last sentence: kuyatshisa lamhlanje (it is warm today), I wish.
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What is Samp?

July 16, 2017, 3:31 am
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Salibonani bangane. Thanks to all those who write in every week to northernndebeleblog@gmail.com. Thanks to Kuda for the contribution.

If you are just starting your journey to learn and have fun with isiNdebele, please look at the first posts at the bottom of this page (scroll down) and work your way to this, the newest post.

Lamhlanje, the question is, "What is samp, and what is it called in isiNdebele?"

Well, samp is made from corn/ mealies. Before it can get to a fine powder called "corn flour/ mealie meal" it is just the corn kernels chopped and stamped. This stage is called "samp", and is a common food in Southern Africa.

[Remember, the fine powder is called mealie meal (impuphu) and is used to make isitshwala (also called "pap" in South Africa). To see how isitshwala is made (and peanut butter spinach, which is delicious), see this little YouTube video we found earlier: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PdP78WD74g.]

So what is samp in isiNdebele? Well, it is either itshakada or umgqutsu. For siNdebele readers in the community, which word do you use? What traditional drinks and foods do you like - isitshwala senyawuthi, idelele, amasi, amahewu, umqombothi?

Samp (itshakada) is made from coarsely ground dried corn/ mealies.

If you would like to contribute, email us at northernndebeleblog@gmail.com. Have fun bakithi, we look forward to hearing from you.
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The Weather in Ndebele

July 16, 2017, 4:49 am
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Salibonani bangane. Thanks to all those who write in every week to northernndebeleblog@gmail.com.

If you are just starting your journey to learn and have fun with isiNdebele, please look at the first posts at the bottom of this page (scroll down) and work your way up to this, the newest post.

Lamhlanje, let us give a reminder of the basic weather in isiNdebele:

Kuyaqanda - it is cold
Kuyatshisa - it is hot (can also be used for objects, like isinkwa kasitshisi - the bread is not hot)
Ilanga liyatshisa - a more specific way to say it is hot (the sun is hot)
Izulu liyana* - it is raining
Ngiyagodola - I am cold (my body)

*this may be confusing because the Zulu are also a people, speaking isiZulu. In isiNdebele though, izulu means rain.

Kulungile, we have uploaded a few new lessons, so if you would like to learn isiNdebele more formally, continue here in the Lessons tab:

Lessons

Have fun bakithi, we look forward to hearing from you.

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Northern Ndebele

November 5, 2017, 10:25 am
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Salibonani bangane. 

If you are just starting your journey to learn and have fun with isiNdebele, please look at the first posts at the bottom of this page (scroll down) and work your way up to this, the newest post.

We have uploaded a new lessons, including the verb classes which once learnt, are simple to apply nsukuzonke. Nxa uyafuna ukufunda isiNdebele , hamba khonapha khathesi koLessons tab:

Lessons

Have fun bakithi, we look forward to hearing from you.

♫ Ndebele song artist to listen to while you learn: ♪ Dorothy Masuku♪ e.g Hamba Notsokolo or Magumede.♫


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Using the same Ndebele word for singular and plural

November 19, 2017, 1:31 am
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Salibonani bangane (hello friends). Lamhla, let us look at the case for words that are the same in singular and plural in isiNdebele.

Like the English word, "sheep" means one or many of the animal, so there are words in Ndebele which mean both. For example:
ubunyonyo means either one ant or many ants, ubusuku means one or many nights, and ubuhlungu means pain or many pains (or poisons).

For more, read the lessons, we now have 25 lessons up for you to learn isiNdebele formally:

Lessons

To those who would like to ask questions, or help others with information, we created a community tab for any comments:


We appreciate the engagement, as we would like it to be easy and fun to learn isiNdebele.

Sahle kahle.

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Summary of Noun Classes in isiNdebele

February 4, 2018, 7:35 am
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Salibonani bangane (hello friends). If you are new, please start at the first post at the bottom and work your way up to this, the newest post.

Lamhla, let us look at a summary of the noun classes in isiNdebele. Once you know these noun classes, you will be able to use any noun. For more about each noun class, we now have 27 lessons up for you to learn isiNdebele formally:

Lessons


Kulungile, nans' amaNoun Classes with words for singular/ plural:
  • Um (or Umu)/ Aba - for example umfana/ abafana, umuntu/ abantu,
  • U/O - ubaba/ obaba, umama/ omama,
  • Um (or Umu)/ Imi - umfula, umuthi/ imifula, imithi,
  • I (or Ili)/ Ama - ijaha, ilitshe/ amajaha, amatshe,
  • Is (or Isi)/ Iz (or Izi) - isalukazi, isitsha/ izalukazi, izitsha,
  • Im (or In)/ Izim (or izin) - imvu, inja/ izimvu, izinja,
  • U (or Ulu)/ Im (or In, or Izin) - ubhalu, ukhezo, uluthi/ imbalu, inkezo, izinti,
  • Ubu (both singular and plural) - ubunyonyo (ant or ants)
  • Uku - ukudla (food)


To those who would like to write something for us to post, please email your writing to northernndebeleblog@gmail.com. For those who would like to ask questions, or help others with questions they ask, please look under the community tab for any comments:


We appreciate the engagement, as we would like it to be easy and fun to learn isiNdebele.

