Unyaka omusha omuhle
Unyaka omusha omuhle is the Zulu phrase for happy new year.
Meaning: Happy New Year (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of unyaka (year), omusha (new) and omuhle (good/beautiful).
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjectives omusha and omuhle must agree with the noun unyaka using the prefix omu-.
Did you know?
- Zulu is a tonal language, meaning the pitch used to say Unyaka omusha omuhle can change the meaning of the words.
- The word unyaka is inherited from Proto-Bantu *mʊ̀jákà. This means the word is related to similar terms for 'year' in hundreds of other Bantu languages spoken across central and southern Africa.
- The word omuhle used in this greeting means both 'good' and 'beautiful'. In Zulu, beauty is often used to describe the quality or goodness of a thing rather than just its appearance.
Examples in context
- Unyaka omusha omuhle kuwe.Happy New Year to you.
- Sithi kini unyaka omusha omuhle.We wish you all a happy New Year.
- Unyaka omusha omuhle kubo bonke abantu.Happy New Year to all the people.
Example conversation
Thulani and Nomusa meet for the first time in January.
- ThulaniSawubona Nomusa, unyaka omusha omuhle!Hello Nomusa, Happy New Year!
- NomusaNgiyabonga Thulani, nawe unyaka omusha omuhle!Thank you Thulani, Happy New Year to you too!
- ThulaniUbe nalo oluhle kakhulu.May you have a very wonderful one.
- NomusaNawe futhi, ngiyabonga.You too, thank you.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries unyaka, CC BY-SA 4.0.
