Swazi phrasebook

Swazi (siSwati) is a language spoken in Eswatini (Swaziland) and South Africa.

Pronunciation guide edit

Vowels edit

Consonants edit

Common diphthongs edit

Phrase list edit

Basics edit

Hello.: Sawubona. (literally, do I see you?) Plural: Sanibonani (do i see you all?)( )
Response to hello: Yebo (literally: yes)
Hello. (informal): . ( )
How are you?: Unjani? Plural: Ninjani? ( ?)
I am fine.: Ngiyaphila. Plural: Siyaphila (we are fine)( )
And how are you?: Unjani wena? ( )
I am also fine.: Ngiyaphila nami ( )
What is your name?: Ngubani ligama lakho
My name is ______ .: Ligama lami ngu______ . ( _____ .):Or: Mine ngingu (I am ____)
Nice to meet you.: Ngiyajabula kukwati. ( )
Please.: Ngiyacela. ( )
Thank you.: Ngiyabonga. (Singular):Siyabonga (plural)
You're welcome.: Wamukelekile. ( )
Yes.: . (Yebo)
No.: . (cha or chake)
Excuse me. (Ncesi or Ncesini pural): . ( )
Excuse me. (begging pardon): . (ngicela uphindze angikeva)
I'm sorry.: . (ngiyacolisa)
Goodbye: Sala Kahle (Stay well):Salani Kahle (Stay well) (Plural); Hamba Kahle (Go well): Nihambeni Kahle (Go Well) (Plural)
Goodbye (informal): bye bye (yes, that's what they say)
I can't speak Swazi [well].: [ angikwati kukhuluma [kahle] siswati]. ( [ ])
Do you speak English?: ? (uyasati yini singisi/uyasikhuluma yini siNgisi)
Is there someone here who speaks English?: ? (ingabe ukhona yini lokhuluma singisi lana)
Is there anyone amongst you who can speak English?: ? (ingabe ukhona yini lapha kini lokwati kukhuluma singisi)
Help!: ! (ngicela lusito/inyandzaleyo)
Look out!: ! (caphela or bona)
Good morning.: . (kusile sihlobo sami)
Good evening.: . (lishonile sihlobo sami)
Good night.: . (busuku lobuhle)
Good night (to sleep): . (ulalekahle or nilalekahle plural )
I don't understand.: . (angiva)
Where is the toilet?: ? (ungakuphi umthoyi)

Problems edit

Leave me alone.: Ngiyekele. ( .)
Don't touch me!: Ungangitsintsi! ( !)
I'll call the police.: Ngitoshayela emaphoyisa. ( .)
Police!: Phoyisa! ( !)
Stop! Thief!: Vimbani! Sigebengu! ( ! !)
I need your help.: Ngidzinga lusito lwakho. ( .)
It's an emergency.: Kuyaphutfuma. ( .)
I'm lost.: Ngilahlekile. ( .)
I lost my bag.: Ngilahle sikhwama sami or Ngilahlekelwe sikhwama sami. ( .)
I lost my wallet.: Ngilahle sipatji sami or ngilahlekelwe sipatji sami. ( .)
I'm sick.: Ngiyagula/ Ngiphatsekile. ( .)
I've been injured.: . (Ngilimele.)
I need a doctor.: Ngidzinga dokotela. ( .)
Can I use your phone?: Ngingalisebentisa licingo lakho? ( ?)

