# Zulu language

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Nguni language of eastern South Africa and neighbouring countries

Zulu isiZulu Pronunciation [isízṳːlu] Native to South Africa, Lesotho Region KwaZulu-Natal and southern Mpumalanga; scattered communities elsewhere Ethnicity Zulu Speakers L1: 12 million (2013–2017)[1] L2: 16 million (2002)[1] Total: 28 million[1] Language family Niger–Congo? Atlantic–Congo Volta-Congo Benue–Congo Bantoid Southern Bantoid Bantu Southern Bantu Nguni-Tsonga Nguni Zunda Zulu Dialects KwaZulu Natal Zulu Transvaal Zulu Qwabe Cele Ngoni Writing system Latin (Zulu alphabet) Zulu Braille Ditema tsa Dinoko Signed forms Signed Zulu Official status Official language in South Africa Regulated by Pan South African Language Board Language codes ISO 639-1 zu ISO 639-2 zul ISO 639-3 zul Glottolog zulu1248 Guthrie code S.42[2] Linguasphere 99-AUT-fg incl. varieties 99-AUT-fga to 99-AUT-fge Proportion of the South African population that speaks Zulu at home 0–20% 20–40% 40–60% 60–80% 80–100% This article contains IPA phonetic symbols. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Unicode characters. For an introductory guide on IPA symbols, see Help:IPA.

Zulu Person umZulu People amaZulu Language isiZulu Country kwaZulu

**Zulu** ([/ˈzuːluː/](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/English) [*ZOO-loo*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Pronunciation_respelling_key)), also known by its [endonym](/source/Endonym) **isiZulu**, is a [Southern Bantu](/source/Southern_Bantu_languages) language of the [Nguni branch](/source/Nguni_languages) spoken in, and indigenous to, [Southern Africa](/source/Southern_Africa) with about 13.56 million native speakers, who primarily inhabit the province of [KwaZulu-Natal](/source/KwaZulu-Natal) in [South Africa](/source/South_Africa).[3] The word "KwaZulu-Natal" translates into English as "Home of the Zulu Nation is Natal". Zulu is the most widely spoken [home language](/source/Home_language) in South Africa (24% of the population), and it is understood by over 50% of its population.[4] It became one of [South Africa's 12 official languages](/source/Languages_of_South_Africa) in 1994.[5]

According to [Ethnologue](/source/Ethnologue), it is the second-most widely spoken of the [Bantu languages](/source/Bantu_languages), after [Swahili](/source/Swahili_language).[a] Like many other Bantu languages, it is written with the [Latin alphabet](/source/Latin_alphabet).

In [South African English](/source/South_African_English), the language is often referred to in its native form, *isiZulu*.[9]

## Geographical distribution

Geographical distribution of Zulu in South Africa: density, of Zulu home-language speakers.

  <1 /km2

  1–3 /km2

  3–10 /km2

  10–30 /km2

  30–100 /km2

  100–300 /km2

  300–1000 /km2

  1000–3000 /km2

  >3000 /km2

Zulu migrant populations have taken it to adjacent regions, especially [Zimbabwe](/source/Zimbabwe), where the [Northern Ndebele language](/source/Northern_Ndebele_language) ([isiNdebele](/source/Northern_Ndebele_language)) is closely related to Zulu.

[Xhosa](/source/Xhosa_language), the predominant language in the [Eastern Cape](/source/Eastern_Cape), is often considered [mutually intelligible](/source/Mutual_intelligibility) with Zulu, as is [Northern Ndebele](/source/Northern_Ndebele_language).[10][11]

Maho (2009) lists four dialects: central KwaZulu-Natal Zulu, northern Transvaal Zulu, eastern coastal Qwabe, and western coastal Cele.[2]

## History

Like [Xhosa](/source/Xhosa_people) and other [Nguni people](/source/Nguni_people), the Zulu have lived in South Africa for hundreds of years. The Zulu language possesses several [click sounds](/source/Alveolar_click) typical of Southern African languages, which are not found in the rest of Africa. The Nguni people have coexisted with other Southern tribes like the San and Khoi.

Zulu, like most indigenous Southern African languages, was not a [written language](/source/Written_language) until the arrival of European missionaries, who documented the language using the [Latin script](/source/Latin_script). The first grammar book of the Zulu language was published in [Norway](/source/Norway) in 1850 by the Norwegian missionary [Hans Schreuder](/source/Hans_Paludan_Smith_Schreuder).[12] The first written document in Zulu was a Bible translation that appeared in 1883. In 1901, [John Dube](/source/John_Dube) (1871–1946), a Zulu from Natal, created the Ohlange Institute, the first native educational institution in South Africa. He was also the author of *Insila kaShaka*, the first novel written in Zulu (1930). Another pioneering Zulu writer was [Reginald Dhlomo](/source/Rolfes_Robert_Reginald_Dhlomo), author of several historical novels of the 19th-century leaders of the Zulu nation: *U-Dingane* (1936), *U-Shaka* (1937), *U-Mpande* (1938), *U-Cetshwayo* (1952) and *U-Dinizulu* (1968). Other notable contributors to Zulu literature include [Benedict Wallet Vilakazi](/source/Benedict_Wallet_Vilakazi) and, more recently, [Oswald Mbuyiseni Mtshali](/source/Oswald_Mbuyiseni_Mtshali).

The written form of Zulu was controlled by the Zulu Language Board of [KwaZulu-Natal](/source/KwaZulu-Natal). This board has now been disbanded and superseded by the [Pan South African Language Board](/source/Pan_South_African_Language_Board)[13] which promotes the use of all eleven official languages of South Africa.

## Contemporary usage

English and [Afrikaans](/source/Afrikaans) (earlier [Dutch](/source/Dutch_language)) were the only official languages used by South African governments before 1994. However, in the [Kwazulu](/source/Kwazulu) [bantustan](/source/Bantustan), the Zulu language was widely used. All education in the country at the high school level was in English or Afrikaans. Since the fall of apartheid in 1994, Zulu has been enjoying a marked revival. Zulu-language television was introduced by the [SABC](/source/SABC) in the early 1980s and it broadcasts news and many shows in Zulu. Zulu radio is very popular and newspapers such as *isoLezwe*,[14] *Ilanga*[15] and *UmAfrika* in the Zulu language are available in [Kwazulu-Natal](/source/Kwazulu-Natal) province and [Johannesburg](/source/Johannesburg). In January 2005 the first full-length feature film in Zulu, *[Yesterday](/source/Yesterday_(2004_film))*, was nominated for an [Oscar](/source/Academy_Awards).[16]

In the 1994 film *[The Lion King](/source/The_Lion_King)*, in the "[Circle of Life](/source/Circle_of_Life)" song, the phrases *Ingonyama nengw' enamabala* (English: *A lion and a leopard spots*), *Nans' ingonyama bakithi Baba* (English: *Here is/behold the king, my people*) and *Siyonqoba* (English: *We will conquer*) was used. In some movie songs, like "This Land", the voice says *Busa leli zwe bo* (*Rule this land*) and *Busa ngothando bo* (*Rule with love*) were used too.

The song *[Siyahamba](/source/Siyahamba)* is a South African hymn originally written in the Zulu language that became popular in North American churches in the 1990s.

The remix of the 2019 song *[Jerusalema](/source/Jerusalema)* contains lyrics in Zulu.

