Useful phrases in Northern Ndebele

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 thePhrase Finder. If you can provide recordings, corrections or additional translations, pleasecontact 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, pleasecontact me.

Information about Northern Ndebele |Phrases |Numbers

Phrases in Bantu languages

Bemba,Chichewa,Chokwe,Duala,Herero,Ibinda,Kikuyu,Kinyarwanda,Kwangali,Lengola,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

Phrases in other languages

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Useful phrases in Northern Ndebele

Phrases in Bantu languages