Emanti
Water
Usage
The basic word when asking for drinking water: "Ngicela emanti"
Grammar Note
A class 6 plural noun (water counts as plural). Do not use Zulu "amanzi".
Kudla
Food
Usage
Means both "food" and "to eat"; use it when asking for or looking for a meal
Grammar Note
The infinitive ku-dla used as a noun; unlike Zulu "ukudla" it has no initial u-.
Imali
Money
Usage
The word you need most for payments, exchange and prices
Grammar Note
A class 9 noun; same form as Zulu. Eswatini's currency is the lilangeni (plural emalangeni)
Lithoyilethi
Toilet
Usage
The noun for asking where the toilet is: "Likuphi lithoyilethi?"
Grammar Note
A loan of English "toilet" spelled by sound (class 5, plural emathoyilethi). The older "umthoyi" also covers sewage.
Umutsi
Medicine
Usage
Names medicine at the pharmacy or clinic; the same word also means "tree", so context decides
Grammar Note
A class 3 noun (plural emitsi). "Medicine" and "tree" share the form, so rely on context.
Sikhiya
Key
Usage
Word for a room or locker key
Grammar Note
A class 7 noun (si-khiya) with no initial vowel.
Lithikithi
Ticket
Usage
The word for a bus, train or entry ticket
Grammar Note
A loan of English "ticket" (class 5, plural emathikithi) with the li- prefix.
Ipasiphoti
Passport
Usage
Asked for at border control and hotel check-in
Grammar Note
A loan of English "passport" (class 9). The spelling varies; ipasiphoti is the most frequent, with ipasiphothi and ipasipoti also seen.
Lucingo
Phone
Usage
Means the telephone or a phone call
Grammar Note
A class 11 noun (lu-cingo, plural tincingo)
Siteshi
Station
Usage
Names a station such as a bus station
Grammar Note
A loan of English "station" (class 7, plural titeshi)
Sibhedlela
Hospital
Usage
The first word you need if you fall ill
Grammar Note
A class 7 noun (plural tibhedlela, locative esibhedlela / etibhedlela). Do not use Zulu "isibhedlela".
Emaphoyisa
Police
Usage
For theft or accidents; combine it with "where?"
Grammar Note
A class 6 plural used for the police as a body (one officer: iphoyisa). Siswati uses ema- where Zulu has ama-.
Sitolo
Shop
Usage
Names a shop; the plural is titolo
Grammar Note
A class 7 noun (si-tolo). Do not use Zulu "isitolo".
Likamelo
Room
Usage
Names a hotel room; the plural is emakamelo
Grammar Note
A loan noun (class 5) with the li- prefix. Do not use Zulu "ikamelo".
Umgwaco
Road
Usage
Names a road or street; "indlela" is the wider word for a way or path
Grammar Note
A class 3 noun (plural imigwaco). Do not use Zulu "umgwaqo".
Umndeni
Family
Usage
The basic word when talking about family
Grammar Note
A class 3 noun; same form as Zulu.
Libito
Name
Usage
Used for introductions and when asking someone's name
Grammar Note
A class 5 noun (li-bito), unlike Zulu "igama".
Inhloko
Head
Usage
Used to report a headache or an injury
Grammar Note
A class 9 noun. Do not use Zulu "ikhanda". "inhloko" also means "head of" an organisation.
Emehlo
Eyes
Usage
Used to report an eye problem
Grammar Note
Plural of liso (eye, class 6); the singular is liso. Compare Zulu "amehlo"
Indlebe
Ear
Usage
Used to report an earache or similar
Grammar Note
A class 9 noun; the plural is tindlebe, where Zulu has izindlebe.
Imphumulo
Nose
Usage
Used to report a nose problem
Grammar Note
A class 9 noun; the plural is timphumulo. Spelled with ph, unlike Zulu "impumulo"
Umlomo
Mouth
Usage
Used to report a mouth or tooth problem
Grammar Note
A class 3 noun (plural imilomo); same form as Zulu.
Litinyo
Tooth
Usage
For toothache, as in "Ngibulawa litinyo" (I have toothache)
Grammar Note
A class 5 noun; the plural is ematinyo. Do not use Zulu "izinyo".
