Lozi Language primer

(Formal)- Dialogue
Mutozi chwani/ Kibusiwu	Good morning/ day/ evening
Mutozi chwani /Kibusiwu ima	Good morning/ day/ evening madam
Mutozi/utozi chwani?	How are you?
Ni tozi hande.Wena utozi chwani?Lit. means how have you risen?)	I am fine and how are you?
Ni inzi fela hande	I am well
Greeting a group
Mulumele Basali ni Bana	Good day ladies and gentlemen
Mulumele ime	Good day madam
Enisha Mulumela	How are you (pl)?
Lu wiinzi hande.Ulumele/Mulumele?	We are well and how are you?
Ni nzi Hande	I am well
Luitumezi	Thank you
(Informal)- Dialogue
Mulumela Ndate	Good day sir
Mulumela  Ima	Good day madam
Mutozi/utozi chwani?	How are you? (Formal/informal)
Ni tozi hande chwale wena utozi chwani?	I am fine and how are you?
Ni inzi fela Hande	I am fine
“Mulumela” is not specific to any time of the day. Men are expected to take off their hats/ caps when greeting elders.

 

: Introducing Self/ Someone  

Libizo Laka Kina Ashley	My name is Ashley
Libizo laka lamafelelezo kina Jones	My Last name is Jones
Kiwe na mang?	What is your name?
Ni zwa kwa Amerika	I am from America
Uzwa kakayi?	Where are you from?
Libizo la yo ki Martin	His name is Martin
Libizo lahae lamafelelezo ki Daniel	His last name is Daniel
Uzwa kwa Amerika?	Are you from America?
Ni tusa bathu	I am a volunteer

 

Leave- Taking Expression  

Na nami siya	Good-bye
Nimi siyile	See you
Mutola hande	Have a good day
Mulobale/Ulobale hande	Good night
Kakubona kamuso	See you tomorrow
Kakubona ape	See you later

 

 

Lesson 5: Vocabulary 1 (Verbs)

Go- (	To-
Kona	Able,
kuhupulitsa	remind
Nisabile	Afraid of,
Alaba	Answer
Utile	Arrive
Kupa	Ask
Na Kupa	Ask for (polite way)
Uza maile	Away, go ; travel
Ubile	Be, become
Kala ku	Begin
Nalumela	Believe, agree
Bilisa	Boil
Nakupa nika kufa	Borrow
Tisa Kwanu	Bring
Chisa                                                  Burn
Pumbeka	Bury
Leka	Buy
Biza Mutu usili	Call another person
Nanula	Carry
Pahama	Climb
Kwala	Close
Taha	Come
Kena	Come in
Zwa	Come out (emerge)
Apeha	Cook
Lila	Cry
Bina	Dance
Kuliyeya	Delay
Sinya	Destroy

 

Yeza	Do
Nwa	Drink
phakela	Early,
Cha	Eat
Kena	Enter
Inga	Take it
Utwa	Feel; Hear; Taste
Felize	Finish
Fumana	Find
	Fix, prepare
Swalela	Forgive
Bona	To see
Zuha	Get up/ wake up
Fa	Give
Ya	Go
Kutwa hande	Happy, be
Thusa	Help
Swala	Hold
Kwiyi yeza	Injure
Beya	Keep
Ema	Stand
Kuziba	Know
Seya	Laugh
Thuta	Learn ; study
Kuhutwa	Listen
Lata	Like/ love
Wapila	Live
Ubata	Need
Kwalula	Open
Fita	Pass
Lifa	Pay
Nanula	Pick up
Beya	Place
Hana	Refuse
Kutisa	Return
Bulela	Say
Lekisa	Sell
Kula	Sick,
Ina fafasi	Sit down
Lobala	Sleep
Hoha	Smoke
Bulela	Speak
Lobala	Spend the night
Siyala	Stay behind
Inga	Take

 

Luta	Teach
Bulela	Tell
Mabote	Tired, become
Lika	Try
Kuwutwa	Understand
Belekisa	Use
Mata	Ran
Bataa	Want
Litino	Wash (clothes)
Tapa	bathe
Bonisisa	Watch
Beleka	Work
gola	Write

 

 

