So this is just a few words that ive written down and that Jesse (a leader that was training us in Mexico) taught me. I’m going to spell them they way they sound, not the way it is spelt becuase it wouldnt make sense to you. oh, and the vowels are pronounced just like in Spanish where “a” is “ah” and “e” is “eh” sounding and the second to last sylable is stretched out to sound longer than the other sylables.
Here’s the greeting and how the conversation goes:
Sowbona – Do you see me? (singular)
Sanibonani – Do you see us? (plural)
yebo – yes
unjani – How are you? (singular)
nenjani – How are you all? (plural)
niapila – I’m fine (singular)
siapila – We’re fine (plural)
or
niapila unjani whena – I’m fine and how are you?
or
natsi niapila nine – (I dont know what it means but it works when you say it…)
Random Words:
niya – I’m
uya – you are
niyabonga – Thank you (singular)
siyabonga – We thank you (plural)
Babe – Father (remember the vowel pronounciation)
Mage – Mother (remember the vowel pronounciation)
Booti – borther (you say it to all the boys)
Sisi – sister (you say it to all the girls)
Gogo – grandmother (all the other women are gogo’s)
Mkhulu- grandfather
Unkulunkulu – God
*”K” is pronounced as a “G” sound
Booya – Come here
niyagutsandsa – I love you
Jesu – Jesus
Jesus niyagutsandsa – Jesus loves you
Kute – I have non
Nesi (ncesi)- I’m sorry or Excuse me (according to situation)
*”Nc” is a clicking sound
salagashle (salakahle) – stay well (singular)
*”hl” is a sound. close your teeth and breath out making a whisp sound coming out of your cheeks. Like Sid the Sloth from the movie Ice Age
nisalagashle – you all stay well (plural) *pronounced just like above with the weird sound
hambagashle – go well (singular) *pronounced just like above with the weird sound
nihambagashle – you all go well (plural) *pronounced just like above with the weird sound
lalagashle – good night (singular) *pronounced just like above with the weird sound
nilalgashle – good night you all (plural) *pronounced just like above with the weird sound
mooshle (mute)- beautiful *same weird sound
ugobani liga malako – what is your name?
Lagami lami – my name is…
ungami wami (mngami) – my friend
gakulu – very much *“k” sounds like a “k” in this word
niyabonga gakulu – thank you very much
tula – be quite (singular)
tulani – be quite (plural)
salapanz – sit down
suga – move away
fuma (phuma)- get out *“ph” makes “f” sound
jaboolani – happy
niyajaboolani – I’m happy
Singathandaza Nawe – can we pray with you?
niyatogubomaguzaza (ngitoku bombakusasa)- I’ll see you tomorrow
Eweyna – Hey you!
Eweyan uya papa – Your crazy (your flying without wings)
Gujesu bambela (kujesu bambela) – hold on to Jesus
enyoga – snake!
kumbi – van
ne – and
Kisimusi (khisimusi)- Christmas
Unyaka Lomusha (umnyaka lomusha)- New Year
Jaboolani Unyaka Lomusha – Happy New Year!
Hi Hope.
Ufana namake wakho futsi nibahle nobabili.
Aah, Thank you for having the knowledge of my language though you have really turnish it through your spellings e.g Jaboolani was suppose to be written as Jabulani.
The direct translation would be “ligama la hope ngu Jesu”. Unless you were implying something else.
Hi Penelope
I wouldn’t mind teaching you a little siSwati.
Regards
I am a sponsor of a child in Swaziland and I am wanting to send him a birthday package. Can you please tell me how to write the phrase “happy birthday”?
small but important correction: *never* say “suga” to a human–it’s meant for animals, and considered a cuss word if used toward a human! yikes!
unless, of course, you are both joking around…and you both know that…umm, even then!
I’m from South Africa and I must say I like that you are fascinated about the language but please get the corect spelling
Thumbs up for learning Siswati. A beautiful language indeed. Siswati is my home language and I would be happy to edit your content if you are interested. Thanks, ubenelilanga lelihle (Have a great day).
@Kitty – I am happy to help just let me know what you would like translated. For now you can address your brother inlaw as Sibali 🙂 (It means brother in-law)
@Kitty – I am happy to help just let me know what you would like translated. For now you can address your brother inlaw as Sibali 🙂 (It means brother in-law)
I have made over 200 cards and bracelets to send to south africa so thanks for teaching me the language…
greetings
Thank you for helping someone like me to learn her language though some words are written i think wrong eg jaboola, but i would love to learn more since its was my dad only who was speaking seswati. you can email me or hook me up with other good people from Swaziland
Thank you for your beautiful work
greetings
Thank you for helping someone like me to learn her language though some words are written i think wrong eg jaboola, but i would love to learn more since its was my dad only who was speaking seswati. you can email me or hook me up with other good people from Swaziland
Thank you for your beautiful work
Inbox me on [email protected] so we can chat.
I was a peace corp volunteer in Swaziland 1973-1976 have forgotten most of my Swazi How would you say ” I can not come ”
Also could you send me a song in Swazi that the children in our church could sing for a Christmas program.
Goodday
How does one say
You look like your mom and you both are beautiful
How do you say ” hopes name is Jesus”
“Lusuku lekutalwa lelihle” happy birthday
‘Ufana namake wakho,nobabili nibahle” – you look like your mom and you are both beautiful
Greetingz frandz. I’d lv to know more about dis fascinating language(siSwati). Can someone be kind nd teach me???????? Pleeeaaaasssseeee
greetings
Thank you for teaching us some of the things. Swati is my language of birth but since we all grew up in joburg n had no one to teach us since my grandparents are no more…it would be a great pleasure if someone teach me more abt my language nemvelaphi yami
greetings
Thank you for teaching us some of the things. Swati is my language of birth but since we all grew up in joburg n had no one to teach us since my grandparents are no more…it would be a great pleasure if someone teach me more abt my language nemvelaphi yami
Can you teach me how to say “my best friend” in siswati.PLEASE
Can you teach me how to say “my best friend” in siswati.PLEASE
Can you teach me how to say my best friend in
Can you teach me how to say my best friend in
Can you teach me how to say my best friend in
Can you teach me how to say my best friend in
Can you teach me how to say my best friend in
I’m writing to a child in Swaziland. I need basic words, comments, greetings.
Thanks for any help.
I’m a Motswana from Botswana, thank u a lot for the blog. I love siswati a lot.ke a lenoga go menagane.
mgani
How do you say Fix your eyes on Jesus
How do you say Fix your eyes on Jesus
Hi, how do i say happy women’s day
Hi Filo. We say lusuku loluhle lwabo make.
Did you get the help?
Hello. Ubukeka njenga make wakho futsi nibahle.
I’m glad the guy has an understanding of the language, but these words are all written wrong. Eg: be quite ( thula), sit down (hlala phansi), happy (jabula) etc. happy birthday ( ukhule kahle)
Hi I’m hoping to find a kind Sidwati speaking individual who would be willing to translate one or two small phrases for me. I have just acquired a new brother in law who lives in Swaziland and I want to impress him with my efforts!! Hope you can help me!
Blessings
Kitty xxx