### Standard vs Urban Zulu

[Standard](/source/Standard_language) Zulu as it is taught in schools, also called "deep Zulu" (*isiZulu esijulile*), differs in various respects from the language spoken by people living in cities (Urban Zulu, *isiZulu sasedolobheni*). Standard Zulu tends to be [purist](/source/Linguistic_purism), using derivations from Zulu words for new concepts, whereas speakers of Urban Zulu use [loan words](/source/Loan_words) abundantly, mainly from English. For example:

Standard Zulu Urban Zulu English umakhalekhukhwini iselula mobile(cellular) phone Ngiyezwa Ngiya-andastenda I understand

This situation has led to problems in education because standard Zulu is often not understood by young people.[17]

## Phonology

### Vowels

Zulu vowel chart, from [Wade (1996)](#CITEREFWade1996)

The vowel system of Zulu consists of five vowels.

Front Central Back Close i u Mid ɛ ɔ Open a

/ɛ/ and /ɔ/ are pronounced [[e](/source/Close-mid_front_unrounded_vowel)] and [[o](/source/Close-mid_back_rounded_vowel)], respectively, if the following syllable contains the [+[ATR](/source/Advanced_and_retracted_tongue_root)] vowels /i/ or /u/.[18] They are [ɛ] and [ɔ] otherwise:

- *umgibeli* "passenger", phonetically [úm̩̀ɡìɓé(ː)lì]

- *ukupheka* "to cook", phonetically [ùɠúpʰɛ̀(ː)ɠà]

There is limited [vowel length](/source/Vowel_length) in Zulu, as a result of the contraction of certain syllables. For example, the word *ithambo* /íːtʰámbó/ "bone", is a contraction of an earlier *ilithambo* /ílítʰámbó/, which may still be used by some speakers. Likewise, *uphahla* /úːpʰaɬa/ "roof" is a contraction of the earlier *uluphahla* /ulúpʰaɬa/. In addition, the vowel of the penultimate syllable is allophonically lengthened phrase- or sentence-finally.

### Consonants

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Zulu phonemes Labial Dental/Alveolar Postalveolar Velar Glottal median lateral Click plain ᵏǀʼ ᵏǁʼ ᵏǃʼ aspirated ᵏǀʰ ᵏǁʰ ᵏǃʰ nasalised ᵑǀ ᵑǁ ᵑǃ slack-voiced oral ᶢǀʱ ᶢǁʱ ᶢǃʱ slack-voiced nasal ᵑǀʱ ᵑǁʱ ᵑǃʱ Nasal modally voiced m n ɲ slack-voiced m̤ n̤ (ŋ̤) Plosive plain pʼ tʼ kʼ aspirated pʰ tʰ kʰ slack-voiced b̤ d̤ ɡ̤ implosive ɓ ɠ Affricate plain tsʼ tʃʼ kxʼ~k𝼄ʼ slack-voiced dʒ̤ Fricative voiceless f s ɬ ʃ h slack-voiced v̤ z̤ ɮ̤ ɦ̥ Liquid (r) l Semivowel modally voiced j w slack-voiced j̤ w̤

1. The plain voiceless plosives, affricates and clicks are realised phonetically as ejectives [[pʼ](/source/Bilabial_ejective_stop)], [[tʼ](/source/Alveolar_ejective_stop)], [[kʼ](/source/Velar_ejective_stop)], [[tsʼ](/source/Alveolar_ejective_affricate)], [[tʃʼ](/source/Postalveolar_ejective_affricate)] [[kxʼ](/source/Velar_ejective_affricate)].

1. When not preceded by a nasal, /ɠ/ is almost in complementary distribution with /k/ and /kʰ/. The latter two phonemes occur almost exclusively root-initially, while /ɠ/ appears exclusively medially. Recent loanwords contain /k/ and /kʰ/ in other positions, e.g. *isekhondi* /iːsekʰoːndi/ "second", *ibhayisikili* /iːbajisikiːli/ "bicycle".

1. The [slack-voiced](/source/Slack_voice) consonants are [depressor consonants](/source/Depressor_consonant). These have a lowering effect on the tone of their syllable.

1. The consonant /ŋ/ occurs in some dialects as a reduction of the cluster /nɡ/ when it is not in stem-initial position, and is therefore always slack-voiced.

1. The trill /r/ is not native to Zulu and occurs only in expressive words and in recent borrowings from European languages.

The use of [click consonants](/source/Click_consonant) is one of the most distinctive features of Zulu. This feature is shared with several other languages of Southern Africa, but it is very rare in other regions. There are three basic articulations of clicks in Zulu:

- [Denti-alveolar](/source/Dental_click) /ǀ/, comparable to a sucking of teeth, as the sound one makes for 'tsk tsk'.

- [Postalveolar](/source/Postalveolar_click) /!/, comparable to a bottle top 'pop'.

- [Lateral](/source/Alveolar_lateral_click) /ǁ/, comparable to a click that one may do for a walking horse.

Each articulation covers five click consonants, with differences such as being slack-voiced, [aspirated](/source/Aspiration_(phonetics)) or [nasalised](/source/Nasalisation), for a total of 15.

### Phonotactics

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Zulu syllables are canonically (N)C(w)V[*[clarification needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Please_clarify)*], and words must always end in a vowel. Consonant clusters consist of any consonant, optionally preceded by a [homorganic](/source/Homorganic) nasal consonant (so-called "prenasalisation", described in more detail below) and optionally followed by the consonant /w/.

In addition, syllabic /m̩/ occurs as a reduction of former /mu/, and acts like a true syllable: it can be syllabic even when not word-initial, and can also carry distinctive tones like a full syllable. It does not necessarily have to be homorganic with the following consonant, although the difference between homorganic nonsyllabic /mC/ and syllabic /m̩C/ is distinctive, e.g. *umpetshisi* /um̩pétʃiːsi/ "peach tree" (5 syllables) versus *impoko* /ímpoːɠo/ "grass flower" (3 syllables). Moreover, sequences of syllabic *m* and homorganic *m* can occur, e.g. *ummbila* /úm̩mbíːla/ "maize" (4 syllables).

Recent loanwords from languages such as English may violate these constraints, by including additional consonant clusters that are not native to Zulu, such as in *igremu* /iːgreːmu/ "[gram](/source/Gram)". There may be some variation between speakers as to whether clusters are broken up by an [epenthetic vowel](/source/Epenthetic_vowel) or not, e.g. *ikhompiyutha* /iːkʰompijuːtʰa/ or *ikhompyutha* /iːkʰompjuːtʰa/ "computer".

### Prosody

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#### Stress

Stress in Zulu words is mostly predictable and normally falls on the penultimate syllable of a word. It is accompanied by an allophonic lengthening of the vowel. When the final vowel of a word is long due to contraction, it receives the stress instead of the preceding syllable.

Lengthening does not occur on all words in a sentence, however, but only those that are sentence- or phrase-final. Thus, for any word of at least two syllables, there are two different forms, one with penultimate length and one without it, occurring in complementary distribution. In some cases, there are morphemic alternations that occur as a result of word position as well. The remote demonstrative pronouns may appear with the suffix *-ana* when sentence-final, but only as *-ā* otherwise. Likewise, the recent past tense of verbs ends in *-ile* sentence-finally, but is reduced to *-ē* medially. Moreover, a falling tone can only occur on a long vowel, so the shortening has effects on tone as well.

Some words, such as ideophones or interjections, can have stress that deviates from the regular pattern.

#### Tone

Like almost all other [Bantu](/source/Bantu_languages) and other [African languages](/source/African_languages), Zulu is [tonal](/source/Tone_(linguistics)). There are three main *tonemes*: low, high and falling. Zulu is conventionally written without any indication of tone, but tone can be distinctive in Zulu. For example, the words "priest" and "teacher" are both spelt *umfundisi*, but they are pronounced with different tones: /úm̩fúndisi/ for the "priest" meaning, and /úm̩fundísi/ for the "teacher" meaning.