Numbers edit

1: (kunye)
2: (kubili)
3: (kutsatfu)
4: (kune)
5: (sihlanu)
6: (sitfupha)
7: (sikhombisa)
8: ( siphohlongo )
9: ( yimfica )
10: ( lishumi )
11: (lishumi nakunye )
12: (lishumi nakubili )
13: (lishumi nakutsatfu )
14: ( lishumi nakune )
15: ( lishumi nesihlanu )
16: (lishumi nesitfupha)
17: ( lishumi nesikhombisa)
18: ( lishumi nesiphohlongo )
19: (lishumi nemfica )
20: (emashumi lamabili )
21: (emashumi lamabili nakunye)
22: (emashumi lamabili nakubili )
23: (emashumi lamabili nakutsatfu)
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 )
1,000,000,000: ( sigidzigidzi )
1,000,000,000,000: ( tigidzigidzi )
number _____ (train, bus, etc.): ( )
half: ( incenye/ihhamfu )
less: ( ngephansi or kuncane )
more: ( ngetulu or kunyenti)

Time edit

now: ( nyalo )
later: ( ngekuhamba kwelilanga )
before: (naphambilini )
morning: ( ekuseni )
afternoon: (ntsambama)
evening: (kusihlwa)
night: (ebusuku)

Clock time edit

one o'clock AM: (insimbi yekucala ekuseni)
two o'clock AM: (insimbi yesibili ekuseni)
noon: ( emini )
one o'clock PM: (insimbi yekucala emini)
two o'clock PM: (insimbi yekucala ntsambama )
midnight: ( kulamabili ebusuku )

Duration edit

_____ minute(s): ( umzuzu or imizuzu plural )
_____ hour(s): ( liawa )
_____ day(s): (lilanga or emalanga plural)
_____ week(s): ( liviki or emaviki plural )
_____ month(s): (inyanga or tinyanga pural)
_____ year(s): (umnyaka or iminyaka plural )

Days edit

today: (namuhla)
yesterday: (itolo)
tomorrow: (kusasa)
this week: ( kuleliviki )
last week: (liviki leliphelile)
next week: ( liviki lelitako)

Sunday: (Lisontfo)
Monday: (uMsombuluko)
Tuesday: (Lesibili )
Wednesday: (Lesitfatfu )
Thursday: (Lwesine )
Friday: (Lwesihlanu )
Saturday: (UMgcibelo )

Months edit

January: (Bhimbídvwane)
February: (iNdlóvana)
March: (íNdlovu)
April: (Mábasa)
May: (íNkhwekhwéti)
June: (íNhlaba)
July: (Khólwáne)
August: (íNgci)
September: (íNyoni)
October: (íMphala)
November: (Lweti)
December: (íNgongóni)

Writing time and date edit

Colors edit

black: (mnyama)
white: (mhlophe)
gray: (mphunga)
red: (bomvu)
blue: (sibhakabhaka)
yellow: (mtfubi)
green: (luhlata)
orange: (sihlala)
purple: ( )
brown: (ludzaka )

Transportation edit

Bus and train edit

How much is a ticket to _____?: Lingumalini lithikithi lekuya _____ ( )
One ticket to _____, please.: (Ngicela linye lithikithi)
Where does this train/bus go?: (ihambaphi lebhasi? )
Where is the train/bus to _____?: (iyakuphi lebhasi? )
Does this train/bus stop in _____?: (ngabe iyemayili lebhansi e.... ?)
When does the train/bus for _____ leave?: (Ihamba/isuka nini lebhasi )
When will this train/bus arrive in _____?: (itofika ngabani/nini lebhasi e..?.)

Directions edit

How do I get to _____ ?: Nginga fika njani____? ( )
...the train station?: ....Esiteshi sesitimela( )
...the bus station?: .... Esiteshi semabhasi( )
...the airport?: (Esikhumulweni setindiza)
...downtown?: (edolobheni )
...the youth hostel?: ( )
...the _____ hotel?: (ehhotela )
...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate?: ( )
Where are there a lot of...: (maningi kuphi ema... )
...hotels?: (...hhotela? )
...restaurants?: ( ...restaurants?)
...bars?: (...bhara? )
...sites to see?: (tindzwo tekutichaza)
Can you show me on the map?: ( ngicela ungikhombise imap)
street: Sitaladi( )
Turn left.: Jika ngesencele( )
Turn right.: Jika Ngesekudla( )
left: Sencele( )
right: Sekudla( )
straight ahead: Condza embili( )
towards the _____: ( nawubheka e...)
past the _____: (nawendlula e.. )
before the _____: (ungakefiki e )
Watch for the _____.: (Chaphela ... )
intersection: ( )
north: (eNyakatfo )
south: ( eNingizimu)
east: (eMpumalanga )
west: (eNshonalanga )
uphill: ( )
downhill: ( )

