Vocabulary

Question 1

ukuthetha

Answer 1

to speak

Question 2

ukuncokola

Answer 2

to chat

Question 3

incoko

Answer 3

a conversation/dialogue

Question 4

ukubulisa

Answer 4

to greet/salute

Question 5

ukubulisela

Answer 5

to give greetings on behalf of another

Question 6

umbuliso

Answer 6

a greeting

Question 7

ukubuza

Answer 7

to ask

Question 8

ukudibana

Answer 8

to meet/mingle

Question 9

ukuhleka

Answer 9

to laugh

Question 10

ukubulela

Answer 10

to thank

Question 11

ukubuya

Answer 11

to come back

Question 12

umhlobo / imihlobo

Answer 12

a friend / friends

Question 13

ubuhlobo

Answer 13

friendship

Question 14

ukuphendula

Answer 14

to answer/reply

Question 15

impendulo

Answer 15

an answer/reply

Question 16

ukuphulaphula

Answer 16

to listen

Question 17

uthando

Answer 17

love/affection

Question 18

ukuthanda

Answer 18

to love

Question 19

ukuvuya

Answer 19

to be glad/to rejoice

Question 20

ukusabela

Answer 20

to reply/to send back an echo

Question 21

ukubuza impilo

Answer 21

to ask of helth. (This asks after health, well-being, doings, etc of a person’s family and himself/herself. It is the first long exchange after a greeting.)

Question 22

ukufika

Answer 22

to arrive/to be at a new place (Siyafika apha. - “We are new here.”)

Question 23

kakuhle

Answer 23

well

Question 24

kanene

Answer 24

really/indeed/truly

Question 25

ukuvela

Answer 25

to come from

Question 26

Bawo

Answer 26

Father (a form and dignified address for a man - who is older than you)

Question 27

Mama

Answer 27

Mother

Question 28

Tata

Answer 28

Father (a more colloquial form of Father)

Question 29

Dabawo

Answer 29

Auntie (address for an older woman)

Question 30

Anti

Answer 30

Auntie (address for an older woman)

Question 31

Tat’omkhulu

Answer 31

Grandfather (addressing a man who is as old as your grandfather)

Question 32

Makhulu

Answer 32

Grandmother (addressing a woman who is as old as your grandmother)

Question 33

Bhuti / Sisi

Answer 33

Brother / Sister (addressing someone your own age)

Question 34

Tateyi

Answer 34

Daddy

Question 35

Titshala / Titshalakazi

Answer 35

Teacher (addressing someone by their professional title)

Question 36

Mfundisi

Answer 36

Reverend

Question 37

Novenkile

Answer 37

Shopkeeper

Question 38

Wethu

Answer 38

You (address often used by women to greet children they don’t know)

Question 39

hayi

Answer 39

no

Question 40

ewe

Answer 40

yes

Question 41

noko

Answer 41

no direct translation but can mean ‘actually’, ‘really’, ‘sort of’. Adds texture. Implies there is a problem which can’t be shared and ensures the listener’s sympathy.

Question 42

molo

Answer 42

hello! (singular) Used for any time of day and night but not as goodbye.

Question 43

molweni

Answer 43

hello! (plural) Used for any time of day and night but not as goodbye.

Question 44

bhota / bhotani

Answer 44

Hello (Original forms of hello used before the absorption of molo/molweni)

Question 45

yitsho! / yitshoni!

Answer 45

Say so! A form of greeting that is commonly used between people who are equal in age or status, especially between males.

Question 46

hamba kakuhle
uhambe kakuhle
hambani kakuhle
nihambe kakuhle

Answer 46

go well (goodbye greeting)

Question 47

sala kakuhle
usale kakuhle
salani kakuhle
nisale kakuhle

Answer 47

stay well (goodbye greeting)

Question 48

ukusala

Answer 48

to stay behind

Question 49

hlala kakuhle

uhlale kakuhle

Answer 49

live well (goodbye greeting)

Question 50

hlala kamnandi

kamnandi

Answer 50

live pleasantly (goodbye greeting)

Question 51

sakubonana

sobonana

Answer 51

we’ll see each other again