In principle, every syllable can be pronounced with either a high or a low tone. However, low tone does not behave the same as the other two, as high tones can "spread" into low-toned syllables while the reverse does not occur. A low tone is therefore better described as the *absence* of any toneme; it is a kind of default tone that is overridden by high or falling tones. The falling tone is a sequence of high-low and occurs only on long vowels. The penultimate syllable can also bear a falling tone when it is long due to the word's position in the phrase. However, when it shortens, the falling tone becomes disallowed in that position.[*[clarification needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Please_clarify)*]

In principle, every [morpheme](/source/Morpheme) has an inherent underlying tone pattern which does not change regardless of where it appears in a word. However, like most other Bantu languages, Zulu has [word tone](/source/Word_tone), meaning that the pattern of tones acts more like a template to assign tones to individual syllables, rather than a direct representation of the pronounced tones themselves. Consequently, the relationship between underlying tone patterns and the tones that are pronounced can be quite complex. Underlying high tones tend to surface rightward from the syllables where they are underlyingly present, especially in longer words.

#### Depressor consonants

The breathy consonant phonemes in Zulu are [depressor consonants](/source/Depressor_consonant) or depressors for short. Depressor consonants have a lowering effect on pitch, adding a non-phonemic low-tone onset to the normal tone of the syllable. Thus, in syllables with depressor consonants, high tones are realised as rising, and falling tones as rising-then-falling. In both cases, the pitch does not reach as high as in non-depressed syllables. The possible tones on a syllable with a voiceless consonant like *hla* are [ɬá ɬâ ɬà], and the possible tones of a breathy consonant syllable, like *dla*, are [ɮǎ̤ ɮa̤᷈ ɮà̤]. A depressor does not affect a syllable that's already low, but it blocks assimilation to a preceding high tone so that the tone of the depressor syllable and any following low-tone syllables stays low.

### Phonological processes

#### Prenasalisation

Prenasalisation occurs whenever a consonant is preceded by a homorganic nasal, either lexically or as a consequence of prefixation. The most notable case of the latter is the class 9 noun prefix *in-*, which ends in a homorganic nasal. Prenasalisation triggers several changes in the following consonant, some of which are phonemic and others allophonic. The changes can be summed as follows:[19][20]

Normal Prenasalised Rule /pʰ/, /tʰ/, /kʰ/ /mp/, /nt/, /ŋk/ Aspiration is lost on obstruents. /ǀʰ/, /ǁʰ/, /ǃʰ/ /ᵑǀ/, /ᵑǁ/, /ᵑǃ/ Aspiration is replaced by nasalisation of clicks. /ǀ/, /ǁ/, /ǃ/ /ᵑǀʱ/, /ᵑǁʱ/, /ᵑǃʱ/ Plain clicks become breathy nasal. /ɓ/ /mb/ Implosive becomes breathy. /f/, /s/, /ʃ/, /ɬ/ /v/, /z/, /ɮ/ [ɱp̪fʼ], [ntsʼ], /ntʃ/, [ntɬʼ] [ɱb̪vʱ], [ndzʱ], [ndɮʱ] Fricatives become affricates. Only phonemic, and thus reflected orthographically, for /ntʃ/. /h/, /ɦ/, /w/, /wʱ/ [ŋx], [ŋɡʱ], [ŋɡw], [ŋɡwʱ] Approximants are fortified. This change is allophonic, and not reflected in the orthography. /j/ /ɲ/ Palatal approximant becomes palatal nasal. /l/ /l/ or rarely /nd/ The outcome /nd/ is a fossilised outcome from the time when /d/ and /l/ were still one phoneme. See Proto-Bantu language. /m/, /n/, /ɲ/ /m/, /n/, /ɲ/ No change when the following consonant is itself a nasal.

#### Tone assimilation

Zulu has tonic [assimilation](/source/Assimilation_(linguistics)): high tones tend to spread allophonically to following low-tone syllables, raising their pitch to a level just below that of adjacent high-tone syllables. A toneless syllable between a high-tone syllable and another tonic syllable assimilates to that high tone. That is, if the preceding syllable ends on a high tone and the following syllable begins with a high tone (because it is high or falling), the intermediate toneless syllable has its pitch raised as well. When the preceding syllable is high but the following is toneless, the medial toneless syllable adopts a high-tone onset from the preceding syllable, resulting in a falling tone contour.

For example, the English word *spoon* was borrowed into Zulu as *isipunu*, phonemically /ísipúnu/. The second syllable *si* assimilates to the surrounding high tones, raising its pitch, so that it is pronounced [ísípʼúːnù] sentence-finally. If tone pitch is indicated with numbers, with 1 highest and 9 lowest pitch, then the pitches of each syllable can be denoted as 2-4-3-9.[21] The second syllable is thus still lower in pitch than both of the adjacent syllables.

#### Tone displacement

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Depressor consonants have an effect called *tone displacement*. Tone displacement occurs whenever a depressor occurs with a high tone, and causes the tone on the syllable to shift rightward onto the next syllable. If the next syllable is long, it gets a falling tone, otherwise a regular high tone. If the penultimate syllable becomes high (not falling), the final syllable [dissimilates](/source/Dissimilation_(phonology)) and becomes low if it was not already. Tone displacement is blocked under the following conditions:

- When the syllable has a long vowel.

- When the following syllable also has a depressor consonant.

- When the following syllable is the final syllable and is short.

Whenever tone displacement is blocked, this results in a depressor syllable with a high tone, which will have the low-tone onset as described above. When the following syllable already has a high or falling tone, the tone disappears from the syllable as if it had been shifted away, but the following syllable's tone is not modified.

Some examples:

- *izipunu* "spoons", the plural of *isipunu* from the previous section, is phonemically /ízipúnu/. Because /z/ is a depressor consonant, tone assimilation is prevented. Consequently, the word is pronounced as [ízìpʼúːnù] sentence-finally, with a low tone in the second syllable.

- *izintombi* "girls" is phonemically /izíntombí/. /z/ is a depressor, and is not blocked, so the tone shifts to the third syllable. This syllable can be either long or short depending on sentence position. When long, the pronunciation is [ìzìntômbí], with a falling tone. However, when the third syllable is short, the tone is high, and dissimilation of the final syllable occurs, resulting in [ìzìntómbì].

- *nendoda* "with a man" is phonemically /nʱéndoda/. /nʱ/ is a depressor, but so is /d/, so tone displacement is blocked. Consequently, the pronunciation is [nʱěndɔ̀ːdà], with rising pitch in the first syllable due to the low-onset effect.

#### Palatalization

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[Palatalization](/source/Palatalization_(sound_change)) is a change that affects labial and alveolar consonants whenever they are immediately followed by /j/. While palatalization occurred historically, it is still productive and occurs as a result of the addition of suffixes beginning with /j/. A frequent example is the diminutive suffix *-yana*.

Moreover, Zulu does not generally tolerate sequences of a labial consonant plus /w/. Whenever /w/ follows a labial consonant, it changes to /j/, which then triggers palatalization of the consonant. This effect can be seen in the locative forms of nouns ending in *-o* or *-u*, which change to *-weni* and *-wini* respectively in the locative. If a labial consonant immediately precedes, palatalization is triggered. The change also occurs in nouns beginning in *ubu-* with a stem beginning with a vowel.

