isiZulu
Zulu
Bantu (Nguni)
Zulu (isiZulu) is South Africa's most widely spoken home language, with ~12M L1 + ~16M L2 (~28M total). It is a Southern Bantu Nguni language, closely related to Xhosa, Swati, and Northern Ndebele — together these form a dialect continuum across southern Africa. Phonologically distinctive for its 3 click consonant series (ǀ dental, ǁ lateral, ǃ alveolar) borrowed from Khoisan substrate during the Mfecane migrations of the 19th century. Has 17 noun classes with concordial agreement throughout the verb and modifier system; high tone-stress correlation makes word boundaries audibly clear. Lobola (bridewealth) and Ubuntu philosophy shape much of the cultural lexicon.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Zulu
amashumi ayisishiyagalolunye nesishiyagalolunye
amaʃumi ajisiʃijaɡaloˈluɲe nesiʃijaɡaloˈluɲe
kkkk
Sources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Bantu (Nguni)
| Meaning | Zulu | Northern Ndebele | Xhosa | Swazi | Southern Ndebele | Tsonga | Lozi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | amanzi /amanzi/ | amanzi /amanzi/ | amanzi /amaːnzi/ | emanti /emanti/ | amanzi /amanzi/ | 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 /ilaːŋɡa/ | lilanga /lilaŋɡa/ | ilanga /ilaŋɡa/ | dyambu /dʒambu/ | lizazi /lizazi/ |
| Moon | inyanga /iɲaŋɡa/ | inyanga /iɲaŋɡa/ | inyanga /iɲaːŋɡa/ | inyanga /iɲaŋɡa/ | inyezi /iɲezi/ | nʼweti /ŋweti/ | kweli /kweli/ |
| Star | inkanyezi /iŋkaˈɲeːzi/ | inkanyezi /iŋkaɲezi/ | inkwenkwezi /iŋkʷeŋkʷezi/ | inkhanyeti /iŋkʰaɲeti/ | ikwekwezi /ikʷekʷezi/ | nyeleti /ɲeleti/ | naleli /naleli/ |
| Night | ubusuku /ubusuku/ | ubusuku /ubusuku/ | ubusuku /ubusuku/ | busuku /ɓusuku/ | ubusuku /uɓusuku/ | vusiku /vusiku/ | busihu /busihu/ |
| Rain | imvula /imˈvula/ | imvula /imˈvula/ | imvula /imˈvula/ | imvula /imˈvula/ | izulu /izulu/ | mpfula /ˈmpfula/ | pula /ˈpula/ |
| Snow | iqhwa /iǃʰwa/ | iliqhwa /iliǃʰwa/ | ikhephu /ikʰepʰu/ | lichwa /liǀʰwa/ | iliqhwa /iliǃʰwa/ | gamboko /ɡamboko/ | litwa /ˈlitwa/ |
| Wind | umoya /umoːja/ | umoya /umoːja/ | umoya /umoːja/ | umoya /umoːja/ | umoya /umoja/ | moya /moja/ | moya /moja/ |
| Earth | inhlabathi /inɬaɓatʰi/ | inhlabathi /inɬaɓaːtʰi/ | umhlabathi /umɬaɓatʰi/ | umhlabatsi /umɬaɓatsi/ | ihlabathi /iɬaɓatʰi/ | misava /misava/ | mubu /mubu/ |
| Stone | itshe /ˈiːtʃʼe/ | ilitshe /iliˈtʃe/ | ilitye /iˈlitʼje/ | litje /liˈtʃe/ | ilitje /iliˈtʃe/ | ribye /riˈbje/ | licwe /liˈtʃwe/ |