Lesson 6: Some Useful Expressions

Ni utwa mabote	I am tired
Ni utwa buloko	I am sleepy
Ni twa tala	I am hungry
Ani si ka utwa tala	I am not hungry
Uya  kae?	Where are you going?
Niya Kwandu	I am going home
Utaya Lilii	When are you coming?
Uyina  kae?	Where is your home?
Andrew unzii kae?	Where is Andrew?
Edward uyile kwa Post office	Edward is going to the post office
Aniyi kwa shopo	I don’t go to the shop
Nayituta Silozi	I am learning Silozi ; I study
Ani nwi kofi	I don’t take coffee
Nibata kupumula	I need some rest
Na cha,Niseli ku cha	I eat ; I am eating
Achi	He doesn’t eat
Ai Tuti	She doesn’t study
Nitapa kakusasana	I bathe in the morning
Napakela kuzuha	I wake up very early
Kuseli kwaba busiwu	It’s becoming late (night fall)
Ki Nako	It’s time up
Ki bata mezi	I am thirsty
Ani yitwi	I don’t understand
Bulela Ayiyani	Speak slowly
Hape	Again
Uni swalela	Excuse me
Bulela Kamapile	Speak quickly
Una ni butata?	Do you have a problem (s)?
Eni ni na ni butata	Yes, I have a problem

 

Ani na butata	No, I don’t have a problem
Au na puzo	Do you have any questions?
Utwa wena	Listen
Buza	Ask
Lumelisa	Greet
	Please
Niyitumezi	Thank you

 

 

Lesson 7: Vocabulary 2 (Nouns)

Kitchen
tafule	Table
sipula	Chair
Mukeke	Plate
komoki	Cup
Luswana	Spoon
Tipa	Knife
Lufiyelo	Broom
Bedroom
Mumbeta	Bed
Kubo	Blanket
Li yapalo	Clothes
Bulukwe	Pants
Likatulo	Shoes
General items
Potoloto	Pencil
Buka	Book
Bêkê	Bag
pênê	Pen
Maali	Money
Muyako	Door

 

Lesson 8: Pronouns

nna	I
Wena	You
Ene	She/ he
Luna	We/ us
Kina	It’s me
Bone	Them

 

 

Lesson 9: Connecting words

Ni	and
Kono	But
Nebi	Or
ke	Is
Inge	As/like
Ekaba	therefore
Ka kuli	because

 

Lesson 12: Questions and Commands

Ki Eng?	What is it?
Utille Lilii?	When did you come?
Uzwa kae?	Where are you from?
Mutozi/Utozi chwani?	How are you?
O mang?	Who are you?
Ki efi?	Which one?
Ki afi?	Which ones?
Kingi?	Why?
Commanding expressions
Kwalula muyakoTaha kwanu  What your name	Open the doorCome here  Kiwe na mang
Kwala muyako	Close the door
Ema ni kubulela	Stand and talk
êma	Stand

 

Kena mwahali	Get inside
Taha kwano	Come here
Utwisisa	Keep quiet/Listen
Kuta	Go back
Taha kwa pili	Come to the front
Ina fafasi	Sit down

 

Lesson 13: Expressing Needs

Ubata eng?	What do you want?
Nibata Candle	I want a candle
Utokwa eng	What do you need?
Ni tokwa mali	I need money
Ubata kuya Kakayi?	Where do you want to go?
Nibata kuya kwa Kwandu	I want to go home
Ubata kuyeza eng?	What do you want to do now?
Ani zibi	I do not know
Ui kutwa chwang?	How do you feel?
Toho yaka esa opa	My head still aches
Ubatela eng mali amagata?	Why does she need a lot of money?
Ubata kuleka licho ni liyapalo	She needs to buy food and clothes
Ulata kofi?	Do you like coffee?
Ani rati kofi	No. I don’t like coffee
Kamoso; kamoso o ya kae?	Where are you going tomorrow?
Ni Ka phakela  kuya kwa Shops	I want to go to the shops in the morning

Lesson 14: Food Items

Licho	Food
Mabele	Sorghum
Bupi	Mealie-meal
sukiri	Sugar
Sauti	Salt
metsi	Water
Mabisi	Milk
Tamatisi	Tomatoes
Makwili	Potatoes
mae	Eggs