The following changes occur as a result of palatalization:

Original consonant Palatalized consonant Examples pʰ ʃ impuphu → impushana (diminutive) izipho → ezisheni (locative) tʰ umuthi → umshana (diminutive; also umthana) p tʃʼ umtapo → emtatsheni (locative) t ikati → ikatshana (diminutive) bʱ intaba → intatshana (diminutive) ingubo → engutsheni (locative) ubu- + -ani → utshani (ubu- + vowel) b dʒ isigubhu → isigujana (diminutive) d incwadi → incwajana (diminutive; also incwadana) m ɲ inkomo → inkonyana (diminutive) umlomo → emlonyeni (locative) n inyoni → inyonyana (diminutive) mp ntʃʼ inswempe → inswentshana (diminutive) nt umkhonto → umkhontshwana (diminutive) mb ndʒ ithambo → ethanjeni (locative) nd isondo → isonjwana (diminutive; also isondwana)

## Orthography

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Zulu is primarily written in a Latin alphabet, and occasionally in [Ditema syllabics](/source/Ditema_syllabics). In Malawi, [Ngoni dialect](/source/Ngoni_dialect) may be written in [Mwangwego script](/source/Mwangwego_script).

Zulu employs the 26 letters of the [ISO basic Latin alphabet](/source/ISO_basic_Latin_alphabet). However, some of the letters have different pronunciations than in English. Additional phonemes are written using sequences of multiple letters. Tone, stress and vowel length are not indicated.

Letter(s) Phoneme(s) Example a /a/ amanzi /ámáːnzi/ "water" b /ɓ/ ubaba /úɓaːɓá/ "my/our father" bh /b/ ukubhala /úɠubâːla/ "to write" c /ǀ/ icici /îːǀíːǀi/ "earring" ch /ǀʰ/ ukuchaza /uɠúǀʰaːza/ "to fascinate/explain" d /d/ idada /íːdaːda/ "duck" dl /ɮ/ ukudla /úɠuːɮá/ "to eat" e /e/ ibele /îːɓéːle/ "breast" f /f/ ifu /íːfu/ "cloud" g /ɡ/ ugogo /úɡóːɡo/ "grandmother" gc /ᶢǀʱ/ isigcino /isíᶢǀʱiːno/ "end" gq /ᶢǃʱ/ uMgqibelo /umúᶢǃʱiɓéːlo/ "Saturday" gx /ᶢǁʱ/ ukugxoba /uɠúᶢǁʱoːɓa/ "to stamp" h /h/ ukuhamba /úɠuháːmba/ "to go" hh /ɦ/ ihhashi /îːɦáːʃi/ "horse" hl /ɬ/ ukuhlala /uɠúɬaːla/ "to sit" i /i/ imini /ímíːni/ "daytime" j /dʒ/ uju /úːdʒu/ "honey" k /k/ ikati /îːkáːti/ "cat" /ɠ/ ukuza /uɠúːza/ "to come" kh /kʰ/ ikhanda /îːkʰâːnda/ "head" kl /kx/ umklomelo /umukxómeːlo/ "prize" l /l/ ukulala /úɠuláːla/ "sleep" m /m/ imali /ímaːlí/ "money" /mʱ/ umama /úmʱáːma/ "my/our mother" mb /mb/ imbube /ímbuːɓé/ "lion" n /n/ unina /úniːna/ "his/her/their mother" /nʱ/ nendoda /nʱéndoːda/ "with a man" nc /ᵑǀ/ incwancwa /íᵑǀwáːᵑǀwa/ "sour corn meal" ng /ŋ(ɡ)/ ingane /ínɡáːne/ "child" ngc /ᵑǀʱ/ ingcosi /íᵑǀʱoːsí/ "a bit" ngq /ᵑǃʱ/ ingqondo /íᵑǃʱoːndo/ "brain" ngx /ᵑǁʱ/ ingxenye /íᵑǁʱéːɲe/ "part" nj /ɲdʒ/ inja /îːɲdʒá/ "dog" nk /ŋk/ inkomo /íŋkoːmó/ "cow" nq /ᵑǃ/ inqola /íᵑǃóːla/ "cart" ntsh /ɲtʃ/ intshe /îːɲtʃé/ "ostrich" nx /ᵑǁ/ inxeba /íːᵑǁeːɓa/ "wound" ny /ɲ/ inyoni /íɲoːni/ "bird" o /o/ uphondo /úːpʰoːndo/ "horn" p /p/ ipipi /îːpíːpi/ "pipe for smoking" ph /pʰ/ ukupheka /uɠúpʰeːɠa/ "to cook" q /ǃ/ iqaqa /íːǃaːǃá/ "polecat" qh /ǃʰ/ iqhude /îːǃʰúːde/ "rooster" r /r/ iresiphi /iːrésiːpʰi/ "recipe" s /s/ isisu /isíːsu/ "stomach" sh /ʃ/ ishumi /îːʃûːmi/ "ten" t /t/ itiye /îːtíːje/ "tea" th /tʰ/ ukuthatha /úɠutʰáːtʰa/ "to take" ts /ts/ itswayi /íːtswaːjí/ "salt" tsh /tʃ/ utshani /útʃaːní/ "grass" u /u/ ubusuku /úɓusûːɠu/ "night" v /v/ ukuvala /uɠúvaːla/ "to close" w /w/ ukuwela /uɠúweːla/ "to cross" /wʱ/ wuthando /wʱúːtʰâːndo/ "It's love." x /ǁ/ ixoxo /íːǁoːǁo/ "frog" xh /ǁʰ/ ukuxhasa /úɠuǁʰáːsa/ "to support" y /j/ uyise /újiːsé/ "his/her/their father" /jʱ/ yintombazane /jʱintómbazâːne/ "It's a girl" z /z/ umzuzu /umúzuːzú/ "moment"

Reference works and older texts may use additional letters. A common former practice was to indicate the implosive /ɓ/ using the special letter *ɓ*, while the digraph *bh* would then be simply written as *b*. Some references may also write *h* after letters to indicate that they are of the depressor variety, e.g. *mh*, *nh*, *yh*, a practice that is standard in [Xhosa](/source/Xhosa_language) orthography.

Very early texts, from the early 20th century or before, tend to omit the distinction between plain and aspirated voiceless consonants, writing the latter without the *h*.

Nouns are written with their prefixes as one orthographical word. If the prefix ends with a vowel (as most do) and the noun stem also begins with a vowel, a hyphen is inserted in between, e.g. *i-Afrika*. This occurs only with loanwords.

## Morphology

Main article: [Zulu grammar](/source/Zulu_grammar)

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Here are some of the main features of Zulu:

- Word order is [subject–verb–object](/source/Subject%E2%80%93verb%E2%80%93object).

- Morphologically, it is an [agglutinative language](/source/Agglutinative_language).

- As in other Bantu languages, Zulu nouns are classified into [morphological classes](/source/Noun_class) or *[genders](/source/Grammatical_gender)* (16 in Zulu), with different prefixes for singular and plural. Various parts of speech that qualify a noun must agree with the noun according to its gender. Such agreements usually reflect part of the original class with which it is agreeing. An example is the use of the class "aba-":

- - ***B**onke **aba**ntu **aba**qatha **ba**sepulazini **ba**yagawula*. - *All the strong people on the farm are felling (trees).*

- The various agreements that qualify the word "abantu" (people) can be seen in effect.

- Its verbal system shows a combination of temporal and aspectual categories in their finite paradigm. Typically verbs have two stems, one for present-undefinite and another for perfect. Different prefixes can be attached to these verbal stems to specify subject agreement and various degrees of past or future tense. For example, in the word *uyathanda* ("he loves"), the present stem of the verb is *-thanda*, the prefix *u-* expresses the third-person singular subject and *-ya-* is a filler that is used in short sentences.

- Suffixes are also put into common use to show the causative or reciprocal forms of a verb stem.

- Most property words (words encoded as adjectives in English) are represented by relatives. In the sentence *umuntu ubomvu* ("the person is red"), the word *ubomvu* (root *-bomvu*) behaves like a verb and uses the agreement prefix *u-*. however, there are subtle differences; for example, it does not use the prefix *ya-*.

