Language/Zulu/Grammar/How-to-Use-Have
Hi Zulu learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn how to use the verb "have" in Zulu. "Have" is an important verb to know in any language because it is a basic verb that is used frequently. By the end of this lesson, you will understand how to use "have" in different contexts and tenses. As always, the key to mastering a language is practice, practice, practice! 💪
Consider broadening your understanding by checking out these related lessons: Prepositions & How to Use Be.
What is the Verb "Have" in Zulu?[edit | edit source]
"Have" in Zulu is translated as "ukuwa" or "ukuba nabantu/bona". It is a verb that is used to indicate possession or ownership of something. For example, "I have a car" would be "Ngilisa inkinobho". Let's take a look at more examples of "have" in Zulu:
| Zulu | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Ngikhona isibindi | /ŋik͡xoːna isiˈb͡indi/ | I have courage |
| Ngilisa incwadi | /ŋiˈliːsa inˈt͡ʃʷaːdi/ | I have a book |
| Unayo i-data kuphela | /uˈnaːjo iˈdatum kuˈpʰɛla/ | You only have data left |
| Ngibakhipha | /ŋibaˈkʰipʰa/ | I have my bag |
We can see from these examples that "have" is used to express possession of different things such as courage, a book, data, and a bag. Now, let's move on to the different tenses and forms of "have" in Zulu.
Present Tense[edit | edit source]
In the present tense, "have" in Zulu is translated as "ukuwa". Let's take a look at a dialogue to see how "have" is used in the present tense:
- Person 1: Manje kangaka unazo ngemali zakho? (Do you have money now?)
- Person 2: Yebo, nginazo ngemali zakho. (Yes, I have your money.)
We can see from this dialogue that in the present tense, "have" is translated as "unazo" or "nginazo" depending on who is being addressed. In the first sentence, "unazo" is used because the question is directed at the listener "you". In the second sentence, "nginazo" is used because the answer is directed at the speaker "I".
Let's take a look at more examples of "have" in the present tense:
| Zulu | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Ngizwa kukhona engingafuniyo | /ŋiˈzwa kuˈkʰona ɛŋiŋɡaˈfuniʲo/ | I feel some sort of obligation |
| Inombolo yakhe yesikweletu | /iˈnoᵐbolo jaːkʰɛ jɛˈsiːkʷɛluːtu/ | Her number is on voicemail |
| Ubusuku bakhe kusasa | /uˈbuːsuku baˈkʰɛ kuˈsaːsa/ | He has plans for tomorrow's night |
Past Tense[edit | edit source]
In the past tense, "had" in Zulu is translated as "wabe" or "wabona". Let's take a look at a dialogue to see how "had" is used in the past tense:
- Person 1: Uzoze udla kwenu ngelinye ilanga? (Did you have lunch at home one day?)
- Person 2: Yebo, ngiwabezile. (Yes, I had lunch at home.)
We can see from this dialogue that "had" in the past tense is translated as "wabezile". Here are some more examples:
| Zulu | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Inqwaba yakhe yayilumile | /iːnˈk͡ʃwaba jaːkʰɛ ja.ji.lʊˈmɪlɛ/ | Her suitcase was heavy |
| Abaphansi baye bebaness | / a.ba.pʰan.si ba.jɛ bɛ.ba.nɛsː/ | The poor had dinners |
| Waa bonga ucansi lwakho | /waː bɔŋga ut͡ʃan.si lwa.kʰɔ/ | She was thanking you for your poverty |
Future Tense[edit | edit source]
In the future tense, "will have" in Zulu is translated as "uzowazi". Let's take a look at a dialogue to see how "will have" is used in the future tense:
- Person 1: Uzozi ukuba unomphakathi wakho kohle kusetshenziswe kwi-website? (Will you have your community completely using the website?)
- Person 2: Yebo, ngizokwazi ukuba bazi kusetshenziswe kwi-website. (Yes, I will have them completely using the website.)
We can see from this dialogue that "will have" in the future tense is translated as "uzokwazi" or "ngizokwazi". In the first sentence, "uzokwazi" is used because the question is directed at the listener "you". In the second sentence, "ngizokwazi" is used because the answer is directed at the speaker "I".
