isiNdebele
Northern Ndebele
Atlantic-Congo (Bantu, Nguni)
Northern Ndebele (isiNdebele) is the main Nguni Bantu language of Zimbabwe, spoken predominantly in Matabeleland with Bulawayo as its cultural centre. It descends from a 19th-century migration of Mzilikazi's Nguni people from northern South Africa, making it closely related to Zulu (zu). Distinct from Southern Ndebele (nbl) of South Africa, which split off earlier and developed under different contact conditions. Recognised as one of Zimbabwe's 16 official languages under the 2013 constitution.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Northern Ndebele
amatshumi aficamunwemunye lesificamunwemunye
amatʃumi afiǀamunwemunje lesifiǀamunwemunje
Sources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Atlantic-Congo (Bantu, Nguni)
| Meaning | Northern Ndebele | Southern Ndebele | Zulu | Swazi | Xhosa | Tsonga | Lozi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | amanzi /amanzi/ | amanzi /amanzi/ | amanzi /amanzi/ | emanti /emanti/ | amanzi /amaːnzi/ | mati /mati/ | mezi /mezi/ |
| Fire | umlilo /umlilo/ | umlilo /umlilo/ | umlilo /umlilo/ | umlilo /umlilo/ | umlilo /umlilo/ | ndzilo /ndzilo/ | mulilo /mulilo/ |
| Sun | ilanga /ilaŋɡa/ | ilanga /ilaŋɡa/ | ilanga /ilaŋɡa/ | lilanga /lilaŋɡa/ | ilanga /ilaːŋɡa/ | dyambu /dʒambu/ | lizazi /lizazi/ |
| Moon | inyanga /iɲaŋɡa/ | inyezi /iɲezi/ | inyanga /iɲaŋɡa/ | inyanga /iɲaŋɡa/ | inyanga /iɲaːŋɡa/ | nʼweti /ŋweti/ | kweli /kweli/ |
| Star | inkanyezi /iŋkaɲezi/ | ikwekwezi /ikʷekʷezi/ | inkanyezi /iŋkaˈɲeːzi/ | inkhanyeti /iŋkʰaɲeti/ | inkwenkwezi /iŋkʷeŋkʷezi/ | nyeleti /ɲeleti/ | naleli /naleli/ |
| Night | ubusuku /ubusuku/ | ubusuku /uɓusuku/ | ubusuku /ubusuku/ | busuku /ɓusuku/ | ubusuku /ubusuku/ | vusiku /vusiku/ | busihu /busihu/ |
| Rain | imvula /imˈvula/ | izulu /izulu/ | imvula /imˈvula/ | imvula /imˈvula/ | imvula /imˈvula/ | mpfula /ˈmpfula/ | pula /ˈpula/ |
| Snow | iliqhwa /iliǃʰwa/ | iliqhwa /iliǃʰwa/ | iqhwa /iǃʰwa/ | lichwa /liǀʰwa/ | ikhephu /ikʰepʰu/ | gamboko /ɡamboko/ | litwa /ˈlitwa/ |
| Wind | umoya /umoːja/ | umoya /umoja/ | umoya /umoːja/ | umoya /umoːja/ | umoya /umoːja/ | moya /moja/ | moya /moja/ |
| Earth | inhlabathi /inɬaɓaːtʰi/ | ihlabathi /iɬaɓatʰi/ | inhlabathi /inɬaɓatʰi/ | umhlabatsi /umɬaɓatsi/ | umhlabathi /umɬaɓatʰi/ | misava /misava/ | mubu /mubu/ |
