Sikhathi bani njenganje?
What time is it?
Usage
Asking what time it is now
Grammar Note
Literally "which time"; the standard way to ask the time. "njenganje" means "now"
Namhlanje ngiliphi ilanga?
What day is it today?
Usage
Asking which day of the week it is
Grammar Note
"ngiliphi ilanga" means "which day". The answer is a weekday such as ngoMvulo. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended
Ivula nini?
When does it open?
Usage
Asking when a shop or place opens
Grammar Note
"nini" means "when". With a plural subject the verb changes, as in "Zivula nini?"
Ivala nini?
When does it close?
Usage
Asking when a shop or place closes
Grammar Note
"Ivala" (it closes) followed by "nini" (when); pairs with "Ivula nini?" (when does it open). Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended
Mangaki sekawoke amalanga enyangeni le?
How many days are there in this month?
Usage
Asking how many days there are, for bookings or stays
Grammar Note
"mangaki sekawoke" (how many in all) comes before the noun "amalanga". "enyangeni" is inyanga (month) in the locative
Ukusukela ngoMvulo ukufika kuLesihlanu
From Monday to Friday
Usage
Giving opening days or a range of days
Grammar Note
The frame "ukusukela … ukufika …" means "from … to …" and links days or dates. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended
Asihlangane nge-iri lesithandathu poro.
Let us meet at six o'clock sharp.
Usage
Fixing a time to meet
Grammar Note
"nge-iri le…" means "at … o'clock"; "lesithandathu poro" is "six sharp". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended
Ngivuka nge-iri lobu-8 ekuseni.
I get up at eight in the morning.
Usage
Saying what time you get up
Grammar Note
The hour is given after "nge-iri"; the number 8 joins as "lobu-8". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended
Kuzakuthatha imizuzu ema-30.
It will take thirty minutes.
Usage
Telling how long something takes
Grammar Note
Future of ukuthatha (to take). "imizuzu ema-30" is thirty minutes, with the number taking ema-. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended
Ngibawa ufike ngesikhathi.
Please arrive on time.
Usage
Asking someone to be on time
Grammar Note
"Ngibawa" opens a request and the verb after it is subjunctive (ufike). "ngesikhathi" means "on time". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended
Namhlanje
Today
Usage
Used to say or point to today
Grammar Note
"Namhlanje" also appears in the longer form "namhlanjesi"
Kusasa
Tomorrow
Usage
Used to say or point to tomorrow
Grammar Note
"Kusasa" stands alone for "tomorrow" with no preposition
Izolo
Yesterday
Usage
Used to say or point to yesterday
Grammar Note
The basic word for the previous day
Njenganje
Now
Usage
Used to say or point to the present moment
Grammar Note
Also used in "Sikhathi bani njenganje?" (what time is it now)
Iveke le
This week
Usage
Used to say or point to this week
Grammar Note
"iveke" is a loanword from English "week"
Iveke ezako
Next week
Usage
Used to say or point to next week
Grammar Note
To say "next week" as a time, add ng-: "ngeveke ezako"
Iveke ephelileko
Last week
Usage
Used to say or point to last week
Grammar Note
"ephelileko" means "that has ended"; "ngeveke ephelileko" is "last week" as a time
Ekuseni
In the morning
Usage
Used to say or point to the morning
Grammar Note
The form starting with e- means "in" or "at"
Ntambama
In the afternoon or evening
Usage
Used to say or point to the afternoon and evening
Grammar Note
It follows the day, as in "ngeLesihlanu ntambama" (Friday afternoon)
Ebusuku
At night
Usage
Used to say or point to the night
Grammar Note
The locative form of ubusuku (night)
Qobe lilanga
Every day
Usage
Used to say that something happens every day
Grammar Note
"Qobe" means "every"; "ngamalanga" (daily) is another way to say it
Ipelaveke
Weekend
Usage
Used to say or point to the weekend
