ngiyaxolisa
The English word "sorry" is expressed in Zulu as ngiyaxolisa.
The primary way to express regret or sorrow is through the verb ngiyaxolisa, which functions as a personal apology. You can also use the noun Uxolo as a concise standalone exclamation to mean "Forgiveness!" or "Sorry!"
Meaning: expression of regret or sorrow (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The verb ngiyaxolisa is composed of the prefix ngi- meaning "I", the subject concord -ya- which serves as a present continuous marker and the verb -xolisa meaning "to apologize" or "to cause to be at peace".
Which one should you use?
ngiyaxolisa is a verb phrase that literally means "I am apologizing", whereas Uxolo is a noun that functions as a request for forgiveness or a direct expression of regret.
How does it change in a sentence?
ngiyaxolisa is a first-person singular verb. To change the apology from "I am sorry" to "We are sorry", you replace the prefix ngi- with si- to form siyaxolisa.
Did you know?
- The term uxolo is used not only to say 'sorry' but also as a greeting of peace in certain religious or formal settings, similar to 'Shalom' in Hebrew.
- In many Zulu social contexts, a verbal apology like ngiyaxolisa is often accompanied by a physical gesture of bowing or lowering one's head to show genuine respect and humility.
- The root of the apology, -xolisa, implies a state of peace rather than just a feeling of regret. To apologize is essentially to attempt to bring peace back to a relationship.
Examples in context
- Ngiyaxolisa ngokukhohlwa ukufika.I am sorry for forgetting to come.
- Ngiyaxolisa ngokukuhlukumeza.I am sorry for upsetting you.
Example conversation
Thulani accidentally bumped into Zanele at the market.
- ThulaniNgiyaxolisa, Zanele.I am sorry, Zanele.
- ZaneleKulungile, Thulani.It is okay, Thulani.
- ThulaniNgiyaxolisa kakhulu.I am very sorry.
- ZaneleUngakhathazeki.Don't worry about it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sorry” translations and entries ngiyaxolisa, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