| Mountain | intaba /inˈtaːɓa/ | intaba /inˈtaːɓa/ | intaba /inˈtaːɓa/ | intsaba /intsaɓa/ | intaba /inˈtaːɓa/ | ntshava /ntsʰava/ | lilundu /lilundu/ |
| Sea | ulwandle /uˈlwandɮe/ | ulwandle /ulwandɮe/ | ulwandle /uˈlwandɮe/ | lwandle /lwandɮe/ | ilwandle /ilwandɮe/ | lwandle /lwandɮe/ | liwate /liwate/ |
| Mother | umama /umama/ | umama /umama/ | umama /umaːma/ | make /make/ | umma /umma/ | manana /manana/ | ma /ma/ |
| Father | ubaba /uɓaɓa/ | ubaba /uɓaɓa/ | utata /utaːta/ | babe /ɓaɓe/ | ubaba /uɓaɓa/ | tatana /tatana/ | ndate /ndate/ |
| Daughter | indodakazi /indodaˈkazi/ | indodakazi /indodakazi/ | intombi /inˈtombi/ | indvodzakati /indvodzakaːti/ | indodakazi /indodakazi/ | nʼwana wa xisati /ŋʷana wa ʃisati/ | mwana wa musizana /mwana wa musizana/ |
| I | mina /ˈmiːna/ | mina /mina/ | mna /mna/ | mine /míne/ | mina /mina/ | mina /mina/ | na /na/ |
| You | wena /ˈweːna/ | wena /wena/ | wena /wena/ | wena /wéna/ | wena /wena/ | wena /wena/ | wena /wena/ |
| We | thina /ˈtʰiːna/ | thina /tʰina/ | thina /tʰina/ | tsine /tsíne/ | thina /tʰina/ | hina /hina/ | luna /luna/ |
| Name | igama /iˈɡaːma/ | ibizo /ibizo/ | igama /iɡaːma/ | libito /liɓiːto/ | ibizo /iɓizo/ | vito /vito/ | libizo /libizo/ |
| Person | umuntu /uˈmuntu/ | umuntu /umuntu/ | umntu /ˈumntu/ | umuntfu /umuntfu/ | umuntu /umuntu/ | munhu /munʱu/ | mutu /mutu/ |
| Head | ikhanda /iˈkʰanda/ | ikhanda /iˈkʰanda/ | intloko /intɬoːko/ | inhloko /inɬoko/ | ihloko /iɬoko/ | nhloko /nɬoko/ | toho /toho/ |
| Eye | iso /iso/ | ilihlo /iliɬo/ | iliso /iliso/ | liso /liso/ | ilihlo /iliɬo/ | tihlo /tiɬo/ | liito /liːto/ |
| Ear | indlebe /indɮɛɓe/ | indlebe /indɮɛɓe/ | indlebe /indɮɛɓe/ | indlebe /indɮɛɓe/ | indlebe /indɮɛɓe/ | ndleve /ndɮeve/ | zebe /zebe/ |
| Nose | impumulo /impuˈmulo/ | ikhala /ikʰala/ | impumlo /impuˈmlo/ | likhala /likʰala/ | ipumulo /ipuˈmulo/ | 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/ | ulimi /ulimi/ | ulwimi /ulwimi/ | lulwimi /lulwimi/ | ilimu /ilimu/ | ririmi /ririmi/ | lulimi /lulimi/ |
| Hand | isandla /isandɮa/ | isandla /isandɮa/ | isandla /isandɮa/ | sandla /sandɮa/ | isandla /isandɮa/ | voko /voko/ | lizoho /lizoho/ |
| Foot | unyawo /uːɲaːwo/ | unyawo /uɲawo/ | unyawo /uɲaːwo/ | lunyawo /luɲawo/ | inyawo /iɲawo/ | nenge /neŋɡe/ | lihutu /liˈhutu/ |
| Heart | inhliziyo /inɬizijo/ | inhliziyo /inɬizijo/ | intliziyo /intɬizijo/ | inhlitiyo /inɬitijo/ | ihliziyo /iɬizijo/ | mbilu /mbilu/ | pilu /pilu/ |
