Uyazi eGoli? edit

In this lesson, we learn to talk about people and places we know. In addition to this we learn how to introduce multiple people.

Laba abangane bami edit

uNandi: Sawubona Philani!
uPhilani: Yebo sawubona Nandi!
uNandi: Unjani?
uPhilani: Ngisaphila, wena unjani?
uNandi: Nami ngiyaphila.
uPhilani: Laba abangane bami, nguNjabulo noXolani.
uNandi: Ngiyajabula ukunazi!
uNjabulo noXolani: Nathi siyajabula ukukwazi!
uNandi: Nihlalaphi?
uNjabulo: Ngihlala eGoli. Uyalazi iGoli?
uNandi: Angilazi iGoli.
uXolani: Ngihlala eKapa. Uyakwazi eKapa na?
uNandi: Yebo, ngiyazi eKapa.
uNjabulo noXolani noPhilani: Sala kahle.
uNandi: Hambani kahle.
Zulu English
ukunazi to know you (plural).
Uyazi You know it
Angiyazi You do not know it

We can use a similar form to ask someone if they know other places, for example, "Uyazi iTheweni?", "Uyazi iSoweto?" and even "Uyazi iLondon?". "Na" may be used to indicate a question in spoken language and in writing but when the language is spoken, generally questions are indicated with tone. This form cannot be used to ask if someone knows a person. This is because the of "uyazi" part of the verb. The y refers to the place iGoli basically u+i+azi becomes uyazi. Zulu does not allow vowels to be placed immediately alongside each other. The concept of object being attached to verbs is explained fully in a later lesson. We now introduce how to ask if you know someone.

Uyamazi uNelson wakwaMandela? edit

Dialogue

uXolani: Uyamazi uNelson wakwaMandela?
uNjabulo: Yebo, ubani ongamazi? Uyamazi uLucky wakwaDube?
uXolani: Yebo, ngiyamazi.
Zulu English
Uyamazi you know him
akamazi he does not know him
uLucky wakwaDube Lucky Dube

Once again the m in "ngimazi" refers to him/her.

  • Yena uyamazi uDesmond wakwaTutu.
  • uMngane wami uyazi eNew York.

Ngilikhohliwe! edit

A few days later, Xolani and Njabulo are at the mall when they see someone that they think they know.

Dialogue

uXolani: Uyamazi? (Nodding at her)
uNjabulo: Yebo, kodwa ngilikhohliwe!
uXolani: Igama lakhe uNandi, angithi?
uNjabulo: Hhayi yebo!

Here the li in ngilikhohliwe refers to igama. '-khe' means her/his. It is used like -mi and -kho.

Summary edit

  • We can ask people if they know people. - Uyamazi uNelson wakwaMandela?
  • We can ask people if they know places. - Uyazi iNaturean?
  • We are able to introduce multiple people. - Laba abangane bami.
  • We can say if we have forgotten someone's name. - Ngilikhohliwe

Next step edit

Try the Exercise or go the next Lesson 5. Or alternatively, go back to the Index.