Sawubona, unjani?
In Zulu, "hello how are you" is said as Sawubona, unjani?
This phrase is a common greeting used to initiate a conversation and inquire about someone's well-being.
What does it mean word for word?
The greeting Sawubona literally means "I see you". The second part, unjani?, is a combination of the subject concord for "you" and the interrogative word for "how".
Which one should you use?
Sawubona is used when addressing a single person, whereas Sanibona is used when addressing a group.
How does it change in a sentence?
To greet more than one person, you change the singular Sawubona, unjani? to the plural Sanibona, ninjani?
When do people say it?
A common response to the question unjani? is Ngiyaphila, which means "I am well" or "I am alive".
Did you know?
- The greeting Sawubona carries a deep philosophical weight, implying that by seeing someone, you are acknowledging their existence and their humanity.
- The phrase Sawubona is a contraction of siyakubona, which translates to 'we see you'.
- While unjani? asks how you are, it is culturally common to follow the answer Ngiyaphila with a question about the other person's family or ancestors.
Examples in context
- Sawubona, unjani?Hello, how are you?
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries sawubona, CC BY-SA 4.0.
