To contact me : Email 
Jason Wolfe's Useful Zulu Medical Dictionary
Important Zulu Medical Words -
Their Pronunciation and Translation
**** Copyright Jason Wolfe Jan 1993 ****
Project
Completed during my Medical Elective
| c | - | Inward sucking "tska". Loud and Sharp. |
| ch | - | Inward sucking "tska". Soft and Rounded. |
| x | - | Inward dental "t" + sharp inward "cha" using cheeks rather than tongue. |
| k | - | Sharp gutteral sound intermediate between "k" and "g". |
| kh | - | Softer gutteral "k", but the 'h' is not pronounced. |
| q | - | Sharp inward "t" using the tongue on the roof of the mouth. |
| qh | - | Softer less emphasized inward "t" using the roof of the mouth. |
| gq | - | Normal 'g' followed immediately by the "q" as explained above. |
| hl | - | Soft, blowing, very gutteral "sh" followed by a normal "l". |
| dl | - | "d" + very gutteral "sh" as above + normal "l". |
| ng | - | Normal 'ng' as in English but usually pronounced with a quiet 'g'. However pronouncing the 'g' as normal is also valid. |
Greetings, Introductions, Farewells, and Opening Questions : | ||
Greetings (to one person) |
- |
Sawubona |
| Yes | - | Yebo (The reply to sawubona) |
| Greetings (to many people) | - | Sanibona |
| Are you well? | - | Uyaphila na? |
| How are you? | - | Unjani? |
| I am well | - | Ngiyaphila (The reply to the above two) |
| What is your name? | - | Ungubani igama lakho na? |
| Where are you from? | - | Uvelaphi? |
| Are you married? | - | Ushadile na? |
| How old are you? | - | Iminyaka yakho? / Mingaki na? |
| Go well (ie: Good bye) | - | Hamba kahle (to person leaving) |
| Stay well (ie: Good bye) | - | Sala kahle (from person leaving) |
| Thank you | - | Ngiyabonga |
| Please | - | Ngiyacela |
Statements, Instructions and Replies : |
||
Yes |
- |
Yebo |
| No | - | Cha / Qha |
| Sorry | - | Phephisa |
| I am a doctor | - | Ngingudokotela |
| Come in! | - | Ngena |
| Sit down! | - | Hlala phansi |
| Sit up! | - | Vuka uhlale |
| Stand up! | - | Sukuma |
| Lie down! | - | Lala phansi |
| Dress! | - | Gqoka |
| Get up and dress! | - | Vuka Ugqoke |
| Undress! | - | Khumula |
| Open your mouth! | - | Khamisa |
| Stick out your tongue! | - | Khipha ulimi |
| Close your eyes! | - | Cimeza / Vala amehlo |
| Open your eyes! | - | Vula amehlo |
| Keep your eyes still! | - | Ungawanyakazisi amehlo |
| Look at my finger! | - | Buka umunwe wami |
| Copy me! / Do what I do! | - | Yenza engikwenzayo |
| Keep Still! | - | Yima |
| Breathe deeply! | - | Phefumula kakhula |
| Breathe normally! | - | Phefumula kahlenje |
| Breathe in! | - | Donsa umoya |
| Breathe out! | - | Khipha umoya |
| Hold your breath! | - | Bamba umoya |
| Roll over onto your front! | - | Lala ngesisu |
| Roll over onto your back! | - | Lala ngomhlane |
| Roll onto your side! | - | Lala ngohlangothi |
| Walk! | - | Hamba |
| Stop! | - | Mana / Yima |
| Show me where! | - | Ngikhombise kuphi |
| Please answer Yes or No! | - | Phendula Yebo noma Cha kuphela |
