Zulu/Lesson 4

Uyazi eGoli?

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

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?

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!

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

• 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

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