NDEBELE
One of the official languages of South Africa. Spoken by
588,000 in South Africa (1.5% of the population) in the
Transvaal region. This Ndebele is different from that spoken in
Zimbabwe.
Pronunciation Guide:
“a” = the “a” in “father”
„e“ = the “ay” in “day”
“ ” = the “e” in “bed”
“i” = the “ee” in “beet”
“ ” = the “i” in “bit”
“o” = the “o” in “boat”
“ ” = the “aw” in “lawn”
“u” = the “oo” in “boot”
“ ” = the “oo” in “book”
“ ” = the “ng” at the end of the word “thing.” This can occur at
the beginning of a word.
“ ” = the “ni” in “onion”
“ ” = the “sh” in “share”
„t ” = the “ch” in “change”
“ ” = the “z” in “azure”
: = lengthen the vowel when it comes immediately afterwards
x = sound at the end of Scottish “loch”
Hello, nice to meet you.
l t hani, githok z la ukunazi.
[Lotjhani, ngithokozela ukunazi]
I only speak English.
gikhuluma isi gisi kwaph la.
[Ngikhuluma isiNgisi kwaphela]
I don't understand.
a gizwisisi.
[Angizwisisi]
What is this?
kujini l khu?
[Kuyini lokhu?]
What is the time?
sikhathi bani?
[Sikhathi bani?]
What is the date?
zi gaki nam
[Ziingaki namhlanje?]
Where is the nearest toilet?
gi gajitholaphi ithojel di eduze?
[Ngingayitholaphi ithoyeledi eduze?]
Where is the nearest hotel?
gi gajitholaphi i ot la eduze
[Ngingayitholaphi ihotela eduze]
Where is the nearest airport?
gi galitholaphi eduze idoj l laboflaji?
[Ngingalitholaphi eduze idoyelo laboflayi?]
Where is the nearest hospital?
gi gasitholaphi isibh dl la eduze?
[Ngingasitholaphi isibhedlela eduze?]
Where is the nearest American restaurant?
gi gajitholaphi eduze ires ur nde je-am rica?
[Ngingayitholaphi eduze irestjurende ye-America?]
What do you need to make this work?
jini kufun kak ukw nza umseb nzi l ?
[Yini okufunekako ukwenza umsebenzi lo?]
Who is the decision maker?
gubani lawulak la ?
[Ngubani olawulako la?]
May I use the phone?
gibawa ukuseb nzisa if wuni?
[Ngibawa ukusebenzisa ifowuni?]
May I use the computer?
gibawa ukuseb nzisa i-c mpjuter?
[Ngibawa ukusebenzisa i-computer?]
May I speak alone with my partner for a moment?
gi gakhe gizi be n mkhambisanami kan/ani?
[Ngingakhe ngizihlebe nomkhambisanami kancani?]
Let's make this deal happen today.
asisi! de nam an e isivumelwan si.
[Asisiqede namhlanje isivumelwanesi]
Yes
ije
[Iye]
No
awa
[Awa]
Why
kubaji:ni?
[Kubayini?]
How
n a:ni?
[Njani?]
Maybe
m [
Mhlamunye]
Thank you
gijathok za
[Ngiyathokoza]
Sign here.
sajina la.
[Sayina la]
Please
gijabawa
[Ngiyabawa]
My name is…
ibiz lami gi gu...
[Ibizo lami ngingu...]
What is your name?
u gubani ibiz lakh ?
[Ungubani ibizo lakho?]
Where can I find an interpreter?
gi gamtholaphi ut oligi?
[Ngingamtholaphi utoligi?]
I need a hotel room.
gifuna i t la
[Ngifuna ihotela]
I need water.
gibawa amanzi.
[Ngibawa amanzi]
I need food.
gibawa ukudla.
[Ngibawa ukudla]
I need sleep.
gibawa ukulala.