| Bone | ithambo /itʰambo/ | ithambo /itʰambo/ | ithambo /itʰambo/ | litsambo /litsambo/ | ithambo /itʰambo/ | rhambu /rambu/ | sapo /sapo/ |
| Blood | igazi /iɡazi/ | igazi /iɡazi/ | igazi /iɡazi/ | ingati /iŋɡati/ | iingazi /iːŋɡazi/ | ngati /ŋɡati/ | mali /mali/ |
| Poop | amasimba /amasimba/ | amasimba /amasimba/ | amasimba /amasimba/ | emasimba /emasimba/ | amasimba /amasimba/ | — | ñanda /ɲanda/ |
| Love | uthando /utʰando/ | uthando /utʰando/ | uthando /utʰando/ | lutsandvo /lutsandwo/ | ithando /itʰando/ | rirhandzu /riɾandzu/ | lilato /lilato/ |
| Tree | isihlahla /isiɬaɬa/ | isihlahla /isiɬaɬa/ | umthi /umtʰi/ | sihlahla /siɬaɬa/ | umuthi /umutʰi/ | 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/ | inhlanzi /iɬanzi/ | intlanzi /intɬanzi/ | inhlanti /iɬanti/ | ihlambi /iɬambi/ | nhlampfi /nɬampfi/ | tapi /tapi/ |
| Bird | inyoni /iˈɲoni/ | inyoni /iɲoni/ | intaka /inˈtaka/ | inyoni /iɲoni/ | inyoni /iɲoni/ | xinyenyana /ʃiɲeˈɲana/ | nyunywani /ɲuɲwani/ |
| Butterfly | uvemvane /uvemˈvaːne/ | ivevane /iveˈvane/ | ibhabhathane /ibʱabʱaˈtʰaːne/ | luvivane /luvivane/ | iviyaviyani /ivijavijani/ | phapharhati /pʰapʰaˈrati/ | sipulumuki /sipulumuki/ |
| Egg | iqanda /iǃaːnda/ | iqanda /iǃanda/ | iqanda /iǃaːnda/ | licandza /liǀandza/ | iqanda /iǃanda/ | tandza /tandza/ | lii /liː/ |
| Bear | ibhere /iˈbʱeːre/ | ibhere /ibʱere/ | ibhere /ibʱere/ | libhele /libʱele/ | ibhere /ibʱere/ | bere /bere/ | bele /bele/ |
| Horse | ihhashi /iˈɦaːʃi/ | ibhiza /iˈbiza/ | ihashe /iˈhaʃe/ | lihhashi /liɦaʃi/ | injomani /indʒoˈmani/ | hanci /hantʃi/ | pizi /pizi/ |
| House | indlu /indɮu/ | indlu /indɮu/ | indlu /indɮu/ | indlu /indɮu/ | indlu /indɮu/ | yindlu /jindɮu/ | ndu /ndu/ |
| Milk | ubisi /uˈbisi/ | uchago /uˈtʃaɡo/ | ubisi /uˈbisi/ | lubisi /luˈɓisi/ | ibisi /iˈɓisi/ | masi /masi/ | mabisi /mabisi/ |
| Honey | uju /udʒu/ | uluju /uludʒu/ | ubusi /ubusi/ | luju /ludʒu/ | iliju /ilidʒu/ | vulombe /vulombe/ | linosi /linosi/ |
| Salt | usawoti /usaˈwoti/ | itswayi /itswaji/ | ityuwa /iˈtjuwa/ | luswayi /luswaji/ | itswayi /itswaji/ | munyu /muɲu/ | lizwai /lizwai/ |
| Wine | iwayini /iwaˈjini/ | iwayini /iwaˈjini/ | iwayini /iwaˈjini/ | liwayini /liwajini/ | iwayini /iwaˈjini/ | vhinyo /viɲo/ | waine /waine/ |
| Rice | irayisi /iɾaˈjiːsi/ | — | irayisi /iraˈjiːsi/ | lilayisi /lilajisi/ | ireyisi /irejisi/ | rhayisi /rajisi/ | laisi /laisi/ |
