Food & Drinks

28 phrases · Siswati with romanization, English and audio

  1. Ngicela kubona imenyu.

    May I see the menu, please?

    Usage

    The first request in a restaurant

    Grammar Note

    Composed by regular grammar rather than a fixed set phrase. ngicela + ku-bona (to see) + imenyu (menu, a loan).

  2. Angidli inyama.

    I do not eat meat.

    Usage

    For people who do not eat meat, said before ordering

    Grammar Note

    a-ngi-dl-i (negative-I-eat); The negative present ends in -i. "inyama" is meat; whether fish counts depends on the speaker.

  3. Ngicela emanti.

    Water, please.

    Usage

    The shortest way to ask for water

    Grammar Note

    ngicela + emanti (water). Do not use Zulu "amanzi"

  4. Inyama

    Meat

    Usage

    The general word for meat

    Grammar Note

    A class 9 noun; same form as Zulu.

  5. Inyama yengulube

    Pork

    Usage

    Names pork; useful for checking, as some people avoid it

    Grammar Note

    inyama (meat) + ye-ngulube (of pig). Same form as Zulu "ingulube"

  6. Inyama yenkhomo

    Beef

    Usage

    Names beef

    Grammar Note

    inyama (meat) + ye-nkhomo (of cattle). Cattle are inkhomo (plural tinkhomo), with kh unlike Zulu "inkomo"

  7. Inyama yenkhukhu

    Chicken

    Usage

    Names chicken meat

    Grammar Note

    inyama (meat) + ye-nkhukhu (of chicken). The bird is inkhukhu, unlike Zulu "inkukhu"

  8. Inyama yemvu

    Mutton

    Usage

    Names sheep meat

    Grammar Note

    Composed by regular grammar rather than a fixed set phrase. inyama (meat) + ye-mvu (of sheep). Goat is imbuti, not covered here.

  9. Inhlanti

    Fish

    Usage

    For ordering a fish dish

    Grammar Note

    A class 9 noun. Do not use Zulu "inhlanzi".

  10. Licandza

    Egg

    Usage

    For ordering eggs; the plural is emacandza

    Grammar Note

    A class 5 noun; plural emacandza. Do not use Zulu "iqanda".

  11. Lubisi

    Milk

    Usage

    For asking for milk

    Grammar Note

    A class 11 noun. Do not use Zulu "ubisi".

  12. Emantongomane

    Groundnuts, peanuts

    Usage

    Names peanuts; useful for allergy checks

    Grammar Note

    A class 6 plural noun; Zulu has "amantongomane" with ama-.

  13. Sinkhwa

    Bread

    Usage

    Names bread

    Grammar Note

    A class 7 noun with no initial vowel (Zulu: isinkwa). "lisonka" is not used.

  14. Lilayisi

    Rice

    Usage

    Names rice

    Grammar Note

    A loan of English "rice" (class 5).

  15. Ummbila

    Maize, corn

    Usage

    A staple grain; ground and cooked into porridge

    Grammar Note

    A class 3 noun; same form as Zulu. Porridge names such as "sishwala" are separate words.

  16. Lizambane

    Potato

    Usage

    Names potato; the plural is emazambane

    Grammar Note

    A class 5 noun. Do not use Zulu "izambane".

  17. Emabhontjisi

    Beans

    Usage

    Names beans (including jugo beans)

    Grammar Note

    A class 6 plural noun. Do not use Zulu "ubhontshisi"

  18. Titselo

    Fruit

    Usage

    Means fruit in general; the singular is sitselo

    Grammar Note

    A class 10 plural noun. Do not use Zulu "izithelo".

  19. Luswayi

    Salt

    Usage

    For asking for salt

    Grammar Note

    A class 11 noun; Do not use Zulu "usawoti"

  20. Shukela

    Sugar

    Usage

    Sugar for tea or coffee

    Grammar Note

    A class 9 noun with no initial u- (Zulu: ushukela). Eswatini is known for sugar cane.

  21. Emafutsa

    Oil, fat

    Usage

    Names cooking oil or fat

    Grammar Note

    A class 6 plural noun. The same word covers body oils, so use it in a cooking context.

  22. Pelepele

    Chilli, pepper

    Usage

    To look for, or avoid, hot food

    Grammar Note

    A class 9 noun.

  23. Anyanisi

    Onion

    Usage

    Names onion; the plural is ema-anyanisi

    Grammar Note

    A loan word.

  24. Galikhi

    Garlic

    Usage

    Names garlic

    Grammar Note

    Spelling can vary on signs.

  25. Luju

    Honey

    Usage

    Names honey

    Grammar Note

    A class 11 noun. Do not use Zulu "uju"

  26. Shizi

    Cheese

    Usage

    Names cheese

    Grammar Note

    A loan of English "cheese" (class 9). Example: "Jabu utsandza shizi" (Jabu likes cheese).

  27. Bhotela

    Butter

    Usage

    Names butter

    Grammar Note

    A loan of English "butter". "Faka bhotela kulolunye lucetu lwesinkhwa", means spread butter on a slice of bread.

  28. Lisobho

    Soup

    Usage

    Names soup or gravy

    Grammar Note

    A class 5 noun; Siswati uses li- where Zulu has i-.

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