Ndebele, also called Ndebele of Zimbabwe, or Ndebele Proper, formerly Matabele, Bantu-speaking people of southwestern Zimbabwe who now live primarily around the city of Bulawayo. They originated early in the 19th century as an offshoot of the Nguni of Natal.

Ndebele speaking countries

Since the adoption of its 2013 Constitution, Zimbabwe has 16 official languages, namely Chewa, Chibarwe, English, Kalanga, Koisan, Nambya, Ndau, Ndebele, Shangani, Shona, sign language, Sotho, Tonga, Tswana, Venda, and Xhosa.

Zimbabwe has 16 official languages – namely as Chewa, Chibarwe, English, Kalanga, Koi-san, Nambya, Ndau, Ndebele, Shangani, Shona, Sign Language, Sotho, Tonga, Tswana, Venda and Xhosa. However, English, Shona and Ndebele are the most widely spoken languages in the country.

Today, Afrikaans is spoken by a small minority of Zimbabweans, less than one percent of the population and the number of whom has declined significantly since 1980. Today’s, Afrikaans speakers in Zimbabwe are typically recent Afrikaner immigrants from South Africa or their descendants.

Zimbabwe

1. English: Hello.
2. Shona: Mhoro (Hello)
3. Ndebele: Sawubona (Hello)

A collection of useful phrases in Shona, a Bantu language spoken mainly in Zimbabwe….Useful Shona phrases.

Zimbabwe

1. English: Thank you.
2. Shona: Ndatenda (Thank you to one person), Tatenda (Thank you to several people)
3. Ndebele: Ngiyabonga (Thank you to one person), Siyabonga (Thank you to several people)

Zimbabwean Culture

1. Greet anyone older than yourself first.
2. The common greeting is a firm handshake with the right hand.
3. The traditional greeting involves a clap after the handshake.
4. Women may lower their body briefly, kneel or curtsy whilst shaking hands out of respect.

A collection of useful phrases in Northern Ndebele, a Bantu language spoken mainly in Zimbabwe….Useful phrases in Northern Ndebele.

A collection of useful phrases in Southern Ndebele, a Bantu language spoken by in South Africa. Key to abbreviations: sg = singular (said to one person), pl = plural (said to more than one person)….Useful phrases in Southern Ndebele.

Northern Ndebele (English: /ɛndəˈbiːliː/), also called Ndebele, isiNdebele, Zimbabwean Ndebele or North Ndebele, and formerly known as Matabele, is an African language belonging to the Nguni group of Bantu languages, spoken by the Northern Ndebele people, or Matabele, of Zimbabwe.

Ndza ku ehleketa – I miss you — Xitsonga Dictionary.

Useful phrases in Tsonga

Sasekile is a Xitsonga word meaning “Beautiful” in English.

Sorry is an English word meaning “Ku tisola” in Xitsonga.

Wrong is an English word meaning “Hoxeka” in Xitsonga. Wrong —adj. – Mistaken; not true; in error.

Murhandziwa wa mina – My love.

Avuxeni is used as a general greeting in Tsonga, it can also be used as a morning greeting. Riperile is a night greeting, typically used after 6pm. Ni kona or ni pfukile would then followed by Wena unjani or nwina mi njhani?

I am going home. Ndo neta. Ndi khou ya hayani. I’m going to sleep….Learn Venda!

1. My name is … – Vito ra mina i…
2. I love you – Ndza ku rhandza.
3. You are beautiful – U sasekile.
4. My lover – murhandziwa.

Queen is an English word meaning “Hosikati” in Xitsonga.

Ndza khensa – Thank you — Xitsonga Language & Grammar.

= I feel sleepy. 27. U etlela kahle. = Sleep well.

Bokoloka – Speak too much V. Bokoloka is a Xitsonga word meaning “Speak too much” in English.

The Tsonga people originated from Central and East Africa somewhere between AD 200 and 500, and have been migrating in-and-out of South Africa for over a thousand (1,000) years.

I am fine. – Ndzi kona. I am fine, thank you. – Ndzi kona ndza nkhensa.