Introduction to the NEW 'Lessons' tab

Salibonani bangane (It is nice to see you/ hello friends). As always, if you are new, please read the siNdebele lessons from the bottom (scroll down) and work up to this, the newest post. As usual, the Ndebele words are in bold where possible and translated in brackets. If you want to learn isiNdebele more formally, look at the "Lessons" tab. There will be regularly updated Ndebele lessons in this tab: 

Lamuhla, ngifuna ukulala njengengwenya (today, I want to sleep like a crocodile [made up phrase]) so I will just give you a few new phrases to continue your fun journey. There are other tabs above for you to investigate. 

funa = to want e.g. uyafuna ukuhamba, baba? (do you want to leave, man?)
phakathi = inside
indlu = house
ngwenya = crocodile e.g. amandla ethu njengengwenya emanzini ayesemphakathini (our/ my strength is like a crocodile in the water)
Hayi, suka, ngidiniwe = No, get lost (playful use usually), I am tired) e.g. if someone says a funny joke or plays a prank, you can say "Hayi, suka!" or "hayi, usile!"
Usile = you are silly

Kulungile bangane, khathesi, ngizakulala njengengwenya (Alright friends, now, I am going to sleep like a flat dog (crocodile))

Vocab and a funny Ndebele/ Zulu video

Salibonani bangane (It is nice to see you/ hello friends). As always, if you are new, please read the siNdebele lessons from the bottom (scroll down) and work up to this, the newest post. As usual, the Ndebele words are in bold where possible and translated in brackets.

Lamuhla kulamavocabulary kuphela (today there is vocabulary only):

(uku)donsa - (to) pull
(uku)tshova - (to) push. The old taxis used to breakdown often so were called "Tshovas" because you had to push them often.
imfe - sugar cane. Yum!
(uku)khipha - (to) take out/ remove
(uku)dobha - (to) pick up
(uku)thatha - (to) take/ grab
unwabu - chameleon. Also, because chameleons move slowly, they are known as "hamba bijana" in chilapalapa slang i.e. "go slowly".
upahla - roof
igwayi - tobacco (there is an area in Zimbabwe called "Gwayi")
(uku)dubula - (to) shoot with a gun
UNkulunkulu - God. e.g. UNkulunkulu angeke ehluleke = God can't fail.
ijodo/ amajodo - pig melon/ pig melons. Some people like to use this to describe a fat person in a mildly derogatory fashion.
ithambo - bone e.g. of animals
inyathi - buffalo
inja - dog. e.g. Inja isayidla inyama (the dog is still eating the meat)
umuthi - medicine
idlozi/ amadlozi - spirit/ spirits of ancestors or just ghosts
ukhokho/ izikhokho - ancestor/ ancestors. For some fun, see the "Izikhokho" youtube videos of the South African comic artist, Mdu, such as: http://goo.gl/4r2nDW.

On that funny note, ngizakuhamba bangane (I will go friends)

Ndebele names

Salibonani bangane (It is nice to see you/ hello friends). As always, if you are new, please read the siNdebele lessons from the bottom (scroll down) and work up to this, the newest post. As usual, the Ndebele words are in bold where possible and translated in brackets.

Obviously kulamabizo eminengi kodwa (there are names in a great number but) sizakubona khathesi amabizo 'mnandi (we will look now at nice names [in terms of meanings]).
Key: g = usual girl's name and b = usual boy's name but only in my general view.

Nomandla - g "mother of strength"
Noxolo - g "mother of peace/ forgiveness"
Thembile - g "Hopeful"
Nonhlanhla - g "Mother of luck"
Thembeka - g "be reliable"
Thandiwe (Thandi) - g "Beloved" or g "loved one"
Nobuhle/ buhle - g "mother of beauty"/ "beauty"
Thandeka - g "Lovely"
Nomagugu - g "Mother of treasures/ precious things"
Gugulethu - g "our treasure"
Zenzile - g "you are responsible for what you have become"
Nomandla - g "mother of strength"
Nomzamo - g "mother of effort/ attempts"
Nomvula - g "mother of opening rains"
Nomalanga - g "mother of sunshine"
Nomasonto - g "mother of Sunday/ church"
Sibusiswe/ busiswe - g "we're blessed"/ the baby is a blessed one
Sibongile - g "we are grateful/ give thanks"


