A collection of useful phrases in Lozi, a Bantu language spoken mainly in southwestern Zambia, and also in Zimbabwe, Bostwana, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Namibia. It is also known as seRotse.
See these phrases in any combination of two languages in the Phrase Finder. If you can provide recordings, corrections or additional translations, please contact me.
Key to abbreviations: sg = singular (said to one person), pl = plural (said to more than one person).
| English | siLozi (Lozi) |
|---|---|
| Welcome | Mu amuhezwi |
| Hello (General greeting) | Lumela (sg) Mlumeleng (pl) |
| How are you? | U pila cwang? U zuhile cwang? |
| Reply to 'How are you?' | Na pila hande, wena u pila cwang? Ni zuhile sesinde |
| Long time no see | Ki kale lusa bonani |
| What's your name? | U mang'i? Libizo lahao ki mang'i? |
| My name is ... | Libizo laka ki ... Ki na ... |
| Where are you from? | Kwa hae ki kai? U zwa kai? |
| I'm from ... | Ni zwa kwa ... |
| Pleased to meet you | Ki buitumela ku zibana |
| Good morning (Morning greeting) |
Lumela; U zuhile cwang'i? |
| Good afternoon (Afternoon greeting) |
Ki musihali |
| Good evening (Evening greeting) |
Lobala ka kozo |
| Good night | Lobala ka kozo |
| Goodbye (Parting phrases) |
Zamaya sesinde (Go well - said to the those leaving) Msiyaleng'I sesinde (Stay well - said to the those staying) U siyale/ Ni ta kubona (see you) Ni ta kubôna kamuso (see you tomorrow) Ni ta kubona hape (see you later) |
| Good luck! | Ni ku lakaleza litohonolo |
| Cheers! Good Health! (Toasts used when drinking) |
|
| Have a nice day | Ube ni lizazi lelinde |
| Bon appetit / Have a nice meal |
|
| Bon voyage / Have a good journey |
U zamaye hande zamaya ka kozo |
| I understand | |
| I don't understand | Ni ni utwisisi |
| I don't know | |
| Please speak more slowly | Bulela ka bunya |
| Please say that again | Ni kupa u bulele hape |
| Please write it down | Ni kupa u bulele hape |
| Do you speak English? | Na wa bulela sikuwa? |
| Do you speak Lozi? | Na wa bulela seRotse? |
| Yes, a little (reply to 'Do you speak ...?') |
Ee |
| Speak to me in Lozi | |
| How do you say ... in Lozi? | U bulela cwang'i ... ka seRotse |
| Excuse me | Ni kupa swalelo |
| How much is this? | Ki bukai? |
| Sorry | Ni swalele |
| Please | |
| Thank you | Ni itumezi, mme/ndate |
| Reply to thank you | U amuhezwi |
| Where's the toilet / bathroom? | Simbuzi si kai? |
| This gentleman will pay for everything | Ndate yo uta lifa tifo kaufela |
| This lady will pay for everything | Kalibe yo uta lifa tifo kaufela |
| Would you like to dance with me? | Wa bata ku bina ni na? |
| I miss you | |
| I love you | Na ku lata |
| Get well soon | U fole ka putako/ka pili |
| Go away! | Zwa! Zamaya kafoo! |
| Leave me alone! | U ni tuhele |
| Help! | Ni tuse! |
| Fire! | Mulilo! |
| Stop! | Yema! |
| Call the police! | Biza mapolisa! |
| Christmas greetings | Kilisimusi ye munati ni matohonolo a silimo/mwaha o munca |
| Easter greetings | |
| Birthday greetings | Lizazi la zwalo/sipepo leli munati |
| One language is never enough | Lulimi lu lilimwi |
| My hovercraft is full of eels | Mukolo w aka u tezi litapi |
Phrases supplied by Patrick Nawa
If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, or if you can provide recordings, please contact me.
Information about Lozi | Phrases | Numbers | Tower of Babel
Bemba, Chichewa, Chokwe, Duala, Herero, Ibinda, Kikuyu, Kinyarwanda, Lingala, Lozi, Luganda, Ndebele (Northern - South Africa), Ndebele (Northern - Zimbabwe), Ndebele (Southern) Ngoni, Nkore, Northern Sotho, Oshiwambo, Shona, Southern Sotho (seSotho), Swahili, Swati, Tsonga, Tswana, Tumbuka, Umbundu, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu
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