Food & Drinks

1. Inyama

   Meat

   Usage

   Meat in general, for ordering or for saying what you do not eat

   Grammar Note

   Meat of any animal; to name the kind, follow with "inyama ye-" plus the animal

2. Ifesi

   Fish

   Usage

   Fish; "iFesi namaTjhipsi" is fish and chips

   Grammar Note

   A loanword from English "fish"; a different word from Zulu "inhlanzi"

3. Iqanda

   Egg

   Usage

   An egg; also useful when stating an allergy

   Grammar Note

   The plural is "amaqanda". To boil an egg is "ukupheka iqanda"

4. Ibisi

   Milk

   Usage

   Milk, also asked about when ordering tea or coffee

   Grammar Note

   The initial differs from Zulu "ubisi"

5. Uburotho

   Bread

   Usage

   Bread; it can also mean a sandwich

   Grammar Note

   A loanword from English "bread". The Zulu "isinkwa" is not used

6. Imirorho

   Vegetables

   Usage

   Vegetables, for stating likes, dislikes or dietary needs

   Grammar Note

   "imirorho", not Zulu "imifino". People who eat only vegetables are "abantu abadla imirorho kwaphela"

7. Iinthelo

   Fruit

   Usage

   Fruit in the plural, at markets and meals

   Grammar Note

   Note that "umthelo" can mean tax; fruit is said in the plural "iinthelo"

8. Itjhukela

   Sugar

   Usage

   Sugar, for tea or coffee

   Grammar Note

   Also called "iswigiri", which is the word used when talking about diabetes

9. Itiye

   Tea

   Usage

   Tea, usually black tea in South Africa

   Grammar Note

   If asked about milk and sugar, answer with "ibisi" and "itjhukela"

10. Ikofi

    Coffee

    Usage

    Coffee

    Grammar Note

    A loanword from English "coffee"

11. Isobho

    Soup

    Usage

    Soup

    Grammar Note

    "ukwenza isobho" is "to make soup"

12. Ikhekhe

    Cake

    Usage

    Cake; "Ikhekhe limnandi" means the cake is tasty

    Grammar Note

    A loanword from English "cake"

13. Angiyidli imirorho.

    I don't eat vegetables.

    Usage

    When stating a food dislike

    Grammar Note

    "-yi-" marks the object; swap "imirorho" for another food to change the sentence

14. Angidli inyama.

    I don't eat meat.

    Usage

    Tell someone you do not eat meat

    Grammar Note

    Same pattern as "Angiyidli imirorho" with "inyama" as the object. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

15. Ngithanda iinthelo kanye nemirorho.

    I like fruit and vegetables.

    Usage

    Tell someone what you like to eat

    Grammar Note

    "kanye ne-" links nouns; "ne-" is the prefix meaning "and, with"

16. Ingabe utlhoga ibisi elinengi nanyana itjhukela enengi?

    Do you need more milk or more sugar?

    Usage

    What a host asks when serving tea or coffee; answer "ibisi" or "itjhukela"

    Grammar Note

    "nanyana" means "or"; "ingabe" introduces a question

17. Ukudla kumnandi.

    The food is nice.

    Usage

    To praise a meal

    Grammar Note

    "ukudla" takes a predicate in the "ku-" form. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

18. Ngibawa amanzi wokusela.

    Drinking water, please.

    Usage

    Ask for drinking water at a shop or lodging

    Grammar Note

    "amanzi wokusela" is drinking water; "Ngibawa" introduces a request. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

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