Northern Ndebele, also known as North Ndebele, Zimbabwean Ndebele, Sindebele, Matabele is one of the official languages of Zimbabwe. It is not similar to the Southern Ndebele spoken in South Africa. However, some words may be similar.
The language is also spoken in Botswana.
Vowels
There are five vowels in the Ndebele language.
- a (ah) - like in farmer
- e (e) - like in red
- i (ee) - like in see
- o (o) - like in horn
- u (oo) - like in moon
Consonants
Click Sounds
There are three click sounds produced by three consonants in Ndebele.
The consonants are c,q and x.
C sound is made by placing the tip of the tongue against the front upper teeth and gums. The centre of the tongue is depressed and the tip of the tongue is drawn backwards. The resulting sound is similar to the sound used in English to express annoyance. E.g Cela - ask
Q sound is made by raising the back of the tongue to touch the soft palate and touching the gums with the sides and tip of the tongue. The centre of the tongue is depressed and the tip drawn quickly away from the gum. The resulting sound is like the "pop" . e.g qalisa - start
X sound is made by lacing the tongue so that the back of the tongue touches the soft palate and the sides and tip of the tongue touch the gums. One side of the tongue is quickly withdrawn from the gums. E.g ixoxo - frog
Non-click Sounds
Aspirated consonants
They are characterized by breathy sounds and are pronounced by adding “h” to the initial consonant.
For example: Ph - Lapha (here)
Kh - Khwela (climb)
Th - Eyethu(our)
You can test the sound by holding your hand in front of your mouth to feel that air is blown onto it.
Non-aspirated Consonants
These consonants do not have the “h” added.
Explosive B
The b sound has an 'h' added, but it is not aspirated. The “b” has a sharp sound. For example bhala - write
Implosive B
The “b” is pronounced by placing the lips together. You intake of air momentary and then a soft 'b' sound is produced. I.e ibizo - name
Greetings in Ndebele
| English | Ndebele |
| Good evening. | litshonile |
| Good morning. | livukile |
| Good afternoon. | litshonile |
| How are you? | unjani/linjani |
| How are you today? | unjani namhlanje/linjani namhlanje |
| I am fine. | ngiyaphila |
| Have a good day. | ubelosukoluhle |
| I am doing great. | ngiyaphila |
| Hi/Hello. | sawubona/salibonani |
| Nice to meet you. | kuhle ukulibona |
| See you soon. | ngizakubona maduze |
| See you later. | ngizakubona maduze |
Ndebele Love Words and Phrases
| English | Ndebele |
| I love you. | ngiyakuthanda |
| I miss you. | ngiyakukhumbula |
| Love you so much | ngiyakuthanda kakhulu |
| I want to see you. | ngifuna ukukubona |
| I love you with all my heart. | ngikuthanda ngenhliziyo yami yonke |
| I love you too. | lami ngiyakuthanda |
| I want to see you. | ngifuna ukukubona |
| I like you. | ngiyakuthanda |
| You are beautiful. | umuhle |
| My love. | sithandwa sami |
| You look beautiful. | ubukeka umuhle |
| My beautiful wife. | nkosikazi wami omuhle |
| I miss you so much, darling. | ngiyakukhumbula kakhulu, sthandwa |
| I need you. | ngiyakufuna |
| You will miss me. | uzangikhumbula |
| Goodbye, my love. | salakahle, sthandwa |
| See you tomorrow. | ngizakubona kusasa |
| I will marry you. | ngizatshada nawe |
| I want some space. | ngifuna ukubangedwa |
| I need your love. | ngifuna uthando lwakho |
| You are mine. | ungowami |
Directions in Ndebele
| English | Ndebele |
| Where are you? | ungaphi |
| Where did you go? | uyengaphi |
| Where do you live? | uhlala ngaphi |
| Where are you going? | uhamba ngaphi |
| Where were you? | kade ungaphi |
Common Questions in Conversations in Ndebele
| English | Ndebele |
| How much? | malini |
| How are you feeling? | uzizwa njani |
| How have you been? | unjani |
| What is your name? | unjani |
| What are you doing? | uyenza njani |
| What are you cooking/eating? | uphekani/udlani |
| Are you okay, dear? | ukahle |
| When are you coming? | ubuya nini |
| How was your night/day? | kade bunjani ubusuku bakho/kade linjani ilanga lakho |
| How are you doing? | unjani |
| How is your family? | injani imuli yakho |
| How was your day? | belinjani ilanga lakho |
| What is wrong? | yini inkinga |
| What do you mean? | uthini/utshoni |
| How's the weather over there? | unjani umkhathi ngapho |
| Have you gone to church? | uhambile enkozweni |
| What is this? | yini lokhu |
| What's going on? | kwenzakalani |
| Are you listening? | ulalele |
| Have you heard? | uzwile |
| Can I go home? | ngingahamba ekhaya |
| Can I ask something? | ngingabuza okuthile |
| How is everything? | kunjani konke |
| What’s your phone number? | inombolo zakho zocingo zithini |
Everyday Conversations in Ndebele
| English | Ndebele |
| Happy birthday | ilanga lokuzalwa elihle |
| Thank you | ngiyabonga |
| I am sorry | ngiyaxolisa |
| You are welcome. | siyakwamukela |
| Me too! | lami |
| God bless you. | inkosi ikubusise |
| May god protect you. | inkosi ikugcine |
| She is happy. | ujabulile |
| Please help me. | ngicela ungingcede |
| I don't know. | angazi |
| I will come tomorrow. | ngibuya kusasa |
| Come here! | woza ngapha |
| Feel at home. | uzizwe usekhaya |
| Be blessed. | ubusiseke |
| I am coming soon. | ngiyabuya manje |
| Excuse me. | uxolo |
| Leave me alone. | hlukana lami |
| It is okay. | kulungile |
| I am going home. | ngihamba ekhaya |
| I don't want. | angifuni |
| Love is a beautiful thing. | uthando yinto enhle |
| Let me try. | ngifuna ukuzama |
| Welcome home. | siyakwamukela ekhaya |
| I reached home safely. | ngifike kuhle ekhaya |
| God is good. | unkulunkulu muhle |
| I don't understand. | angizwisisi |
| We are happy to see you. | siyajabula ukukubona |
| I have it. | ngilakho/ngilayo |
| Rest in peace. | ulale ngokuthula |
| I don't have money. | angila mali |
| I am done. | ngiqedile |
| I am going to the shop. | ngiya ezitolo |
| Happy new year. | umnyaka omutsha omuhle |
| Bad manners. | imikhuba emibi |
| Stop using your phone. | hlukana locingo |
| I need a favour, please. | ungicela ungcedo |
| Haven’t seen you for ages. | ngileskhathi ngingakuboni |
| Great to see you again. | ngiyajabula ukukubona |
| I really appreciate it. | ngiyabonga |
| You made my day. | wenzile ilanga lami |
| No problem. | akulankinga |
Join the Lughayangu Community!
