Believe in Zulu

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To believe is kho-lwa in Zulu.

Some people did not believe that Donald Trump will become president of the USA.  Democrats and Republicans are making all kinds of promises for the 2018 Midterm elections in November.  Will voters believe them?
People believe in religion and their parents.  They also believe in runway models, movies stars, singers and ball players.  That is why they buy clothes, handbags, cough mixtures, pasta sauces and anything famous people advertise in magazines, television and online.

As for me, I believe in the lowest price, as in 80% off before I fork out some dollars.  No, I’m not cheap.  I just believe in keeping the little cash I have close to my chest. Or is it in my purse?
Teaching Zulu students how to say kho-lwa is going to be a challenge but we shall try.  You say the first part of the verb like cobweb, the second part like kohl, but add -wa as in want.  Somebody born in South Africa, Swaziland or Zimbabwe, will help you figure it out.
Please note:  Religion itself is i-nko-lo, a noun.

ZULU
ENGLISH
A-ngi-kho-lwa.
I don’t believe it.
A-ngi-kho-lwa u-ku-thi ngi-pha-si-le.
I don’t believe I passed.
A-ba-kho-lwa u-ku-thi ba-wi-ni-le.
They don’t believe they won.
Ngi-zo-kholwa u-ma ngi-mu-bona u-Themba.
I’ll believe it when I see Themba (maybe there were rumours that he is dead).
U-Thandi a-ka-kho-lwa u-ku-thi ngi-ya-mu-tha-nda.
Thandi doesn’t believe I love her.
U-Dennis a-ka-kho-lwa u-ku-thi ngi-ya-mu-tha-nda.
Dennis doesn’t believe I love him.
Ba-kho-lwa e-ma-Za-yo-ni.
They believe in the Baptist Church. It is called the Zionist Church in South Africa.
A-ma-kho-lwa.
Christians (believers).
I-so-nto la-ma-kho-lwa.
Christian (believers’) church.
U-kho-lwa ba-ni, u-Joyce no-ma u-Sally?
Who do you believe, Joyce or Sally?
Ngi-kho-lwa u-Sally.
I believe Sally.
We-na, u-kho-lwa ba-ni?
You, who do you believe?
Ngi-kho-lwa u-mama.
I believe my mother.
By:  Nonqaba waka Msimang.

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