Swati phrasebook

Swati (siSwati) is a language spoken by the Swati people of the Nguni group in Eswatini and South Africa with approximately 2.5 million speakers.

Phrase list

Basics

Hello

Sawubona.

How are you?

Unjani?.

I am fine

Ngikhona/Ngiyaphila.

I am fine, thank you

Ngikhona, ngiyabonga.

Stay well

Sala kahle.

Travel Safely

Hamba Kahle.

Good evening

Lishonile.

Good luck

ngikufisela inhlanhla.

Long time no see

Mehlo madzala

What's your name?

Ungubani ligama lakho?.

My name is...

Ligama lami ngu...

Where are you from?

Uwakuphi?.

I'm from...

Ngiwase...

Pleased to meet you

Ngiyajabula kukwati.

Goodbye

Sala kahle.

Good luck!

Inhlanhla lenhle!

Cheers! Good Health!

Imphilo lenhle!.

Have a nice day!

Ube nelusuku loluhle.

Speak to me in Swazi

Khuluma nami ngesiSwati.

How do you say... in Swazi?

Kusho kutsini kutsi... ngesiSwati?.

Excuse me

Ngicela uphindze angikeva.

How much is this?

Kubita malini loku?.

Sorry

Ngiyacolisa Ncesi.

Problem/Emergency

Go away!

Hamba! Suka!.

Leave me alone!

Ngiyekele!

Help!

Ngicela lusito!

Fire!

Umlilo!

Stop!

Vimbani!

Call the police!

Bitani bafana bembumbe!

Numbers

1

kunye

2

kubili

3

kutsatfu

4

kune

5

kusihlanu

6

kusitfupha

7

kusikhombisa

8

kusiphohlongo

9

kuyimfica

10

kulishumi

11

lishumi nakunye

12

lishumi nakubili

13

lishumi nantsatfu

14

lishumi nakune

15

lishumi nanhlanu

16

lishumi nasitfupha

17

lishumi nasikhombisa

18

lishumi nasiphohlongo

19

lishumi nemfica

20

emashumi lamabili

21

emashumi lamabili nakunye

22

emashumi lamabili nakubili

23

emashumi lamabili nantsatfu

24

emashumi lamabili nakune

25

emashumi lamabili nanhlanu

26

emashumi lamabili nasitfupha

27

emashumi lamabili nasikhombisa

28

emashumi lamabili nasiphohlongo

29

emashumi lamabili nemfica

30

emashumi lamatsatfu

40

emashumi lamane

50

emashumi lasihlanu

60

emashumi lasitfupha

70

emashumi lasikhombisa

80

emashumi lasiphohlongo

90

emashumi layimfica

100

likhulu

200

emakhulu lamabili

300

emakhulu lamatsatfu

1,000

inkhulungwane

2,000

tinkhulungwane letimbili

1,000,000

sigidzi

Duration

In the morning

ekuseni

Mid-day

emini

In the afternoon

entsambama

Yesterday

Itolo

Today

Namuhla

Tomorrow

Kusasa

Days

Saturday

Lisontfu

Monday

Umsombuluko

Tuesday

Lesibili

Wednesday

Lesitsatfu

Thursday

Lesine

Friday

Lesihlanu

Saturday

Umgcibelo

Months

January

nguBhimbidvwane

February

yiNdlovana

March

yiNdlovulenkhulu

April

nguMabasa

May

yiNkhwekhweti

June

yiNhlaba

July

nguKholwane

August

iNgci

September

iNyoni

October

iMphala

November

Lweti

December

yiNgongoni

Colors

Green

luhlata

Red

bovu

Blue

luhlata sasibhakabhaka

Black

mnyama

Brown

sundvu

White

mhlophe

Yellow

mtfubi

Transportation

Minibus

ikhumbi

Train

Sitimela

Ship

Ukhumbi

Car

imoto

Van/pickup truck

iveni

Bicycle

Libhayisikili

Plane

Indiza

Horse

Lihhashi

Bus

Ibhasi

Motorcycle

Sidududu

Part of the body

Face

buso

Eyes

emehlo

Ears

tindelebe

Mouth

umlomo

Eyebrows

emashiya

Nose

imphumulo

Tooth/Teeth

litinyo / ematinyo

Forehead

simongo

Eyelash

tinkhope

Hair

tinwele

Family (Umndeni)

Father

Babe

Mother

Mage

Brother

Booti

Sister

Sisi

Grandmother

Gogo

Grandfather

Mkhulu

Food

Milk

Lubisi

Cheese

Shizi

Yogurt

Yogathi

Meat

Inyama

Fish

Inhlanti

Chicken meat

Inyama yenkhukhu

Beef meat

Inyama yenkhomo

Pork meat

Inyama yengulube

Sausage

Livosi

Grain

Libele.

Rice

Lilayisi

Maize Meal

Imphuphu

Soft porridge

Indengane

Porridge

Umncushu

Marula Fruit Drink

Buganu

Tripe

Kwangekhatsi

Jute Soup

Ligusha