lutho
The Zulu word for nothing is lutho.
lutho is used to express the absence of any thing (pron).
Meaning: not any thing (pron)
Did you know?
- In certain contexts, lutho can be used to describe a person who is insignificant or has no social standing, moving beyond a simple pronoun to a descriptive label.
- In Zulu, the concept of 'nothing' is often expressed through a double negative. Using lutho alongside a negative verb creates a grammatical structure that emphasizes the total absence of something.
- In Zulu, the word lutho is a noun, which means you must use it with a specific subject concord to make a sentence grammatically correct.
Examples in context
- Akukho lutho ekhayaThere is nothing at home.
- Awufuni luthoYou don't want anything.
- Angiboni lutho.I see nothing.
Example conversation
Zanele and Thulani are talking in a quiet park.
- ZaneleKwenzenjani lapha, Thulani?What is happening here, Thulani?
- ThulaniAkukho lutho, Zanele.There is nothing, Zanele.
- ZaneleUqinisekile?Are you sure?
- ThulaniYebo, angiboni lutho.Yes, I see nothing.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “nothing” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