| I would like to examine you! | - | Ngathanda ukukupopola |
Nouns and Adjectives : |
||
Pain |
- |
Ubuhlungu / Izinhlungu |
| Well / OK / Healthy | - | Iyaphila |
| Ill / Unhealthy | - | Uyagula |
| Dead / Dying | - | Ukufa |
| Alive | - | Ukuphila |
| Normal | - | Kukahle |
| Abnormal / Unusual | - | Akukahle |
Good |
- |
Kuhle |
| Bad | - | Kubi |
| Better | - | Kugcono |
| Worse | - | Kwedlulele |
Man / Male |
- |
Indoda |
| Woman / Female | - | Isifazane |
| Boy | - | Umfana |
| Girl | - | Intombazane |
| Family | - | Umdeni |
| People | - | Abantu |
Long (Distance) |
- |
Kute |
| Long (Time) | - | Kudala |
| Short | - | Mfishane |
| Tall | - | Mude |
| Much / A lot | - | Kuningi |
| Little / Small | - | Kuncane |
| Large | - | Kukhulu |
Sharp |
- |
Cijile |
| Soft | - | Thambile |
White |
- |
Kumhlophe |
| Brown | - | Kubende |
| Black | - | Kumyama |
| Red | - | Kubomvu |
| Yellow | - | Kumthubi |
| Green | - | Kuluhlaza |
| Blue | - | Kusibhakabhaka |
Half |
- |
Inxenye |
| One | - | Kunye |
| Two | - | Kubili |
| Three | - | Kuthathu |
| Four | - | Kune |
| Five | - | Kuyisihlanu |
| Six | - | Kuyisithupha |
| Seven | - | Kuyisikhombisa |
| Eight | - | Kuyisishiyagalombili |
| Nine | - | Kuyisishiyagalolunye |
| Ten | - | Kuyishumi |
| Eleven | - | Ishumi nanye |
| Twelve | - | Ishumi nambili |
| Fifteen | - | Ishumi nesihlanu |
| Twenty | - | Amashumi amabili |
| Thirty | - | Amashumi amathathu |
| Forty | - | Amashumi amane |
| Fifty | - | Amashumi amahlanu |
| Sixty | - | Ngamashumi ayisithupha |
| Seventy | - | Ngamashumi ayisikhombisa |
| Eighty | - | Ngamashumi ayisishiyagalombili |
| Ninety | - | Amashumi ayisishiyagalolunye |
| One hundred | - | Ikhulu |
Days |
- |
Izinsuku |
| Weeks | - | Amaviki |
| Months | - | Izinyanga |
| Years | - | Iminyaka |
| Day | - | Usuku |
| Night | - | Ebusuku |
| Sleep | - | Lala |
| Morning | - | Ekuseni |
| Afternoon | - | Ntambama |
| Evening | - | Kusihlwa |
| Today | - | Namuhla |
| Yesterday | - | Izolo |
| Tomorrow | - | Kusasa |
Hot |
- |
Kuyashisa |
| Cold | - | Kuyabanda |
Left |
- |
Ngesokunene |
| Right | - | Ngesokudla |
Food |
- |
Ukudla |
| Water | - | Amanzi |
| Sugar | - | Ushukela |
Appetite |
- |
Uyakuthanda ukudla |
| Good appetite | - | Uyakuthanda ukudla kuhle |
| Bad appetite | - | Akakuthandi ukudla kubi |
| Weight | - | Isisindo |
| Overweight | - | Ukhuluphele kakhulu |
| Underweight / Malnourished | - | Uzacile |
Car |
- |
Imoto |
| Bus | - | Ibhasi |
| Pension | - | Impesheni |
| Disability allowance | - | Uncedo |
| Police | - | Iphoyisa |
Doctor |
- |
Udokotela |
| Nurse | - | Umlengikazi |
| Community health care worker | - | Nompilo |
| Midwife | - | Umbelethisi |
| Occupational therapist | - | Umsebenzi wezandla |
| Social worker | - | Usonhlala kahle |
| Witch Doctor | - | Isangoma |
| Hospital | - | Isibhedlela |
| Ward | - | Igumbi labagulayo |
| Operating Theatres | - | Indlu yokuhlinzela |
| X-ray | - | Indlu yokuthatha izinthombe |
| Laboratory | - | Indlu yokucubungula amagciwane |
