A collection of useful phrases in Northern Ndebele, a Bantu language spoken mainly in Zimbabwe.
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 | Sindebele (Northern Ndebele) |
|---|---|
| Welcome | Siyalemukela |
| Hello (General greeting) | Salibonani |
| How are you? | Unjani? (sg) Linjani? (pl) |
| Reply to 'How are you?' | Ngiyaphila (sg) Siyaphila (pl) Ngikhona (sg) Sikhona (pl) Unjani wena? (response) |
| Long time no see | Kudala ngakucina |
| What's your name? | Ibizo lakho ngubani? |
| My name is ... | Mina ngingu ... |
| Where are you from? | Uvela ngaphi? |
| I'm from ... | Ngivela e ... |
| Pleased to meet you | Kuhle ukukubona |
| Good morning (Morning greeting) |
Livukile |
| Good afternoon (Afternoon greeting) |
Litshonile |
| Good evening (Evening greeting) |
Litshonile |
| Good night | Lilale kuhle |
| Goodbye (Parting phrases) |
Lisale kuhle |
| Good luck! | Ngikufisela inhlanhla enhle! |
| Cheers! Good Health! (Toasts used when drinking) |
Impilo enhle |
| Have a nice day | Ube lelanga elihle |
| Bon appetit / Have a nice meal |
Udle kuhle |
| Bon voyage / Have a good journey |
Hamba kahle |
| I understand | Ngiyezwa |
| I don't understand | Angizwa |
| I don't know | Angazi |
| Please speak more slowly | Khuluma kancene |
| Please say that again | Phinda futhi |
| Please write it down | Bhala phansi |
| Do you speak English? | Uyakhuluma isikhiwa? |
| Do you speak Northern Ndebele? | Uyakhuluma isiNdebele? |
| Yes, a little (reply to 'Do you speak ...?') |
Ye. Kancance |
| How do you say ... in Northern Ndebele? | Kuthwani ... ngeSiNdebele? |
| Excuse me | Uxolo |
| How much is this? | Yimalini? |
| Sorry | Uxolo |
| Please | Ngiyacela |
| Thank you | Ngiyabonga |
| Reply to thank you | Kulungile |
| Where's the toilet / bathroom? | Ingaphi ithwelethi? |
| This gentleman/lady will pay for everything | Uzabhadala konke lo |
| Would you like to dance with me? | Uyafuna ukugida lami? |
| I miss you | Ngiyakukhumbula |
| I love you | Ngiyakuthanda |
| Get well soon | Usile masinya |
| Go away! | Suka! Hamba! |
| Leave me alone! | Akungitshiye! |
| Help! | Nceda! |
| Fire! | Umlilo! |
| Stop! | Mana! |
| Call the police! | Biza ama pholisa! |
| Christmas greetings | Khisimusi enhle |
| Easter greetings | Ista enhle |
| Birthday greetings | Ube lelanga lokuzalwa elihle |
| One language is never enough | Ulimi olulodwa lulutshwana |
| My hovercraft is full of eels | Isikepe sami sigcwele umzowa |
Northern Ndebele phrases supplied by Ndhlovu Silile Fein
If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, or if you can provide recordings, please contact me.
Information about Northern Ndebele | Phrases | Numbers
Bemba, Chichewa, Chokwe, Duala, Herero, Ibinda, Kikuyu, Kinyarwanda, Lingala, Lozi, Luganda, Ndebele (Northern - South Africa), Ndebele (Northern - Zimbabwe), Ndebele (Southern) Nkore, Northern Sotho, Oshiwambo, Shona, Southern Sotho (seSotho), Swahili, Swati, Tsonga, Tswana, Tumbuka, Umbundu, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu
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