### Morphology of root *Zulu*

The root can be combined with several prefixes and thus create other words. For example, here is a table with some words constructed from the roots -*Zulu* and *-ntu* (the root for *person/people*):

Prefix -zulu -ntu um(u) umZulu (a Zulu person) umuntu (a person) ama, aba amaZulu (Zulu people) abantu (people) isi isiZulu (the Zulu language) isintu (culture, heritage, mankind) ubu ubuZulu (personification/Zulu-like tendencies) ubuntu (humanity, compassion) kwa kwaZulu (place of the Zulu people) – i(li) izulu (the weather/sky/heaven) – pha phezulu (on top) – e ezulwini (in, at, to, from heaven) –

## Sample phrases and text

The following is a list of phrases that can be used when one visits a region whose primary language is Zulu:

Zulu English Sawubona Hello, to one person Sanibonani Hello, to a group of people Unjani? / Ninjani? How are you (sing.)? / How are you (pl.)? Ngiyaphila / Siyaphila I'm okay / We're okay Ngiyabonga (kakhulu) Thanks (a lot) Ngubani igama lakho? What is your name? Igama lami ngu... My name is... Isikhathi sithini? What's the time? Ngingakusiza? Can I help you? Uhlala kuphi? Where do you stay? Uphumaphi? Where are you from? Hamba kahle / Sala kahle Go well / Stay well, used as goodbye. The person staying says "Hamba kahle", and the person leaving says "Sala kahle". Other translations include Go gently and Walk in peace.[22] Hambani kahle / Salani kahle Go well / Stay well, to a group of people Eish! Wow! (No real European equivalent, used in South African English) (you could try a semi-expletive, such as oh my gosh or what the heck. It expresses a notion of shock and surprise) Hhayibo No! / Stop! / No way! (used in South African English too) Yebo Yes Cha No Angazi I don't know Uyasikhuluma isiNgisi na? Do you speak English? Ngisaqala ukufunda isiZulu I've just started learning Zulu Uqonde ukuthini? What do you mean? Ngiyakuthanda. I love you

The following is from the preamble to the [Constitution of South Africa](/source/Constitution_of_South_Africa):

Thina, bantu baseNingizimu Afrika, Siyakukhumbula ukucekelwa phansi kwamalungelo okwenzeka eminyakeni eyadlula; Sibungaza labo abahluphekela ubulungiswa nenkululeko kulo mhlaba wethu; Sihlonipha labo abasebenzela ukwakha nokuthuthukisa izwe lethu; futhi Sikholelwa ekutheni iNingizimu Afrika ingeyabo bonke abahlala kuyo, sibumbene nakuba singafani.

**Translation:**

We, the people of South Africa, Recognise the injustices of our past; Honour those who suffered for justice and freedom in our land; Respect those who have worked to build and develop our country; and Believe that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, united in our diversity.

## Counting in Zulu

### Counting from 1 to 10

The digital numerical counting etiquette on the fingers begins with the little finger of the left hand to the left thumb and then continues with the right-hand thumb towards the right little finger. Starting with a closed left hand, each finger is extended with each subsequent number from one to five. Once the left hand is open, then counting continues on the right hand with each finger opening in turn. It is noteworthy that in Zulu, the names for the numbers six to nine reflect either the anatomical name of the digit (six, *isithupha*, means "thumb"), action (seven, *isikhombisa*, means "the one that points out"), or position/placement (eight or *isishiyagalombili*, means "two remaining", and nine or *isishiyagalolunye*, indicating "one remaining").[23]

IsiZulu English Kunye One Kubili Two Kuthathu Three Kune Four Isihlanu Five Isithupha Six Isikhombisa Seven Isishiyagalombili Eight Isishiyagalolunye Nine Ishumi Ten

## Months

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**Months in Zulu**

English Zulu January uMasingana February uNhlolanja March uNdasa April uMbasa May uNhlaba June uNhlangulana July uNtulikazi August uNcwaba September uMandulo October uMfumfu November uLwezi December uZibandlela

## Oral literature

### Proverbs

In 1912, Franz Mayr, an Austrian missionary in southern Africa from 1890 until his death in 1914,[24] published a collection of 150 proverbs in Zulu with an English translation.[25] The proverbs include:

- "*Inhlwa aibanjwa ngekanda isavela*." "The winged termite is not caught by its head as soon as it appears (i.e. wait till you have heard the whole story before you judge or even answer)."

- "*Aku 'qaqa lazizwa ukunuka*." "No polecat ever smelt its own stink (i.e. nobody recognises his own faults)."

- "*Aku'nkwali epandela enya*." "There is no partridge that scratches for another (i.e. everyone looks after his own interests)."

- "*Ikhot'eyikhotayo*." "The cow licks the one that licks her (said of people who help one another)."

[John Colenso](/source/John_Colenso) also included a selection of Zulu proverbs with English translations in his *[Zulu-English Dictionary](https://archive.org/details/colenso-zulu-english-dictionary-1884/Colenso%2C%20Zulu-English%20Dictionary%20%281884%29%20-%20copy%20A/page/n13/mode/2up?view=theater),* first published in 1884.[26] Here are some of those proverbs:

- "*Iqina liphum'embizeni.*" "The buck has jumped out of the pot (i.e. it has escaped the hunter just when he thought he had it)."

- "*Izubela ladhl'indhlovu.*" "The wood-shaving killed the elephant (by striking it in the eye; used of a small matter producing a very serious result)."

- "*Aku'mmango ongena'liba.*" "There is no hill without a grave (i.e. death is everywhere)."

### Tales

In 1868, [Henry Callaway](/source/Henry_Callaway) published a collection of traditional Zulu tales told by storytellers in the [Colony of Natal](/source/Colony_of_Natal); the book includes the Zulu text accompanied by an English translation.[27] The stories include the Tale of Uhlakanyana, a long cycle narrating the adventures of the famous [Zulu trickster figure](/source/Uhlakanyana);[28] the story of the Zulu hero Usikulumi and his family;[29] the story of Usitungusohenthle who was carried away by pigeons;[30] and the legend of the mythical bird that gave milk,[31] along with an account of the very real [honeyguide](/source/Honeyguide) bird, called *inhlamvu* in Zulu.[32] There are many cannibal stories, including *Itshe Likantunjambili*, "The Cannibal's Cave;" *Intombi Namazimu*, "The Girl and the Cannibals;" "Umbadhlanyana and the Cannibal;" and *Amazimu,* "Cannibals," along with an appendix on cannibalism.[33] Women are the main characters in many of the stories, such as *Ugungqu-Kubantwana,* the popular folktale of the old woman who must seek a pond of clear water;[34] the tale of Princess Umkxakaza-Wakogingqwayo;[35] the tale of Princess Umdhlubu;[36] and the tale of Princess Untombi-Yapansi,[37] along with the story of *Ununana-Bosele*, the woman who defeated a swallowing monster in the form of an elephant.[38] Some stories, like *Ubongopa-Kamagadhlela*,[39] feature numerous songs in Zulu, for which Callaway provides the lyrics but not the music.

In 1870, Callaway published *[The Religious System of the Amazulu](https://archive.org/details/relamazulu00calluoft/)*[40] which also contains Zulu texts and English translations, including *Unkulunkulu*, "The Tradition of Creation,"[41] along with lengthy Zulu testimony regarding ancestor worship, dream interpretation, divination, and medicine.

### Riddles

Callaway's 1868 collection of Zulu texts also contains 12 riddles in Zulu with an English translation.[42] The riddles include:

- "*Kqandela ni inkomo e hlatshelwa 'zibayeni zibili (intwala, ngokuba umuntu u ya i tata engutsheni, ka namandhla oku i bulala ngesitupa si sinye; uma e nga hlanganisi izitupa zozibili, a i kcindezele, i fe*." "Guess ye an ox which is slaughtered in two cattle-pens (a louse, for a man takes it out of his blanket, but he cannot kill it with one thumb; but only by bringing the two thumbs together, and squeezing it between them that it may die)."

