Amanzi
Water
Usage
The basic word for asking for or about water
Grammar Note
Always plural (ama-). Drinking water is "amanzi wokusela"
Ukudla
Food
Usage
Food in general; the same form also serves as the verb "to eat"
Grammar Note
The infinitive of "dla" (to eat), used as the noun "food"
Imali
Money
Usage
Money in general, for payments and exchange
Grammar Note
The plural is "iimali" (sums of money). "To pay" is "ukubhadela"
Indlwana yokuzithumela
Toilet
Usage
The standard word for a toilet, also seen on signs
Grammar Note
"indlwana" alone can mean just "small house", so say the full phrase for a toilet. Plural: "iindlwana zokuzithumela"
Isihlahla sokulapha
Medicine
Usage
Medicine that treats illness, for pharmacies and clinics
Grammar Note
"isihlahla" also means "tree", so "sokulapha" (for healing) makes the medicine meaning clear. Plural: "iinhlahla"
Ithikithi
Ticket
Usage
A ticket for transport or an event
Grammar Note
The plural is "amathikithi"
Iphaspoti
Passport
Usage
A passport, shown at borders and hotels
Grammar Note
A loanword from English spelled "iphaspoti", not Zulu "ipasipoti"
Umtato
Telephone
Usage
A telephone; "to make a call" is "ukubethela umtato"
Grammar Note
Southern Ndebele uses "umtato" rather than the English-derived "ifoni"
Isitetjhi
Station
Usage
A station of any kind; on its own it often means a police station, which is "isitetjhi samapholisa"
Grammar Note
A loanword from "station", spelled with "tjh"
Isibhedlela
Hospital
Usage
A hospital, the place to name in an emergency
Grammar Note
The plural is "iimbhedlela"
Amapholisa
Police
Usage
The police, as a group of officers
Grammar Note
One officer is "ipholisa"; the plural "amapholisa" stands for the police
Isitolo
Shop
Usage
A shop where goods are sold
Grammar Note
Used as in "Isitolo besivaliwe" (The shop was closed)
Indlela
Road
Usage
A road or way; the basic word when asking directions
Grammar Note
The plural is "iindlela". It also means "way, method"
Umndeni
Family
Usage
Family, for introductions and conversation
Grammar Note
The plural is "imindeni". "umndeni wami" is "my family"
Ibizo
Name
Usage
A name, used at reception or when booking
Grammar Note
"ibizo lami" is "my name". The synonym "igama" is also used
Ihloko
Head
Usage
Basic word for describing head pain or injury
Grammar Note
The plural is "iinhloko"; it also means "chief, head of". The Zulu "ikhanda" is not used
Amehlo
Eyes
Usage
The eyes, for describing pain or something in them
Grammar Note
Normally used in the plural; one eye is "ilihlo"
Indlebe
Ear
Usage
The ear, for pain or difficulty hearing
Grammar Note
The plural is "iindlebe"
Ipumulo
Nose
Usage
The nose, for example a nosebleed ("Ipumulo ephuma iingazi")
Grammar Note
"ipumulo" is the nose and "iingazi" is blood
Umlomo
Mouth
Usage
The mouth, for pain inside it
Grammar Note
Also used for a river mouth or a bird's beak
Amazinyo
Teeth
Usage
The teeth, for toothache
Grammar Note
Normally plural; one tooth is "izinyo". "To brush the teeth" is "ukuhlamba amazinyo"
Umphimbo
Throat
Usage
The throat, for soreness or irritation
Grammar Note
Refers to the throat itself, not the neck
Isandla
Hand
Usage
The hand, for injury or pain
Grammar Note
The plural is "izandla"
Umkhono
Arm
Usage
The arm, for injury or pain
Grammar Note
The plural is "imikhono"
Imino
Fingers
Usage
The fingers, for counting on them or reporting an injury
Grammar Note
Used in the plural (for example "imino emingaki", how many fingers)
Isifuba
Chest
Usage
The chest, for chest pain
Grammar Note
Chest pain can be serious; go to a hospital quickly
Umhlana
Back
Usage
The back, for pain or stiffness
Grammar Note
The same spelling also appears in dates ("mhlana", day), so rely on context
Idolo
Knee
Usage
The knee, for injury or pain
Grammar Note
The plural is "amadolo"
Umlenze
Leg
Usage
The leg, for injury or pain
Grammar Note
The plural is "imilenze"
Inyawo
Foot
Usage
The foot, for blisters or injury
Grammar Note
The initial differs from Zulu "unyawo". The plural is "iinyawo"
Isikhumba
Skin
Usage
The skin, for itching, rashes or sunburn
Grammar Note
Also used for the skin of fruit and vegetables
Umzimba
Body
Usage
The whole body, for general complaints
Grammar Note
The plural is "imizimba"
Iingazi
Blood
Usage
Blood, for reporting bleeding
Grammar Note
Blood is normally written in the plural shape (ii-). "ukuphuma iingazi" is "to bleed"
Iinhluthu
Hair
Usage
The hair on the head, for a hairdresser
Grammar Note
"ukuhlamba iinhluthu" is "to wash the hair"
Ihliziyo
Heart
Usage
The heart, for a condition ("ubulwele behliziyo", heart disease)
Grammar Note
Used both for the organ and for "heart" in the figurative sense
Ihotela
Hotel
Usage
A hotel, when looking for lodging
Grammar Note
The plural is "amahotela"
Idoyelo leemphaphamtjhini
Airport
Usage
An airport; "idoyelo" is a port, so this is the "port of aircraft"
Grammar Note
The plural is "amadoyelo weemphaphamtjhini". "idoyelo" alone means a port
Isitetjhi samapholisa
Police station
Usage
A police station, where you report a crime or loss
Grammar Note
"isitetjhi" (station) plus "samapholisa" (of the police)
Ikhemisi
Pharmacy
Usage
A pharmacy, for buying medicine
Grammar Note
A loanword from English "chemist"
More Southern Ndebele phrases
- Basic Words
- Basic Verbs
- Adjectives
- Question Words
- Greetings
- Food & Drinks
- Transportation
- Shopping
- Numbers
- Hotel
- Emergency
- Sightseeing
- Flirting
- Nightlife
- Massage & Spa
- Compliments
- Contacts & SNS
- Places & Areas
- Useful Phrases
- Airport & Customs
- Weather & Climate
- Pharmacy & Health
- Directions
- Money & Exchange
- Health & Hospital
- Internet & WiFi
- Nature & Outdoors
- Religion & Temples
- Café & Drinks
- Schedule & Booking
- Culture & Etiquette
- Traveling with Kids
- Sports & Activities
- Public Transport
- Accommodation
- Banking & ATM
- Visa & Immigration
- Business & Work
- School & Education
- Cooking & Markets
- Music & Entertainment
- Art & Museums
- Festivals & Events
- Photography
- Laundry
- Post Office
- Language Learning
- Dating & Romance
- Dating Apps
- Volunteering
- Accessibility
- Sustainability & Eco
- Fruits
- Colors
- Dietary & Allergies
- Markets & Souvenirs
- Wine & Spirits
- Car Rental & Driving
- Time & Dates
- Hiking & Trekking
- Yoga & Wellness
- Remote Work
- Fashion & Clothing
- Convenience Store
- Martial Arts
- Signs
- Body Parts
- Animals
- Vehicles
- Electronics
- Feelings
- Slang
- Local Dishes
- Local Drinks
- Indulgences