| Chocolate | ushokoledi /uʃokoˈleːdi/ | — | itshokolethi /itʃʰokoletʰi/ | — | — | chokoleti /tʃokoleti/ | — |
| Iron | insimbi /inˈsimbi/ | insimbi /inˈsimbi/ | intsimbi /inˈtsimbi/ | insimbi /inˈsimbi/ | isimbi /iˈsimbi/ | nsimbi /nsimbi/ | sipi /sipi/ |
| Wheel | isondo /iˈsondo/ | ivili /iˈvili/ | ivili /iˈvili/ | lisondvo /liˈsondvo/ | ivili /iˈvili/ | vhilwa /vilwa/ | liwili /liwili/ |
| Silk | usilika /usiˈliːka/ | isilika /isiˈlika/ | isilika /isiˈliːka/ | silika /silika/ | isilika /isiˈlika/ | silika /silika/ | siliki /siliki/ |
| Book | incwadi /iŋˈǀʷaːdi/ | incwadi /iŋǀʷadi/ | incwadi /iŋˈǀʷaːdi/ | incwadzi /iŋǀʷadzi/ | incwadi /iŋǀʷadi/ | buku /buku/ | buka /buka/ |
| Eat | ukudla /ukuɮa/ | ukudla /ukuɮa/ | ukutya /ukutʲa/ | kudla /kuɮa/ | ukudla /ukuɮa/ | ku dya /ku dʒa/ | kuca /kutʃa/ |
| Drink | ukuphuza /ukupʰuza/ | ukunatha /ukunatʰa/ | ukusela /ukusɛla/ | kunatsa /kunatsa/ | ukusela /ukusela/ | ku nwa /ku nwa/ | kunwa /kunwa/ |
| Sleep | ukulala /ukulala/ | ukulala /ukulala/ | ukulala /ukulala/ | kulala /kulala/ | ukulala /ukulala/ | ku etlela /ku eˈtɬela/ | kulobala /kulobala/ |
| One | kunye /kuɲe/ | nye /ɲe/ | inye /iɲɛ/ | kunye /kuɲe/ | nye /ɲe/ | rinʼwe /riŋwe/ | nyinwi /ɲiŋʷi/ |
| Two | kubili /kuˈɓili/ | kubili /kubili/ | mbini /mbiːni/ | kubili /kuɓiːli/ | kubili /kuɓili/ | mbirhi /mbiri/ | peli /peli/ |
| Three | kuthathu /kutʰaːtʰu/ | kuthathu /kutʰatʰu/ | kuthathu /kutʰatʰu/ | kutsatfu /kutsʼatfu/ | kuthathu /kutʰatʰu/ | nharhu /ɳaɾu/ | talu /talu/ |
| Four | kune /kuːne/ | kune /kune/ | kune /kune/ | kune /kune/ | kune /kunɛ/ | mune /mune/ | ne /ne/ |
| Five | hlanu /ɬaːnu/ | hlanu /ɬaːnu/ | hlanu /ɬaːnu/ | sihlanu /siɬaːnu/ | ihlanu /iɬanu/ | ntlhanu /ntɬʰanu/ | ketalizoho /ketalizoho/ |
| Hundred | ikhulu /iˈkʰulu/ | ikhulu /iˈkʰulu/ | ikhulu /iˈkʰulu/ | likhulu /liˈkʰulu/ | ikhulu /iˈkʰulu/ | dzana /dzana/ | mwanda /mwanda/ |
| Hello | sawubona /sawuɓona/ | salibonani /saliɓonani/ | molo /molo/ | sawubona /sawuɓona/ | lotjhani /lotʃʰani/ | avuxeni /avuʃeni/ | lumela /lumela/ |
| Thank you | ngiyabonga /ŋɡijaɓoŋɡa/ | ngiyabonga /ŋijaɓoŋɡa/ | enkosi /ɛnkosi/ | ngiyabonga /ŋijaɓoŋɡa/ | ngiyathokoza /ŋijatʰokoza/ | inkomu /iŋkomu/ | nitumezi /nitumezi/ |
| Good | kuhle /kuɬe/ | kuhle /kuɬe/ | lungile /luŋɡilɛ/ | kuhle /kuɬe/ | kuhle /kuɬe/ | kahle /kaɬe/ | nde /nde/ |
