Ndebele Language

Ndebele also known as Matabele or Isindebele or Northern ndebele is a language spoken in Botswana and Zimbabwe by the AmaNdebele people.

It belongs to the Nguni group of languages which also includes Ngoni, Swazi, IsiXhosa and IsiZulu languages.

Ndebele language has approximately 2,500,000 native speakers.

A person who speaks Ndebele is known as iNdebele.

Ndebele is an official language in Zimbabwe.

Learn common Ndebele phrases and their meaning in English, including greetings, directions, love words and a lot of day-to-day conversations.

It should not be confused with Southern Ndebele.

Dictionary of popular Ndebele words

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Join 1,000+ speakers preserving different African languages for future generations

The Future of Ndebele Is In Our Hands

Every day, new words shape our world - from artificial intelligence to blockchain, from climate change to social media.

While languages like English grow and adapt, what about Ndebele?

How do we explain quantum computing in Ndebele?

What's the word for 'cryptocurrency'?

Without action today, how will future generations express tomorrow's ideas in Ndebele?

The Choice Is Yours

If not you, who will keep Ndebele alive?

If not now, when will we start?

If not here, where will it happen?

This is our language. This is our responsibility.

Our Mission

We're building a living bridge between tradition and innovation - documenting and growing African languages for the digital age. Every word you contribute helps preserve our cultural heritage while preparing it for the future.

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Join hundreds of native speakers who are already making history. Every definition you add, every phrase you explain, becomes your legacy in keeping Ndebele vibrant and relevant.