Turn in Zulu

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Driving lessons, turning the wheel is scary for learners.

Isi-Zulu is a language spoken in South Africa. This blog also features Zulu lessons.

Turn is jika in Zulu. It is used for a U-turn when driving, or turn because you’ve changed your mind about your destination. Turn is when friends disappoint you or plain betrayal. Your wonderful neighbour might suddenly turn against you. The boss too, when a jealous co-worker brings her coffee sprinkled with lies about you.

Turn, is also about elections, when a constituency that has voted red for a long time turns green. Georgia State voted Democrat in 2020 adding critical votes for Joe Biden. A lazy person is called uma-jika-nelanga (one who turns with the sun).

Ji-ka. You say the first part like jingle bells and second like Kazeem.

ZULU

ENGLISH

Jika la.

Turn here.

Musa uku-jika la.

Don’t turn here.

Jika kancane kukhona izingane.

Turn slowly, there are kids around.

Jika i steering wheel, kanje.

Turn the steering wheel like this.

Khombisa ukuthi uzojika -e-robotini.

Indicate that you’ll turn at the traffic light.

Uzo-jika ngase sontweni.

You’ll turn near the church.

Jack no-Jill bazo-jika u-zobona.

Jack and Jill will change their minds you’ll see.

U-Noma wangi-jikela.

Noma turned against me.

U-Bonga waji-kela u-Themba.

Bonga turned against Themba.

Susan, wajika manje. Iphi’mali?

Susan, you’ve turned now, where’s the money?


This another ‘written podcast’ by Nonqaba waka Msimang.

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