Words marked with a * are borrowed from English, Afrikaans, Portuguese or other languages.
Human | Simple Solids | Simple Fluids | Complex Solids |
| umpheki chef, cook | ummese* knife | itafula* table | isidlo meal |
| umthengi customer | umyalezo message | iphitsa* pizza | isitsha plate |
| umosi grill-chef | imifino vegetables | idrinki* a drink | isiphuzo a drink |
| utamatisi* tomato | imithi herbs | amafutha oil, fat, lard | isinongo seasoning, spice |
| ubhatata* sweet potato | ummbila mealie, corn | iwayini* wine | isihlalo seat, chair |
| uhanyanisi* onion | ibhiya* beer | isiyalo order | |
| ushukela* sugar | i-oda* an order | isipuni* spoon | |
| uwoyela* oil | irisithi* receipt, bill | isifudumezi warmer, microwave | |
| usawoti* salt | izinga lokushisa temperature | isiqandisi refrigerator, freezer | |
| upelepele* chilli | ikhishi* kitchen | isitofu* stove | |
| ushizi* cheese | ifulawa* flour | isithelo a fruit | |
| uweyitha* waiter | ibhili* bill, receipt | isinkwa bread | |
| utswayi salt | itisipuni* teaspoon | isipinashi* spinach | |
| uhhavini* oven | ifriji* refrigerator | ||
| ubhontshisi* beans | ibhodwe* pot | ||
| uphepha* pepper | izambane potato | ||
| ugalikhi* garlic | ithanga pumpkin | ||
| amasi maas, sour milk | |||
| ipasta* pasta |
Seasonal | Complex Fluids  | Abstract | Actions |
| inyama meat | ukhezo spoon | utshwala alcohol, beer | ukudla eat something, food |
| inyama yenkukhu chicken | ukhezwana teaspoon | ubumnandi deliciousness | ukupheka cook something, cookery |
| indlela method, recipe | ulaza cream | ubumuncu bitterness | ukuphakela dish up |
| inyama yemvu lamb, mutton | ubisi milk | ubumtoti sweetness | ukosa grill, roast |
| inyama yenkomo beef | uju honey | ukuthela pour | |
| imfologo* fork | ukubilisa boil something | ||
| inkomishi* cup | ukunikeza serve something to someone | ||
| impuphu flour | ukukhokhela pay for something | ||
| imvubelo yeast | ukususa clear, remove | ||
| inhlanzi fish | ukukhipha take out, remove | ||
| ukufaka insert something, put in | |||
| ukubeka place something, put on | |||
| ukudeka* lay the table | |||
| ukulungisa arrange, neaten something | |||
| ukuhlanganisa combine, mix | |||
| ukuphuza drink something | |||
| ukupholisa cool something | |||
| ukufudumeza heat something | |||
| ukuqandisa freeze something |
What do you notice about this list? Which noun-classes have a lot of borrowed words for this particular vocabulary-set? Listen to the recordings to hear how the words sound and get a few more tips.
If there are words missing from this list, please let us know!