My Gain in Zulu

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To gain something is -zuza in Zulu. How do I pronounce it? Zu-za. You pronounce the first part as in zoo, the last part as in Zara.

What you have gained is known as i-nzu-zo, which is a noun. A baby girl’s name is No-nzu-zo and you know it is a girl because of the prefix -no. My name is No-nqaba, a girl.  Well! used to be, at least.  Ha! Ha!

Christmas is around the corner. That’s why it’s raining credit cards. Banks want us to spend and spend so that they can gain interest in unpaid balance. That is what capitalism is all about. Borrow money you can never pay back because monthly payments are just interest only.   

British, Canadian and U.S. designers make a big deal when Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales is wearing their creations, but do not shout on top of rooftops that their clothes are made in minimum wage conditions in Asia and eastern Europe.

Donald Trump will run for U.S. President in 2024. Some Republicans will support him, but what will they gain? There must be something because a Nigerian proverb says: while trying to save a drowning man, be careful not to go down with him.

ZULU

ENGLISH

No-nzu-zo.

A girl’s name about something the family hopes to gain from her birth or has gained already.

Zu-za-ni.

Girl’s or boy’s name. Gain, many people should gain from his or her birth.

Ba-zu-ze 100%.

They got a 100% profit.

Ngi-zu-ze 100%.

I got a 100% profit.

U-Prudence u-zu-ze i-ma-li ngo-bu-hle.

Prudence gained money from the beauty title.

U-zu-ze-ni ngo-ku-lwa?

What did you gain by fighting?

Fu-nda.  U-zo-zu-za.

Get an education.  You will gain.

Ngi-dla-la a-ma-ha-shi kho-na ngi-zo-zu-za.

I bet horses so that I can win.

Nge-ke u-zu-ze.

You will never win (gain).

Si-zo-zu-za i-mali.

We will gain money.

Ba-zo-zu-za i-nhlo-ni-pho.

They will gain respect.

 By: Nonqaba waka Msimang.

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