Until recently, the Northern Ndebele language was not written and only spoken by those living majorly in Ndebele communities of Northern Limpopo. Progress has been made by educational institutions such as Mokopane Primary School who now offer IsiNdebele as an official Language Subject. We will endeavor to partner with the school to bring about the language by leveraging on-demand digital education platforms…keep a lookout.
Check out the below Link(s) for more information on isiNdebele SaseNyakatho:
- https://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/northernndebele.htm
- http://www.northernndebele.org.za/ (Northern Ndebele Dictionary)
| English Phrase | SiNdebele saseNyakatho (Northern Ndebele) | |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome | Siyaliyamukela | |
| Hello (General greeting) | Mushade! | |
| Hello (General greeting) | Lotjhani! | |
| How are you? | U(n)jani? (sg) | |
| How are you? | Li(n)jani? (pl / to an elder) | |
| Reply to 'How are you?' | Diyaphila (sg) | |
| Reply to 'How are you?' | Siyaphila (pl) | |
| Reply to 'How are you?' | Dikhona (sg) | |
| Reply to 'How are you?' | Sikhona (pl) | |
| Reply to 'How are you?' | Nkhona (sg) | |
| Reply to 'How are you?' | Sikhona (pl) | |
| Reply to 'How are you?' | U(n)jani wena? ( response ) | |
| Long time no see | Nkade dakubona | |
| Long time no see | Nkade ngakuboni | |
| What's your name? | Libito lakho (n)gubani? | |
| What's your name? | Litinyo lakho (n)gubani? | |
| My name is ... | Libito / Litinyo lami gu ... | |
| My name is ... | Mina digu ... | |
| Where are you from? | Uvela kuphi? | |
| Where are you from? | Uphuma kuphi? | |
| I'm from ... | Divela e ... | |
| Pleased to meet you | Nthabele kukubona | |
| Good morning | Mushade/Lotjhani, livukile? | |
| (Morning greeting) | Mushade/Lotjhani, lithobele jani? | |
| Good afternoon | Mushade | |
| (Afternoon greeting) | Lotjhani | |
| Good evening | Mushade/Lotjhani, lihlwe (n)jani? (sg) | |
| (Evening greeting) | lihlwe (n)jani? (pl / to an elder) | |
| Good night | Uthobale kuhle (sg) | |
| Good night | Lithobale kuhle (pl / to an elder) | |
| Goodbye | Usale kuhle (sg) | |
| (Parting phrases) | Lisale kuhle (pl / to an elder) | |
| Good luck! | Mahlate amahle! | |
| Cheers! Good Health! (Toasts used when drinking) | Buphilo bobuhle! | |
| Have a nice day | Ube nella(n)ga lelihle (sg) | |
| Have a nice day | Ube nella(n)ga lelihle (pl / to an elder) | |
| Bon appetit / | Udle kamuna(n)di! (sg) | |
| Have a nice meal | Udle kamuna(n)di! (pl / to an elder) | |
| Bon voyage / | Ukha(m)bhe kuhle (sg) | |
| Have a good journey | Ube neliyedo lelihle (sg) | |
| Have a good journey | Likha(m)bhe kuhle (pl / to an elder) | |
| Have a good journey | Libe neliyedo lelihle (pl / to an elder) | |
| I don't know | Adiyati | |
| I don't know | Adiwati | |
| I understand | Ndiyavisisa | |
| I don't understand | Adivisisi | |
| Please speak more slowly | Sumela kanghatanyana | |
| Please speak more slowly | Sumela kanghane | |
| Please speak more slowly | Sumayela kanghatanyana | |
| Please speak more slowly | Sumayela kanghane | |
| Please say that again | Nku(m)bhela usumele leso ka(m)bhe | |
| Please say that again | Nkhu(m)bhela lisumayele leso ka(m)bhe | |
| Please write it down | Gwala pha(n)si | |
| Do you speak English? | Usumela sikxhuwa? | |
| Do you speak English? | Usumayela sikxhuwa? | |
| Do you speak Northern Ndebele? | Usumela siNdebele saseNyakatho? | |
| Do you speak Northern Ndebele? | Usumayela siNdebele saseNyakatho? | |
| Yes, a little (reply to 'Do you speak ...?') | Yebo. Kanghane | |
| Speak to me in Northern Ndebele | Sumela nami geSiNdebele (saseNyakatho) | |