- "*Kqandela ni indoba e nga lali; ku ze ku se i mi, i nga lele (insika a i lali, ngokuba i y' ema njalo, i linde indhlu)*." "Guess ye a man who does not lie down; even when it is morning he is standing, he not having lain down (a pillar does not lie down, for it stands constantly and watches the house)."

There are six Zulu riddles reported in the *Folklore Journal* of the South African Folklore Society in 1880.[43] Here are two of them:

- "*Ngi tshele ibizo le'nyoka ende e dhlula izinyoka ezinye? (indhlela).*" "Tell me the name of the longest snake? (a road)."

- "*Ngu bani oma njalo a ngez'a hlala pansi? (ishilahla).*" "Who is it that stands always and never sits? (a tree)."

### Songs

Photograph of Madikane Čele in Zulu clothing, holding a spear (assegai)

In 1920, Madikane Čele contributed Zulu song lyrics and music to [Natalie Curtis Burlin's](/source/Natalie_Curtis) book *[Songs and Tales from the Dark Continent](https://archive.org/details/songstalesfromda00burl/view=theater)*.[44] Zulu texts and English translations, plus commentary, are provided for "*Ingoma yeMpi,*" "A Song of War;"[45] "*Ingoma yaBantwana,*" "A Song of Children" (lullaby);[46] "*Ingoma yokuSina,*" "A Dance-Song;"[47] "*Ingoma yoThando,*"[48] "A Love-Song," along with the music for the songs.[49]

## Zulu words in South African English

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[South African English](/source/South_African_English) has absorbed many words from the Zulu language. Others, such as the names of local animals (*[impala](/source/Impala)* and *[mamba](/source/Mamba)* are both Zulu names) have made their way into standard English. A few examples of Zulu words used in South African English:

- [muti](/source/Muti) (from *umuthi*) – medicine

- donga (from *udonga*) – ditch (*udonga* means "wall" in Zulu and is also the name for ditches caused by soil erosion)

- *[indaba](/source/Indaba)* – conference (it means "an item of news"' in Zulu)

- *[induna](/source/Induna)* – chief right handman or leader

- shongololo (from *ishongololo*) – millipede

- *[ubuntu](/source/Ubuntu_(ideology))* – compassion/humanity.

## See also

- [South Africa portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:South_Africa)
- [Languages portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Languages)

- [Impi](/source/Impi)

- [Shaka kaSenzangakhona](/source/Shaka)

- [Tsotsitaal](/source/Tsotsitaal) – a Zulu-based [creole language](/source/Creole_language) spoken in [Soweto](/source/Soweto)

- [Xhosa language](/source/Xhosa_language)

- [Northern Ndebele language](/source/Northern_Ndebele_language)

## Notes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Ethnologue estimates (calculated between 2000 and 2015): - [Swahili](/source/Swahili_language): 98 million (L1: 16 million, L2: 80 million)[6] - Zulu: 27 million (L1: 11 million, L2: 16 million)[7] - [Shona](/source/Shona_language) 9 million (L1: 7 million, L2: 2 million)[8]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-e27_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-e27_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-e27_1-2) [Zulu](https://www.ethnologue.com/language/zul) at *[Ethnologue](/source/Ethnologue)* (27th ed., 2024)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Guthrie_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Guthrie_2-1) Jouni Filip Maho, 2009. [New Updated Guthrie List Online](https://web.archive.org/web/20180203191542/http://goto.glocalnet.net/mahopapers/nuglonline.pdf)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Zulu speaking countries"](https://www.worlddata.info/languages/zulu.php). *www.worlddata.info*. Retrieved 16 August 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Ethnologue 2005

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Carter, Phillip M. (2016). *Languages In The World: How History, Culture, and Politics Shape Language*. Wiley. p. 139. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781118531280](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781118531280).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [Swahili](https://www.ethnologue.com/language/swh), *Ethnologue* (18th ed., 2015): "47,000,000 in Tanzania, all users. L1 users: 15,000,000 (2012), increasing. L2 users: 32,000,000 (2015 D. Nurse). Total users in all countries: 98,310,110 (as L1: 16,010,110; as L2: 82,300,000)."

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Ethnologue: Zulu"](https://www.ethnologue.com/language/zul). *Ethnologue (Free All)*. Ethnologue. Retrieved 5 March 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Ethnologue: Shona"](https://www.ethnologue.com/language/sna). Retrieved 6 March 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** sahoboss (3 April 2011). ["Zulu"](http://www.sahistory.org.za/article/zulu). *South African History Online*. Retrieved 17 June 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-NorthernNdebeleBlog_11-0)** NorthernNdebele.blogspot.com *NorthernNdebele.blogspot.com*

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Spiegler, Sebastian; van der Spuy, Andrew; Flach, Peter A. (August 2010). ["Ukwabelana – An open-source morphological Zulu corpus"](http://www.aclweb.org/anthology/C10-1115). *Proceedings of the 23rd International Conference on Computational Linguistics*. Beijing, China: Tsinghua University Press. p. 1020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Rakkenes, Øystein (2003) *Himmelfolket: En Norsk Høvding i Zululand*, Oslo: Cappelen Forlag, pp. 63–65

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["pansalb.org.za"](https://web.archive.org/web/20071217141039/http://www.pansalb.org.za/). Archived from [the original](http://www.pansalb.org.za/) on 17 December 2007. Retrieved 17 December 2007.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** [isolezwe.co.za](http://www.isolezwe.co.za/)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** [ilanganews.co.za](http://www.ilanganews.co.za/)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["Oscar nomination for SA film – Brand South Africa"](https://www.brandsouthafrica.com/south-africa-fast-facts/arts-facts/oscars-261005&grqid=VQcz2QAd&s=1&hl=en-ZA). brandsouthafrica.com. 26 January 2005. Retrieved 21 August 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** Magagula, Constance Samukelisiwe (2009). *Standard Versus Non-standard IsiZulu: A Comparative Study Between Urban and Rural Learners' Performance and Attitude*. Durban: University of KwaZulu-Natal.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** ["PHOIBLE 2.0 -"](https://phoible.org/inventories/view/147#tipa). *phoible.org*. Retrieved 10 October 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** Rycroft & Ngcobo (1979) *Say it in Zulu*, p. 6

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** *Zulu-English dictionary*, C.M. Doke & B.W. Vilakazi

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** *Zulu-English Dictionary*, Doke, 1958

