Swazi (siSwati) is a language spoken in Eswatini (Swaziland) and South Africa.
Pronunciation guide
Vowels
Consonants
Common diphthongs
Phrase list
Basics
Common signs
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- Hello.
- Sawubona. (literally, do I see you?) Plural: Sanibonani (do i see you all?)()
- Response to hello
- Yebo (literally: yes)
- Hello. (informal)
- . ()
- How are you?
- Unjani? Plural: Ninjani? ( ?)
- I am fine.
- Ngiyaphila. Plural: Siyaphila (we are fine)()
- And how are you?
- Unjani wena? ()
- I am also fine.
- Ngiyaphila nami ()
- What is your name?
- Ngubani ligama lakho
- My name is ______ .
- Ligama lami ngu______ . ( _____ .):Or: Mine ngingu (I am ____)
- Nice to meet you.
- Ngiyajabula kukwati. ()
- Please.
- Ngiyacela. ()
- Thank you.
- Ngiyabonga. (Singular):Siyabonga (plural)
- You're welcome.
- Wamukelekile. ()
- Yes.
- . (Yebo)
- No.
- . (cha or chake)
- Excuse me. (Ncesi or Ncesini pural)
- . ()
- Excuse me. (begging pardon)
- . (ngicela uphindze angikeva)
- I'm sorry.
- . (ngiyacolisa)
- Goodbye
- Sala Kahle (Stay well):Salani Kahle (Stay well) (Plural)
- Hamba Kahle (Go well): Nihambeni Kahle (Go Well) (Plural)
- Goodbye (informal)
- bye bye (yes, that's what they say)
- I can't speak Swazi [well].
- [ angikwati kukhuluma [kahle] siswati]. ( [ ])
- Do you speak English?
- ? (uyasati yini singisi/uyasikhuluma yini siNgisi)
- Is there someone here who speaks English?
- ? (ingabe ukhona yini lokhuluma singisi lana)
- Is there anyone amongst you who can speak English?
- ? (ingabe ukhona yini lapha kini lokwati kukhuluma singisi)
- Help!
- ! (ngicela lusito/inyandzaleyo)
- Look out!
- ! (caphela or bona)
- Good morning.
- . (kusile sihlobo sami)
- Good evening.
- . (lishonile sihlobo sami)
- Good night.
- . (busuku lobuhle)
- Good night (to sleep)
- . (ulalekahle or nilalekahle plural )
- I don't understand.
- . (angiva)
- Where is the toilet?
- ? (ungakuphi umthoyi)
Problems
- Leave me alone.
- Ngiyekele. ( .)
- Don't touch me!
- Ungangitsintsi! ( !)
- I'll call the police.
- Ngitoshayela emaphoyisa. ( .)
- Police!
- Phoyisa! ( !)
- Stop! Thief!
- Vimbani! Sigebengu! ( ! !)
- I need your help.
- Ngidzinga lusito lwakho. ( .)
- It's an emergency.
- Kuyaphutfuma. ( .)
- I'm lost.
- Ngilahlekile. ( .)
- I lost my bag.
- Ngilahle sikhwama sami or Ngilahlekelwe sikhwama sami. ( .)
- I lost my wallet.
- Ngilahle sipatji sami or ngilahlekelwe sipatji sami. ( .)
- I'm sick.
- Ngiyagula/ Ngiphatsekile. ( .)
- I've been injured.
- . (Ngilimele.)
- I need a doctor.
- Ngidzinga dokotela. ( .)
- Can I use your phone?
- Ngingalisebentisa licingo lakho? ( ?)
Numbers
- 1
- (kunye)
- 2
- (kubili)
- 3
- (kutsatfu)
- 4
- (kune)
- 5
- (sihlanu)
- 6
- (sitfupha)
- 7
- (sikhombisa)
- 8
- ( siphohlongo )
- 9
- ( yimfica )
- 10
- ( lishumi )
- 11
- (lishumi nakunye )
- 12
- (lishumi nakubili )
- 13
- (lishumi nakutsatfu )
- 14
- ( lishumi nakune )
- 15
- ( lishumi nesihlanu )
- 16
- (lishumi nesitfupha)
- 17
- ( lishumi nesikhombisa)
- 18
- ( lishumi nesiphohlongo )
- 19
- (lishumi nemfica )
- 20
- (emashumi lamabili )
- 21
- (emashumi lamabili nakunye)
- 22
- (emashumi lamabili nakubili )
- 23
- (emashumi lamabili nakutsatfu)
- 30
- (emashumi lamatsatfu )
- 40
- ( emashumi lamane )
- 50
- (emashumi lasihlanu )
- 60
- (emashumi lasitfupha )
- 70
- ( emashumi lasikhombisa )
- 80
- (emashumi lasiphohlongo )
- 90
- (emashumi layimfica )
- 100
- (likhulu )
- 200
- (emakhulu lamabili )
- 300
- ( emakhulu lamatsatfu)
- 1,000
- (inkhulungwane )
- 2,000
- (tinkhulungwane letimbili )
- 1,000,000
- (sigidzi )
- 1,000,000,000
- ( sigidzigidzi )
- 1,000,000,000,000
- ( tigidzigidzi )
- number _____ (train, bus, etc.)