| New | sha /ʃa/ | tsha /tʃʰa/ | tsha /tʃʰa/ | sha /ʃa/ | tjha /tʃʰa/ | ntshwa /ntsʰwa/ | nca /ntʃa/ |
| Red | bomvu /ɓoːmvu/ | bomvu /ɓoːmvu/ | bomvu /ɓoːmvu/ | bovu /ɓoːvu/ | bomvu /ɓoːmvu/ | tshwuka /tsʰwuka/ | fubelu /fubelu/ |
| White | mhlophe /ˈmɬɔːpʰe/ | mhlophe /mɬɔpʰe/ | mhlophe /mɬɔːpʰe/ | mhlophe /mɬɔpʰe/ | mhlophe /mɬɔpʰe/ | basa /ˈbasa/ | sweu /sweu/ |
| Black | mnyama /ˈmɲaːma/ | mnyama /mɲaːma/ | mnyama /mɲaːma/ | mnyama /mɲaːma/ | nzima /nzima/ | ntima /ntima/ | nsu /nsu/ |
| Green | luhlaza /luˈɬaːza/ | luhlaza /luɬaːza/ | luhlaza /luˈɬaːza/ | luhlata /luɬaːta/ | hlaza /ɬaːza/ | rihlaza /riɬaza/ | tala /tala/ |
| Blue | luhlaza /luˈɬaːza/ | luhlaza /luɬaːza/ | luhlaza /luˈɬaːza/ | luhlata /luɬaːta/ | hlaza /ɬaːza/ | rihlaza /riɬaza/ | tala /tala/ |
| Cuckoo | uphezukomkhono /upʰɛzukomˈkʰono/ | inkanku /iⁿˈkaŋku/ | uphezukomkhono /upʰɛzukomˈkʰono/ | phezukwemkhono /pʰɛzukwɛmˈkʰono/ | — | ngwafalantala /ŋʷafalanˈtala/ | — |
| Cock-a-doodle-doo | kikiligi /kikiˈliɡi/ | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Computer | ikhompiyutha /ikʰompijutʰa/ | ikhompiyutha /ikʰompijutʰa/ | ikhompyutha /ikʰompjutʰa/ | — | ikhomphyutha /ikʰompʰjutʰa/ | khompyuta /kʰompjuta/ | kompyuta /kompjuta/ |
| Sushi | sushi /suʃi/ | — | sushi /suʃi/ | — | — | — | — |
| Tea | itiye /iˈtijɛ/ | itiye /itije/ | iti /iˈti/ | litiya /litija/ | itiye /iˈtije/ | tiya /tija/ | tii /tiː/ |
| Coffee | ikhofi /iˈkʰofi/ | ikhofi /ikʰofi/ | ikofu /iˈkoːfu/ | likhofi /likʰofi/ | ikofi /ikofi/ | kofi /kofi/ | kofi /kofi/ |
| Sugar | ushukela /uʃuˈkɛːla/ | itshukela /itʃukela/ | iswekile /isweˈkiːle/ | shukela /ʃukela/ | itjhukela /itʃʰukela/ | chukela /tʃukela/ | shuga /ʃuɡa/ |
| Orange | iwolintshi /iwolintʃi/ | — | iorenji /iorendʒi/ | — | orentji /orentʃi/ | lamula /lamula/ | olenji /olendʒi/ |
| Ninety-nine | amashumi ayisishiyagalolunye nesishiyagalolunye /amaʃumi ajisiʃijaɡaloˈluɲe nesiʃijaɡaloˈluɲe/ | amatshumi aficamunwemunye lesificamunwemunye /amatʃumi afiǀamunwemunje lesifiǀamunwemunje/ | amashumi asithoba anesithoba /amaʃumi asitʰɔɓa anesitʰɔɓa/ | emashumi layimfica nemfica /emaʃumi lajimfiǀa nemfiǀa/ | amatjhumi alithoba nethoba /amatʃʰumi alitʰoɓa netʰoɓa/ | makume nkaye nkaye /makume ŋkaje ŋkaje/ | — |
| Dopamine | i-dopamine /idɔˈpʰamin/ | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Internet laughter | kkkk | — | kkkk | — | — | — | — |
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