Looking for practical Zulu to Afrikaans phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Zulu phrase first, then the Afrikaans translation (Afrikaans) — so you can scan quickly before a trip, class, or video call.
The phrases are grouped into eight topics: greetings and pleasantries, useful phrases for travellers, everyday conversation, directions and getting around, shopping and dining, emergencies and health, work and business, and time, days and numbers. Use the table of contents to jump straight to greetings, directions, dining, emergencies, or numbers. You do not need perfect grammar to start — short, clear sentences often work better than silence when you are learning Afrikaans.
Tip: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Afrikaans-speaking trip in a few weeks.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Zulu to Afrikaans translator to paste your own messages and get an instant translation.
Greetings and pleasantries
Hello, goodbye, please, thank you, and polite introductions for meeting new people.
Sawubona
Hallo
Ngiyabonga
Dankie
Sawubona
Goeie more
Good afternoon
Goeie middag
Ubusuku obuhle
Goeie naand
Lala kahle
Goeie nag
Sizobonana
Sien jou later
Hamba kahle
Totsiens
Ubani igama lakho?
Wat is jou naam?
Igama lami nginguJohn
My naam is John
Unjani?
Hoe gaan dit?
Ngiyajabula ukukwazi
Lekker om jou te ontmoet
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Ukhuluma isiNgisi?
Praat jy Engels?
Angikhulumi kahle isiHindi.
Ek praat nie goed Hindi nie.
Angiqondi.
Ek verstaan nie.
Ngiyacela, khuluma kancane.
Praat asseblief stadig.
Ungakuphinda lokho?
Kan jy dit weer sê?
Iphi indlu yangasese?
Waar is die badkamer?
Ngiyawufika kanjani emaphandleni?
Hoe kom ek by die stadsentrum?
Jika kwesobunxele.
Draai links.
Jika kwesokudla.
Draai regs.
Hamba phambili.
Gaan reguit.
Inani lokuhamba lingakanani?
Hoeveel is die tarief?
Ithikithi elilodwa, ngiyacela.
Een kaartjie, asseblief.
Ingabe kude lapha?
Is dit ver van hier?
Ngilahlekile.
Ek is verlore.
Ngaphi engingathenga khona i-SIM card?
Waar kan ek 'n SIM-kaart koop?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Yebo
Ja
Cha
Nee
Mhlawumbe
Miskien
Ngiyavuma
Ek stem saam
Angivumi
Ek stem nie saam nie
Lokho kuzwakala kahle
Dit klink goed
Ucabanga ukuthini?
Wat dink jy?
Ungangisiza?
Kan jy my help?
Ngidinga usizo
Ek het hulp nodig
Linda umzuzu
Wag 'n oomblik
Ngiyaxolisa
Ek is jammer
Akukho nkinga
Geen probleem
Halala
Geluk
Usuku olumnandi lokuzalwa
Gelukkige verjaarsdag
Uhambo olunempilo
Veilige reis
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Iphi isitishi sesitimela?
Waar is die treinstasie?(iphi isitishi sesitimela)
Iphi indawo yokuma kwebhasi?
Waar is die busstop?(iphi indawo yokuma kwebhasi)
Iphi ipulatifomu?
Watter platform is dit?(iphi ipulatifomu)
Ithini isikhathi sokuhamba?
Watter tyd vertrek dit?(ithini isikhathi sokuhamba)
Ingabe le yindlela efanele?
Is dit die regte pad?(ingabe le yindlela efanele)
Ikhaya lapha eduze
Dit is naby hier.(ikhaya lapha eduze)
Ikude lapha
Dit is ver van hier.(ikude lapha)
Ungangikhombisa emmaphini?
Kan jy dit op die kaart wys?(ungangikhombisa emmaphini)
Misa lapha, ngiyacela
Stop hier, asseblief.(misa lapha, ngiyacela)
Kuthatha isikhathi esingakanani?
Hoe lank neem dit?(kuthatha isikhathi esingakanani)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Kubiza malini lokhu?
Hoeveel kos dit?
Lokho kubiza kakhulu.
Dit is te duur.
Unayo yini ethengiswa ngentengo ephansi?
Het julle iets goedkoper?
Ngiyakwazi ukukhokha ngekhadi?
Kan ek met 'n kaart betaal?
Ngifuna itafula labantu ababili.
Ek wil 'n tafel vir twee hê.
Ibhili, ngiyacela.
Die rekening, asseblief.
Inkonzo ifakiwe?
Is diens ingesluit?
Ngiyisithuthuthu.
Ek is 'n vegetariër.
Ngicela ukudla okungashisayo.
Geen pittige kos, asseblief.
Lokhu kuhle.
Dit is heerlik.
Ngicela imenyu?
Kan ek die spyskaart kry?
Ingilazi yamanzi, ngiyacela.
‘n Glas water, asseblief.
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Shayela amaphoyisa
Bel die polisie
Shayela i-ambulensi
Bel 'n ambulans
Ngidinga udokotela
Ek het 'n dokter nodig
Ngizizwa ngigula
Ek voel siek
Ngine-allergy kumantongomane
Ek is allergies vir grondboontjies
Iphi isibhedlela esiseduze?
Waar is die naaste hospitaal?
Kubuhlungu lapha
Dit seergemaak hier
Ngilahlekelwe ipasipoti yami
Ek het my paspoort verloor
Ungashayela ihhotela lami?
Kan jy my hotel bel?
Usizo!
Help!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Ngiyajabula ukukwazi
Lekker om jou te ontmoet
Masihlele umhlangano
Kom ons skeduleer 'n vergadering
Yisiphi isikhathi esikufanele?
Watter tyd werk vir jou?
Ngizothumela umbiko namuhla
Ek sal die verslag vandag stuur
Singakhuluma kusasa?
Kan ons môre praat?
Sicela uthole ifayela elixhunywe
Asseblief vind die lêer aangeheg
Ngiyabonga ngalesi sikhathi
Dankie vir jou tyd
Ngibheke phambili ekusebenzeni nawe
Ek sien uit daarna om saam met jou te werk
Ungacacisa leyo ndaba?
Kan jy daardie punt verduidelik?
Ngizobuyela kuwe
Laat ek jou terugbel
Usuku lokugcina nguLwesihlanu
Die sperdatum is Vrydag
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.