Signs

1. Indlela yokungena

   Entrance

   Usage

   The sign for the way into a building or venue, and what to look for when seeking an entrance

   Grammar Note

   "Indlela" is "way" and "yokungena" is "for entering" (ukungena plus yo-). Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

2. Indlela yokuphuma

   Exit

   Usage

   The sign for the way out of a building or venue, and what to look for when seeking an exit

   Grammar Note

   Built from ukuphuma (to go out) with yo-, paired with "indlela yokungena". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

3. Kuvuliwe

   Open

   Usage

   A sign saying that a shop or office is open

   Grammar Note

   The passive of vula (to open), "it is opened", with the impersonal ku-. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

4. Kuvaliwe

   Closed

   Usage

   A sign saying that a shop or office is closed

   Grammar Note

   The passive of vala (to close), "it is closed", with the impersonal ku-. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

5. Abobaba

   Men

   Usage

   What to look for on a toilet sign when you need the men's one

   Grammar Note

   The plural of "baba", used for men as a group. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

6. Abomma

   Women

   Usage

   What to look for on a toilet sign when you need the women's one

   Grammar Note

   The plural of "mma", used for women as a group. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

7. Akungenwa

   No entry

   Usage

   A sign for a place you must not enter

   Grammar Note

   "Kungenwa" (it is entered) with the negative a-, meaning "no entering". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

8. Ungabhemi

   Do not smoke

   Usage

   Used on a no-smoking sign, and can be said aloud too

   Grammar Note

   The negative imperative of ukubhema (to smoke); the same form appears in "ukubhema ungabhemi" (passive smoking). Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

9. Ingozi

   Danger

   Usage

   A sign on dangerous places or equipment

   Grammar Note

   "Ingozi" means "danger, accident". The plural is iingozi

10. Iintezi

    Stairs

    Usage

    The sign for the stairs in a building, to look for instead of a lift

    Grammar Note

    Normally used in the plural, iintezi

11. Sunduza

    Push

    Usage

    On a door, it tells you to push

    Grammar Note

    The imperative of ukusunduza (to push). Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

12. Dosa

    Pull

    Usage

    On a door, it tells you to pull

    Grammar Note

    "Dosa" is the imperative "pull"; it is also used as in "pull the rope". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

13. Ayisebenzi

    Out of order

    Usage

    A sign saying a machine or toilet cannot be used

    Grammar Note

    "Ayisebenzi" means "it does not work", the negative of -sebenza (to work, to function). Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

Browse all TravelPhrases languages