Xolani - b "peace upon all of you"
Siyabonga - b "we are grateful"
Mandla - b "strength"
Jabulani - b "be happy all"
Lunga - b "be kind"
Themba - b "hope/ trust"
Musa - b "kindness/ mercy"
Nhlanhla - b "good luck/ lucky one"
Njabulo - b "joy/ happiness"
Sandile - b "we have extended in number"
Thabani - b "you all be joyful"
Vusumuzi - b "rekindle the family"
Sifiso - b "what we wished for"
Mthokozisi - b "The one who gives joy"
Simphiwe - b "he is our gift" e.g. simphiwe yiNkosi (he is our gift from God)
Zenzele - b "do it yourself"
Mandlakhe - b "his efforts"
Mlungisi - b "the one who brings order"
Langelihle - b "good day"
Sibusiso - b "blessing"
Mandlenkosi - b "strength of God"
Bonginkosi - b/g "be grateful to God"
Sihawukele - b "have mercy on us"
Dumisani - b "You all give praises". Shortened to "Dumi" sometimes
Ndumiso- b "Praise" a quite common Ndebele name

Sure bangane, lilale kahle (sure friends, sleep well).

Ndebele music. Try translate some of these songs bangane

Salibonani bangane (It is nice to see you/ hello friends). As always, if you are new, please read the siNdebele lessons from the bottom (scroll down) and work up to this, the newest post. As usual, the Ndebele words are in bold where possible and translated in brackets.

Ok zwana bangane (listen friends), I want you to listen to some good old siNdebele music lamuhla (today). Awufuni (you don't want)? Hayibo (no way), lalela kuphela bangane (just listen only friends) njalo dinga ma'artists leyi (and find these artists). Some of these old but good songs from kudala (a long time ago) are here so just click and it will open a new window:

https://vimeo.com/user22211806

or start with one of my favourites: http://vimeo.com/78022136 or http://vimeo.com/78023619

• Dorothy Masuka- a great jazz singer and friend and contemporary collaborator of Miriam Makeba

(she wrote the original "Pata Pata" song, "MaGumede" "Khawuleza", "Somandla" etc)

• Lovemore Majaivana - one of the most popular Ndebele singer e.g. Tshilamoya, Umoya Wami, Uzakufa Kubi, Ngifuna imali etc.

Nxa uyafuna ichallenge (if you would like...), try pick up the words njalo sizakuxoxa (and we will chat) about them. Some vocabulary to help a bit:

Ntombi - girl

umfazi / abafazi - wife/ wives

ngabantu - of the people (abantu = people)

tshisa - (sounds like chisa in Ndebele pronounciation) hot/ burn, but its slang meaning is "that's hot" or "cool"

umoya wami - spirit/ soul of mine

tshilamoya - dustdevil/ spirit, it is used for the football team, Highlander's slogan alongside "Bosso"

pata pata - usually refers to the slip-slop/ pata-pata beach shoes but also refers to dance

Ngifuna imali - I want money

Putting "Ma" in front of someone's name is like saying mama someone, or Mrs, so MaDube is Mother Dube (the name "Dube" means zebra by the way)
khawuleza - hurry up, similar to tshetsha baba, asihambe (hurry man, we are going)
ngithanda - I like e.g. ngithanda isiNdebele (I like Ndebele)
Sihawukele- "have mercy on us". Used in mass and prayers e.g. Nkosi sihawukele, Kristu sihawkele, Nkosi sihawukele (Lord have mercy)
Angizwa - I don't understand (zwa = understand)
Angazi - I don't know (remember, starting with an "a" and ending with an "i" makes a verb negative)

Ok tshomi, hlala kahle (ok buddy, stay well)

Local food in Ndebele

Salibonani bangane (It is nice to see you/ hello friends). As always, if you are new, please read the siNdebele lessons from the bottom (scroll down) and work up to this, the newest post. Kahle, (good) let us look at some ukudla (foods), indigenous fruit and umbhida (vegetables) lamhla (today).

amaputi - roasted maize
impuphu - maize meal (used to make isitshwala/ sadza/ pap)
utshwala- local shake-shake beer made with lots of amanzi (water)
inyawuthi - millet (milled into flour or used in beer brewing)
amabele - sorghum (milled into flour or used in beer brewing)
impuphu yamabele - sorghum flour
amazambane - ground nuts/ peanuts
idobi - peanut butter
amasi - sour milk/ lacto
idelele - bush okra
amatamatisi - tomatoes
izinhlwa - flying ants (you can fry them and they are tasty and oily enough on their own)
intethe- locusts
amacimbi (there is that "c" click to practice) - worms that are dried and eaten as a delicacy

umhobohobo - Mahobohobo/ wild loquat. Similar to loquat yellow fleshy tasty fruit

umganu - marula tree and fruit. Very tasty fruit which can also be made into alcohol

umhlali - sweet monkey orange

uxhakuxhaku (remember the soft click "x" sounds) - snot apple/ African chewing gum

inhlanzi - fish

ihabahaba - dried fruit pith from Monkeybread tree (similar to baobab)

umhlabangubo - black jack

More isiNdebele vocabulary:

ukupheka - to cook e.g. Ngizakupheka 'mabhida - I will cook some vegetables.
igwayi - tobacco
isifuba - chest
abazali - parents
isigubhu - drum/ container
isivalo - lid
isipho - gift (also a good name- "Sipho")
amathumbu- entrails/ stomach lining
lawe futhi - and you also/ as well

Yebo bangane, ngidiniwe kakhulu. Ngifuna ukulala khathesi (Yes friends, I am tired a lot. I want to sleep now). Lala kahle - sleep well!

