My Mother Your Dad in Zulu

Parents in Zulu is a-ba-za-li.

Photo:  Nonqaba waka Msimang.

We’ll divide today’s lesson into two.

·         your mother and father

·         other people’s mothers and fathers

For example, we have a boy named Phila (which means live) and a girl Nomusa (which means the kind one).

·         Phila will say, u-ma-ma wa-mi (my mother).

·         Phila can also use the short version, u-Ma-wam.

When Nomusa talks about Phila’s mother, she will say:

·         U-ma-ma ka-Phila (Phila’s mother).

·         She can use the short version, u-Ma-ka-Phila.

FATHERS

·         Phila will say, u-ba-ba wami (my father).

·         Nomusa will say u-ba-ba wami (my father).

But, when Phila talks about Nomusa’s dad, he will say u-ba-ba ka-Nomusa.

When Nomusa talks about Phila’s dad, she will say u-ba-ba ka-Phila.

PRONUNCIATION

U-ba-ba wa-mi.  You say the first part like ooze, the second and third like baba in European languages. Wa-mi, the first part is pronounced like Wally and the second lime meet.

LESSON ACTIVITY
Have 2 or 4 people in the room.  They must talk about their mothers and fathers and their friends’ mothers and fathers. 

By:  Nonqaba waka Msimang.