sawubona
familiar
In Zulu, 'hello' is sawubona. Wiktionary also lists sanibonani.
Meaning: greeting (intj)
Ways to say it
| Zulu | Note |
|---|---|
| sawubona | familiar |
| sanibonani | plural |
The most common form is sawubona, while sanibonani is used when addressing a group of people.
What does it mean word for word?
The word sawubona literally translates to "I see you".
Which one should you use?
Use sawubona to greet a single person, meaning "I see you". Use sanibonani when greeting more than one person, which means "I see you all".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
sawubona is a familiar greeting. sanibonani is a formal greeting used when addressing multiple people or a group. For a trendy and informal way to say hello, especially among young people, you can use Heita.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form sanibonani is the plural version of the greeting. It is used for groups or to show respect to an elder.
When do people say it?
In Zulu culture, a trendy informal greeting used among young people is Heita.
Did you know?
- Sawubona is a contraction of the phrase siyakubona, which means 'we see you'.
- Using the plural sanibonani for a single person is a deliberate sign of deep respect, often used when addressing a high-ranking official or an elder.
- The informal greeting Heita is a piece of 'tsotsitaal' or township slang, blending Zulu with other languages and urban influences.
Examples in context
- Sawubona. Igama lami nginguJabu.Hello. My name is Jabu.This example shows how to use sawubona when introducing yourself.Tatoeba #9204343 by Monde, translation #9204345 by Monde
- Sawubona, unjani?Hello, how are you?
- Sawubona, mngane wami.Hello, my friend.
Example conversation
Bandile and Zanele meet on a street in the afternoon.
- BandileSawubona, Zanele.Hello, Zanele.
- ZaneleSawubona, Bandile.Hello, Bandile.
- BandileUnjani namuhla?How are you today?
- ZaneleNgikhona, ngiyabonga.I am well, thank you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hello” translations and entries sawubona, sanibonani, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries sawubona, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
