Clicks in South African Languages

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No Zulu lessons today. Happy Holidays.

Ryan Coogler, who directed the blockbuster Disney/Marvel movie Black Panther, is into South Africa these days.  We don’t know what fascinates him about the country, maybe it is the languages.
i-si-qwayi.  These are small ones carried by brides.
Photo:  Nonqaba waka Msimang.
We can’t blame him.  This blog has a few students interested in South African languages and isi-Zulu in particular.  Maybe they are married to someone born there or are hoping to hop on a plane some day and visit the country. 
After having coffee with your friends you say goodbye and say: Si-zo-xhumana, meaning we'll hook up or get in touch.
This is a Happy Holidays’ gift to frustrate you because you can never pronounce these clicks without losing your tongue.  So, you better get tongue insurance.

ZULU
ENGLISH
Xova.
Mix as in mix flour and yeast to make bread.
Gxuma.
Jump as in how high.
Qukula.
Lift, not just your arms at the gym, but heavy stuff like industrial machinery.
Qola.
I-qola.
Steal. To thief.
A thief, like stealing a photo and using photoshop and put your name on it.
Qoba.
Chop. Chop chop as the opening scene in Ang Lee’s film Eat Drink Man Woman, the best food movie period. You chop wood, meat, carrots etc.
Xhuma.
Join as in join the dots, networking or joining two ends of a rope.
Goqa.
Fold something.  Shawarma, your favourite snack is food folded in a laffa or pita.
Gqoka.
Dress.  You like people who dress in designer clothes.  Bollywood actresses like Nandita Das love clothes from their country India.
Gqiba.
Bury something, or hide something, a family secret.  Children born in rural Africa have their umbilical cord buried in their father’s yard.  Where is your umbilical cord buried?  It’s still a very important question about identity.
Ngqongqoza.
Knock. Knock, knock. Who’s there?
Qoma.
U-seqomile.
Dating.
She has a boyfriend.

By: Nonqaba waka Msimang.


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