Looking for practical Zulu to Mam phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Zulu phrase first, then the Mam translation (Mam) — 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 Mam.
Tip: read the Mam line out loud three times, then cover the Zulu side and try to recall the meaning — repetition builds memory faster than silent reading.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Zulu to Mam 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
Xo'j(sho'j)
Ngiyabonga
Tz'ik(tz'ik)
Sawubona
Xo'j nax(sho'j nax)
Good afternoon
Xo'j q'ij(sho'j q'ij)
Ubusuku obuhle
Xo'j k'ux(sho'j k'ux)
Lala kahle
Xo'j k'ux nax(sho'j k'ux nax)
Sizobonana
K'ux q'ij(k'ux q'ij)
Hamba kahle
Xo'j k'ux(sho'j k'ux)
Ubani igama lakho?
Ja' k'ux nax?(ha' k'ux nax?)
Igama lami nginguJohn
Ja' k'ux nax John(ha' k'ux nax John)
Unjani?
Jach' k'ux?(hach' k'ux?)
Ngiyajabula ukukwazi
Nab' k'ux(nab' k'ux)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Ukhuluma isiNgisi?
¿K'ax k'utun English?
Angikhulumi kahle isiHindi.
Nek'ux k'utun Hindi k'ax k'utun.
Angiqondi.
Nek'ux k'ax k'utun.
Ngiyacela, khuluma kancane.
Por favor, k'utun k'ux.
Ungakuphinda lokho?
¿K'ax k'utun k'ux?
Iphi indlu yangasese?
¿Jach'och k'ux?
Ngiyawufika kanjani emaphandleni?
¿Jach'och k'ux ch'ich'?
Jika kwesobunxele.
K'utun k'ux.
Jika kwesokudla.
K'utun k'ux.
Hamba phambili.
K'utun k'ux.
Inani lokuhamba lingakanani?
¿K'ax k'ux ch'ich'?
Ithikithi elilodwa, ngiyacela.
K'utun ch'ich', por favor.
Ingabe kude lapha?
¿K'ax k'ux jach'och?
Ngilahlekile.
Nek'ux k'ax k'ux.
Ngaphi engingathenga khona i-SIM card?
¿Jach'och k'ux k'utun SIM?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Yebo
Juj(hoo)
Cha
Man(mah)
Mhlawumbe
K'ux(k'ush)
Ngiyavuma
Juj k'ux(hoo k'ush)
Angivumi
Man k'ux(mah k'ush)
Lokho kuzwakala kahle
K'ux juj(k'ush hoo)
Ucabanga ukuthini?
¿Juj k'ux k'ut?(¿hoo k'ush k'ut?)
Ungangisiza?
¿Juj k'ux juj k'ux?(¿hoo k'ush hoo k'ush?)
Ngidinga usizo
Juj k'ux juj k'ux k'ut(hoo k'ush hoo k'ut)
Linda umzuzu
K'ux k'ut(k'ush k'ut)
Ngiyaxolisa
Juj k'ux k'ut(hoo k'ush k'ut)
Akukho nkinga
Man k'ux k'ut(mah k'ush k'ut)
Halala
K'ux juj k'ut(k'ush hoo k'ut)
Usuku olumnandi lokuzalwa
K'ux juj k'ut k'ux(k'ush hoo k'ut k'ush)
Uhambo olunempilo
K'ux juj k'ut k'ux(k'ush hoo k'ut k'ush)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Iphi isitishi sesitimela?
¿Jujuk pa ri tren?(iphi isitishi sesitimela)
Iphi indawo yokuma kwebhasi?
¿Jujuk pa ri bus?(iphi indawo yokuma kwebhasi)
Iphi ipulatifomu?
¿K'ux ri plataforma?(iphi ipulatifomu)
Ithini isikhathi sokuhamba?
¿K'ux ri tiempo pa k'ux?(ithini isikhathi sokuhamba)
Ingabe le yindlela efanele?
¿¿K'ux ri camino?(ingabe le yindlela efanele)
Ikhaya lapha eduze
Ri k'ut pa ri.(ikhaya lapha eduze)
Ikude lapha
Ri k'ut pa ri k'ul.(ikude lapha)
Ungangikhombisa emmaphini?
¿¿K'ux k'ut ri mapa?(ungangikhombisa emmaphini)
Misa lapha, ngiyacela
¿¿K'ut pa ri, por favor?(misa lapha, ngiyacela)
Kuthatha isikhathi esingakanani?
¿¿K'ux ri tiempo?(kuthatha isikhathi esingakanani)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.