Intsamo
Neck
Usage
Used to report neck pain
Grammar Note
A class 9 noun. Not Zulu "intamo"
Lihlombe
Shoulder
Usage
Used to report a shoulder problem; the plural is emahlombe
Grammar Note
A class 5 noun. The same form also means "applause" ("shayela lihlombe" = to commend); here it means shoulder.
Sandla
Hand
Usage
Used for hand injuries and washing hands
Grammar Note
A class 7 noun without an initial vowel (Zulu: isandla).
Umkhono
Arm
Usage
Used to report an arm injury or pain
Grammar Note
A class 3 noun.
Umunwe
Finger
Usage
Used to report a finger injury; the plural is iminwe
Grammar Note
A class 3 noun; The variant "umuno" is rare, so it is not used here.
Sifuba
Chest
Usage
Used to report chest pain or a cough
Grammar Note
A class 7 noun with no initial vowel (Zulu: isifuba).
Sisu
Stomach
Usage
Used to report a stomach ache; it can also mean pregnancy
Grammar Note
A class 7 noun; pregnancy.
Umhlane
Back
Usage
Used to report back pain
Grammar Note
A class 3 noun. Same form as Zulu.
Lidvolo
Knee
Usage
Used to report knee pain
Grammar Note
A class 5 noun (li-dvolo). "dv" is a single sound; differs from Zulu "idolo"
Umlente
Leg
Usage
Used to report a leg injury or pain
Grammar Note
A class 3 noun (plural imilente). Differs from Zulu "umlenze".
Lunyawo
Foot
Usage
Used to report a foot problem; the plural is tinyawo
Grammar Note
A class 11 noun (lu-nyawo), where Zulu has unyawo.
Sikhumba
Skin
Usage
Used for rashes and sunburn
Grammar Note
A class 7 noun with no initial vowel (Zulu: isikhumba). Confirmed in text on skin diseases.
Umtimba
Body
Usage
Means the whole body
Grammar Note
A class 3 noun; Zulu "umzimba" corresponds to Swati "umtimba" (z becomes t).
Litsambo
Bone
Usage
Used to report a fracture; "litsambo leliphukile" = a broken bone
Grammar Note
A class 5 noun. Zulu "ithambo" corresponds to Swati "litsambo" (th becomes ts)
Ingati
Blood
Usage
Used to report bleeding
Grammar Note
A class 9 noun, unlike Zulu "igazi".
Lihhotela
Hotel
Usage
Used when looking for accommodation
Grammar Note
A loan of English "hotel" (class 5); "hh" is one sound.
Sikhumulo setindiza
Airport
Usage
Used when asking the way to the airport
Grammar Note
sikhumulo (landing place) + se-tindiza (of aeroplanes, plural of indiza). Not Zulu "isikhumulo sezindiza"
Likhemisi
Pharmacy
Usage
Used when looking for a place to buy medicine; the plural is emakhemisi
Grammar Note
A loan of English "chemist" (class 5). Not Zulu "ikhemisi"
More Siswati phrases
- Basic Words
- Basic Verbs
- Adjectives
- Question Words
- Greetings
- Food & Drinks
- Transportation
- Shopping
- Numbers
- Hotel
- Emergency
- Sightseeing
- Flirting
- Nightlife
- Compliments
- Contacts & SNS
- Beach & Activities
- Places & Areas
- Useful Phrases
- Airport & Customs
- Weather & Climate
- Pharmacy & Health
- Directions
- Money & Exchange
- Health & Hospital
- Internet & WiFi
- Nature & Outdoors
- Religion & Temples
- Café & Drinks
- Schedule & Booking
- Culture & Etiquette
- Traveling with Kids
- Sports & Activities
- Public Transport
- Accommodation
- Banking & ATM
- Visa & Immigration
- Business & Work
- School & Education
- Festivals & Events
- Photography
- Post Office
- Language Learning
- Fruits
- Colors
- Dietary & Allergies
- Markets & Souvenirs
- Time & Dates
- Body Parts
- Animals
- Vehicles
- Feelings
- Local Dishes
- Local Drinks
- Indulgences