Modern new Ndebele words and some Ndebele vocab

Salibonani bangane (hello friends), today I want to make a short post. Again, if you are new, please look at the posts right at the bottom (scroll down) and then work your way up to today's newest post.

Ok, I just want to talk about the fact that there are some new/ modern words that there is no real Ndebele words for. The words used are sometimes made by simply placing an "i" in front of the English word, e.g. keyboard= ikeyboard, speaker= ispeaker etc. There are other words for izinto (things) like an aeroplane, which some people say is "iflying machine" but is actually indizamtshina. Also, the name for some things comes from the sound they make e.g. umdududu = motorbike, imoto = motorcar. Kanti, ngicambanga ukuthi (but I think that) you are now worried about the language, so I will leave you with a few real Ndebele phrases to restore your faith:

Uyasebenza lapha aze athole omunye umsebenzi = He is working here until he finds another job.
Izilwane zibulala zibuye zidle = The lions kill and then eat.
Nxa efika abongibona = When he comes he should see me.
Ubatshele ukuthi babohamba ekuseni = Tell them that they should go in the morning.
kanzima = with difficulty
utshani obuluhlaza = grass green (green grass)
ubumnene = kindness
igabha lamanzi = a water container/ tin
amandla okunqoba = power to conquer
kahle = beautifully, nicely, carefully
kakhulu = very, greatly, a lot

Sure bakhithi, ngiyakhuluma kakhulu khathesi (sure folks, I am speaking a lot now)

Hamba kahle bangane (go well friends), sizakubona ( we will see) next time

Ndebele You, me, mine, yours

Salibonani mngane (hello friend). Today, let's look at some vocab about possession and people. If you are new, as always, please start at the bottom of the blog and work up to this post. Ngiyabonga (thanks).

mina - me
wena - you (singular)
thina - we/ us
lina - you (plural)

e.g. Mina, ngingumtshayeli, wena? - Me, I am a driver, and you?
Mina ngudokotela - me, I'm a doctor

Lami - my
Lakho - your
Lakhe - his/ hers

e.g. Ibizo lakho ngubani? - What is your name? (lit: name your is what?)
Ibizo lami nguJohn - My name is John (lit: name of mine is John)
ungaphi umama wami? - where is my mother?
remember that "your mother" has a whole different name to "my mother" i.e. unyoko and umama respectively (similarly uyihlo and ubaba for your/ my father)

(uku)Hlala - (to) stay
Ngaphi - where

Together, they can be put together as: Uhlalaphi? - Where do you stay?

remember that I use "u" for you/him/her but use "ngi" for I, "ba" for they, "si" for we
e.g. mina, ngihlala koBulawayo - me, I stay in Bulawayo
uhlala eGweru - He stays in Gweru
uhlala eGwanda, angithi? you stay in Gwanda, isn't it so?
bahlala eHwange - they stay in Hwange

If you are going to say a place with an "r" in it, just remember that siNdebele technically does not use the "r" sound and so replace it with an "l". e.g. France = eflansi

Yebo mngane, so... uhlalaphi? (yes friend so... where do you stay?)

Ndebele books

Hawu, salibonani bakhithi (wow, greetings folks). As always, if you are new, please read from the post right at the bottom (scroll down) and then finish with today's newest post.

Lamhla sizakuxoxa amabhuku (today we will chat books). There are new links to amazon.com and other places you can order Ndebele books from. Khathesi siyakhangela ilink "Books" phezulu njenge mafree pdf's (now we'll look at the "Books" link at the top for links like these free pdf's):

http://www.biblica.com/bibles/ndebele/ e.g. http://www.biblica.com/uploads/pdf-files/bibles/ndebele/nt/UMathewu.pdf for UMathewu (Matthew).

or a list of Ndebele books at:

http://sites.relzim.org/mambo-press/mambo-press-catalogue/literature-in-ndebele/

such as Ithemba Kalibulali (Hope does not kill):

http://thelionpress.com/productdetail.php?prod_id=440

Nxa uyafuna ukuhamba e"Books", tshova (If you'd like to go to the "Books", push) : http://northernndebele.blogspot.com/p/books-and-resources.html

Ndebele Body parts and Ndololwane Super Sounds

Salibonani bangane, as always, if you are new, please start with the posts at the bottom of the page and work your way up.
Kulungile, lamuhla sizakubona: the human body (umzimba) 

There is a song that goes : ikhanda, inhlombe, isifuba, idolo, amadolo, phansi, amadolo, phansi
which translates to the heads-shoulders-knees-and-toes song 
i.e. head, shoulders, chest, knee, knees, down, knees, down (respectively)

So we know:

ikhanda (the head)
Ihlombe/amahlombe (the shoulders)
isifuba (the chest)
amadolo (the knees)
phansi (down)

Khathesi (now), let's look at some other useful nouns.

