#HeritageDay: 9 phrases to learn in SA's 11 official languages

OPPORTUNITY: There are 11 official languages in South Africa. If implemented more widely, they would open countless doors, the writers say.

OPPORTUNITY: There are 11 official languages in South Africa. If implemented more widely, they would open countless doors, the writers say.

Published Sep 24, 2018

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1. English 

via GIPHY

English

: Hello, can you speak English?

IsiZulu

: Sawubona, uyakwazi ukukhuluma isiNgisi?

IsiXhosa

: Molo, uyakwazi ukuthetha isiNgesi?

Afrikaans

: Hallo, kan jy Engels praat?

Sepedi

: Thobela, na obelelu Seisimane?

SeTswana

: Dumela, * bua Seisimane?

SeSotho

: Dumela, * bua Seisimane?

XiTsonga

: Avuxeni, Xana wa xitiva Xinghezi ke?

SiSwati

: Sawubona, uyasati yini siNgisi?

TshiVenda

: Ndaa (male) Aa (female) Vha a amba English naa?

Ndebele

: Sawubona, ukhuluma isiNgisi?

2. Pleasantries

English

: How are you?

IsiZulu

: Unjani?

IsiXhosa

: Unjani?

Afrikaans

: Hoe gaan dit?

Sepedi

: O kae?

SeTswana

: O tsogile jang?

SeSotho

: U phela joang?

XiTsonga

: Kunjhani?

SiSwati

: Unjani?

TshiVenda

: Vho vuwa hani?

Ndebele

: Linjani?

3. Gratitude

English

: Thank you, man!

IsiZulu

: Ngiyabonga mphitshi yami

IsiXhosa

: Enkosi mchana

Afrikaans

: Dankie, man!

Sepedi

: Ke a leboga

SeTswana

: Ke a leboga / Ke itumtese

SeSotho

: Kea leboha, monna!

XiTsonga

: Ndzi khense ngopfu

SiSwati

: Ngiyabonga

TshiVenda

: Ndi a livhuwa

Ndebele

: Ndi a livhuwa

4. Loo matters

English

: Where’s the toilet/bathroom?

IsiZulu

: Ikuphi indlu encane?

IsiXhosa

: Iphi indlu yangasese?

Afrikaans

: Waar is die badkamer?

Sepedi

: Na Ntlwana Ya Boithomelo E Kae?

SeTswana

: Ntlwanaboithusetso E Fa Kae?

SeSotho

: Ntlwana E Ho Kae?

XiTsonga

: Xana Xihambukelo Xi Le Kwihi?

SiSwati

: Uphi Umthoyi?

TshiVenda

: U Bunga Li Ngafhi?

Ndebele

: Ikhuphi Indlwana Yokuzithumela Itoyilede?

5. Feelings

English

: I love you.

IsiZulu / Ndebele

: Ngiyakuthanda

IsiXhosa

: Ndiyakuthanda

Afrikaans

: Ek is lief vir jou

Sepedi / SeSotho

: Kea u rata

SeTswana

: Ke a go rata

XiTsonga

: Ndza ku rhandza

SiSwati

: Ngiyakutsandza

TshiVenda

: Ndi a ni funa

6. Pardon

English

: Excuse me

IsiZulu / IsiXhosa

: Uxolo

Afrikaans

: Verskoon my

Sepedi

: Ntshwarele

SeTswana

: Nxae

SeSotho

: Tshwarelo

XiTsonga

: Ndzi khomeli

SiSwati

: Lucolo

TshiVenda

: Kha vha mpfarele

Ndebele

: Ngitshidele

7. Apologies

English

: I am sorry

IsiZulu

: Ngiyaxolisa

IsiXhosa

: Ndicela uxolo

Afrikaans

: Ek is jammer

Sepedi / SeTswana

: Ke maswabi

SeSotho

: Ntshwarele

XiTsonga

: Ndzi kombela ku khomeriwa

TshiVenda

: Ndi khou humbela pfarelo

Ndebele / SiSwati

: Ngiyacolisa

8. Travelling 

English

: Have a safe journey

IsiZulu

: Ube nohambo oluhle

IsiXhosa

: Hamba kakuhle

Afrikaans

: Veilige reis

Sepedi

: O be le leeto le le bolokegilego

SeTswana

: Nna le mosepele o o babalesegileng!

SeSotho

: O tsamaye hantle

XiTsonga

: Famba hi ku rhula

SiSwati

: Ube (singular) / Nibe (plural) neluhambo loluphephile

TshiVenda

: Vha vhe na lwendo lwavhudi

Ndebele

: Ube nekhambo eliphephileko

9. Assistance

English

: Help!

IsiZulu

: Siza!

IsiXhosa

: Nceda!

Afrikaans

: Hulp!

Sepedi / SeTswana / SeSotho

: Thusang!

XiTsonga

: Ndzi pfuneni!

SiSwati

: Sita (singular) / sitani (plural)!

TshiVenda

: Thuso!

Ndebele

: Ndzi pfuneni!

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