Swati phrasebook

Swati (siSwati) is a language spoken by the Swati people of the Nguni group in Eswatini and South Africa with approximately 2.5 million speakers.

Basics

 * Hello: Sawubona.
 * How are you?: Unjani?.
 * I am fine: Ngikhona/Ngiyaphila.
 * I am fine, thank you: Ngikhona, ngiyabonga.
 * Stay well: Sala kahle.
 * Travel Safely: Hamba Kahle.
 * Good evening: Lishonile.
 * Good luck: ngikufisela inhlanhla.
 * Long time no see: Mehlo madzala
 * What's your name?: Ungubani ligama lakho?.
 * My name is...: Ligama lami ngu...
 * Where are you from?: Uwakuphi?.
 * I'm from...: Ngiwase...
 * Pleased to meet you: Ngiyajabula kukwati.
 * Goodbye: Sala kahle.
 * Good luck!: Inhlanhla lenhle!
 * Cheers! Good Health!: Imphilo lenhle!.
 * Have a nice day!: Ube nelusuku loluhle.
 * Speak to me in Swazi: Khuluma nami ngesiSwati.
 * How do you say... in Swazi?: Kusho kutsini kutsi... ngesiSwati?.
 * Excuse me: Ngicela uphindze angikeva.
 * How much is this?: Kubita malini loku?.
 * Sorry: Ngiyacolisa Ncesi.

Problem/Emergency

 * Go away!: Hamba! Suka!.
 * Leave me alone!: Ngiyekele!
 * Help!: Ngicela lusito!
 * Fire!: Umlilo!
 * Stop!: Vimbani!
 * Call the police!: Bitani bafana bembumbe!

Numbers

 * 1: kunye
 * 2: kubili
 * 3: kutsatfu
 * 4: kune
 * 5: kusihlanu
 * 6: kusitfupha
 * 7: kusikhombisa
 * 8: kusiphohlongo
 * 9: kuyimfica
 * 10: kulishumi
 * 11: lishumi nakunye
 * 12: lishumi nakubili
 * 13: lishumi nantsatfu
 * 14: lishumi nakune
 * 15: lishumi nanhlanu
 * 16: lishumi nasitfupha
 * 17: lishumi nasikhombisa
 * 18: lishumi nasiphohlongo
 * 19: lishumi nemfica
 * 20: emashumi lamabili
 * 21: emashumi lamabili nakunye
 * 22: emashumi lamabili nakubili
 * 23: emashumi lamabili nantsatfu
 * 24: emashumi lamabili nakune
 * 25: emashumi lamabili nanhlanu
 * 26: emashumi lamabili nasitfupha
 * 27: emashumi lamabili nasikhombisa
 * 28: emashumi lamabili nasiphohlongo
 * 29: emashumi lamabili nemfica
 * 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

Duration

 * In the morning: ekuseni
 * Mid-day: emini
 * In the afternoon: entsambama
 * Yesterday: Itolo
 * Today: Namuhla
 * Tomorrow: Kusasa

Days

 * Saturday: Lisontfu
 * Monday: Umsombuluko
 * Tuesday: Lesibili
 * Wednesday: Lesitsatfu
 * Thursday: Lesine
 * Friday: Lesihlanu
 * Saturday: Umgcibelo

Months

 * January: nguBhimbidvwane
 * February: yiNdlovana
 * March: yiNdlovulenkhulu
 * April: nguMabasa
 * May: yiNkhwekhweti
 * June: yiNhlaba
 * July: nguKholwane
 * August: iNgci
 * September: iNyoni
 * October: iMphala
 * November: Lweti
 * December: yiNgongoni

Colors

 * Green: luhlata
 * Red: bovu
 * Blue: luhlata sasibhakabhaka
 * Black: mnyama
 * Brown: sundvu
 * White: mhlophe
 * Yellow: mtfubi

Transportation

 * Minibus: ikhumbi
 * Train: Sitimela
 * Ship: Ukhumbi
 * Car: imoto
 * Van/pickup truck: iveni
 * Bicycle: Libhayisikili
 * Plane: Indiza
 * Horse: Lihhashi
 * Bus: Ibhasi
 * Motorcycle: Sidududu

Part of the body

 * Face: buso
 * Eyes: emehlo
 * Ears: tindelebe
 * Mouth: umlomo
 * Eyebrows: emashiya
 * Nose: imphumulo
 * Tooth/Teeth: litinyo / ematinyo
 * Forehead: simongo
 * Eyelash: tinkhope
 * Hair: tinwele

Family (Umndeni)

 * Father: Babe
 * Mother: Mage
 * Brother: Booti
 * Sister: Sisi
 * Grandmother: Gogo
 * Grandfather: Mkhulu

Food

 * Milk: Lubisi
 * Cheese: Shizi
 * Yogurt: Yogathi
 * Meat: Inyama
 * Fish: Inhlanti
 * Chicken meat: Inyama yenkhukhu
 * Beef meat: Inyama yenkhomo
 * Pork meat: Inyama yengulube
 * Sausage: Livosi
 * Grain: Libele.
 * Rice: Lilayisi
 * Maize Meal: Imphuphu
 * Soft porridge: Indengane
 * Porridge: Umncushu
 * Marula Fruit Drink: Buganu
 * Tripe: Kwangekhatsi
 * Jute Soup: Ligusha