Human Beings in Zulu

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A human being is u-muntu in Zulu.
Many human beings a-bantu.

U-mu-ntu. You say the first part like ooze the second like moot and the last like lint, but with a u at the end.
A-ba-ntu. You say the first part like Anna, the second like Babatunde, a Nigerian man’s name and the last like mint, but with a u at the end.

A Grade 3 teacher asked her kids to make sentences using bean. One little scholar said, “We are all human beans.” There you go, out of the mouth of babes.

All human beings are created equal because they are born and die the same way, but there was, and still is slavery, based on religion, race or gender. Slavery is stripping away the human-ness of a group of human beings, so that you can murder, rape, steal their land or use them as free labour.
ZULUENGLISH
Abantu bakwa-Zulu.Zulu people.
Abantu base-Portugal.People from Portugal.
Ubaba u-nabantu.Father has many people (he’s popular).
U-mama uno-buntu.Mother is very kind, has humanity.
U-Mandla u-muntu wam.Mandla is my boyfriend.
U-Sne u-muntu wam.Sne is my girlfriend.
A-bantu base-mzini.In-laws.
A-ve e-no-buntu.He is very kind/very humane.
A-busekho u-buntu.There is no humanity anymore.
U-Phikani u-muntu wenkosi.Phikani is very humble.
A-bantu balele.People are asleep.
La-bantu bahle.These people are beautiful.
U-muntu o-njani lo?What kind of a person is this?

By: Nonqaba waka Msimang

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