English to Zulu Translation

English

Zulu

(isiZulu)

I

ngi-, mina

you
(singular)

u-, wena

he

u-, yena

we

si-, thina

you
(plural)

ni-, nina

they

ba-, bona

this

lo, leli, lesi, le, lolu, lobu,
lokhu

that

lowo, lelo, leso, leyo, lolo,
lobo, lokho

here

lapha, khona

there

lapho, laphaya, khona

who

ubani (interrogative)

what

-ni, yini (interrogative)

where

-phi (interrogative)

when

nini

how

kanjani, ngani

not

a-, akekho, abekho

all

-nke

many

-ningi

some

-nye

few

-mbalwa, -ncane

other

-nye

one

-dwa, -nye

two

-bili

three

-thathu

four

-ne

five

-hlanu

big

-khulu

long

-de

wide

-banzi

thick

-qinile, -gqinsi

heavy

-nzima

small

-ncane

short

-fuphi

narrow

-ncane, -msweswana

thin

-ondile

woman

umfazi

man
(adult male)

indoda, umlisa

man
(human being)

umuntu

child

umntwana

wife

umka-, inkosikazi

husband

umyeni, indoda

mother

umama

father

ubaba

animal

isilwane

fish

inhlanzi, ufishi

bird

inyoni

dog

inja

louse

intwala

snake

inyoka

worm

isibungu, umsundu

tree

isihlahla, umuthi

forest

ihlathi

stick

induku, uthi

fruit

isithelo

seed

inhlamvu, imbewu

leaf

ikhasi, iqabi

root

impande (of a plant), umsuka
(cause, origin)

bark
(of a tree)

igxolo

flower

imbali

grass

utshani

rope

intambo

skin

isikhumba

meat

inyama

blood

igazi

bone

ithambo

fat
(noun)

amafutha

egg

iqanda

horn

uphondo

tail

umsila

feather

uphaphe

hair

unwele

head

ikhanda

ear

indlebe

eye

iso, ihlo

nose

ikhala

mouth

umlomo

tooth

izinyo

tongue
(organ)

ulimi

fingernail

uzipho

foot

unyawo

leg

umlenze

knee

idolo

hand

isandla

wing

iphiko

belly

isisu

guts

ithumbu

neck

intamo

back

umhlane

breast

ibele

heart

inhliziyo

liver

isibindi

to
drink

-phuza

to
eat

-dla

to
bite

-luma

to
suck

-munca, -ncela

to
spit

-phimisa

to
vomit

-phalaza

to
blow

-vunguza

to
breathe

-phefumula

to
laugh

-hleka

to
see

-bona

to
hear

-zwa

to
know

-azi

to
think

-cabanga

to
smell

(to have a particular smell)
-nuka, (to sense the smell of) -nuka, -zwa

to
fear

-esaba, -saba

to
sleep

-lala

to
live

-phila, -zwa

to
die

-fa

to
kill

-bulala, -fisa

to
fight

-lwa

to
hunt

-zingela

to
hit

-shaya

to
cut

-sika, -nquma

to
split

-dabula

to
stab

-gwaza

to
scratch

-klwebha

to
dig

-mba

to
swim

-bhukuda

to
fly

-ndiza

to
walk

-hamba

to
come

-za

to
lie (as in a bed)

-lala (lie down, sleep),
-cambalala (be lying down)

to
sit

-hlala (sit down), -hleli, -hlezi
(be sitting, be seated)

to
stand

-sukuma (stand up), -ma (be
standing)

to
turn (intransitive)

-jika, -guquka, -phenduka

to
fall

-wa

to
give

-nika, -nikeza, -pha

to
hold

-phatha, -bamba

to
squeeze

-cindezela

to
rub

-hlikihla

to
wash

-geza, -hlamba

to
wipe

-sula

to
pull

-donsa

to
push

-sunduza

to
throw

-phosa

to
tie

-bopha

to
sew

-thunga

to
count

-bala

to
say

-thi

to
sing

-cula, -hlabelela, -huba

to
play

-dlala

to
float

-ntaza

to
flow

-gobhoza

to
freeze

-nquma (solidify), -qanda (be
freezing cold)

to
swell

-vuvukala

sun

ilanga

moon

inyanga

star

imbasa, inkanyezi

water

amanzi

rain

imvula

river

umfula

lake

ichibi

sea

ulwandle

salt

itswayi, usawoti

stone

itshe

sand

isihlabathi

dust

uthuli

earth

umhlaba

cloud

ifu

fog

inkungu

sky

izulu

wind

umoya

snow

iqhwa

ice

iqhwa

smoke

intuthu

fire

umlilo

ash

umlotha

to
burn

-sha

road

umgwaqo, umgwaqana

mountain

intaba

red

-bomvu

green

-luhlaza

yellow

-liphuzi, -ncombo

white

-mhlophe

black

-mnyama

night

ubusuku

day

ilanga, umuhla, usuku

year

unyaka

warm

-fudumele

cold

-makhaza

full

-gcwele

new

-sha

old

-dala

good

-hle

bad

-bi

rotten

-bolile (decayed), -bi (bad)

dirty

-ngcolile

straight

-qondile

round

-yindilinga (circular),
-yimbulunga (spherical)

sharp
(as a knife)

-bukhali

dull
(as a knife)

-buthuntu

smooth

-bushelezi (not rough), -mnandi
(comfortable)

wet

-manzi, -nethile

dry

-omile

correct

-lungile

near

eduze

far

kude

right

kwesokudla

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