Taxi edit

Taxi!: Tekisi! ( )
Take me to _____, please.: Ngicela ungimikise_____ ( )
How much does it cost to get to _____?: Kubita malini kufika_____? ( )
Take me there, please.: Ngicela ungimikise khona.( )

Lodging edit

Do you have any rooms available?: Nisenawo emakamelo lavulekile? ( )
How much is a room for one person/two people?: (Malini likamelo lamunye umuntfu/ bantfu lababili )
Does the room come with...: Lelikamelo lita nayo yini.... ( )
...bedsheets?: ...emashidi?( )
...a bathroom?: ...iBathroom/indlu yekugezela?( )
...a telephone?: ...Lucingo?( )
...a TV?: ...Mabona kudze?( )
May I see the room first?: Ngingalibona lelikamelo kucala?( )
Do you have anything quieter?: Ninalo lekhashane nemsindvo? (A quieter room) ( )
...bigger?: ...lamakhulu?( )
...cleaner?: ...lahlobile?( )
...cheaper?: ...lukungakaduli/langakaduli?( )
OK, I'll take it.: ngitalitsatsa ( )
I will stay for _____ night(s).: Ngitohlala busuku (lobu)____ (lobu for plural) ( )
Can you suggest another hotel?: Ungangikhomba yini lelinye lihhotela?( )
Do you have a safe?: ( )
...lockers?: ( )
Is breakfast/supper included?: kufaka ekhatsi imali yesidlo sasekuseni /yesidlo sasebusuku?( )
What time is breakfast/supper?: singabani sikhatsi sidlo sasekuseni/sidlo sasebusuku?( )
Breakfast: sidlo sasekuseni
Supper: sidlo sasebusuku
Please clean my room.: Ngicela uCleane likamelo lami? ( )
Can you wake me at _____?: Ungangivusa nga_____? ( )
I want to check out...: Ngifuna kuvakasha/kubona e... ( )

Money edit

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?: Niyawatsatsa emaAmerican/Australian/Canadian dollars?( )
Do you accept British pounds?: Niyawatsatsa emaBritish Pounds( )
Do you accept euros?: Niyawatsatsa emaEuros?( )
Do you accept credit cards?: Niyawatsatsa emaCredit Cards?( )
Can you change money for me?: Ungangishintjela imali yami?( )
Where can I get money changed?: Ngingayishintja kuphi imali?( )
Can you change a traveler's check for me?: (Ungakhona kungishintjela itraver's check )
Where can I get a traveler's check changed?: (Ngangayishintja kuphi itravelr's check )
What is the exchange rate?: ( )
Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)?: Ingakuphi iATM( )

