Home in Zulu

Horses are homeless.

Home is kha-ya in Zulu.
Marriage in ancient Kwa-Zulu was not instant as in Instagram.  Boy met girl.  Girl said get lost, did I say I’m tired of living in my father’s house?  Boy persisted, even asked her sisters to intervene. 
When girl finally said yes, parents moved in and started wedding preparations which will see the girl leaving her father’s house for her new home, her husband’s home.

However, the love game has gone digital with people meeting on Face, direct messaging and chat rooms.  Some chat up South African women because they want to live there or American men because they want the Green Card.  Others are murderers and lure their prey to dubious rendezvous and get away with it because nobody knows their homes.  

Kha-ya.  The first part is pronounced like car the second like yam.

ZULU	ENGLISH
Khaya.	A boy’s name meaning home.  Parents might have moved into their own house after living with in-laws or renting.  Maybe the child was born when a family member returned home after living abroad.
Khayalethu.	A boy’s name meaning our home.  Same as above.
E-khaya.	Home.
E-kha-ya ku-no-mse-be-nzi.	There is a celebration at home, to thank ancestors for looking after the family or to celebrate daughters who are grown up.
U-phi u-Baleka?	Where is Baleka?
E-se-khaya.	She is home.
U-phi u-Boris no-Simeon?	Where is Boris and Simeon?
Ba-se-khaya.	They are home.
U-phi u-Pat, Joyce no-Jacob?	Where is Pat, Joyce and Jacob?
Ba-se-khaya.	They are home.
Millicent u-ku-phi?	Millicent, where are you?
Ngi-se-khaya.	I’m home.
Si-se-khaya.	We are home.
Si-ya-ja-bu-la si-se-khaya.	We are happy we are home.
A-ku-kho mu-ntu e-khaya.	There is nobody at home.
A-ke-kho e-khaya.	He is not home.  She is not home.
U-ma-ko-ti u-se-khaya.	Sister-in-law is at home.

EXERCISE:  Four friends should ask each other if they are home.