Sahle kahle.
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A Hospital Tour in Ndebele

February 9, 2018, 7:52 am
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Asking or Answering Ndebele Questions

February 20, 2018, 8:18 am
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Kulabantu eminengi (there are many people) who are asking questions and also people helping to answer. Remember, you can ask questions in the Community Questions tab here.

For example, Mike asked the name for a specific type of snake, called a puff adder in isiNgisi.


Siyabonga Lethiwe, it is called iBululu in isiNdebele. 
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Article 14

July 26, 2016, 2:22 am
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Salibonani bangane (nice to see you friends).

If you are just starting your journey to learn and have fun with isiNdebele, please look at the first posts at the bottom of this page (scroll down) and work your way to this, the newest post.

We are always happy to have contributions. Thanks to those who have contributed Ndebele phrases so far. This is a shout out to all other would-be contributors. If there is anything you would like us to put up, please comment or pop an email to:

northernndebeleblog@gmail.com  


or on Northern Ndebele on Facebook 

Northern Ndebele on Facebook
Northern Ndebele

Thanks for your suggestions and help in teaching people more about the fascinating Ndebele language. Siyabonga kakhulu.



Kulungile, lamuhla, let us go over the numbering again.

Though English numbers are often used in urban settings, these are the numbers in siNdebele:
1kunye
2kubili
3kuthathu
4kune
5kuyisihlanu
6kuyisithupha
7kuyisikhombisa
8kuyisitshiyanga lombili
9kuyisitshiyanga lolunye
10tshumi
Enjoy your journey, njalo siyabonga bakithi.
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Proverbs in Ndebele

July 5, 2019, 2:01 am
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Salibonani bangane (hello friends). If you are new, please start at the first post at the bottom and work your way up to this, the newest post. 

Remember, you can ask/answer questions, and generally discuss (or point out any spelling mistakes, ngiyabonga) in the Community Questions tab here:


If you would like to read our Ndebele phrasebook, with many useful everyday phrases, it is available on the Amazon website. 
Also, if you would like to do some formal lessons, we have over 25 beginner lessons and are adding to them:
Lessons



Kulungile, for those in the community who are keen for some proverbs in Ndebele lamhlanje, nansi:

Umuntu abozinuka amakhwapha - Everyone has flaws to be aware of.
Kwabo kagwala kakulasililo - Prevention is better than cure.
Inyembezi zendoda zehlela esifubeni - Men will try not to show that they are sad.
Inotho ngamazolo - Your possessions last only until tomorrow.
Inja ingaqhoba ithambo iyejwayela - One who is helped will return.
Akugeza lingelasiyinga - No person is perfect.
Intandane enhle ngekhothwa ngunina - One who is well looked after is joyous.
Indlovu ibulawa yibunyonyo - A lot of small steps can overcome a large problem.
Inhlanhla kayiphindwa kabili - Luck does not come a second time.
Ubukhosi ngamazolo - Be careful not to misuse your power over someone below you, because tomorrow you may be down to his position again.
Umlomo kawugcwalelwa ngumfula - It is easy to say than to do.
Ukubona kanye yikubona kabili - If it happens once, the second time you will know.
Ungexotshe'mpala zimbili - You cannot do two things at once.
Inhlwa kayibanjwa ngekhanda - First you should use your head/ learn, and then speak.
Isikhuni sitshisa umkhwezeli - One who troubles others will also be troubled.
Imamba yalukile, ubuchakide buchelesile - Similar to "when the cat is away, the mice will play".
Isithukuthuku senja siphelela oboyeni - Some toil for very little in return.
Amajodo awela abangelambiza - Luck can happen to fools.
Imbiza ibila ngokukhwezelwa - You can say this to encourage people to keep it up.
Sizayicela isivuthiwe - It shall be there for us to admire when we are done.

For the above proverbs, the isiNgisi translations are approximate, to show the meaning. For example, Indlovu ibulawa yibunyonyo can translate to something like "the big elephant is killed by small ants." 
If you have any comments, or would like to help with the Community Questions, that would be great.
Have fun bakithi, sahle kahle.
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