| Stone | ilitshe /iliˈtʃe/ | ilitje /iliˈtʃe/ | itshe /ˈiːtʃʼe/ | litje /liˈtʃe/ | ilitye /iˈlitʼje/ | ribye /riˈbje/ | licwe /liˈtʃwe/ |
| Mountain | intaba /inˈtaːɓa/ | intaba /inˈtaːɓa/ | intaba /inˈtaːɓa/ | intsaba /intsaɓa/ | intaba /inˈtaːɓa/ | ntshava /ntsʰava/ | lilundu /lilundu/ |
| Sea | ulwandle /ulwandɮe/ | ilwandle /ilwandɮe/ | ulwandle /uˈlwandɮe/ | lwandle /lwandɮe/ | ulwandle /uˈlwandɮe/ | lwandle /lwandɮe/ | liwate /liwate/ |
| Mother | umama /umama/ | umma /umma/ | umama /umama/ | make /make/ | umama /umaːma/ | manana /manana/ | ma /ma/ |
| Father | ubaba /uɓaɓa/ | ubaba /uɓaɓa/ | ubaba /uɓaɓa/ | babe /ɓaɓe/ | utata /utaːta/ | tatana /tatana/ | ndate /ndate/ |
| Daughter | indodakazi /indodakazi/ | indodakazi /indodakazi/ | indodakazi /indodaˈkazi/ | indvodzakati /indvodzakaːti/ | intombi /inˈtombi/ | nʼwana wa xisati /ŋʷana wa ʃisati/ | mwana wa musizana /mwana wa musizana/ |
| I | mina /mina/ | mina /mina/ | mina /ˈmiːna/ | mine /míne/ | mna /mna/ | mina /mina/ | na /na/ |
| You | wena /wena/ | wena /wena/ | wena /ˈweːna/ | wena /wéna/ | wena /wena/ | wena /wena/ | wena /wena/ |
| We | thina /tʰina/ | thina /tʰina/ | thina /ˈtʰiːna/ | tsine /tsíne/ | thina /tʰina/ | hina /hina/ | luna /luna/ |
| Name | ibizo /ibizo/ | ibizo /iɓizo/ | igama /iˈɡaːma/ | libito /liɓiːto/ | igama /iɡaːma/ | vito /vito/ | libizo /libizo/ |
| Person | umuntu /umuntu/ | umuntu /umuntu/ | umuntu /uˈmuntu/ | umuntfu /umuntfu/ | umntu /ˈumntu/ | munhu /munʱu/ | mutu /mutu/ |
| Head | ikhanda /iˈkʰanda/ | ihloko /iɬoko/ | ikhanda /iˈkʰanda/ | inhloko /inɬoko/ | intloko /intɬoːko/ | nhloko /nɬoko/ | toho /toho/ |
| Eye | ilihlo /iliɬo/ | ilihlo /iliɬo/ | iso /iso/ | liso /liso/ | iliso /iliso/ | tihlo /tiɬo/ | liito /liːto/ |
| Ear | indlebe /indɮɛɓe/ | indlebe /indɮɛɓe/ | indlebe /indɮɛɓe/ | indlebe /indɮɛɓe/ | indlebe /indɮɛɓe/ | ndleve /ndɮeve/ | zebe /zebe/ |
| Nose | ikhala /ikʰala/ | ipumulo /ipuˈmulo/ | impumulo /impuˈmulo/ | likhala /likʰala/ | impumlo /impuˈmlo/ | nhompfu /nʱompfu/ | ngo /ŋo/ |
| Mouth | umlomo /umˈlomo/ | umlomo /umˈlomo/ | umlomo /umˈlomo/ | umlomo /umlomo/ | umlomo /umˈlomo/ | nomu /nomu/ | mulomo /mulomo/ |
| Tooth | izinyo /iziɲo/ | izinyo /iziɲo/ | izinyo /iziɲo/ | litinyo /litiɲo/ | izinyo /iziɲo/ | tino /tino/ | liino /liːno/ |
| Tongue | ulimi /ulimi/ | ilimu /ilimu/ | ulimi /ulimi/ | lulwimi /lulwimi/ | ulwimi /ulwimi/ | ririmi /ririmi/ | lulimi /lulimi/ |
