Turn Around in Zulu

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Turn around is phe-ndu--ka in Zulu. You say the first part like pet, the second like the mighty Indus River in Asia, and the last like Kamala Harris.

Phe-ndu-ka means turn a new leaf
Phe-ndu-ka also means turn around or go back

U-lala ephenduka, is a Zulu proverb that means you can’t trust someone. It literally means he turns this way and that way when he is asleep.

Whistleblowers for example. They turn around and give damaging evidence because they are disillusioned with their circles and what they represent. Wa-ba phe-ndu-ke-la (She turned against them.)
 
Husbands and wives fight all the time. Call it an occupational hazard. It’s what they do, add spice to their life. Then the sun goes down. One party sleeps facing west instead of east. ‘Phenduka dali wam,’ begs the other party, meaning turn around darling. Such is life.

People who claim to be Christians, Muslims and other religions are always shopping, asking people to convert, turn to their religion. It can be so intense, friends avoid them.

Crossing the floor. It is wrong, but legal in parliamentary democracy. People vote for me because I belong to the Purple Party, then somewhere down the line I turn around and embrace the Brown Party. Where does that leave voters who did not want the Brown Party in the first place? That is why they voted for me.
ZULUENGLISH
Phenduka u-ngi-bheke.Turn around and look at me.
Phenduka ngi-khuluma nawe.Turn around when I’m talking to you.
Ngi-zo-phenduka ku-sa-sa.I’ll come back (turn around) tomorrow.
Usephendukile akasaphuzi.He has turned a new leaf. He no longer drinks.
Hiroshi phenduka ube iMuslim.Hiroshi, convert to Islam.
Hiroshi phenduka ube iChristian.Hiroshi, convert to Christianity.
Nge-ke ngi-phenduke nge-nkani.I won’t convert by force.
Phenduka uphindele ekhaya. Kuyanetha.Turn around and go home. It is raining.
O-so-politiki ba-lala be-phenduka.Politicians are always changing.
Wa-ngi-phe-ndukela. A-si-sa khulumisani. She turned against me. We no longer talk to each other.

By: Nonqaba waka Msimang.

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