Izinwele - Hair
Amehlo - eyes
Amadlebe/Izindlebe - ears
Amakhala - nose
Amafinyela - mucous
Izihlathi - cheeks
Umlomo - mouth
Izindebe - lips
Amazinyo - teeth
Izinsini - gums
Ulimi - tongueIndevu/izindevu - beard(s)

Indololwane - elbow (there is a band called Ndololwane Super Sounds. I recommend a listen to some of their Ndebele songs e.g. http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=GkslNjqC268&feature=fvwp or try this for tastes of their album http://www.simfy.co.za/artists/633701-Ndolwane-Super-Sounds/albums/1375824-Izambane-lika-pondo?locale=en)

Amazwane - toes
Umdidi - anus
Isandla - hand (palm)
Inhliziyo - heart
Isibindi - liver
Amathambo - bones
Impama - open hand slap
Ingalo - arm
Unyawo - foot (e.g. ibhola lenyawo - ball of the foot/ football)
Inqindi - fist
Inqondo - mind/ brain (thank you Mlondolozi Ndlovu)
ubuchopho - brain (thank you Mduduzi NKL)

Vuli' qondo, ngizakufake 'qindi - it has 2 "q" sharp clicks and means "open your mind or I will use my fists". Obviously not for polite company.

Ye, sizakubona kusasa bakhithi (Yeah, we'll see you tomorrow my people)

Ndebele classes

Salibonani bangane. If you are new, please start at the post right at the bottom of the blog and work your way up to today's newest post. Kulungile (ok), lamuhla (today) we will go over the 8 classes in isiNdebele. Nansi (here it is):

njalo (and) some vocabulary:

bonga- thank
bhonga- roar

The difference in the "h" must thus be expressed, and we make the h sound by a sudden rush of air in an aspirated sound. It is not difficult, imagine the first "h" in "hahaha", now put that "h" sound after the "b" in bhonga, so it is b-(air aspirated)-onga.

Now you can say Ngiyabonga (I am thankful/ thank you) and Isilwane iyabhonga (The lion is roaring)

Ndebele click sounds pronounciation

Salibonani mngan'ami (hello my friend or literally "we have seen eachother friend of mine"). If you're new, please start reading from the bottom of this blog upwards. Let us just recap the basic isiNdebele sounds today bangane.

Pronunciation of vowels

There are five basic vowel sounds; a, o, u are very constant and e and i have only slight variation

a is pronounced like a in father; e.g. abantwana (children)
e is pronounced like e in bed; e.g. emoyeni (in the air)
i is pronounced like ee in see; e.g. siza (help)
o is pronounced like o in bone; e.g. okhokho (ancestors)
u is pronounced like oo in soon; e.g. umuntu (person)

In isiNdebele there are three click sounds c, q and x.

c is made by placing the tip of the tongue against the front upper teeth and gums, the centre of the tongue is depressed and the tip of the tongue is drawn backwards. The resulting sound is similar to the sound used in English to express annoyance. Some examples are cina (end), cela (ask)

The q sound is made by raising the back of the tongue to touch the soft palate and touching the gums with the sides and tip of the tongue. The centre of the tongue is depressed and the tip drawn quickly away from the gum. The resulting sound is like the "pop" heard when quickly removing the cork from a bottle. Some examples are qalisa (start), qeda (finish)

The x sound is made by placing the tongue so that the back of the tongue touches the soft palate and the sides and tip of the tongue touch the gums. One side of the tongue is quickly withdrawn from the gums. Some examples are xoxa (discuss), ixoxo (frog).

One last thing: The "tsh" sound in siNdebele is pronounced as "ch" in "chain" or "change". So the word, umtshayeli (driver) would sound like "oom-cha-yeli" and not "oom-sha-yeli" as it does it languages such as isiZulu. Also, kuyatshisa (it is hot e.g. the weather or an object) is pronounced "ku-ya-chisa". Another example would be tshaya (hit) is pronounced "cha-ya" e.g. ngizakutshaya (I am going to hit you). I obviously hope you never hear that phrase though, but there it is.

Sharp sharp bangane(slang for "cool my friends" used in many places in Southern Africa)