Vocabulary Lists

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Here’s the sequence of vocabulary lists so far – you can see each of them on its own page, or simply scroll down on this page to see the latest one!

a. Body-Parts

b. Transport

c. Food & Cooking

d. Assorted Humans

e. Assorted Animals

f. amaBizomuntu & amaBizonto (up to F)

g. Family Members

h. Sports


h. Sports

This list of words includes all common words for Sports ngesiZulu.

Human
Simple Solids
Simple FluidsComplex Solids
umdlali
player
umdlalo
game
sport
match
iqembu
team
isicoco
title
unompempe
referee
umqhudelwano
contest
iphuzu
point
isikhundla
position
umqeqeshi
coach
umncintiswano
competition
iphutha
a foul
isicongo
top of the log
umlandeli
supporter
umboniso
exhibition
idiski
soccer
isigaba
division
umgadli
striker
umthetho
rule
ibhola
a ball
soccer
umphetha
champion
umbango
rivalry
iligi
league
umgijimi
a runner
umkhumulajezi
international match (lit. ‘take off the jersey’)
amanqamu
finals
umsubathi
sprinter, athlete
umklomelo
prize
isizini
a season
usozinyama
powerlifter
umphumela
result
amarekhodi
records
ukaputeni
captain
umgijimo
a race
ikhilikithi
cricket
umgwedli
paddler
umjaho
a race
ithikithi
a ticket
umgibeli
rider
izembe
elimination (lit. the axe)
ithalente
talent
ikhono
skill, talent
amakilabhu
clubs
Seasonal
Complex
Fluids

Abstract
Actions
inkundla
field, pitch
uchungechunge
series
noneukudlala
playing
indondo
award
uphiko
wing
ukuqeqesha
training
indebe
cup, trophy
ukuqhudelana
to compete
inselelo
challenge
ukunqoba
to win, defeat
imfanelo
uniform
ukuqukula izinsimbi
weightlifting
inkontileka
contract
ukuhola
captain a team
ukukhahlela
kick
ukunqaka
catch a ball in a line-out
ukubamba
catch something or someone
ukugwedla
canoeing

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!


g. Family Members

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 FluidsComplex 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
noneubukhwe
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:

mineyourshers / his
umamaunyokounina
ubabauyihlouyise
udadewethuudadewenuudadewabo
umfowethuumfowenuumfowabo

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!