Language/Zulu/Grammar/Give-your-Opinion

Zulu Grammar - Give your Opinion

Hi Zulu learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn how to give our opinions in Zulu. We will also see some cultural expressions and interesting facts that will help you understand how to express yourself correctly in various situations.

Take some time to dive into these other pages after completing this lesson: Adverbs of frequency & How to Use Have.

Expressing Opinion

In Zulu, to express an opinion, you can use the verb "thanda," which means "to like." You can also use the verb "duma," which means "to agree." Here are some examples to illustrate how to use these verbs:

Zulu	Pronunciation	English
Ngithanda imoto yangempela.	/ŋi.ˈtʰan.da i.ˈmo.to ja.ˌŋem.pɛ.la/	I really like my car.
Bengiduma nalo okhuluma ngalo.	/bɛ.ŋi.ˈdu.ma na.lo o.ˈkʰu.lu.ma ŋa.lo/	I agree with what he/she said.

Here is a dialogue to help you see these verbs in context:

• Person 1: Uthanda ukudlala ibhola? (/u.ˈtʰan.da u.ˈku.ɮa.la i.ˈbʰo.la/ - Do you like playing soccer?)
• Person 2: Yebo, ngithanda. (/ˈjɛ.bo, ŋi.ˈtʰan.da/ - Yes, I like it.)
• Person 1: Awuduma nje? (/a.wu.ˈdu.ma ˈnʲɛ/ - Don't you agree?)
• Person 2: Cha, angidumanga. (/tʃa, a.ŋi.ˈdu.ma.ŋa/ - No, I don't agree.)

Giving More Emphasis

To give more emphasis to your opinion, you can use the adverb "kakhulu," which means "very much" or "a lot." You can add it after the verb "thanda." Here is an example:

Zulu	Pronunciation	English
Ngithanda kakhulu ukudlala ibhola.	/ŋi.ˈtʰan.da ka.ˈkʰu.lu u.ˈku.ɮa.la i.ˈbʰo.la/	I really like playing soccer.

Here is another dialogue to help you see how to give more emphasis:

• Person 1: Uthanda ukudlala ibhola? (/u.ˈtʰan.da u.ˈku.ɮa.la i.ˈbʰo.la/ - Do you like playing soccer?)
• Person 2: Yebo, ngithanda kakhulu. (/ˈjɛ.bo, ŋi.ˈtʰan.da ka.ˈkʰu.lu/ - Yes, I really like it.)
• Person 1: Njengoba ngami. (/ˈnʲɛ.ŋɔm.ba ŋa.mi/ - Like me.)
• Person 2: Kwenzekile. (/kʷɛn.ˈzɛ.ki.le/ - It's true.)

Disagreeing Politely

When you don't agree with someone, it's important to disagree politely. In Zulu, you can use the phrase "Angikhohlwa," which means "I don't remember it that way." You can also use the phrase "Ngiphaphamisi kahle ukuthi..." which means "I strongly disagree that..." Here are some examples:

Zulu	Pronunciation	English
Angikhohlwa ukuthi sasixoxa ngaleli lizwe.	/a.ŋi.ˈkʰɔ.ɬwa u.ˈku.tʰi sa.ˈsi.ɕo.ɕa ŋa.ˈle.li ˈli.zwɛ/	I don't remember talking about this country.
Ngiphaphamisi kahle ukuthi iqembu lethu lithatha ukuphila kwezwe.	/ŋi.ˌpʰa.pʰa.mi.si ka.ˈkʰɛ u.ˈku.tʰi i.ˈkʷɛm.bu ˈle.θu li.ˈta.θa u.ku.ˈpi.la kwe.ˈzwe/	I strongly disagree that our team is responsible for the country's development.

Here is a dialogue to help you see how to disagree politely:

• Person 1: Angikwazi ukuphendula lengane. (/a.ŋi.ˈkʷa.zi u.ku.pʰɛn.du.la ˈle.ŋa.nɛ/ - I can't answer that child.)
• Person 2: Angikhohlwa ukuthi unasinyamalala. (/a.ŋi.ˈkʰɔ.ɬwa u.ˈku.tʰi u.na.ˌsi.ɲa.ma.ˈla.la/ - I don't remember that you were stubborn.)
• Person 1: Ngiyayiqonda yokuqala. (/ŋi.ˈja.ji.ˈkʷɔn.da jo.ku.ˈqa.la/ - I understand your point of view.)
• Person 2: Okuhle, kodwa angikwazi ukukhuluma nawe. (/o.ˈkʰu.lɛ, ˈkɔ.dʷa a.ŋi.ˈkʷa.zi u.ku.kʰu.ˈlu.ma na.ˈwe/ - Alright, but I can't talk with you.)

Cultural Expressions and Interesting Facts

Did you know that the Zulu people usually express their opinions indirectly by using proverbs? For example, they might say "Ukufa kwelakho kunjani?" (How is your death?), which means "How can you say that?"

Here are some other Zulu proverbs to help you understand their culture:

Zulu	Pronunciation	English
Isihlahla esiphila kakhulu senze noma kanjani kufa.	/i.ˈsi.ɬa.ɬa e.ˈsi.pʰi.la ka.ˈkʰu.lu se.ŋ͡ɡe nɔ.ma ˈkaɲa.nji ˈku.ɸa/	A living tree can always recover from even the toughest circumstances.
Owehla likamagugu, liphuma eshushuze kawufundi.	/o.ˈwɛ.ɬa li.ka.ˈma.ɡu.ɡu, li.ˈpʰu.ma e.ˈʃu.ʃu.ze ka.wu.ˈɸun.di/	An experienced person's work is easily recognizable and can't be copied by someone who is inexperienced.

To improve your Zulu Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!

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➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎

Other Lessons

• Gender
• How to Use Be
• Plurals
• Questions
• Adverbs of frequency
• Adverbs of time
• Plural
• Pronouns
• Verbs
• Adverbs of place

Sources

• Zulu grammar - Wikipedia
• Zulu Language and Culture Resources | Center for Language and ...
• The CALL of Zulu: reflections on the development of a computer ...