ngiyeke
ngiyeke is the Zulu way to say leave me alone.
This phrase is used to tell someone to stop talking to you.
Meaning: stop talking to me (phrase)
Did you know?
- Directly saying ngiyeke to an elder is considered a serious breach of etiquette in Zulu culture, where honorifics are expected when setting boundaries with seniors.
- The root verb 'yeka' is the same word used when a parent tells a child to 'stop' a specific naughty habit or bad behavior.
- If you want to address a group of people instead of just one person, you change the phrase to ngiyekeni by adding the suffix -ni.
Examples in context
- Ngicela ungangihluphi, ngiyeke!Please stop bothering me, leave me alone!
- Angifuni ukukhuluma nawe, ngiyeke.I don't want to talk to you, leave me alone.
- Hamba kude, ngiyeke nje.Go far away, just leave me alone.
Example conversation
Bandile is trying to study while Nomalusa keeps talking to him.
- NomalusaBandile, wakeza ubone lokhu!Bandile, wake up and look at this!
- BandileNgiyeke, ngiyafunda.Leave me alone, I am studying.
- NomalusaKodwa lokhu kubalulekile.But this is important.
- BandileNgishuthe, ngiyeke!I'm tired, leave me alone!
