isiZulu Idioms Translated | The Ulwazi ProgrammeisiZulu Idioms TranslatedBy Ulwazi Programme in News 18Last month one of our subscribers left a comment asking for English translations of a list of Zulu idioms that Nelisiwe had written about back in 2013. Below are both the isiZulu & English meanings of various Zulu idioms that are associated with nature or trees. Thank you to Mbusiswa for the translations!Ukuthunga intebe: Ukwenza into engasoze yaphumelela; To do something that will never succeedUkuzalelwa esithebeni: Ukuzalwa ngabazali abami kahle, ungasweli lutho; To be born into a rich family and hardly ever want for anythingUkuphind’ iminyane isibhuliwe: Angikwazi ukukhuluma udaba oselukhulunyiwe; To refuse to repeat what has been discussed alreadyUkudl’ imbuya ngothi: Ukuswela ukudla, umuntu ophila kalusizi; To be poverty strickenUkuhlub’ dlubu ekhasini: Ukuchaza ingcaca ubeke izinto obala; To explain something that is very clear and obviousUthinte ubhece esafinya: Ukuba hlwempu, uyisilambi; To be really poorUkwanda ngomlomo njengebhenge: Ukukhuluma kakhulu kanti ukwenza kuyakwehlula; To have a lot to say, but take little actionUkushaya ngemfe iphindiwe: Ukuhlohla noma ukuyenga umuntu, noma ukumenza ezibukwayo; To deal with a person severelyUkuthukusela [umuntu] ugaba othuthwini: Ukufihlela umuntu iqiniso bese umvezela engasalindele; To hide the truth from someone and only reveal it when they have forgotten about it or least expect itUkufihl’ induku emqubeni: Ukufihla isu noma into ozomangaza ngayo unqobe; To surpriseUkuthela muva njengembumba: Ukunganakwa noma ubeka iseluleko okumele silandelwe baze bazisole kamuva ukuthi ukuba bebekulalele ngabe ububi abuvelanga; Doing something without a positive outcomeUkukhamel’ ikhambi ekhanda: Ukuphatha ngesihluku nonya, ukufundisa umuntu isifundo angena kusilibala; To teach someone a lesson they will never forgetUkutheza olunenkume: Ukuzilandela inkathazo; To attract bad things to yourselfUkumuka ngendle njengamabele: Ukunyamalala, ukuhamba ungavalelisi; To disappear without a trace and not even say goodbyeUkuthezela entanjeni: Ukuzilinganisela noma ukwenza into engangamandla akho; To do what your strength can carryUkushisela imbudle: Ukufaka umuntu enkathazweni; To make another person to worryUkugaya izibozi: Ukuthukuthela kakhulu; To be very angryUkuba nhlangazimuka nomoya: Ukungabikho kosizo, isimo esibucayi siyabhebhetheka; Things going from bad to worseUkushiy’ induk’ ebandla: Ukuzala umntwana oyosala wena sewafa noma ukubeka iqhaza kokwenziwayo; Leaving a good mark behind for people to follow your good exampleUkuncind’ uthi lomkhangala: Ukulandelwa amashwa; Being followed by bad luck everywhere you goUkuthint’ ukhuni lombangandlala: Ukwenza into engenampumelelo, ukubuya ulambatha, ukuzifaka enkingeni; When you give advice to people and they don’t listen or pay attention to you until something bad happens, then they regret not listeningImage courtesy of www.thewritepractice.com.Nqobile’s Stories: April18 Responses to isiZulu Idioms Translateddikonelo 16/10/2016 at 4:56 pm #please have some more Zulu idioms !!!plzdikonelo 16/10/2016 at 4:59 pm #kusho ukuthini ukucela empuzinimbali 16/10/2016 at 5:04 pm #no one responds dikonelodikonelo 16/10/2016 at 5:06 pm #Ulwazi Programme 17/10/2016 at 2:53 pm #Siyabonga, Dikonela. uSoka Mthembu uthi:Ukucela empunziniDirect translation: To ask from the duiker / to imitate the duikerMeaning: To run away (literally)Duiker is used because it is / was one the fastest animals known to the Zulus therefore anyone running faster would be likened to it.Past tense: Wacela empunziniHe ran away / he ran for his lifeIsiZulu: Wacela empunzini emva kokubona ibhubesiEnglish: He ran for his life after he saw the lionIt’s used for someone running away (literally) from someone or something.To refer to the person who can run faster (like a Comrades Marathon runner) you could use this one;Zulu : Ugijima wedlula isithunzi sakhe / He runs faster than his own shadow.Olwethu 23/01/2017 at 9:32 pm #Hi guys!! What does it mean ukumba wembulele?Ulwazi