Eating edit

A table for one person/two people, please.: (Ngicela litafula lamunye umuntfu/lababili bantfu )
Can I look at the menu, please?: Ngicela kubona imenu? ( )
Can I look in the kitchen?: Ngingabuka likhishi?( )
Is there a house specialty?: ( )
Is there a local specialty?: ( )
I'm a vegetarian.: Angikudli kudla lokunenyama( )
I don't eat pork.: Angiyidli inyama yengulube( )
I don't eat beef.: Angiyidli inyama yenkhomo( )
I only eat kosher food.: Ngidla kudla lokuthandazelwe kuphela( )
Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard): ( )
fixed-price meal: ( )
a la carte: ( )
breakfast: ( )
lunch: ( )
tea (meal): (litiya )
supper: ( )
I want _____.: Ngifuna____( )
I want a dish containing _____.: Ngifuna kudla lokune____ ( )
chicken: nyama enkhukhu( )
beef: nyama yenkhomo( )
fish: nyama yenhlanti( )
ham: ( )
sausage: ( )
cheese: ( )
eggs: emacandza( )
salad: ( )
(fresh) vegetables: ( )
(fresh) fruit: ( )
bread: sinkhwa( )
toast: sinkhwa lesishisiwe( )
noodles: ( )
rice: lilayisi( )
beans: emabhontjisi( )
May I have a glass of _____?: Ngingayitfola ingilazi ye____? ( )
May I have a cup of _____?: Ngingayitfola inkomishi ye_____( )
May I have a bottle of _____?: Ngingalitfola libhodlela le____ ( )
coffee: likhofi( )
tea (drink): litiya( )
juice: ( )
(bubbly) water: ( )
(still) water: ( )
beer: tjwala( )
red/white wine: ( )
May I have some _____?: ( )
salt: swayi( )
black pepper: ( )
butter: ( )
Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server): Ncesi, waiter?( )
I'm finished.: Sengicedzile( )
It was delicious.: Bekumunandzi( )
Please clear the plates.: Ngicela utsatse emaplete( )
The check, please.: ( )

Bars edit

Do you serve alcohol?: Niyabutsengisa tjwala( )
Is there table service?: ( )
A beer/two beers, please.: ( )
A glass of red/white wine, please.: ( )
A pint, please.: ( )
A bottle, please.: Ngicela libhodlela( )
_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please.: ( )
whiskey: ( )
vodka: ( )
rum: ( )
water: Emanti ( )
club soda: ( )
tonic water: ( )
orange juice: ( )
Coke (soda): ( )
Do you have any bar snacks?: ( )
One more, please.: ( )
Another round, please.: ( )
When is closing time?: Kuvalwa ngabani skhatsi lana( )
Cheers!: ( )

Shopping edit

Do you have this in my size?: (Ninaku kwaloku lokulingana mine )
How much is this?: Malini loku?( )
That's too expensive.: Kudulile loko( )
Would you take _____?: (Niyatsatsa )
expensive: Kudulile( )
cheap: ( )
I can't afford it.: ( )
I don't want it.: Angikufuni( )
You're cheating me.: Uyangilobha wena( )
I'm not interested.: (..)
OK, I'll take it.: ( )
Can I have a bag?: ( )
Do you ship (overseas)?: ( )
I need...: Ngidzinga...( )
...toothpaste.: ( )
...a toothbrush.: ...Sicubho( )
...tampons.: ...sishukelo. ( )
...soap.: ....Insipho( )
...shampoo.: ( )
...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen): ...emaphilisi ebuhlungu ( )
...cold medicine.: ...emaphilisi emkhuhlane ( )
...stomach medicine.: ...umutsi wesisu ( )
...a razor.: ( )
...an umbrella.: ...sambulelo( )
...sunblock lotion.: ( )
...a postcard.: ( )
...postage stamps.: ( )
...batteries.: ( )
...writing paper.: ( )
...a pen.: ( )
...English-language books.: ...tincwadzi tesingisi ( )
...English-language magazines.: ( )
...an English-language newspaper.: ( )
...an English-English dictionary.: ( )

Driving edit

I want to rent a car.: Ngifuna kuboleka imoto ( )
Can I get insurance?: ( )
stop (on a street sign): ( )
one way: ( )
yield: ( )
no parking: Akumiwa la ( )
speed limit: ( )
gas (petrol) station: ( )
petrol: ( )
diesel: ( )

Authority edit

I haven't done anything wrong.: Angikenti lutfo( )
It was a misunderstanding.: Bekungevani( )
Where are you taking me?: Ningimikisaphi?( )
Am I under arrest?: Ngiboshiwe?( )
I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen.: ( )
I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate.: ( )
I want to talk to a lawyer.: Ngifuna kukhuluma nemumeli( )
Can I just pay a fine now?: Ngingabhalala ifine?( )

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