| Hand | isandla /isandɮa/ | isandla /isandɮa/ | isandla /isandɮa/ | sandla /sandɮa/ | isandla /isandɮa/ | voko /voko/ | lizoho /lizoho/ |
| Foot | unyawo /uɲawo/ | inyawo /iɲawo/ | unyawo /uːɲaːwo/ | lunyawo /luɲawo/ | unyawo /uɲaːwo/ | nenge /neŋɡe/ | lihutu /liˈhutu/ |
| Heart | inhliziyo /inɬizijo/ | ihliziyo /iɬizijo/ | inhliziyo /inɬizijo/ | inhlitiyo /inɬitijo/ | intliziyo /intɬizijo/ | mbilu /mbilu/ | pilu /pilu/ |
| Bone | ithambo /itʰambo/ | ithambo /itʰambo/ | ithambo /itʰambo/ | litsambo /litsambo/ | ithambo /itʰambo/ | rhambu /rambu/ | sapo /sapo/ |
| Blood | igazi /iɡazi/ | iingazi /iːŋɡazi/ | igazi /iɡazi/ | ingati /iŋɡati/ | igazi /iɡazi/ | ngati /ŋɡati/ | mali /mali/ |
| Poop | amasimba /amasimba/ | amasimba /amasimba/ | amasimba /amasimba/ | emasimba /emasimba/ | amasimba /amasimba/ | — | ñanda /ɲanda/ |
| Love | uthando /utʰando/ | ithando /itʰando/ | uthando /utʰando/ | lutsandvo /lutsandwo/ | uthando /utʰando/ | rirhandzu /riɾandzu/ | lilato /lilato/ |
| Tree | isihlahla /isiɬaɬa/ | umuthi /umutʰi/ | isihlahla /isiɬaɬa/ | sihlahla /siɬaɬa/ | umthi /umtʰi/ | nsinya /nsiɲa/ | kota /kota/ |
| Dog | inja /indʒa/ | inja /indʒa/ | inja /indʒa/ | inja /indʒa/ | inja /indʒa/ | mbyana /mbjana/ | nja /ndʒa/ |
| Cat | ikati /ikati/ | ikati /ikati/ | ikati /ikati/ | likati /likati/ | ikati /ikati/ | mangoyi /maŋɡoji/ | kaze /kaze/ |
| Fish | inhlanzi /iɬanzi/ | ihlambi /iɬambi/ | inhlanzi /iɬanzi/ | inhlanti /iɬanti/ | intlanzi /intɬanzi/ | nhlampfi /nɬampfi/ | tapi /tapi/ |
| Bird | inyoni /iɲoni/ | inyoni /iɲoni/ | inyoni /iˈɲoni/ | inyoni /iɲoni/ | intaka /inˈtaka/ | xinyenyana /ʃiɲeˈɲana/ | nyunywani /ɲuɲwani/ |
| Butterfly | ivevane /iveˈvane/ | iviyaviyani /ivijavijani/ | uvemvane /uvemˈvaːne/ | luvivane /luvivane/ | ibhabhathane /ibʱabʱaˈtʰaːne/ | phapharhati /pʰapʰaˈrati/ | sipulumuki /sipulumuki/ |
| Egg | iqanda /iǃanda/ | iqanda /iǃanda/ | iqanda /iǃaːnda/ | licandza /liǀandza/ | iqanda /iǃaːnda/ | tandza /tandza/ | lii /liː/ |
| Bear | ibhere /ibʱere/ | ibhere /ibʱere/ | ibhere /iˈbʱeːre/ | libhele /libʱele/ | ibhere /ibʱere/ | bere /bere/ | bele /bele/ |
| Horse | ibhiza /iˈbiza/ | injomani /indʒoˈmani/ | ihhashi /iˈɦaːʃi/ | lihhashi /liɦaʃi/ | ihashe /iˈhaʃe/ | hanci /hantʃi/ | pizi /pizi/ |
| House | indlu /indɮu/ | indlu /indɮu/ | indlu /indɮu/ | indlu /indɮu/ | indlu /indɮu/ | yindlu /jindɮu/ | ndu /ndu/ |