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** [Zulu English Dictionary](https://archive.org/stream/zuluenglishdict01colegoog/zuluenglishdict01colegoog_djvu.txt)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** Ayonrinde, Oyedeji A.; Stefatos, Anthi; Miller, Shadé; Richer, Amanda; Nadkarni, Pallavi; She, Jennifer; Alghofaily, Ahmad; Mngoma, Nomusa (12 June 2020). ["The salience and symbolism of numbers across cultural beliefs and practice"](https://doi.org/10.1080/09540261.2020.1769289). *International Review of Psychiatry*. **33** (1–2): 179–188. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1080/09540261.2020.1769289](https://doi.org/10.1080%2F09540261.2020.1769289). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0954-0261](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0954-0261). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [32527165](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32527165). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [219605482](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:219605482).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-25)** [Reverend Father Franz Mayr](https://fhya.uct.ac.za/reverend-father-franz-mayr) *Five Hundred Year Archive (FHYA)*. Retrieved July 14, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-26)** Mayr, Fr. (1912). ["Zulu Proverbs"](https://archive.org/details/anthropos_1912_7/page/956/mode/2up). *Anthropos*. 7: 957–963.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-27)** Colenso, John W. (1884). *[Zulu-English Dictionary](https://archive.org/details/colenso-zulu-english-dictionary-1884/Colenso%2C%20Zulu-English%20Dictionary%20%281884%29%20-%20copy%20A/page/n13/mode/2up?view=theater)*. Natal. pp. i-xv. See also the [1905 edition](https://archive.org/details/zuluenglishdict01colegoog/page/725/mode/2up?view=theater), pp. 725–728.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-28)** Callaway, Henry (1868). *[Nursery Tales, Traditions, and Histories of the Zulus](https://archive.org/details/cu31924026950968/)*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-29)** [Callaway 1868](https://archive.org/details/cu31924026950968/page/n25/mode/2up?view=theater), pp. 3–40.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-30)** [Callaway 1868](https://archive.org/details/cu31924026950968/page/n64/mode/2up?view=theater), pp. 41–72.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-31)** [Callaway 1868](https://archive.org/details/cu31924026950968/page/n101/mode/1up?view=theater), pp. 78–85.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-32)** [Callaway 1868](https://archive.org/details/cu31924026950968/page/n122/mode/1up?view=theater), pp. 99–104.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-33)** [Callaway 1868](https://archive.org/details/cu31924026950968/page/n158/mode/1up?view=theater), pp. 135–140.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-34)** [Callaway 1868](https://archive.org/details/cu31924026950968/page/n181/mode/1up?view=theater&q=cannibal), pp. 140–141, 142–152, 154–155, 155–158, and 158–164.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-35)** [Callaway 1868](https://archive.org/details/cu31924026950968/page/n187/mode/1up?view=theater), pp. 164–176.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-36)** [Callaway 1868](https://archive.org/details/cu31924026950968/page/n204/mode/1up?view=theater), pp. 181–217.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-37)** [Callaway 1868](https://archive.org/details/cu31924026950968/page/n260/mode/1up?view=theater), pp. 237–253.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-38)** [Callaway 1868](https://archive.org/details/cu31924026950968/page/n319/mode/1up?view=theater), pp. 296–317.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-39)** [Callaway 1868](https://archive.org/details/cu31924026950968/page/n354/mode/1up?view=theater), pp. 331–335.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-40)** [Callaway 1868](https://archive.org/details/cu31924026950968/page/n244/mode/1up?view=theater), pp. 221–237.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-41)** Callaway, Henry (1870). *[The Religious System of the Amazulu](https://archive.org/details/relamazulu00calluoft/)*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-42)** [Callaway 1870](https://archive.org/details/relamazulu00calluoft/page/n7/mode/2up?view=theater), pp. 1–104.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-43)** [Callaway 1868](https://archive.org/details/cu31924026950968/page/n387/mode/2up?view=theater), pp. 364–374.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-44)** Carbutt, Mrs Hugh Lancaster. (1880). "Six Zulu Riddles". *Folklore Journal of the South African Folklore Society*. 2: 60–61.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-45)** Burlin, Natalie Curtis; Simango, C. Kamba; Čele, Madikane (1920). *[Songs and Tales from the Dark Continent](https://archive.org/details/songstalesfromda00burl/page/n99/mode/2up?view=theater)*. pp. 57–76.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-46)** [Burlin 1920](https://archive.org/details/songstalesfromda00burl/page/62/mode/2up?view=theater), pp. 63–66.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-47)** [Burlin 1920](https://archive.org/details/songstalesfromda00burl/page/66/mode/2up?view=theater), pp. 66–68.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-48)** [Burlin 1920](https://archive.org/details/songstalesfromda00burl/page/68/mode/2up?view=theater), pp. 68–71.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-49)** [Burlin 1920](https://archive.org/details/songstalesfromda00burl/page/70/mode/2up?view=theater), pp. 71–76.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-50)** [Burlin 1920](https://archive.org/details/songstalesfromda00burl/page/132/mode/2up?view=theater), pp. 133–149.

## Sources

- [UCLA Language Materials Project](https://web.archive.org/web/20060720065425/http://www.pavelicpapers.com/documents/odpor/index.html) – [Zulu](http://www.lmp.ucla.edu/Profile.aspx?LangID=23&menu=004) ([Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20140703223945/http://www.lmp.ucla.edu/Profile.aspx?LangID=23&menu=004) 3 July 2014 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)).

## Bibliography

- Canonici, Noverino, 1996, *Imisindo YesiZulu: An Introduction to Zulu Phonology*, University of Natal

- Canonici, Noverino, 1996, *Zulu Grammatical Structure*, University of Natal

- Wade, Rodrik D. (1996). ["Structural characteristics of Zulu English"](https://web.archive.org/web/20081013143757/http://www.und.ac.za/und/ling/archive/wade_pre.html). *An Investigation of the Putative Restandardisation of South African English in the Direction of a 'New' English, Black South African English* (Thesis). Durban: University of Natal. Archived from [the original](http://www.und.ac.za/und/ling/archive/wade_pre.html) on 13 October 2008.

## Further reading

- Colenso, John William (1882). [*First steps in Zulu: being an elementary grammar of the Zulu language*](https://archive.org/details/firststepsinzulu00coleuoft) (Third ed.). Martizburg, Durban: Davis.

- Dent, G.R. and [Nyembezi, C.L.S.](/source/Sibusiso_Nyembezi) (1959) *Compact Zulu Dictionary*. Pietermaritzburg: Shuter & Shooter. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-7960-0760-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-7960-0760-8)

- Dent, G.R. and [Nyembezi, C.L.S.](/source/Sibusiso_Nyembezi) (1969) *Scholar's Zulu Dictionary*. Pietermaritzburg: Shuter & Shooter. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-7960-0718-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-7960-0718-7)

- Doke, C.M. (1947) *Text-book of Zulu grammar*. London: Longmans, Green and Co.

- Doke, C.M. (1953) *Zulu–English Dictionary*. Johannesburg: Witwatersrand University Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-86814-160-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-86814-160-8)

- Doke, C.M. (1958) *Zulu–English Vocabulary*. Johannesburg: Witwatersrand University Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-85494-009-X](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-85494-009-X)

- Doke, C.M. (2014) *[English-Zulu/Zulu-English Dictionary](https://witspress.co.za/catalogue/english-isizulu-isizulu-english-dictionary/) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220813131220/https://witspress.co.za/catalogue/english-isizulu-isizulu-english-dictionary/) 13 August 2022 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)*. Johannesburg: Witwatersrand University Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-86814-738-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-86814-738-0)

- [Nyembezi, C.L.S.](/source/Sibusiso_Nyembezi) (1957) *Learn Zulu*. Pietermaritzburg: Shuter & Shooter. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-7960-0237-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-7960-0237-1)

- [Nyembezi, C.L.S.](/source/Sibusiso_Nyembezi) (1970) *Learn More Zulu*. Pietermaritzburg: Shuter & Shooter. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-7960-0278-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-7960-0278-9)

- Wilkes, Arnett, *Teach Yourself Zulu*. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-07-143442-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-07-143442-9)

## External links

***[Zulu edition](https://zu.wikipedia.org/wiki/)*** of [Wikipedia](/source/Wikipedia), the free encyclopedia

Wikibooks has a book on the topic of: ***[Zulu](https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Zulu)***

Wikivoyage has a phrasebook for ***[Zulu](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Zulu_phrasebook#Q10179)***.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Zulu language](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Zulu_language).

- [Dryer, Matthew S.](/source/Matthew_Dryer); [Haspelmath, Martin](/source/Martin_Haspelmath), eds. (2013). ["Zulu"](http://wals.info/languoid/lect/wals_code_zul). *[World Atlas of Language Structures](/source/World_Atlas_of_Language_Structures) Online*. Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology.