Here are some more examples of "will have" in the future tense:
| Zulu | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Ngenzasanele ukuyeka amacala | /ŋɛnza.sa.nele u.kuˈjɛː.ka a.ma.ˈt͡ʃaːla/ | I will make it possible to remove stains |
| Uzosisiza abantu abanesiThuthukisi | /u.zɔ.si.si.za a.ˈbaɲ.tu a.ba.nɛ.si.tʰu.ˈtʰu.kɪ.si/ | You will help people who have disabilities |
| Ugwebo wonke usolususa yiziphi izikhathi | /u.ˈgwe.bo ˈwɔn.ke u.so.lu.ˈsu.sa yi.zi.ɸi zi.kʰa.tʰi/ | All feedback will have an effect at any time |
Negative Sentences[edit | edit source]
When we want to make negative sentences using "have" in Zulu, we use the word "akube" or "akhona". Let's take a look at a dialogue to see how we can use negative sentences to express the absence of possession or ownership:
- Person 1: Alike angiliceli njalo emsebenzini, manje asinayo ikhono lapho engiluthola khona. (He never likes to ask me for lifts to work but now he doesn't have his car which I found odd because he said he was going to the car dealership.)
- Person 2: Akhona ikhono lakhe? (Doesn't he have his car?)
- Person 1: Cha, akube kakhulu ngaye. (No, he doesn't have a car at all.)
We can see from this dialogue that "doesn't have" or "doesn't own" is translated as "akhona" or "akube". Here are some more examples:
| Zulu | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Akube kakhulu ngoba safika ngaphandle | /a.ˈkʰu.be ka.xu.lu ŋo.b̤a sa.ˈfi.ka ŋa.phan.d̤lɛ/ | Let's not have much because we just got to the outside world |
| Abakwamukela intshamba bayakhathele kakhulu ukuba bona bebakhona | /a.ba.kwa.mu.ke.la i.nt͡ʃam.ba ba.ja.ˈkʰa.tʰɛ.le ka.xu.lu u.ˈkuː.ba ˈbo.na bɛ.ba.xo.na/ | Those who don't have cars walk a lot to get to where they are going |
| Akhona umuntu ngalutho obuzwaqala ungaveli kanjani njalo | /a.ˈkʰo.na u.mu.ntu ŋa.ˈlu.tʰɔ ɔ.b̤u.ˈzwa.ʔa.la u.ŋa.ˈvɛː.li ka.ˈnʲaː.nji n.ˈd͡ʒa.lo/ | No one has a beginning except that which is eternal |
Interrogative Sentences[edit | edit source]
When we want to ask questions using "have" in Zulu, we can use the words "unayo" or "unanzile". Let's take a look at a dialogue to see how we can use interrogative sentences to ask about possession or ownership:
- Person 1: Unayo isikhathi sokuba sithathe isithuba sokusebenzisa iphoyisa? (Do you have time to take a chance to serve in the police force?)
- Person 2: Ngiyazama ukukhokhela ngamaphoyisa. (I'm trying to apply for the police.)
We can see from this dialogue that "do you have" is translated as "unayo". Here are some more examples:
| Zulu | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Unazo ojong' umovement wetinini | /u.ˈnaːzo o.ˈd͡ʒo.ŋ͡ɡu mu.ˈmo.ve.mɛnt wɛ.ˈtin.iːni/ | Do you have movement in your tongue? |
| Unayo inkinga yokuthi uthini ngokumpela? | /u.ˈnaːjo i.ŋ.ˈkiŋ.ɡa jo.ˈkʰti ʊ.ˈtiː.ni ŋo.kuᵐ.pɛː.la/ | Do you have a hard time saying no? |
| Unanzile imikhiqizo enhle esebenzisaneni nokuba balanda mfanakithi? | / u.ˈnan.zi.le i.mik.ʰiɣi.ˈzo e.ˈnɬɛ e.se.bɛn.zi.sa.ˈne.ni no.ku.ˈba ba.ˈlan.da m.fa.na.ˈki.tʰi/ | Have you ever had nice gestures at the workplace or in society? |
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
We hope this lesson has helped you understand how to use "have" in Zulu. Remember, the key to mastering a language is practice! Use Polyglot Club to find native speakers and ask them any questions you may have. You can also improve your Zulu Grammar by using the resources available on the website. Zulu is a beautiful and complex language, and we hope you continue to learn and appreciate it. Happy learning! 🎉
➡ 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. 😎
With this lesson finished, you may want to explore these additional pages: Adjectives & Pronouns.
Videos[edit | edit source]
Zulu Grammar Lesson / How to speak Zulu - YouTube[edit | edit source]
How to ask "how are you?" in Zulu - YouTube[edit | edit source]
How to say Hello and Goodbye in Zulu - YouTube[edit | edit source]
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Gender
- Negation
- Adverbs of time
- Adverbs of manner
- Adverbs of frequency
- Adverbs of place
- Conditional Mood
- Adjectives
- Plural
Sources[edit | edit source]