Grammar Note
The plural "iimpelaveke" also occurs
ngoMvulo
On Monday
Usage
Used to say "on Monday"
Grammar Note
The prefix ngo-/nge- gives "on" a weekday: ngo- before most names and nge- before the Lesi- days
ngeLesibili
On Tuesday
Usage
Used to say "on Tuesday"
Grammar Note
The prefix ngo-/nge- gives "on" a weekday: ngo- before most names and nge- before the Lesi- days
ngeLesithathu
On Wednesday
Usage
Used to say "on Wednesday"
Grammar Note
The prefix ngo-/nge- gives "on" a weekday: ngo- before most names and nge- before the Lesi- days
ngeLesine
On Thursday
Usage
Used to say "on Thursday"
Grammar Note
The prefix ngo-/nge- gives "on" a weekday: ngo- before most names and nge- before the Lesi- days
ngeLesihlanu
On Friday
Usage
Used to say "on Friday"
Grammar Note
The prefix ngo-/nge- gives "on" a weekday: ngo- before most names and nge- before the Lesi- days
ngoMgqibelo
On Saturday
Usage
Used to say "on Saturday"
Grammar Note
The prefix ngo-/nge- gives "on" a weekday: ngo- before most names and nge- before the Lesi- days
ngoSondo
On Sunday
Usage
Used to say "on Sunday"
Grammar Note
The prefix ngo-/nge- gives "on" a weekday. Sunday also appears as ngoSondarha
uTjhirhweni
January
Usage
The month name, used in dates and bookings
Grammar Note
In dates the month takes ku- or ngo- ("in"), for example "kuMgwengweni" (in June). Speakers may use other names
uMhlolanja
February
Usage
The month name, used in dates and bookings
Grammar Note
In dates the month takes ku- or ngo- ("in"), for example "kuMgwengweni" (in June). Speakers may use other names
uNtaka
March
Usage
The month name, used in dates and bookings
Grammar Note
In dates the month takes ku- or ngo- ("in"), for example "kuMgwengweni" (in June). Speakers may use other names
uSihlabantangana
April
Usage
The month name, used in dates and bookings
Grammar Note
In dates the month takes ku- or ngo- ("in"), for example "kuMgwengweni" (in June). Speakers may use other names
uMrhayili
May
Usage
The month name, used in dates and bookings
Grammar Note
In dates the month takes ku- or ngo- ("in"), for example "kuMgwengweni" (in June). Speakers may use other names
uMgwengweni
June
Usage
The month name, used in dates and bookings
Grammar Note
In dates the month takes ku- or ngo- ("in"), for example "kuMgwengweni" (in June). Speakers may use other names
uVelabahlinze
July
Usage
The month name, used in dates and bookings
Grammar Note
In dates the month takes ku- or ngo- ("in"), for example "kuMgwengweni" (in June). Speakers may use other names
uRhoboyi
August
Usage
The month name, used in dates and bookings
Grammar Note
In dates the month takes ku- or ngo- ("in"), for example "kuMgwengweni" (in June). Speakers may use other names
uKhukhulamungu
September
Usage
The month name, used in dates and bookings
Grammar Note
In dates the month takes ku- or ngo- ("in"), for example "kuMgwengweni" (in June). Speakers may use other names
uSewula
October
Usage
The month name, used in dates and bookings
Grammar Note
In dates the month takes ku- or ngo- ("in"), for example "kuMgwengweni" (in June). Speakers may use other names
uSinyikhaba
November
Usage
The month name, used in dates and bookings
Grammar Note
In dates the month takes ku- or ngo- ("in"), for example "kuMgwengweni" (in June). Speakers may use other names
uNobayeni
December
Usage
The month name, used in dates and bookings
Grammar Note
In dates the month takes ku- or ngo- ("in"), for example "kuMgwengweni" (in June). Speakers may use other names
Mhlana ali-17 kuMgwengweni
On 17 June
Usage
How to say a date, for bookings and appointments
Grammar Note
A date runs "mhlana" (on the day) + day number + "ku" + month. The number takes a form such as ali-, ama- or li-. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended
More Southern Ndebele phrases
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