New-Languages

While travelling in Africa it is always an advantage if you can attempt to speak the local languages, especially with there being nine official languages in South Africa alone. This brief language Guide offers you translation in seven languages and will at least assist you with the very basic questions that you may need to ask along the way.

Asking a question in a persons home language, whether it be Sotho or English always brings a smile to someones face and friendly South Africans are everywhere!

I have listed the questions and statements for ease of use below:

Question:
Where is the Airport? - English
Waar is die lughawe? - Afrikaans
Boemefane bo kae? - N.Sotho
Difofaneng ke kae? - Sesotho
Boemadifofane bo kae? - Tswane
Siphi isikhululo senqwelo moya? - Xhosa
Ikuphi inkundla yezindiza? - Zulu

Question:
Where is the station? - English
Waar is die stasie? - Afrikaans
Seteisena se kai? - N.Sotho
Seteishena se hokae? - Sesotho
Seteisena se kae? - Tswana
Siphi isikhululo? - Xhosa
Sikuphi isiteshi? - Zulu

Question:
Where is the nearest Hotel/Motel?
- English
Waar is die naaste hotel/motel?
- Afrikaans
Hotele/Motele ya kgauswi e kae?
- N.Sotho
Hotele e/Motele o haufiufi e/ho kae?
- Sesotho
Hotele/Motele e e gaufi e kau?
- Tswana
Iphi ihotele/indwo yabahambi ekufutshane? - Xhosa
Likuphi ihhotela eliseduza? - Zulu

Question:
Is the water drinkable? - English
Is die water drinkbaar? - Afrikaans
A meets a a a ngewa? - N.Sotho
Na metsi a a nweha? - Sesotho
A metsi a ka nowa? - Tswana
Ayaselwa na amanzi? - Xhosa
Singawaphuza amanzi na? - Zulu

Statement:
I have a booking! - English
Ek het n' bespreking - Afrikaans
Ke beeleditse marabalo - N.Sotho
Ke beheleditse - Sesotho
Ke dirile peelelo - Tswana
Ndigicinelwe indawo - Xhosa
Ngibhukile - Zulu

Question:
Where is the nearest Doctor/hospital/
police station/ telephone? - English
Waar is die Naaste Dokter/hospital/
polisiestasie/telefoon? - Afrikaans
Ngaka ya kgauswi e kae? Sepetlele sa kgauswi se kae?/ Seteisene sa maphodisa sa kgauswi se kae? Mogala wa kgauswi o kae? - N.Sotho
Ngaka/sepetlele/mapoleseng/telephone e haufiufi e kae? - Sesotho
Ngaka/sepetlele/mapodisa/mogala e e/ se se / a a / o o gaufi e / se / a / o/ kae? - Tswana
Undawoni ugqirha/isibhedlele/isikhululo samapolisa/ifoni ekufutshane? - Xhosa -Ukuphi udoktela

Yes - English
Ja - Afrikaans
Ee - N.Sotho
E! - Sesotho
Ee - Tswana
Ewe - Xhosa
Yebo - Zulu

Please - English
Asseblief - Afrikaans
Hle.../...hle - N.Sotho
(Ka kopo) Hle - Sesotho
Tsweetswee - Tswana
Nceda - Xhosa
Uxolo - Zulu

No - English
Nee - Afrikaans
Aowa - N.Sotho
The - Sesotho
Nnyaa - Tswana
Hayi - Xhosa
Cha - Zulu

Thank you - English
Dankie - Afrikaans
Ke a leboga - N.Sotho
Ke a leboha - Sesotho
Ke a leboga - Tswana
Enkosi - Xhosa
Ngiyabonga - Zulu

"Hamba kahle" (pack well - travel well) see you soon in Sunny South Africa.