Convenience Store

1. Lotjhani!

   Hello!

   Usage

   The greeting as you walk into a shop. Going straight to your request without greeting can come across as rude in South Africa

   Grammar Note

   Lotjhani is the Southern Ndebele hello, spelled with tj. It is not Zulu Sawubona

2. Kukhona okufunako?

   Can I help you?

   Usage

   What a shop assistant says to you. Answer with what you want

   Grammar Note

   "Kukhona" is "there is" and "okufunako" is "what you want". Literally "is there something you want?"

3. Ingabe kukhona isitolo eduze?

   Is there a shop nearby?

   Usage

   Used to look for somewhere to buy things. South Africa has few Japanese-style convenience stores; small neighbourhood shops sell daily goods

   Grammar Note

   "Ingabe" marks a question, "kukhona" is "there is", "isitolo" is "shop" and "eduze" is "nearby". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

4. Ngibawa ungiphe lokhu.

   Please give me this.

   Usage

   Used to ask for an item while pointing at it

   Grammar Note

   "Ngibawa" is "please", "ungiphe" is "give me" and "lokhu" is "this". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

5. Ufuna irasidi?

   Do you want the receipt?

   Usage

   What a cashier asks, or what you can ask yourself to check

   Grammar Note

   "Ufuna" is "you want" and "irasidi" is "receipt". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

6. Ngibawa ungiphe irasidi.

   A receipt, please.

   Usage

   Used at the till when you want a receipt

   Grammar Note

   "Ngibawa ungiphe" is the pattern for "please give me …". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

7. Ubhadela ngekhetjhe namkha ngekarada?

   Are you paying by cash or card?

   Usage

   A question the cashier asks at the till; answer cash or card

   Grammar Note

   "Ubhadela" is "you pay", "ngekhetjhe" is "with cash", "ngekarada" is "with a card" and "namkha" is "or". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

8. Ngizokubhadela ngekarada.

   I'll pay by card.

   Usage

   Used at the till to say you will pay by card

   Grammar Note

   "Ngizokubhadela" is "I will pay" and "ngekarada" is "with a card". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

9. Ingabe kukhona i-ATM eduze?

   Is there an ATM nearby?

   Usage

   Used to ask for a nearby ATM when you need cash

   Grammar Note

   "I-ATM" is a loanword written with a hyphen. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

10. Ngibawa ukuya endlini encani.

    May I go to the toilet, please?

    Usage

    Used to ask to use the toilet in a shop or facility

    Grammar Note

    "Endlini encani" literally means "in the small room" and refers to the toilet. "Ngibawa ukuya…" is "please let me go to…"

11. Ngithokoza khulu.

    Thank you very much.

    Usage

    Used to thank the shop assistant after buying

    Grammar Note

    "Ngithokoza" is "I am thankful" and "khulu" is "very". It is not Zulu Ngiyabonga

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