Content Manager 09/02/2017 at 6:22 am #Sawubona Olwethu! Siyabonga ngombuzo wakho, sisacele abasibhalelayo ukuthi bazame ukuwuphendula.Justin 09/03/2017 at 8:28 am #Sawubona. I’m currently in matric, taking isiZulu as my FAL. We are required to use idioms in our creative writing, so if you have any more idioms please could you share them with me. NgiyabongaUlwazi Content Manager 09/03/2017 at 10:42 pm #Sawubona, Justin. You may find this article helpful in discovering more isiZulu idioms, with English translations: https://www.ulwaziprogramme.org/2017/02/a-language-rich-in-colour/. If you have any in particular you’d like to know the meaning of, you’re welcome to post them and we will try to find out for you. All the best!Khanyisile 10/05/2017 at 6:15 pm #Yazithela ?Zalala ?Phela nesikhathi sase sidliwe yinja ?Sekukhala imbungezi ?Itshe selome inhlama ?Zawuhlaba zawulawula-ke ?Ulwazi Content Manager 15/05/2017 at 8:36 am #Yazithela?This means ‘pounced / descended upon / come across – like by surprise’ (e.g. Bengizihambela ngazithela emgodini wenyoka) OR this may mean a very unexpected response. (e.g. Ubethi uyashela wazithela entombini yekholwa yavela yamshumayeza!)Zalala?Ungachaza kabanzi ukuthi usho ukuthini lapha, Khanyisile?Phela nesikhathi sase sidliwe yinja?Time was running out/no longer enough, maybe because the programme kicked off late or other speakers spoke more than their allocated time (e.g. Ukuze kuqedwe izinkulumo kungakabi sebusuku abanye abakwazanga ukukhuluma ngoba isikhathi sasesidliwe yinja).Sekukhala imbungezi?They have all left, no one left, nothing left (e.g. Amaphoyisa ezwa ukuthi izigebengu zicashile khona kodwa bafica sekukhala ibhungezi.)Itshe selome inhlama?Kusho ukuthi abasabonwa nangalukhalo – they are gone (as if that is discovered as a surprise). This one is the same as “sekukhala ibhungezi” above. note the spelling not ‘imbungezi’ but ‘ibhungezi’ (which is the name of an insect that make a noise when flying around) (e.g. Bafica itshe selome inhlama umakoti esebalekile emzini wabuyela kwabakubo!)Zawuhlaba zawulawula-ke?Ukuwuhlaba uwulawule means to announce, tell others, to pass on the message. (e.g. Amabhubesi abalekile, sicela niwuhlabe niwulawule – to warn others / to say you saw it to assist with the search)Justin 28/08/2017 at 10:43 am #Sawubona. Please could you translate the following idioms for me:1) Liya kozilahla kunina2) -khihla esikaNandiUlwazi Content Manager 30/08/2017 at 4:21 pm #Sawubona Justin,1) Liya kozilahla kunina – Refers to ‘ilanga’ (the sun) when it disappears in the horizon, meaning the sun is setting. It is used to indicate time of day, that it was in the afternoon during the time when the sun sets.2) -khihla esikaNandi – To cry uncontrollably (in dramatic and hysterical fashion). Queen Nandi was the mother of King Shaka, the story goes that this is because that is what people were expected to be doing, to show they were sad about the death of Shaka’s mother. If they did not visibly show their uncontrollable anguish, they were summarily killed – so we are told.carl 07/09/2017 at 1:09 pm #sizohlangana esikhaleni sikantombelaZamagasela 28/09/2017 at 5:49 pm #Wow… this is informative. Thank you to all who have asked and answered. Soka Mthembu I’ve seen your blog and it’s great. Siyabonga!andrea 07/10/2017 at 1:35 pm #Hello, I am looking for a zulu quote about respecting women.Ulwazi Content Manager 09/10/2017 at 9:17 pm #Hi, the most well-known quote is, “Wathint’ abafazi, wathint’ imbokodo”, which means “If you strike a woman, you strike a rock”, therefore women should be respected. It was a rallying cry used around the time of the Women’s March of 1956. These days it’s generally used for campaigns against abuse of women, advocating respect of women etc. I don’t know if that fits your context? Generally older proverbs or idioms about women often allude to marriage so may not be relevant. If you can be a bit more specific we can ask our other users if they know of any relevant quotes.liessbeth nohnlanhla 01/02/2018 at 3:52 pm #ukuba kude emuva ube kude phambili
