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siSwati Lesson

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!
 
 
           
 
 
 

40 Comments

  1. 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.

  2. The direct translation would be “ligama la hope ngu Jesu”. Unless you were implying something else.

  3. 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”?

  4. 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!

  5. I’m from South Africa and I must say I like that you are fascinated about the language but please get the corect spelling

  6. 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).

  7. @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)

  8. @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)

  9. I have made over 200 cards and bracelets to send to south africa so thanks for teaching me the language…

  10. 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

  11. 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

  12. 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.

  13. Greetingz frandz. I’d lv to know more about dis fascinating language(siSwati). Can someone be kind nd teach me???????? Pleeeaaaasssseeee

  14. 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

  15. 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

  16. I’m writing to a child in Swaziland. I need basic words, comments, greetings.
    Thanks for any help.

  17. I’m a Motswana from Botswana, thank u a lot for the blog. I love siswati a lot.ke a lenoga go menagane.

  18. 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)

  19. 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

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