ngizokukhumbula
The English phrase "I will miss you" is translated into Zulu as ngizokukhumbula.
Use ngizokukhumbula to tell someone that you will feel sadness because they are no longer with you. While the root verb can also mean "to remember," it is the standard way to express "to miss" a person when they are leaving.
What does it mean word for word?
The word breaks down into ngi- (I), -zo- (will), -ku- (you) and -khumbula (remember/miss).
Did you know?
- Because Zulu is an agglutinative language, the entire sentence 'I will miss you' is condensed into the single word ngizokukhumbula by attaching prefixes to the root.
- The word khumbula is often used in Zulu proverbs to emphasize that forgetting a person or a debt is a serious social failure.
- The way you pronounce the 'kh' in khumbula requires a distinct puff of air, known as aspiration, which is much stronger than the English 'k' sound.
Examples in context
- As we part ways, please remember that ngizokukhumbula.As we part ways, please remember that I will miss you.
- Ngizokukhumbula uma usukude.I will miss you when you are far away.
- Ngizokukhumbula ngezikhathi zonke.I will miss you all the time.
Example conversation
Thulani and Zanele are saying goodbye at the airport.
- ThulaniHamba kahle, Zanele.Go well, Zanele.
- ZaneleNgiyabonga, Thulani.Thank you, Thulani.
- ThulaniNgizokukhumbula kakhulu.I will miss you very much.
- ZaneleNami ngizokukhumbula.I will miss you too.