| Pharmacy | - | Indlu yemithi |
| Out Patients Department / Clinic (OPD) | - | Umtholampilo |
| Ambulance | - | Imoto ethwala iziguli |
Verbs : |
||
Go |
- |
Hamba |
| Come | - | Woza |
| Open | - | Vula |
| Close | - | Vala |
| Take | - | Thatha |
| Pull | - | Donsa |
| Push | - | Fuqa |
| Grip | - | Bamba |
| Relax | - | Khululeka |
| Turn | - | Phenduka |
| Lift | - | Phakamisa |
| Sew up | - | Thunga |
| Walk | - | Hamba |
| Eat | - | Ukudla |
| Drink | - | Ukuphuza |
| Wash | - | Geza |
Interrogatives, Prepositions and Pronouns : |
||
Where |
- |
- phi (at the end of the word) |
| When | - | Nini |
| How long | - | Isikhathi esingakanani |
| How much | - | Kangakanani |
| In | - | Phakothi |
| Out | - | Ngaphandle |
| Before | - | Ngaphambilini |
| After | - | Ngemuva |
| Soon | - | Shesha |
| It | - | Kuwo |
Questions : |
||
What's the problem? |
- |
Uphethwe yini? |
| When did it start? | - | Kuqale nini? |
| Have you ever had .......? | - | Wake wabanayo ........? |
| Do you have .........? | - | Unayo i........? |
| Have you ever had it before? | - | Wake wabanayo ngaphambilini? |
| How long have you had it? | - | Sekunesikhathi esingakanani kukuphethwe? |
| Is the problem getting better or worse? | - | Kubagcono noma kuyaqhubeka? |
| Do you have a fever? | - | Unomkhuhlani yini? |
| Do you have any pain? | - | Uya buzwa Ubuhlungu? |
| Where is the pain? | - | Kubuhlungu kuphi? |
| Does the pain move anywhere? | - | Ubuhlungu buhamba befikephi? |
| Does the pain come and go? | - | Kubabuhlungu kubuye kuphele yini? |
| Is the pain constant? | - | Ubuhlungu bukhona sikhathi sonke? |
| Do you have chest pain? | - | Unobuhlungu besifuba na? |
| Do you get breathless when you walk? | - | Ubanephika yini uma uhamba? |
| Do you get breathless when you lie flat? | - | Ubanephika yini uma ulele phansi? |
| Do you get ankle swelling? | - | Ayanvuvuka yini amaqakala? |
| Do you get palpitations? | - | Ishaya ngamandla yini inhliziyo? |
| Do you get headaches? | - | Tiyakuphatha yini ikhanda? |
| Do you have a cough? | - | Uyakhwehlela na? |
| Does it produce sputum? | - | Ziyaphuma yini izikhwehlela? |
| Do you ever cough up blood? | - | Uke ukhwehlele yini igazi? |
| Do you have abdo pain? | - | Uphethwe yisisu na? |
| Are you vomiting? | - | Uyahlanza na? |
| Do you have diarrhoea? | - | Uyasheka na? |
| Do you have constipation? | - | Uqumbelene yini? |
| Is there any blood in it? | - | Likhona yini igazi kuwo na? |
| What colour is your stool? | - | Anombala onjani amakaka? |
| Do you have pain when you pass urine? | - | Kubuhlungu yini uma uchama? |
| Do you pass too much urine? | - | Uchama umchamo omningi yini? |
| Do you have to pass urine during the night? | - | Uyavuka yini ebusuku uchame? |
| Do you pass too little urine? | - | Uchama umchamo omcane yini? |
| How many children do you have? | - | Unezingane ezingaki? |
| Is the baby moving / kicking OK | - | Iyanyakaza ingane? |
| When was your LMP? | - | Ugcine nini esikhathini? |