- ()
- half
- ( incenye/ihhamfu )
- less
- ( ngephansi or kuncane )
- more
- ( ngetulu or kunyenti)
Time
- now
- ( nyalo )
- later
- ( ngekuhamba kwelilanga )
- before
- (nagphambilini )
- morning
- ( ekuseni )
- afternoon
- (ntsambama)
- evening
- (kusihlwa)
- night
- (ebusuku)
Clock time
- one o'clock AM
- (insimbi yekucala ekuseni)
- two o'clock AM
- (insimbi yesibili ekuseni)
- noon
- ( emini )
- one o'clock PM
- (insimbi yekucala emini)
- two o'clock PM
- (insimbi yekucala ntsambama )
- midnight
- ( kulamabili ebusuku )
Duration
- _____ minute(s)
- ( umzuzu or imizuzu plural )
- _____ hour(s)
- ( liawa )
- _____ day(s)
- (lilanga or emalanga plural)
- _____ week(s)
- ( liviki or emaviki plural )
- _____ month(s)
- (inyanga or tinyanga pural)
- _____ year(s)
- (umnyaka or iminyaka plural )
Days
- today
- (namuhla)
- yesterday
- (itolo)
- tomorrow
- (kusasa)
- this week
- ( kuleliviki )
- last week
- (liviki leliphelile)
- next week
- ( liviki lelitako)
- Sunday
- (Lisontfo)
- Monday
- (uMsombuluko)
- Tuesday
- (Lesibili )
- Wednesday
- (Lesitfatfu )
- Thursday
- (Lwesine )
- Friday
- (Lwesihlanu )
- Saturday
- (UMgcibelo )
Months
- January
- (Bhimbídvwane)
- February
- (iNdlóvana)
- March
- (íNdlovu)
- April
- (Mábasa)
- May
- (íNkhwekhwéti)
- June
- (íNhlaba)
- July
- (Khólwáne)
- August
- (íNgci)
- September
- (íNyoni)
- October
- (íMphala)
- November
- (Lweti)
- December
- (íNgongóni)
Writing time and date
Colors
- black
- (mnyama)
- white
- (mhlophe)
- gray
- (mphunga)
- red
- (bovu)
- blue
- (sibhakabhaka)
- yellow
- (mtfubi)
- green
- (luhlata)
- orange
- (sihlala)
- purple
- ()
- brown
- (ludzaka )
Transportation
Bus and train
- How much is a ticket to _____?
- Lingumalini lithikithi lekuya _____ ()
- One ticket to _____, please.
- (Ngicela linye lithikithi)
- Where does this train/bus go?
- (ihambaphi lebhasi? )
- Where is the train/bus to _____?
- (iyakuphi lebhasi? )
- Does this train/bus stop in _____?
- (ngabe iyemayili lebhansi e.... ?)
- When does the train/bus for _____ leave?
- (Ihamba/isuka nini lebhasi )
- When will this train/bus arrive in _____?
- (itofika ngabani/nini lebhasi e..?.)
Directions
- How do I get to _____ ?
- Nginga fika njani____? ()
- ...the train station?
- ....Esiteshi sesitimela()
- ...the bus station?
- .... Esiteshi semabhasi()
- ...the airport?
- (Esikhumulweni setindiza)
- ...downtown?
- (edolobheni)
- ...the youth hostel?
- ()
- ...the _____ hotel?
- (ehhotela)
- ...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate?
- ()
- Where are there a lot of...
- (maningi kuphi ema... )
- ...hotels?
- (...hhotela? )
- ...restaurants?
- ( ...restaurants?)
