Language/Zulu/Vocabulary/Common-Greetings
Introduction
Sawubona! (Hello!) Welcome to the "Complete 0 to A1 Zulu Course." In this lesson, we will explore common Zulu greetings and farewells, and how to respond to them appropriately.
Zulu is one of the official languages of South Africa and is spoken by over 10 million people. Whether you are planning to visit South Africa, or you just want to learn a new language and culture, mastering basic Zulu greetings is a great way to start.
Take some time to dive into these other pages after completing this lesson: Sports & Count to 10.
Common Greetings
Hello and Goodbye
Let's start with some of the most common Zulu greetings and farewells:
| Zulu | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Sawubona | sa-wu-boh-na | Hello |
| Yebo | yeh-boh | Yes |
| Cha | chah | No |
| Hamba kahle | hahm-bah kah-hleh | Goodbye |
| Sala kahle | sah-lah kah-hleh | Stay well |
As you can see, "Sawubona" is the most commonly used Zulu greeting and it can be used both formally and informally. "Yebo" means "yes" and "Cha" means "no." "Hamba kahle" is used to say "goodbye" and "Sala kahle" is used to say "stay well."
When greeting someone in Zulu, it is important to maintain eye contact and acknowledge the person by saying "SANIBONANI" (sah-ni-boh-na-ni), which means "we see you all." It is also customary to shake hands while saying "Sawubona" or "Yebo."
Polite Greetings
When greeting someone older or in a position of authority, it is important to use polite forms of greetings. The polite form of "Sawubona" is "SANIBONA" (sah-ni-boh-nah), which means "I see you." The polite form of "Hamba kahle" is "Hamba kahle ngokwemikhuba" (hahm-bah kah-hleh n-gohk-weh-mee-koo-bah), which means "go well according to your status."
When responding to someone who greets you, you can say "Yebo" or "Cha." It is also common to say "Ngiyabonga" (ngi-ya-boh-nga), which means "thank you."
Time-based Greetings
Zulu greetings can also be time-based. For example, in the morning, you can greet someone by saying "Sawubona ekuseni" (sah-wu-boh-nah eh-koo-seh-ni), which means "good morning." In the afternoon, you can greet someone by saying "Sawubona emini" (sah-wu-boh-nah eh-mee-nee), which means "good afternoon." In the evening, you can greet someone by saying "Sawubona ebusuku" (sah-wu-boh-nah eh-boo-soo-koo), which means "good evening."
When bidding farewell, you can use the same time-based greetings as the ones used for greetings. For example, "Hamba kahle ekuseni" (hahm-bah kah-hleh eh-koo-seh-ni) means "go well in the morning," while "Sala kahle ebusuku" (sa-la kah-hleh eh-boo-soo-koo) means "stay well in the evening."
Conclusion
Congratulations! You have learned some common Zulu greetings and farewells. Remember that greetings play an important role in Zulu culture, and mastering them will help you communicate more effectively and respectfully. In the next lesson, we will explore how to introduce yourself and ask for someone's name in Zulu, as well as basic polite expressions.
Finished this lesson? Check out these related lessons: Body parts & Months of the year.
Other Lessons
- Asking for Directions
- House
- Food
- Numbers
- Clothes
- Geography
- Vegetables
- Connecting words
- Introducing Yourself
- Common Foods