Asikhulume
Sunday, February 3, 2019
Sadness - Ukudabuka
-dabuka
break, crack or crush
become sad, become grieved, become heartbroken
also
descend, originate
I have become sad, recently, hence this post. At times, 'broken' describes it; heart crushed.
The connection to the meaning 'to descend', or 'origininate' is fascinating as indeed grief can strip us down to our bare bones.
Ngidabukile.
I have become sad, grieved heartbroken (or, more simply, I am sad)
I have been broken, cracked or crushed.
Ukudabuka (n)
Sadness, grief, heartache, sorrow
Sad (adj)
- dabukile
But also some gentler alternatives:
- danile
- lusizi (sad, unhappy)
- buhlungu (sore, aching, painful or sad)
To become sad
-dana
-dabuka
To make sad
- danisa
- dabukisa
Danisa is also a name.
Saturday, January 12, 2019
Uxolo nokuhthula
Uxolo - peace, absence of hostility
Ukuthula - quiet, silence
I could not find many examples of these used together as in the popular English phrase 'peace and quiet' and will create a post for each separately.
Here is a song in isiXhosa by Zahara with lyrics and translations generously added:
Amaplaya, from her album Country Girl
Many words are the same or similar in isiZulu and isiXhosa - one difference is ndi- (isiXhosa) instead of ngi-(isiZulu).
Here is the first stanza of Amaplaya:
Andithand' ukulwa
(I don't like to fight)
Ndifun' uxolo nokuthula
(I want peace and quiet)
Khuluma, uba andenzi kahle
(Speak, if I'm not doing something right)
My isiZulu translation:
Angithand' ukulwa
Ngifun' uxolo nokuthula
Khuluma, uma angenzi kahle
(corrections welcome!)
Ukuthula - quiet, silence
I could not find many examples of these used together as in the popular English phrase 'peace and quiet' and will create a post for each separately.
Here is a song in isiXhosa by Zahara with lyrics and translations generously added:
Amaplaya, from her album Country Girl
Many words are the same or similar in isiZulu and isiXhosa - one difference is ndi- (isiXhosa) instead of ngi-(isiZulu).
Here is the first stanza of Amaplaya:
Andithand' ukulwa
(I don't like to fight)
Ndifun' uxolo nokuthula
(I want peace and quiet)
Khuluma, uba andenzi kahle
(Speak, if I'm not doing something right)
My isiZulu translation:
Angithand' ukulwa
Ngifun' uxolo nokuthula
Khuluma, uma angenzi kahle
(corrections welcome!)
Tuesday, January 8, 2019
to be delighted, to delight
Continuing from the previous post.....
isizulu.net provides:
to be happy: verb
-enama, -esasa, -ethaba, -jabula, -sasa, -thokoza
translated back into English, the dictionary elaborates the meaning of each of these as
be delighted, be glad, be happy, be pleased, rejoice, be cheerful
to make happy:
-enamisa, -esasisa, -ethabisa, -jabulisa, -sasisa, -thokozisa
The isiZulu Oxford Living Dictionary focuses on -jabula (yesterday's post)
and -thokoza
"Thokoza", used as a greeting within and for a group of sangomas lineages. Greeting, calling attention, affirming.
"Thokoza, Gogo!"
I like the others too, the shorter words which I've not heard before (as an ignorant learner).
-enama, ethaba, - esasa, -sasa
nor are they in the Oxford online dictionary.
Are they old fashioned, or less commonly used?
What is the connection between -sasa and
kusasa
tomorrow?
-sa it turns out, is the verb: to dawn.
Ukusa (n)
dawn, daybreak, dawning.
In this way, two special Aunties of mine called Joy and Dawn, have the same name.
ungijabulisa
- you delight me
ngiyenama
- I am delighted
To be happy!
After exploring 'angry', it's defintely time for happy.
I've not found an adjective form for 'happy' but there are a number of verbs for experiencing
various kinds of joy.
isizulu.net provides:
to be happy: verb
-enama, -esasa, -ethaba, -jabula, -sasa, -thokoza
translated back into English, the dictionary elaborates the meaning of each of these as
be delighted, be glad, be happy, be pleased, rejoice, be cheerful
to make happy:
-enamisa, -esasisa, -ethabisa, -jabulisa, -sasisa, -thokozisa
The isiZulu Oxford Living Dictionary only speaks of -jabula and -thokoza
both words I've come across in one way or another,
Jabulani (Rejoice) being a name, for persons but also a part of Soweto
and a popular song from my youth:
The original by PJ Powers - so 80s! refers to the place
and then not long ago with beloved HHP, now departed
Along the line of happy collaboration, from the Oxford Living Dictionary:
Kuyangijabulisa ukusebenza nomuntu nofana nawe, MaSibisi.
It gives me please to work with someone like you, Masibisi.
Sunday, January 6, 2019
Inhliziyo (heart)
inhliziyo/izinhliziyo (n)
heart
disposition, temper, temperament
How I found this word was looking for the meaning of a plant name, a very wonderful tree called 'wild pear' and even more prosaically 'drolpeer' by my Eng/Afr forebears, referring to the appearance of its flowers and fruit.
