Directions

1. Ngibawa ungikhombise indlela.

   Please show me the way.

   Usage

   A polite request for directions

   Grammar Note

   Khombisa means show. After ngibawa the verb takes the subjunctive, as in ungikhombise. Indlela means road or way. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

2. Khamba uye phambili.

   Go straight ahead.

   Usage

   Used when directing someone to go straight ahead

   Grammar Note

   Go or walk is khamba, matching Zulu hamba. Forward is phambili

3. Jikela ngesinceleni.

   Turn left.

   Usage

   Used when directing someone to turn left

   Grammar Note

   Jikela means turn. Left is ngesinceleni and right is ngesidleni, different words from Zulu kwesokunxele and kwesokunene. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

4. Jikela ngesidleni.

   Turn right.

   Usage

   Used when directing someone to turn right

   Grammar Note

   Ngesidleni means on the right. It shares its stem with isandla sangesidleni (right hand). Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

5. Buyela emuva.

   Go back.

   Usage

   Used when you have gone too far

   Grammar Note

   Buyela means return and emuva means back

6. Kukude na?

   Is it far?

   Usage

   Used to ask whether a destination is far away

   Grammar Note

   -kude means far or long. For near, use -seduze. The final na marks a question. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

7. Ngilahlekile.

   I am lost.

   Usage

   Tells others you are lost and need help

   Grammar Note

   Lahleka means to be lost, and the perfect ngilahlekile means I am lost. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

8. Uhlala kuphi?

   Where do you live?

   Usage

   Asks in a friendly way where someone lives

   Grammar Note

   Hlala means live or sit. Kuphi means where. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

9. Ngesinceleni

   On the left

   Usage

   Short enough to read in a moving vehicle; show the screen

   Grammar Note

   Ngesinceleni means on the left; the right is ngesidleni. Left and right together are ngesinceleni nangesidleni

10. Ngesidleni

    On the right

    Usage

    Short enough to read in a moving vehicle; show the screen

    Grammar Note

    Ngesidleni means on the right; the left is ngesinceleni

11. Etlhagwini

    North

    Usage

    A compass word; clearest when shown with a map or sign

    Grammar Note

    Etlhagwini means in the north and appears in place names (Northern Cape is eTlhagwini Kapa). South is esewula

12. Esewula

    South

    Usage

    A compass word; clearest when shown with a map or sign

    Grammar Note

    Esewula means in the south. It is the same word as in the country name Sewula Afrika (South Africa)

13. ePumalanga

    East

    Usage

    A compass word; the province name iMpumalanga (where the sun rises) comes from the same word

    Grammar Note

    Epumalanga means in the east, and Eastern Cape is ePumalanga Kapa. The province name iMpumalanga comes from the same word

14. eTjhingalanga

    West

    Usage

    A compass word; clearest when shown with a map or sign

    Grammar Note

    Etjhingalanga means in the west, and Western Cape is eTjhingalanga Kapa. The word contains tjhinga (set) and ilanga (sun)

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