4 Isahluko 2: Ukuzethula – Introducing one’s self
Performance Objective
In this chapter you will be able to use IsiZulu to introduce yourself by saying:
- à What your full name is;
- à Where you come from;
- à Where you live;
- à What you do;
- à What you like and
- à What you do not like.
Ngithanda (I like / I love)
USibongile Dlamini
Sanibona. Igama lami nguSibongile Dlamini.
Ngivela eSwatini. Ngihlala eBloomington.
Ngifundisa eIndiana University.
Ngithanda ukucula. Angithandi ukulala.
ULwazi Nkosi
Sanibona. Igama lami nguLwazi Nkosi. Ngivela ePhongolo. Ngihlala eBloomington. Ngifunda esikolweni seBlommington. Ngithanda ukudlala ibhola.
Angithandi ukupheka.
UNelson Mandela
Sanibona. Igama lami nguNelson Mandela.
Ngivela eMthatha. Ngihlala eGoli.
Ngikhuluma ePhalamende.
Ngithanda ukudansa.
Angithandi ukubhaka.
UDudu Hadebe
Sanibona. Igama lami nguDudu. Ngivela eThekwini. Ngihlala eGoli. Ngifunda eUniversity of Witswatersrand. Ngifunda iSayikholoji nesiZulu. Ngithanda ukudansa. Angithandi ukupheka.
Ngivela e… I am from…
Ngihlala e… I stay/ live in…
Ngifunda i… I study …
Ngithanda uku… I like to…
Ukufunda to study/ to ready/ to learn
Note: The prefix ‘e’ comes before places, and the prefix ‘i’ before other objects.
Fill in the gaps with words that could make sense.
- Sanibona. Igama ………….. ngu………………………………………….
- Ngivela e…………………………………….………………………………..
- Ngihlala e……………………….………………………………………………
- Ngi………………………. isiZulu. (Zulu language).
- Ngithanda uku……………………….……………………………………..
- Angithandi uku……………………….…………………………………….
| Root Verb | Possitive statement | Negative Statement |
| Funda (study/read/learn) | Ngifunda | Angifundi |
| Thanda (like/love) | Ngithanda | Angithandi |
| Hlala (live/stay/sit) | Ngihlala | Angihlali |
| Khuluma (speak) | Ngikhuluma isiNgisi | ……………………………… |
| Bhala (write) | ……………………………… | |
| Phuza (drink) | ……………………………… | ……………………………… |
| Funa (want/search) | ……………………………… | ……………………………… |
| Pheka (cook) | Ngipheka ukudla | ……………………………… |
| Bona (see) | ……………………………… | |
| Thatha (take) | ……………………………… |
Note: When you state what you do and there is no direct obect you need to insert ‘ya’ before the root verb.
Ngiyakhuluma – I am speaking/ I speak.
Ngiyapheka – I am cooking/ I cook.
When there is a direct object omit the ‘ya’.
Ngikhuluma isiNgisi. I speak English. Ngipheka inyama. I am cooking meat.
If you want to try new action words (verbs), you may go to the online Zulu dictionary www.isizulu.net
- à Ngivela e… I come from
- à Ngihlala e… I live in …
- à Ngifunda e… I study at/ I go to school at…
- à Ngifundisa e… I teach at…
- à Ngikhuluma i… I speak …
- à Ngithanda… I like/ I love
- à Ngithanda uku… I like to…
- à Ukupheka … to cook
- à Ukubhaka… to bake
- à Ukucula… to sing
- à Ukulala… to sleep
- à Ukudansa… to dance
- à Ukudweba … to draw
- à Ukugeza … to wash up/ to take a bath
- à Ukushawa … to take a shower
- à Uku………….. to……………………
NginguDuduzile – I am Duduzile
NginguVusi – I am Vusi
UnguMandla? – You are Mandla?
Unguthisha – You are a teacher?
Amagama amasha (new words)
- à Igama lami ngu… My name is …
- à Isibongo sami sakwa… My surname (last name) is…
- à Ngubani igama lakho? What is your name?
- à Sakwabani isibongo sakho? What is your surname/ last name?
- à Ngiyabona – I see
- à Ngiyabonga – Thank you
- à Ninjani – How are you all
- à Sikhona – We are fine
- à Ninjani Nina – How are you all
- à Siyaphila nathi – We are fine too
- à Ngiyabonga – Thank you
- à Thisha – Teacher
- à Abafundi – Students
Sanibona
Thisha: Sanibona bafundi. Hello students.
Abafundi: Yebo thisha. Hello teacher.
Thisha: Ninjani? how are you (to more than one person)
Abafundi: Siyaphila. Unjani wena? We are fine. How are you?
Thisha: Siyaphila nathi. We are fine too.
Abafundi: Yebo! Siyabonga. Yes. Thank you
Sawubona Song
Umholi (leader) Abalandeli (followers)
Sawubona Yebo (hello/ yes hello)
Unjani Ngikhona (how are you/I am fine)
Unjani wena Ngikhona nami 2X (and how are you/ I’m fine too)
Ngiyabonga Ngiyabonga 2X (thank you)
Sanibona Yebo (hello everybody/ yes hello)
Ninjani Sikhona (How are you all/ we are fine)
Ninjani nina Sikhona nathi 2X (and how are you all/ we are fine too)
Siyabonga Siyabonga 2X (thank you/ we are grateful)