To Wait in Zulu

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Good news! This Zulu lesson is easy because it is similar to an English word.


Wait is linda in Zulu. Linda is a girl’s name in English. In Zulu, it’s a name for both girls and boys. We wait for the bus, train, dentist, doctor or for phone calls from loved ones. It’s worse with cellphones. We sleep with them under the pillow, but still no call from sweetheart, darling or honey.

America is still waiting for some states to finish counting ballots, after the 2022 Midterm election on 8 November. America will also wait a few weeks for the Georgia Senate run-off election in December.

There’s also waiting in the bible. We were forced to take Religious Studies in primary school. The bible has a story about ten women waiting for a bridegroom. We grew up and realized how ridiculous it was. Why 10? What was special about that particular groom?

All countries in Africa have traditional ways of naming babies. What is common is giving them names that reflect what was happening when they were born. Linda for example. Maybe the family was expecting a boy or a girl. Maybe the family was waiting for rain or an important visitor from far away.

ZULU

ENGLISH

Lindiwe

A girl’s name.  The expected one.  Lindi/Lindy is the popular abbreviation.

Silindile.

A girl’s name which means we are waiting.

Linda.

Name for girls and boys.

Linde-lani.

You must wait for something.

Linda la.  Ngi-yabuya.

Wait here.  I’m coming back.

Ngi-linde.

Wait for me.

U-linde bani?

Who are you waiting for?

Ngi-linde ubaba.

I’m waiting for dad.

By: Nonqaba waka Msimang.

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