| Milk | uchago /uˈtʃaɡo/ | ibisi /iˈɓisi/ | ubisi /uˈbisi/ | lubisi /luˈɓisi/ | ubisi /uˈbisi/ | masi /masi/ | mabisi /mabisi/ |
| Honey | uluju /uludʒu/ | iliju /ilidʒu/ | uju /udʒu/ | luju /ludʒu/ | ubusi /ubusi/ | vulombe /vulombe/ | linosi /linosi/ |
| Salt | itswayi /itswaji/ | itswayi /itswaji/ | usawoti /usaˈwoti/ | luswayi /luswaji/ | ityuwa /iˈtjuwa/ | munyu /muɲu/ | lizwai /lizwai/ |
| Wine | iwayini /iwaˈjini/ | iwayini /iwaˈjini/ | iwayini /iwaˈjini/ | liwayini /liwajini/ | iwayini /iwaˈjini/ | vhinyo /viɲo/ | waine /waine/ |
| Iron | insimbi /inˈsimbi/ | isimbi /iˈsimbi/ | insimbi /inˈsimbi/ | insimbi /inˈsimbi/ | intsimbi /inˈtsimbi/ | nsimbi /nsimbi/ | sipi /sipi/ |
| Wheel | ivili /iˈvili/ | ivili /iˈvili/ | isondo /iˈsondo/ | lisondvo /liˈsondvo/ | ivili /iˈvili/ | vhilwa /vilwa/ | liwili /liwili/ |
| Silk | isilika /isiˈlika/ | isilika /isiˈlika/ | usilika /usiˈliːka/ | silika /silika/ | isilika /isiˈliːka/ | silika /silika/ | siliki /siliki/ |
| Book | incwadi /iŋǀʷadi/ | incwadi /iŋǀʷadi/ | incwadi /iŋˈǀʷaːdi/ | incwadzi /iŋǀʷadzi/ | incwadi /iŋˈǀʷaːdi/ | buku /buku/ | buka /buka/ |
| Eat | ukudla /ukuɮa/ | ukudla /ukuɮa/ | ukudla /ukuɮa/ | kudla /kuɮa/ | ukutya /ukutʲa/ | ku dya /ku dʒa/ | kuca /kutʃa/ |
| Drink | ukunatha /ukunatʰa/ | ukusela /ukusela/ | ukuphuza /ukupʰuza/ | kunatsa /kunatsa/ | ukusela /ukusɛla/ | ku nwa /ku nwa/ | kunwa /kunwa/ |
| Sleep | ukulala /ukulala/ | ukulala /ukulala/ | ukulala /ukulala/ | kulala /kulala/ | ukulala /ukulala/ | ku etlela /ku eˈtɬela/ | kulobala /kulobala/ |
| One | nye /ɲe/ | nye /ɲe/ | kunye /kuɲe/ | kunye /kuɲe/ | inye /iɲɛ/ | rinʼwe /riŋwe/ | nyinwi /ɲiŋʷi/ |
| Two | kubili /kubili/ | kubili /kuɓili/ | kubili /kuˈɓili/ | kubili /kuɓiːli/ | mbini /mbiːni/ | mbirhi /mbiri/ | peli /peli/ |
| Three | kuthathu /kutʰatʰu/ | kuthathu /kutʰatʰu/ | kuthathu /kutʰaːtʰu/ | kutsatfu /kutsʼatfu/ | kuthathu /kutʰatʰu/ | nharhu /ɳaɾu/ | talu /talu/ |
| Four | kune /kune/ | kune /kunɛ/ | kune /kuːne/ | kune /kune/ | kune /kune/ | mune /mune/ | ne /ne/ |
| Five | hlanu /ɬaːnu/ | ihlanu /iɬanu/ | hlanu /ɬaːnu/ | sihlanu /siɬaːnu/ | hlanu /ɬaːnu/ | ntlhanu /ntɬʰanu/ | ketalizoho /ketalizoho/ |
| Hundred | ikhulu /iˈkʰulu/ | ikhulu /iˈkʰulu/ | ikhulu /iˈkʰulu/ | likhulu /liˈkʰulu/ | ikhulu /iˈkʰulu/ | dzana /dzana/ | mwanda /mwanda/ |
| Hello | salibonani /saliɓonani/ | lotjhani /lotʃʰani/ | sawubona /sawuɓona/ | sawubona /sawuɓona/ | molo /molo/ | avuxeni /avuʃeni/ | lumela /lumela/ |