| Speak to me in Northern Ndebele | Sumayela nami geSiNdebele (saseNyakatho) | |
| How do you say ... in Northern Ndebele? | Kuthwani ... ngeSiNdebele? | |
| Excuse me | Kahle! | |
| Excuse me | Jama bhili! | |
| Excuse me | Nkhubhela ku(n)dlula! ( when you want to pass ) | |
| Excuse me | Andlule! ( when you want to pass ) | |
| How much is this? | Mbugagi? | |
| Sorry | Mphathele | |
| Sorry | Nkhu(m)bhela mphathelo | |
| Please | Dikhu(m)bhela | |
| Thank you | Diyalebuka | |
| Reply to thank you | Kulu(n)gile | |
| Where's the toilet / bathroom? | Ikuphi ndlwana? | |
| This gentleman will pay for everything | Lisokana leli litabhadelela tokxe | |
| This lady will pay for everything | Muthembana lo utabhadelela tokxe | |
| Nkxosatana le itabhadelela tokxe | ||
| Would you like to dance with me? | Ufuna kubina nami? | |
| Would you like to dance with me? | Ufuna kuthagela nami? | |
| Would you like to dance with me? | Ufuna kurida nami? | |
| Do you come here often? | Uta la kanyeti? | |
| I miss you | Diyakukhu(m)bhula | |
| I love you | Diyakutha(n)da | |
| Get well soon | Uphole ga(m)bhila | |
| Go away! | Suka! | |
| Go away! | Kha(m)bha! | |
| Leave me alone! | Nsukele! (sg) | |
| Leave me alone! | Nsukeleni! ( reply to an elder or more than one person ) | |
| Help! | Sita! | |
| Help! | Thusha! | |
| Fire! | Mullo! | |
| Stop! | Jama! | |
| Call the police! | Bita maphodisa! | |
| Christmas greetings | Nkhresimusi ehle neMunyaka omutjha omuhle | |
| New Year greetings | ||
| Easter greetings | Mukhosi weMbhasinga omuhle | |
| Birthday greetings | Ube nelilla(n)ga lelihle lemabeletho (sg) | |
| Birthday greetings | Libe nelilla(n)ga lelihle lemabeletho (pl) | |
| One language is never enough | Lilimi linye ligasivuki ligayanele | |
| How was your day? | Uhlwe jani (sg) | |
| How was your day? | Lihlwe jani? (pl) | |
| What time is it? | Nnago bani? | |
| When will you see us again? | Uto sibona nini ka(m)bhe? | |
| When will we see you again? | Sito kubona nini ka(m)bhe? | |
| Pass my greetings | Umulotjhise (sg) | |
| Pass my greetings | Ubalotjhise (pl) | |
| Where do you work? | Uberega kuphi? | |
| Where do you work? | Usebenta kuphi? | |
| Where are you going? | Uyakuphi? (sg) (Uya'phi?) | |
| Where are you going? | Liyakuphi? (pl) (Liya'phi?) | |
| We are going to ... | Diya e ... (sg) | |
| We are going to ... | Siya e ...(pl) | |
| Where do you live? | Uhlala kuphi? (Uhlala'phi?) | |
| I am looking for ... | Nfuna .... | |
| How do I get to ... | Diyajani e ... | |
| Where is the road to ... | Ndlela yekuya e ... ikuphi? | |
| Where do I board a bus/taxi? | Nkhwela kuphi mbhese/nteksi? | |
| How do I stop a taxi to town? | Njamisa jani nteksi yekuya etirojeni? | |
| Where is the nearest shop/store? | Libengela leli likudute likuphi? | |
| Where is the nearest shop/store? | Libengela lakudute likuphi? | |
| Where do I buy ... | Nthe(n)ga kuphi ... | |
| How much is this? | Mbugagi? | |
| Where can I sleep? | Ngathobala kuphi? | |
| Where is the nearest hotel? | Nhotele yakudute ikuphi? | |
| Where is the nearest bank? | Mbhanka yakudute ikuphi? | |
| Where is the nearest ATM? | Mutjhini wentjhelede osedute ukuphi? | |
| Where is the nearest hospital? | Sibhedlela sikuphi? | |
| How is the place? | Ndawo yakhona i(n)jani? | |
| Where is the hospital? | Sibhedlela sikuphi? | |
| Where can I find a doctor? | Ngafumana kuphi nnyaga (yesikxhuwa)? | |
| Can I have water please? | Nkhu(m)bhela mma(n)ti. | |
| Where can I see wild animals? | Ngabona kuphi tinyamatana? | |
| Where can I see wild animals? | Ngabona kuphi tinyamatana? | |
| Is it safe here? | Kubulugekile lapho? | |
| End | End | |
| Credit: Northern Ndebele (South Africa) phrases supplied by Dr Plaatjie Mahlobogoane (Ph.D.) |