 

Sinkwa	Bread
kofi	Coffee
tee	Tea
Litapi	Fish
Yayisi	Onions
namunê	Orange
apole	Apple
Ndongo	Peanuts
Manawa	Beans

Nama                                                                     Meat

 

Family

Bokuku ba bana	Grand father
Bokuku ba basali	Grand mother
Bo ndate	Father
Bo mme	Mother
Likezeli (said only to pers. of opposite gender)	Sister ; Brother
Mulwani (to either elder sister/ brother)	Older sibling
Muyani (to either younger sister/ brother)	Younger sibling
Malumaho	Uncle (paternal)
Malume	Uncle (maternal)
Ante wakuba Ndate	Aunt (paternal)
Ante waku bo mme	Aunt (maternal)
Mwana wa bo Malume nebi bo Ante	cousin
Bashemi	Parents
Ba nana	Child/Children
Lusika	Family

 

 

Lesson 16: Adverbs of Time

Kachenu	Today
maabane	Yesterday
kamuso	Tomorrow
maloba a maabane	The day before yesterday
maloba	Few days ago
Sunda ye	This week
Sunda yeyi felile     (lit. the week that passed)	Last week
Sunda yetaha      (lit. the week that is still to come)	Next week
Silimo se	This year
Silimo sesi felile	Last year
Silimo sesi taha	Next year
kweli  ye	This month

 

Nako ye	At the moment
Kanako yetaha	Later on; earlier on (depending on context)
Busihu	At night
phakêla	In the morning
Musiyali	At noon (till sunset)
Manzi bwana	Around sunset

Lesson 17: Days Activities

Nizuile ka 6 phakela	I wake up at 6am
Neni ta pile	I bathed
Ape nani chile	And then I eat.
Seniya kwa sikolo	Then I go to school
Nanzi Kwa Sikolo Nako Kaufela	I spent the day at school
Luyeza zezigata kachenu	we were doing a lot of things today
Ne kutile ba polisa kulu potela	there were visitors from the Police
Nenuwutwile hande kachenu	I was excited today
Ani kakuta kwa sikolo	When I come back from school

 

 

Lesson 18: Vocabulary 3 (Names of Places)

Places	English
Ndu	House
Mwasikolo	Classroom
Simbuzi	Toilet
Kwa ba pehela	kitchen
sikolo	School
Sipatela	Hospital
Sipatela	Clinic
shopo	Shop
Kwa mwag’olo	Post office
nuka	River
siimu	Field
Kêrêkê	Church
Banka	Bank
Kuta	Customary court

 

Lesson 20: Asking for Prices

Ki  bo kae?	How much is a bag of oranges?
ki bokae?	How much is it?
ki K4000	It’s K4000
Orange ye ki bokae?	How much is each orange?
Elilimu  ki K1000	They are K1000 each
Kaufela ona ki bokae?	What’s the total price?
Mali  kaufela ki K8000	The total price is K8000

 

Lesson 21: Weather

Kachenu ku batile	Today it is cold
Kachenu ku chisize	Today it is hot
Kufutumalile	It is warm
Kuna Lizazi	It is sunny
Kuna ni Moya	It is windy
Kachenu kwiinzi hande	Today it is better
Akuchisa	Summer
Akubata	Winter

 

Lesson 22: Health Expressions

Anihi  kutwi hande	I am not well
Nini toha	I have a head ache
Mwamba muna nibutuku	My tummy hurts
Meto ani ni butuku	His eyes are sore
Franco o  ya kwa sipatela	Franco is going to the clinic
Nayile kubona Dokota	She/ he went to see the doctor
Mauwutu aluluyile	Her leg is swollen
Uchile  zezimaswe	Seems he ate something bad
Ba bata kuya kwa sipatela	They want to go to the clinic

 

Lesson 23: Safety Expressions

Nitu se	Help me
Nibata unitu se	I need help
Nebaninetile,Bani nata	I have been attacked, I am being attacked.
Ba uzwize mwandu yaka	My house has been broken into.
Ba uzwiza mwandu	There has been theft in my house.
Bani amuyi likaTaha Kwanu	I have been robbedCome here