- [The Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Zulu](http://www.ohchr.org/EN/UDHR/Pages/Language.aspx?LangID=zuu)

- [South African Languages: IsiZulu](http://salanguages.com/isizulu/)

- [A short English–isiZulu–Japanese phraselist](http://zipangz.homestead.com/untitled4.html) incl. sound file

- [Zulu Swadesh list of basic vocabulary wordРЬs](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Appendix:Zulu_Swadesh_list) (from Wiktionary's [Swadesh-list appendix](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Appendix:Swadesh_lists))

- [Counting in Zulu](https://www.languagesandnumbers.com/how-to-count-in-zulu/en/zul/)

### Courses

- [TeachMe! Zulu – PDF Zulu workbook](https://www.linguashop.com/learn-zulu/)

- [Zulu With Dingani – Online beginner's course](https://www.memrise.com/course/82/zulu-with-dingani/) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160728025632/http://www.memrise.com/course/82/zulu-with-dingani/) 28 July 2016 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

- [University Of South Africa, free online course](http://www.unisa.ac.za/Free_online_course/Zulu/Zulu.html)

- [Sifunda isiZulu!](https://web.archive.org/web/20050306060945/http://www.newt.clara.co.uk/isizulu/)

### Grammar

- [Zulu Grammar with Audio!](http://learn101.org/zulu.php)

### Dictionaries

- [isiZulu.net Zulu–English Online Dictionary](https://isizulu.net/)

- [Zulu–English Dictionary](https://web.archive.org/web/20040413044749/http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/definition/Zulu-english/)

### Newspapers

- [Isolezwe](https://www.isolezwe.co.za/)

- [Ilanga](https://ilanganews.co.za/)

- UmAfrika

- [Izindaba News24](https://web.archive.org/web/20120206125747/http://isizulu.news24.com/)

### Software

- [Spell checker for OpenOffice.org and Mozilla](https://web.archive.org/web/20070114015602/http://translate.org.za/content/view/1610/54/), [OpenOffice.org](https://web.archive.org/web/20070324112647/http://translate.org.za/content/view/17/32/), [Mozilla Firefox web-browser](https://web.archive.org/web/20070210160756/http://translate.org.za/content/view/1611/54/), and [Mozilla Thunderbird email program](https://web.archive.org/web/20070324203655/http://translate.org.za/content/view/1612/54/) in Zulu

- [Translate.org.za](http://translate.org.za/) Project to translate Free and Open Source Software into all the official languages of South Africa including Zulu

- [PanAfrican L10n wiki page on Zulu](http://www.panafril10n.org/wikidoc/pmwiki.php/PanAfrLoc/Zulu)

### Literature and culture

- [KwaZulu-Natal Literary Map](https://web.archive.org/web/20051027002008/http://literature.kzn.org.za/lit/index.html)

v t e Languages of Lesotho Official languages English Sesotho (national language) Non-official languages Lesotho Sign Language Phuthi Xhosa Zulu

v t e Languages of South Africa Pan South African Language Board Commission for Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Community Rights Department of Arts and Culture Official West Germanic Afrikaans English Southern Bantu Sotho–Tswana Northern Sotho (Sesotho sa Leboa) Southern Sotho (Sesotho) Tswana (Setswana) Nguni Southern Ndebele (isiNdebele) Swazi (siSwati) Xhosa (isiXhosa) Zulu (isiZulu) Tswa–Ronga Tsonga (Xitsonga) Venda Venda (Tshivenḓa) North West European Sign Language British Sign Language (BSL) family SA Sign Language Recognised unofficial languages mentioned in the 1996 constitution Indigenous Bhaca Khoe Khoisan Lala Lozi Nama Nhlangwini Northern Ndebele Phuthi Tuu Foreign German Greek Gujarati Hindi Portuguese Malay (historical) Tamil Telugu Urdu Religious Arabic Hebrew Sanskrit Other LGBTQ slang Gayle IsiNgqumo Other Tsotsitaal and Camtho Oorlams Creole Fanagalo Pretoria Sotho Scamto Angloromani Kaaps

v t e Languages of Eswatini Official languages English Swazi (Swati) Non-official languages Afrikaans Tsonga Zulu

v t e Languages of Mozambique Official language Portuguese Indigenous languages Barwe Chewa Chichopi Chitonga Chuwabu Dema Gitonga Kimwani Koti Kunda Lomwe Maindo Makhuwa Makonde Makwe Manyika Nathembo Ndau Ngoni Nsenga Nyungwe Phimbi Ronga Sena Shona Swahili Swati Tawara Tewe Tsonga Tswa Yao Immigrant languages English Punjabi Hindi Sign languages Mozambican Sign Language

v t e Narrow Bantu languages (Zones N–S) (by Guthrie classification) Zone N N10 N11 Manda N12 Ngoni N13 Matengo N14 Mpoto N15 Tonga [N101 Ndendeule N102 Nindi N121 Ngoni of Malawi N20 N21 Tumbuka [N201 Mwera of Mbamba Bay N30 N31a Nyanja N31b Cewa N31c Manganja N40 N41 Nsenga N42 Kunda N43 Nyungwe N44 Sena N45[44] Rue N46[44] Podzo [N441 Sena-Malawi Zone P P10 P11 Ndengereko P12 Ruihi P13 Matumbi P14 Ngindo P15 Mbunga P20 P21 Yao P22 Mwera P23 Makonde P24 Ndonde P25 Mabiha P30 P31 Makua P32 Lomwe P33 Ngulu P34 Cuabo [P311 Koti P312 Sakati P331 Lomwe of Malawi P341 Moniga Zone R R10 R11 Umbundu R12 Ndombe R13 Nyaneka R14 Khumbi [R101 Kuvale R102 Kwisi R103 Mbali R20 R21 Kwanyama R22 Ndonga R23 Kwambi R24 Ngandyera [R211 Kafima R212 Evale R213 Mbandja R214 Mbalanhu R215 Ndongwena R216 Kwankwa R217 Dombondola R218 Esinga R241 Kwaluudhi R242 Kolonkadhi-Eunda R30 R31 Herero [R311 North-West Herero R312 Botswana Herero R40 R41 Yei Zone S S10 S11 Korekore S12 Zezuru S13a Manyika S13b Tebe S14 Karanga S15 Ndau S16 Kalanga S20 S21 Venda S30 S31a Tswana S31b Kgatla S31c Ngwatu S31d[311] Khalaxadi S32a Pedi S32b Lobedu S33 Sotho [S301 Phalaborwa S302 Kutswe S303 Pai S304 Pulana S40 S41 Xhosa S42 Zulu S43 Swati S44 (Northern) Ndebele [S401 Old Mfengu S402 Bhaca S403 Hlubi S404 Phuthi S405 Nhlangwini S406 Lala S407 South Ndebele S408 Sumayela Ndebele S50 S51 Tswa S52[53] Gwamba S53 Tsonga S54 Ronga [S511 Hlengwe S60 S61 Copi S62 Tonga [S611 Lenge Italics indicate extinct languages. Languages between parentheses are varieties of the language on their left. The Guthrie classification is geographic and its groupings do not imply a relationship between the languages within them. Narrow Bantu languages by Guthrie classification zone templates Template:Narrow Bantu languages (Zones A–B) Template:Narrow Bantu languages (Zones C–D) Template:Narrow Bantu languages (Zones E–H) Template:Narrow Bantu languages (Zones J–M) Template:Narrow Bantu languages (Zones N–S)

Authority control databases International GND FAST National United States France BnF data Czech Republic Latvia Israel Other IdRef Yale LUX

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Zulu language](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zulu_language) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zulu_language?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.