In isiZulu it is Inhliziyonkulu. A love potion can be made from the flowers.
And, the leaves are roughly heart shaped.
From the Oxford Living Dictionary, a characteristically gritty example:
Ufike esibhedlela inhliziyo isishaya ngamandla.
When he arrived at hospital, his heart was beating fast.
Since my brother recently arrived at hospital in this state, I now see that it is a relevant example, and talk of hearts does not need to involve love.
Singing of hearts pretty much does, though, love and desire:
Here is a great song by Mjava: Inhliziyo http://bimba.co.za/sjava/isina-muva/inhliziyo
with refrain
"Inhliziyo efuna lokh'ekfunayo"
The heart wants what it wants (desires)
And this one is by the Soul Brothers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Spg-GtOsfvg
Lovely, sadly lyrics not available, maybe someone can help.
Wednesday, July 26, 2017
Angry
Angry (adj)
-thukuthele, -nolaka
Umama wami ubengithukhuthelele ngokushiya indlu yogungezela imahlaphahlapha.
My mother was angry with me for leaving the bathroom in a mess.
I love:
the grammar lesson in the word: ubengithukuthelele
and the word
imahlaphahlapha - how perfect for a mess?
but
having to call a bathroom
indlu yogugenzela
(a tongue twister!)
is a but much.
Anger (n)
intukuthelo
ulaka -fierce temper
(igwebu, also provided by isizulu.net, seems otherwise to mean 'froth')
Ulaka lwakhe lozumbulala.
His fierce temper will kill him.
vocabulary from isizulu.net
izibonelo from isiZulu Oxford Living Dictionary
-thukuthele, -nolaka
Umama wami ubengithukhuthelele ngokushiya indlu yogungezela imahlaphahlapha.
My mother was angry with me for leaving the bathroom in a mess.
I love:
the grammar lesson in the word: ubengithukuthelele
and the word
imahlaphahlapha - how perfect for a mess?
but
having to call a bathroom
indlu yogugenzela
(a tongue twister!)
is a but much.
Anger (n)
intukuthelo
ulaka -fierce temper
(igwebu, also provided by isizulu.net, seems otherwise to mean 'froth')
Ulaka lwakhe lozumbulala.
His fierce temper will kill him.
vocabulary from isizulu.net
izibonelo from isiZulu Oxford Living Dictionary
Thursday, June 29, 2017
-qinile (to be fit, strong)
-qinile (static verb)
to be firm, hard, solid, stiff, strong
to be physically fit
to be headstrong, stubborn, obdurate, pigheaded, stubborn
a word for teenage boys?
;)
also (I'm finding some more translation sites)
tough, sturdy - wordhippo
uqinile - be strong
hlala uqinile - stay strong
hlale uqinile
mymemory.translated.net
From a news report on Zim soccer legend Peter "Nsukuzonke" Ndlovu being discharged from hospital:
“Uqinile wena mfana (you are a strong man) after all that happened. We commend your family for remaining strong and supportive especially Madinda,” said Dr Mpofu. Said Peter in response: “Yini elingiqinisayo mdala. You are one of the people who make me strong,” he said laughing. (nehandaradio.com)
"Nsukuzonke" - every day
A lovely sentence fom isiZulu Oxford Living Dictionary:
to be firm, hard, solid, stiff, strong
to be physically fit
to be headstrong, stubborn, obdurate, pigheaded, stubborn
a word for teenage boys?
;)
also (I'm finding some more translation sites)
tough, sturdy - wordhippo
uqinile - be strong
hlala uqinile - stay strong
hlale uqinile
mymemory.translated.net
From a news report on Zim soccer legend Peter "Nsukuzonke" Ndlovu being discharged from hospital:
“Uqinile wena mfana (you are a strong man) after all that happened. We commend your family for remaining strong and supportive especially Madinda,” said Dr Mpofu. Said Peter in response: “Yini elingiqinisayo mdala. You are one of the people who make me strong,” he said laughing. (nehandaradio.com)
"Nsukuzonke" - every day
A lovely sentence fom isiZulu Oxford Living Dictionary:
Uyamethemba uMokohlane lona, kakhulukazi ngoba useyindoda eqinile, futhi enomusa.
You trust this Mokohlane, especially because he is now a man who is strong and kind too.
“Uqinile
wena mfana (you are a strong man) after all that happened. We commend
your family for remaining strong and supportive especially Madinda,”
said Dr Mpofu. Said Peter in response: “Yini elingiqinisayo mdala. You
are one of the people who make me strong,” he said laughing.
“Uqinile
wena mfana (you are a strong man) after all that happened. We commend
your family for remaining strong and supportive especially Madinda,”
said Dr Mpofu. Said Peter in response: “Yini elingiqinisayo mdala. You
are one of the people who make me strong,” he said laughing.
“Uqinile
wena mfana (you are a strong man) after all that happened. We commend
your family for remaining strong and supportive especially Madinda,”
said Dr Mpofu. Said Peter in response: “Yini elingiqinisayo mdala. You
are one of the people who make me strong,” he said laughing.
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