This list of words includes all common words for Family Members ngesiZulu. Words with * are borrowed from Afrikaans. Words with ** have variations for whose relative the person is. See the end of the table for details.
Human | Simple Solids | Simple Fluids | Complex Solids |
| umama** (my) mother | umndeni family | isoka boyfriend | isihlobo relative |
| ubaba** (my) father | umshado wedding | izibulo first-born child | izelamani siblings |
| umntwana child | umngcwabo funeral | ||
| ugogo grandmother | umemulo girl’s coming-of-age | ||
| umkhulu grandfather | umembeso betrothal ceremony | ||
| umalume uncle (mother’s brother) | umlanda brother-in-law sister-in-law (groom’s) | ||
| umalumekazi aunt (mother’s sister or sister-in-law) | |||
| udadewethu** (usisi*) (my) sister | |||
| umfowethu** (ubhuti*) (my) brother | |||
| umzala cousin | |||
| umshana niece / nephew | |||
| umamezala mother-in-law (of the bride) | |||
| ubabezala father-in-law (of the bride) | |||
| umkhwekhwazi mother-in-law (of the groom) | |||
| umukhwe father-in-law (of the bride) | |||
| umkhwenyana son-in-law / groom | |||
| umakoti daughter-in-law / bride | |||
| umzukulu grandchild | |||
| ukhokho great-grandfather | |||
| ubab’omncane stepfather young uncle | |||
| umam’omncane stepmother, young aunt | |||
| umlamu brother-in-law / sister-in-law (of the groom) | |||
| umagcina last-born child | |||
| umfana son boy | |||
| umzali parent |
Seasonal | Complex Fluids  | Abstract | Actions |
| indoda husband, man | none | ubukhwe in-laws | ukuzala to have children |
| indodana son | ubuhlobo genetic relationship | ukwelamana to follow someone in order of birth | |
| indodakazi daughter | ukuthola adopt a child | ||
| intombazane daughter pre-pubescent girl | ukushada to marry | ||
| intombi girlfriend (fertile female human) | |||
| ingoduso fiancée | |||
| ingane child | |||
| intandane orphan | |||
| inkedama orphan |
Here are the ways that the words with ** work in the following ways:
| mine | yours | hers / his |
| umama | unyoko | unina |
| ubaba | uyihlo | uyise |
| udadewethu | udadewenu | udadewabo |
| umfowethu | umfowenu | umfowabo |
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 (coming soon!) to hear how the words sound and get a few more tips.
If there are words missing from this list, please let us know!