Come Here In Zulu
Come in Zulu is i-za or wo-za. The root of the verb is za, as in Zanzibar.
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When addressing one person you say i-za or wo-za.
·
When addressing two or more, you say i-za-ni or wo-za-ni.
Remember, the -ni
at the end of a verb means many people.
i-za.
You pronounce the first part like e-mail, the second part like Zagreb.
wo-za-ni. You pronounce the first part like war, the
second part like Zagreb, the last part like kneel.
Calling someone has its own protocol. Managers call people to their offices. There is no recorded case where the worker says
to the manager, ‘can I see you in my cubicle?’
In Africa, parents call children.
Kids don’t yell Mummy and demand this and that.
Going somewhere with people who don’t keep time can drive you
up the wall. ‘I’m coming. I’m coming.’ That’s their favourite line.
ZULU
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ENGLISH
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Themba, wo-za la.
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Themba, come here.
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Thobile, wo-za la.
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Thobile, come here.
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I-za. Si-ha-mbe.
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Come, let’s go.
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Wo-za. Si-ha-mbe.
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Come, let’s go.
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Lancelot, Maria, Paulos, wo-za-ni.
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Lancelot, Maria, Paulos, come.
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Ba-ye-za.
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They are coming.
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Ngi-ye-za.
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I’m coming.
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U-zo-za ni-ni?
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When are you coming?
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Ngi-zo-za ku-sa-sa.
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I’ll come tomorrow.
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Ba-zo-za e-mi-ni.
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They’ll come during the day.
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Bu-ye-za u-bu-si-ka.
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Winter is coming.
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A-ye-za a-ma-kha-za.
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Cold weather is coming.
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