Basic Words

1. Yebo

   Yes

   Usage

   "Yes". The opposite is "Cha" (no)

   Grammar Note

   "No" is "Cha". "hhayi" is a "not / rather than" word inside sentences, not a stand-alone "no"

2. Cha

   No

   Usage

   "No". The opposite is "Yebo" (yes)

   Grammar Note

   Same form as Zulu "cha"; it is the everyday negative reply in Siswati too.

3. Ngicela.

   Please.

   Usage

   Opens a request; follow it with a verb (subjunctive) or a noun

   Grammar Note

   Siswati has no separate word for "please"; "ngicela" (I ask) does the job, e.g. "Ngicela ungisite". "Sicela" is the "we" form.

4. Ngiyabonga.

   Thank you.

   Usage

   The basic way to say thank you

   Grammar Note

   ngi-ya-bonga (I-present-thank). "Siyabonga" = we thank. The spelling equals Zulu.

5. Ngiyacolisa.

   Sorry.

   Usage

   For a light apology

   Grammar Note

   Do not use Zulu "Ngiyaxolisa"; Siswati uses c instead of x.

6. Kulungile.

   It is OK.

   Usage

   Shows agreement or that something is fine

   Grammar Note

   "kulungile" = "it is right / fine". Same form as Zulu.

7. Angivisisi.

   I do not understand.

   Usage

   When you did not follow. Add "Ngicela uphindze futsi" to ask for a repeat

   Grammar Note

   an-gi-visis-i (negative-I-understand); the negative present ends in -i. Uses visisa, not Zulu qonda.

8. Ngiyavisisa.

   I understand.

   Usage

   When you have understood

   Grammar Note

   ngi-ya-visisa (I-present-understand)

9. Ngicela uphindze futsi.

   Once more, please.

   Usage

   Asks someone to repeat what they said

   Grammar Note

   ngicela + u-phindze (you repeat, subjunctive) + futsi (again).

10. Ake ulindze sikhashana.

    Just wait a moment.

    Usage

    Asks someone to wait a little

    Grammar Note

    "ake" softens the request; "ulindze" is the subjunctive of lindza (wait)

11. Ngicela ungisite.

    Please help me.

    Usage

    A polite request for help; for ordinary requests, not an emergency shout

    Grammar Note

    Composed by regular grammar rather than a fixed set phrase. ngicela + u-ngi-site (you help me, subjunctive). Uses sita, not Zulu siza.

12. Uyakhuluma siNgisi?

    Do you speak English?

    Usage

    Asks whether the person speaks English; greet first, then ask

    Grammar Note

    Composed by regular grammar rather than a fixed set phrase. u-ya-khuluma (you-present-speak) + siNgisi (English). Language names keep a capital after si-.

13. Lapha

    Here

    Usage

    Points to a place: "here"

    Grammar Note

    "lapha" = here, "lapho" = there (and the relative "where").

14. Lapho

    There

    Usage

    Points to a place a little way off: "there"

    Grammar Note

    "lapho" is also very common as a relative "where".

15. Mine

    I, me

    Usage

    The independent "I/me" pronoun used for emphasis

    Grammar Note

    The verb already carries the subject prefix (ngi-), so the pronoun is only added for emphasis. "mina" is not a Siswati form.

16. Wena

    You

    Usage

    The independent "you" pronoun used for emphasis

    Grammar Note

    The verb already carries the subject prefix (u-), so the pronoun is only added for emphasis. The plural "you" is "nine"

17. Ndzawonye

    Together

    Usage

    The adverb "together"; place it after the verb

    Grammar Note

    Unlike Zulu "ndawonye" it is spelled with dz.

18. Kancane

    A little

    Usage

    Says the amount is small: "a little"

    Grammar Note

    Added after a verb or noun as an adverb. Same form as Zulu.

19. Ihhafu

    Half

    Usage

    The noun "half", for quantities

    Grammar Note

    A class 5 noun (i-hhafu); "hh" is a single sound. Do not use the Zulu form "uhhafu"

20. Konkhe

    All, everything

    Usage

    Means everything, the whole of something

    Grammar Note

    The "all" word changes by noun class: "konkhe" = everything, "tonkhe" for class 10 plurals. Do not use Zulu "zonke"/"konke"

21. Kwanele.

    That is enough.

    Usage

    When you need no more

    Grammar Note

    "kwanele" = it is enough.

22. Umuntfu munye

    One person

    Usage

    Says a number of people: one

    Grammar Note

    umuntfu (person, class 1) + munye (one, class 1 agreement). Do not use the Zulu "umuntu oyedwa"

23. Bantfu lababili

    Two people

    Usage

    Says a number of people: two

    Grammar Note

    bantfu (people, class 2) + lababili (two, class 2 agreement). Do not use the Zulu "abantu ababili"

24. Bantfu labatsatfu

    Three people

    Usage

    Says a number of people: three

    Grammar Note

    bantfu (people) + labatsatfu (three, class 2 agreement). Do not use Zulu "abantu abathathu" (th becomes ts/tf)

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