This second lesson teaches many important aspect in Zulu like adjectives, vocabulary list about food and finally common phrases about greeting. I will try to give examples using both vocabulary and grammar. That way it will be easy for you to see the words when they are separate and when they are in a sentence. Going through the whole page should take about 30 min. Make sure to read the pronunciation and hear the audio as well. If you have any question about this course, please email me directly at Zulu Classes.
Adjectives
Knowing adjectives in Zulu is a powerful skill. It can make it easy to have a conversation about different topics by simply knowing some key words such as "good", "bad", "right", "wrong" etc. Adjectives are words used to describe or modify another person or thing in the sentence for example: I am happy. Zulu is easy.
Below is a list of 20 adjectives that you might come across or use very often. The table contains 3 columns (English, Zulu, and Audio). Make sure you repeat each word after hearing it by either clicking on the audio button or by reading the pronunciation. That should help with memorization as well as improving your pronunciation.
Adjectives List in Zulu
Adjectives
Zulu
Audio
Tall
Omude
Short
Omfishane
Big
Omkhulu
Wide
Kuvulekile
Long
Omude
Small
Omncane
Thick
Kulugqinsi
Thin
Kuzacile
New
Omusha
Old (opposite of new)
Indala
Cheap
Kushibhile
Expensive
Kubiza kakhulu
Young
Omncane
Old (opposite of young)
Ukhulile
Wrong
Akulungile
Right (correct)
Kulungile
Good
Kuhle
Bad
Okubi
Difficult
Kunzima
Easy
Kulula
Now we will try to implement some of the words above into full Zulu sentences. That way you will be able to use the word not only by itself but embedded in a structure.
Zulu Adjectives in a Sentence
English
Zulu
Audio
Am I right or wrong?
Ngiqinisile noma nginephutha?
Is he younger or older than you?
Mncane noma mdala kunawe?
Is the test easy or difficult?
Ingabe isivivinyo silula noma sinzima?
Is this book new or old?
Ingabe intsha noma indala lencwadi?
This is so expensive
Lokhu kubiza kakhulu
Questions?
If you have any questions, please contact me using the Zulu contact form on the header above.
Vocabulary List about Food
Below is a list of 50 words related to food such as fruits, vegetables and edible items. If you can memorize them by heart, you will be able to buy many food necessities from the supermarket or off the menu in a restaurant without a problem.
Food List in Zulu
Food
Zulu
Audio
Breakfast
isidlo sasekuseni
Lunch
isidlo sasemini
Dinner
isidlo sasebusuku
Meal
Isidlo
Apples
amahhabhula
Avocados
okwatapheya
Bananas
ubhanana
Beans
ubhontshisi
Bread
isinkwa
Butter
ibhotela
Carrots
izaqathi
Cheese
ushizi
Chicken
inkukhu
Coffee
ikhofi
Corn
ummbila
Cucumbers
amakhukhumba
Eggs
amaqanda
Figs
amakhiwane
Fish
inhlanzi
Food
Ukudla
Fruit
izithelo
Garlic
ugalikhi
Grapes
amagilebhisi
Ice cream
i-ayisikhilimu
Lemons
amalamula
Lettuce
ilethisi
Meat
inyama
Milk
ubisi
Olives
iminqumo
Onions
uhhanyanisi
Orange juice
Ujusi wamawolintshi
Oranges
amawolintshi
Peaches
amapentshisi
Pears
amapheya
Peppers
amaphepha
Pineapples
ophayinaphu
Pizza
iphitsa
Potatoes
amazambane
Pumpkin
ithanga
Salad
Isaladi
Salt
Usawoti
Sandwich
isamishi
Soda (like Coke)
Udilinki
Strawberries
ama-strawberry
Sugar
Ushukela
Tea
itiye
Tomatoes
otamatisi
Vegetables
imifino
Water
amanzi
Watermelon
ikhabe
Daily Conversation in Zulu
Finally, a list of sentences using the vocabulary used in this lesson plus some bonus phrases. For a complete list of commonly used sentences, please visit our Zulu Phrases page. Enjoy!
Common Expressions in Zulu
English
Zulu
Audio
Are you thirsty?
womile na?
I'm hungry
ngilambile
Do you have a bottle of water?
Unalo ibhodlela lamanzi?
Breakfast is ready
Ibhulakfesi selilungile
What kind of food do you like?
Uthanda nhloboni yokudla?
I like cheese
Ngithanda ushizi
Bananas taste sweet
Ubhanana unoshukela
I don't like cucumber
Angiwuthandi ukhukhamba
I like bananas
Ngiyawuthanda ubhanana
Lemons taste sour
Ulamula umuncu
This fruit is delicious
Lesi sithelo simnandi
Vegetables are healthy
Imifino inempilo
Hi!
Sawubona (s) / Sanibona (pl)
Good morning!
Sawubona
Good afternoon!
Sawubona
Good evening!
Sawubona
Welcome!
Wamukelekile
How are you? (informal)
Ninjani?
How are you? (formal)
Unjani?
What's up? (colloquial)
Kunjani?
I'm fine, thank you!
Ngikhona, ngiyabonga!
And you? (informal)
Nina?
And you? (formal)
Wena?
Good
Kuhle
Fun Facts
Language Quote that a palindrome is a word, phrase, number, or other sequence of characters which reads the same backward or forward. Allowances may be made for adjustments to capital letters, punctuation, and word dividers.
Congratulations! You finished your second lesson in Zulu about adjectives, and food. Are you ready for the next lesson? We recommend Zulu Lesson 3. You can also simply click on one of the links below or go back to our Learn Zulu homepage.