| Thank you | ngiyabonga /ŋijaɓoŋɡa/ | ngiyathokoza /ŋijatʰokoza/ | ngiyabonga /ŋɡijaɓoŋɡa/ | ngiyabonga /ŋijaɓoŋɡa/ | enkosi /ɛnkosi/ | inkomu /iŋkomu/ | nitumezi /nitumezi/ |
| Good | kuhle /kuɬe/ | kuhle /kuɬe/ | kuhle /kuɬe/ | kuhle /kuɬe/ | lungile /luŋɡilɛ/ | kahle /kaɬe/ | nde /nde/ |
| New | tsha /tʃʰa/ | tjha /tʃʰa/ | sha /ʃa/ | sha /ʃa/ | tsha /tʃʰa/ | ntshwa /ntsʰwa/ | nca /ntʃa/ |
| Red | bomvu /ɓoːmvu/ | bomvu /ɓoːmvu/ | bomvu /ɓoːmvu/ | bovu /ɓoːvu/ | bomvu /ɓoːmvu/ | tshwuka /tsʰwuka/ | fubelu /fubelu/ |
| White | mhlophe /mɬɔpʰe/ | mhlophe /mɬɔpʰe/ | mhlophe /ˈmɬɔːpʰe/ | mhlophe /mɬɔpʰe/ | mhlophe /mɬɔːpʰe/ | basa /ˈbasa/ | sweu /sweu/ |
| Black | mnyama /mɲaːma/ | nzima /nzima/ | mnyama /ˈmɲaːma/ | mnyama /mɲaːma/ | mnyama /mɲaːma/ | ntima /ntima/ | nsu /nsu/ |
| Green | luhlaza /luɬaːza/ | hlaza /ɬaːza/ | luhlaza /luˈɬaːza/ | luhlata /luɬaːta/ | luhlaza /luˈɬaːza/ | rihlaza /riɬaza/ | tala /tala/ |
| Blue | luhlaza /luɬaːza/ | hlaza /ɬaːza/ | luhlaza /luˈɬaːza/ | luhlata /luɬaːta/ | luhlaza /luˈɬaːza/ | rihlaza /riɬaza/ | tala /tala/ |
| Cuckoo | inkanku /iⁿˈkaŋku/ | — | uphezukomkhono /upʰɛzukomˈkʰono/ | phezukwemkhono /pʰɛzukwɛmˈkʰono/ | uphezukomkhono /upʰɛzukomˈkʰono/ | ngwafalantala /ŋʷafalanˈtala/ | — |
| Computer | ikhompiyutha /ikʰompijutʰa/ | ikhomphyutha /ikʰompʰjutʰa/ | ikhompiyutha /ikʰompijutʰa/ | — | ikhompyutha /ikʰompjutʰa/ | khompyuta /kʰompjuta/ | kompyuta /kompjuta/ |
| Tea | itiye /itije/ | itiye /iˈtije/ | itiye /iˈtijɛ/ | litiya /litija/ | iti /iˈti/ | tiya /tija/ | tii /tiː/ |
| Coffee | ikhofi /ikʰofi/ | ikofi /ikofi/ | ikhofi /iˈkʰofi/ | likhofi /likʰofi/ | ikofu /iˈkoːfu/ | kofi /kofi/ | kofi /kofi/ |
| Sugar | itshukela /itʃukela/ | itjhukela /itʃʰukela/ | ushukela /uʃuˈkɛːla/ | shukela /ʃukela/ | iswekile /isweˈkiːle/ | chukela /tʃukela/ | shuga /ʃuɡa/ |
| Ninety-nine | amatshumi aficamunwemunye lesificamunwemunye /amatʃumi afiǀamunwemunje lesifiǀamunwemunje/ | amatjhumi alithoba nethoba /amatʃʰumi alitʰoɓa netʰoɓa/ | amashumi ayisishiyagalolunye nesishiyagalolunye /amaʃumi ajisiʃijaɡaloˈluɲe nesiʃijaɡaloˈluɲe/ | emashumi layimfica nemfica /emaʃumi lajimfiǀa nemfiǀa/ | amashumi asithoba anesithoba /amaʃumi asitʰɔɓa anesitʰɔɓa/ | makume nkaye nkaye /makume ŋkaje ŋkaje/ | — |
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