Zulu Names for Hope

Sinethemba means we have hope in Zulu.

We hope for rain, for food to grow.

Countries have popular names for boys and girls. Mario, which country? Pierre, which country? Ade, which country? Francina, which country? Jose, which country? Themba is a common uni-sex name in South Africa.

Si-ne-the-mba. You say the first part like sing, the second like neck, the third like temp and the last part like ember. Themba is the short version for boys. T-Zaa, or T-Man might be his street name, if he grows up on some block in the U.S. or South Africa. Probably, only his mother will use the full name, especially when she is mad at him.

The-mba is to hope. You say the first part like tell, the last like ember.
I-the-mba is the noun, hope. You say the first part like e-mail, the second like tell and the last like ember.

Sinethemba will be a popular name for U.S. babies born after the 2022 Midterm Election. Their name will mean hope for democracy. It has the following variations.

Siyathemba, meaning we are hoping, we, many people.
Thembani, meaning many people should hope for a cure.

I-themba lethu, meaning our hope, the family’s hope, country’s hope and the world’s hope.

We hope for the rainbow after the storm.

By: Nonqaba waka Msimang.