Pharmacy & Health

1. Ikhemisi likuphi?

   Where is the pharmacy?

   Usage

   Used to find the nearest pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   The word for pharmacy is ikhemisi, spelled as in Zulu. Where is it is the noun's agreement prefix plus -kuphi (likuphi for class 5). Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

2. Ngifuna ukubonana nosokhemisi.

   I would like to speak to the pharmacist.

   Usage

   Opens a conversation when you want the pharmacist to help choose a medicine

   Grammar Note

   Usokhemisi means pharmacist. Bonana means to meet, and is also used for seeing a doctor or pharmacist. Na plus usokhemisi contracts to nosokhemisi. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

3. Ngitlhoga iinhlahla.

   I need medicine.

   Usage

   The most basic way to say you need medicine

   Grammar Note

   Medicine is isihlahla (plural iinhlahla), a different word from Zulu umuthi. It also means plant, and is used for medicine as well. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

4. Ngitlhoga isihlahla sehloko ebuhlungu.

   I need medicine for a headache.

   Usage

   Used to ask for headache medicine

   Grammar Note

   Ihloko ebuhlungu (a painful head) is a headache. After isihlahla comes the s- form meaning for (sehloko). Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

5. Ngitlhoga iinhlahla zokukhohlela.

   I need cough medicine.

   Usage

   Used to ask for cough medicine

   Grammar Note

   Ukukhohlela is to cough. After iinhlahla comes the z- form meaning for (zokukhohlela). Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

6. Ngiyakhohlela.

   I have a cough.

   Usage

   Tells a pharmacist or doctor about a cough

   Grammar Note

   Ngi-ya-khohlela is I am coughing, the present tense of ukukhohlela. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

7. Nginomkhuhlani.

   I have a fever.

   Usage

   Tells the pharmacist or doctor you have a fever; it helps to show a thermometer reading too

   Grammar Note

   Ngi-na (I have) and umkhuhlani (fever, a feverish illness) contract to nginomkhuhlani. It corresponds to Zulu umkhuhlane, with an -i ending. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

8. Nginerhudo.

   I have diarrhea.

   Usage

   Tells a pharmacist or doctor about diarrhea

   Grammar Note

   Ngi-na and irhudo (diarrhea) contract to nginerhudo. Southern Ndebele spells the h sound as rh in some words. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

9. Ngizisela njani iinhlahla lezi?

   How do I take this medicine?

   Usage

   Asks how to take a medicine when you collect it

   Grammar Note

   Sela means drink, and is also used for taking medicine. Zi- is the object prefix standing for iinhlahla. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

10. Ngingalisa nini ukusela iinhlahla?

    When can I stop taking the medicine?

    Usage

    Asks how long to keep taking a prescribed medicine

    Grammar Note

    Lisa means stop, and ngi-nga-lisa means can I stop

11. Ingabe kuyatlhogeka umlayelo?

    Is a prescription needed?

    Usage

    Checks whether a prescription is needed before buying a medicine

    Grammar Note

    Umlayelo means instruction or prescription, the document a doctor signs. Ingabe introduces a question. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

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