[Ngibawa ukulala]
How much does the room cost for one night?
kubiza malini ukulala e ot la?
[Kubiza malini ukulala ehotela?]
How much does the room cost for one night?
[Kubiza malini ukulala ubusuku bunye?]
How much does the room cost for two nights?
kubiza malini ukulala ubusuku bubili?
[Kubiza malini ukulala ubusuku obubili?]
How much does the room cost for one week?
kubiza malini ukulala iveke y ke?
[Kubiza malini ukulala iveke yoke?]
I would like the room.
gi gatha:nda in u.
[Ngingathanda indlu]
I would like the car.
gingatha:nda ik loji
[Ngingathanda ikoloyi]
I would not like the room.
a g ke gikxh ne ukulala kil n u, gijathok za.
[Angeke ngikghone ukulala kilendlu, ngiyathokoza]
I would not like the car.
a g ke gikxh ne ukukhamba gekol ji le, gijathok za.
[Angeke ngikghone ukukhamba ngekoloyi le, ngiyathokoza]
How do I get to...? (this is for asking directions to a place)
gibawa in la eja e...
[Ngibawa indlela eya e...]
Please draw me a map.
gibawa u githal le um bhe.
[Ngibawa ungithalele umebhe]
Good-bye.
salani ku e.
[Salani kuhle]
Where can I rent a car?
gi gajitholaphi indaw e!at hisa iinkol ji?
[Ngingayitholaphi indawo eqatjhisa iinkoloyi?]
How can our company help you?
ikhamphani jethu i gakusiza ga:ni?
[Ikhamphani yethu ingakusiza ngani?]
We’ll gladly submit an estimate.
si gakupha isili ganis .
[Singakupha isilinganiso]
We’ll gladly submit our recommendations at no obligation.
si gakupha iimphakamis gaphan e kw sib ph .
[Singakupha iimphakamiso ngaphandle kwesibopho]
May we put together a proposal for you?
si gakwenz la isiphakamis ?
[Singakwenzela isiphakamiso?]
We would like to help you.
si gatha:nda ukukusiza.
[Singathanda ukukusiza]
Is our price within your range?
int g jethu ijakhambisana nent e g gajikxh na?
[Intengo yethu iyakhambisana nentengo ongayikghona?]
When may we get to work on this project for you?
si gakuseb nz la i elwel :li ?
[Singakusebenzela ihlelweleli?]
Do you have any concerns about our product?
kukh na rh n na gakh gepa a j :thu?
[Kukhona orhonona ngakho ngepahla yethu?]
Do you have any concerns about our service?
kukh na rh n na gakh g mseb nzi esikw nz la w :na ?
[Kukhona orhonona ngakho ngomsebenzi esikwenzela wona?]
Do you have any concerns about our pricing?
kukh na rh n na gakh gent w thu?
[Kukhona orhonona ngakho ngentengwethu?]
May I call you back tomorrow?
gi gabuja kuwe kusasa?
[Ngingabuya kuwe kusasa?]
May I call you back next week?
gi gabuja kuwe geveke ezako?
[Ngingabuya kuwe ngeveke ezako?]
May I call you back this afternoon?
gi gabuja kuwe nam an e g mva kwamadina?
[Ngingabuya kuwe namhlanje ngemva kwamadina?]
May I call you back in the morning?
gi gabuja kuwe kusasa ekus :ni?
[Ngingabuya kuwe ekuseni?]
Who should be my contact within your company?
gubani e gizakuph le gikhulumisane naje ekhamphanini jakho?
[Ngubani engizakuphele ngikhulumisane naye ekhamphanini
yakho?]
NOTES:
1. Always remember to greet first before you can start
with any request or question.
2. Avoid phrases like – Listen here! Look!
Understand? Do you hear me?
3. Always remember to say Please when requesting for
an assistance.
4. Be cautious if someone recommends that he will
take you to the place you are looking for or if
somebody is asking you where you come from.