- ...bars?
- (...bhara? )
- ...sites to see?
- (tindzwo tekutichaza)
- Can you show me on the map?
- ( ngicela ungikhombise imap)
- street
- Sitaladi()
- Turn left.
- Jika ngesencele()
- Turn right.
- Jika Ngesekudla()
- left
- Sencele()
- right
- Sekudla()
- straight ahead
- Condza embili()
- towards the _____
- ( nawubheka e...)
- past the _____
- (nawendlula e..)
- before the _____
- (ungakefiki e)
- Watch for the _____.
- (Chaphela ...)
- intersection
- ()
- north
- (eNyakatfo )
- south
- ( eNingizimu)
- east
- (eMpumalanga )
- west
- (eNshonalanga )
- uphill
- ()
- downhill
- ()
Taxi
- Taxi!
- Tekisi! ()
- Take me to _____, please.
- Ngicela ungimikise_____ ()
- How much does it cost to get to _____?
- Kubita malini kufika_____? ()
- Take me there, please.
- Ngicela ungimikise khona.()
Lodging
- Do you have any rooms available?
- Nisenawo emakamelo lavulekile? ()
- How much is a room for one person/two people?
- (Malini likamelo lamunye umuntfu/ bantfu lababili)
- Does the room come with...
- Lelikamelo lita nayo yini.... ()
- ...bedsheets?
- ...emashidi?()
- ...a bathroom?
- ...iBathroom/indlu yekugezela?()
- ...a telephone?
- ...Lucingo?()
- ...a TV?
- ...Mabona kudze?()
- May I see the room first?
- Ngingalibona lelikamelo kucala?()
- Do you have anything quieter?
- Ninalo lekhashane nemsindvo? (A quieter room) ()
- ...bigger?
- ...lamakhulu?()
- ...cleaner?
- ...lahlobile?()
- ...cheaper?
- ...lukungakaduli/langakaduli?()
- OK, I'll take it.
- ngitalitsatsa ()
- I will stay for _____ night(s).
- Ngitohlala busuku (lobu)____ (lobu for plural) ()
- Can you suggest another hotel?
- Ungangikhomba yini lelinye lihhotela?()
- Do you have a safe?
- ()
- ...lockers?
- ()
- Is breakfast/supper included?
- kufaka ekhatsi imali yesidlo sasekuseni /yesidlo sasebusuku?()
- What time is breakfast/supper?
- singabani sikhatsi sidlo sasekuseni/sidlo sasebusuku?()
- Breakfast
- sidlo sasekuseni
- Supper
- sidlo sasebusuku
- Please clean my room.
- Ngicela uCleane likamelo lami? ()
- Can you wake me at _____?
- Ungangivusa nga_____? ()
- I want to check out...
- Ngifuna kuvakasha/kubona e... ()
Money
- Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?
- Niyawatsatsa emaAmerican/Australian/Canadian dollars?()
- Do you accept British pounds?
- Niyawatsatsa emaBritish Pounds()
- Do you accept euros?
- Niyawatsatsa emaEuros?()
- Do you accept credit cards?
- Niyawatsatsa emaCredit Cards?()
- Can you change money for me?
- Ungangishintjela imali yami?()
- Where can I get money changed?
- Ngingayishintja kuphi imali?()
- Can you change a traveler's check for me?
- (Ungakhona kungishintjela itraver's check)
- Where can I get a traveler's check changed?
- (Ngangayishintja kuphi itravelr's check)
- What is the exchange rate?
- ()
- Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)?
- Ingakuphi iATM()
Eating
- A table for one person/two people, please.
- (Ngicela litafula lamunye umuntfu/lababili bantfu)
- Can I look at the menu, please?
- Ngicela kubona imenu? ()
- Can I look in the kitchen?
- Ngingabuka likhishi?()
- Is there a house specialty?
- ()
- Is there a local specialty?
- ()
- I'm a vegetarian.
- Angikudli kudla lokunenyama()
- I don't eat pork.
- Angiyidli inyama yengulube()
- I don't eat beef.
- Angiyidli inyama yenkhomo()
- I only eat kosher food.
- Ngidla kudla lokuthandazelwe kuphela()
- Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard)
- ()
- fixed-price meal
- ()
- a la carte
- ()
- breakfast
- ()
- lunch
- ()
- tea (meal)
- (litiya)
- supper
- ()
- I want _____.
- Ngifuna____()
- I want a dish containing _____.
