Emergency

1. Ngisite!

   Help me!

   Usage

   A short shout asking for help

   Grammar Note

   ngi-site (help me), imperative. For a polite request use "Ngicela ungisite"

2. Shayela emaphoyisa!

   Call the police!

   Usage

   Asks someone to call the police

   Grammar Note

   "shayela" = call, phone; "emaphoyisa" = the police.

3. Ngidzinga dokotela masinyane.

   I need a doctor urgently.

   Usage

   When you need a doctor right away

   Grammar Note

   Composed by regular grammar rather than a fixed set phrase. ngi-dzinga (I need) + dokotela (doctor) + masinyane (immediately). "dzinga" corresponds to Zulu "dinga".

4. Ngilahlekile. Angati kutsi ngikuphi.

   I am lost. I don't know where I am.

   Usage

   When you are lost and do not know where you are

   Grammar Note

   Composed by regular grammar rather than a fixed set phrase. ngi-lahlekile + angati kutsi ngikuphi (I do not know where I am)

5. Imali yami yebiwe.

   My money has been stolen.

   Usage

   Reports a theft

   Grammar Note

   Composed by regular grammar rather than a fixed set phrase. imali yami (my money, class 9) + yebiwe (was stolen).

6. Umlilo!

   Fire!

   Usage

   A shout to warn of a fire

   Grammar Note

   umlilo (fire, class 3); same form as Zulu.

7. Siteshi semaphoyisa sikuphi?

   Where is the police station?

   Usage

   Asks where the police station is

   Grammar Note

   Composed by regular grammar rather than a fixed set phrase. siteshi (station) + semaphoyisa (of the police) + si-ku-phi (where is it, class 7 agreement).

8. Ngicela ungiyise esibhedlela.

   Please take me to a hospital.

   Usage

   Asks a driver or passer-by to take you to a hospital

   Grammar Note

   Composed by regular grammar rather than a fixed set phrase. ngicela + u-ngi-yise (you take me, subjunctive) + e-sibhedlela (to the hospital, locative). the plural is "tibhedlela"

9. Ngiva buhlungu kakhulu esiswini.

   I have a very bad stomach ache.

   Usage

   Tells a doctor or bystander about severe stomach pain

   Grammar Note

   Composed by regular grammar rather than a fixed set phrase. ngi-va (I feel) + buhlungu (pain) + kakhulu (very) + e-sisu-ini (in the stomach).

10. Yekela!

    Stop it!

    Usage

    Tells someone to stop what they are doing

    Grammar Note

    "yekela" is the imperative of "to stop".

11. Ngicela uphutfume.

    Please hurry.

    Usage

    Asks someone to hurry in an urgent situation

    Grammar Note

    Composed by regular grammar rather than a fixed set phrase. ngicela + u-phutfume (you hurry, subjunctive). "kuphutfuma" means to speed up, hurry.

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