- Ngifuna kudla lokune____ ()
- chicken
- nyama enkhukhu()
- beef
- nyama yenkhomo()
- fish
- nyama yenhlanti()
- ham
- ()
- sausage
- ()
- cheese
- ()
- eggs
- emacandza()
- salad
- ()
- (fresh) vegetables
- ()
- (fresh) fruit
- ()
- bread
- sinkhwa()
- toast
- sinkhwa lesishisiwe()
- noodles
- ()
- rice
- lilayisi()
- beans
- emabhontjisi()
- May I have a glass of _____?
- Ngingayitfola ingilazi ye____? ()
- May I have a cup of _____?
- Ngingayitfola inkomishi ye_____()
- May I have a bottle of _____?
- Ngingalitfola libhodlela le____ ()
- coffee
- likhofi()
- tea (drink)
- litiya()
- juice
- ()
- (bubbly) water
- ()
- (still) water
- ()
- beer
- tjwala()
- red/white wine
- ()
- May I have some _____?
- ()
- salt
- swayi()
- black pepper
- ()
- butter
- ()
- Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)
- Ncesi, waiter?()
- I'm finished.
- Sengicedzile()
- It was delicious.
- Bekumunandzi()
- Please clear the plates.
- Ngicela utsatse emaplete()
- The check, please.
- ()
Bars
- Do you serve alcohol?
- Niyabutsengisa tjwala()
- Is there table service?
- ()
- A beer/two beers, please.
- ()
- A glass of red/white wine, please.
- ()
- A pint, please.
- ()
- A bottle, please.
- Ngicela libhodlela()
- _____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please.
- ()
- whiskey
- ()
- vodka
- ()
- rum
- ()
- water
- Emanti ()
- club soda
- ()
- tonic water
- ()
- orange juice
- ()
- Coke (soda)
- ()
- Do you have any bar snacks?
- ()
- One more, please.
- ()
- Another round, please.
- ()
- When is closing time?
- Kuvalwa ngabani skhatsi lana()
- Cheers!
- ()
Shopping
- Do you have this in my size?
- (Ninaku kwaloku lokulingana mine)
- How much is this?
- Malini loku?()
- That's too expensive.
- Kudulile loko()
- Would you take _____?
- (Niyatsatsa)
- expensive
- Kudulile()
- cheap
- ()
- I can't afford it.
- ()
- I don't want it.
- Angikufuni()
- You're cheating me.
- Uyangilobha wena()
- I'm not interested.
- (..)
- OK, I'll take it.
- ()
- Can I have a bag?
- ()
- Do you ship (overseas)?
- ()
- I need...
- Ngidzinga...()
- ...toothpaste.
- ()
- ...a toothbrush.
- ...Sicubho()
- ...tampons.
- ...sishukelo. ()
- ...soap.
- ....Insipho()
- ...shampoo.
- ()
- ...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen)
- ...emaphilisi ebuhlungu ()
- ...cold medicine.
- ...emaphilisi emkhuhlane ()
- ...stomach medicine.
- ...umutsi wesisu ()
- ...a razor.
- ()
- ...an umbrella.
- ...sambulelo()
- ...sunblock lotion.
- ()
- ...a postcard.
- ()
- ...postage stamps.
- ()
- ...batteries.
- ()
- ...writing paper.
- ()
- ...a pen.
- ()
- ...English-language books.
- ...tincwadzi tesingisi ()
- ...English-language magazines.
- ()
- ...an English-language newspaper.
- ()
- ...an English-English dictionary.
- ()
Driving
- I want to rent a car.
- Ngifuna kuboleka imoto ()
- Can I get insurance?
- ()
- stop (on a street sign)
- ()
- one way
- ()
- yield
- ()
- no parking
- Akumiwa la ()
- speed limit
- ()
- gas (petrol) station
- ()
- petrol
- ()
- diesel
- ()
Authority
- I haven't done anything wrong.
- Angikenti lutfo()
- It was a misunderstanding.
- Bekungevani()
- Where are you taking me?
- Ningimikisaphi?()
- Am I under arrest?
- Ngiboshiwe?()
- I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen.
- ()
- I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate.
- ()
- I want to talk to a lawyer.
- Ngifuna kukhuluma nemumeli()
- Can I just pay a fine now?
- Ngingabhalala ifine?()
See also
- Basic words in Swati from SiSwati Wikipedia
- Multilingual word list from SiSwati Wiktionary