| Is there any PV bleeding? | - | Awophi yini Ngaphambili? |
| Is there any PV discharge? | - | Akukho okuphumayo Ngaphambili? |
| Is there any discharge? | - | Akukho okuphumayo? (Asked to men) |
| Are you using contraception? | - | Uyahlela? |
| Do you have any sores / ulcers? | - | Azikho yini izilonda? |
| Is it itchy? | - | Kuyaluma yini? |
| Do you get night sweats? | - | Uyajuluka yini ebusuku? |
| Does anyone in your family have this? | - | Ukhona yini unakho lokhu emdenini wakho? |
| Can you feel this? | - | Uyakuzwa yini lokhu? |
| Is it soft or sharp? | - | Kiyathophozela noma kuyahlaba? |
| Is it hot or cold? | - | Kuyashisa noma kuyabanda? |
| Do you smoke tobacco? | - | Uyabhema yini? |
| Do you drink alcohol? | - | Uyaphuza yini? |
Telling the Patient some Information or Instructions : |
||
You have got ........ |
- |
Une....... |
| He has got ........ | - | Uno....... |
| She has got ........ | - | Uno....... |
| The baby has got ........ | - | Ingane ine....... |
| The child has got ........ | - | Ingane ine....... |
| I am ....... | - | Ngingu...... |
| You are ....... | - | Ungu....... |
| He is ....... | - | Ngu....... / Uya....... |
| She is ....... | - | Ngu....... / Uya....... |
| Go to ....... | - | Hamba noma iya....... |
| Follow me! | - | Ngilandele |
| I want to admit you! | - | Ngifuna ukukulalisa esibhedlela |
| I want to admit the child! | - | Ngifuna ukulalisa ingane |
| Come back afterwards! | - | Ubuye futhi |
| You are OK / healthy | - | Uyaphila |
| The child is OK / healthy | - | Ingane Iyaphila |
| You can go now | - | Usungahamba |
| Come back ......... | - | Buya ........ |
Medical Terms : |
||
Infection |
- |
Okuthelelayo isifo |
| Antibiotic | - | Ukulwa nama gciwane |
| Drug | - | Umuti |
| Pill | - | Philisi |
| Injection | - | Umjovo |
| Injury | - | Ingozi |
| Pain | - | Ubuhlungu |
| Fever / Hotness of the body | - | Ukushisa komzimba / Umkhuhlana |
| Faint / Blackout | - | Ukuquleka |
| Weight loss | - | Ukuzagca |
| Thirst | - | Ukoma |
| Dehydration / Dehydrated | - | Okomisa |
Blood |
- |
Igazi |
| Bleeding | - | Ukopha |
| Anaemia | - | Ukuphelelwa wububomvu begazi emzimbeni |
| Diabetes | - | Isifo sushukela |
| Heart disease | - | Isifo senhleziyo |
| High blood pressure | - | Ukuphakama komfutho wegazi |
| Tuberculosis | - | Isifo sofuba |
| Asthma | - | Isifuba somoya |
| Jaundice | - | Isifo esibangwa ukuchithekela kwenyongo egazini |
Epilepsy |
- |
Isifo sokuwa |
| Cancer | - | Umdlavuza |
Immunisation |
- |
Umgomo |
| Measles | - | Inqubulunjana |
| Mumps | - | Uzagiga |
| Rubella | - | Isimungumungwana sase jalimane |
| Diphtheria | - | Isifo esifimbanisa umphimbo |
| Whooping cough / Pertusis | - | Ugonqogonqo |
| Tetanus | - | Umhlathingqi |
| Chicken pox | - | Inqubulungwana / Upokisi |
| Common cold / Flu | - | Umkhuhlane |
| HIV | - | Igciwane lengculazi |
| AIDS | - | Ingculazi |
| Syphilis | - | Ugcusula |
| Worms | - | Izikelemu |
| Bilharzia | - | Umkhaza isichenene |
Head |
- |
Ikhanda |
| Headache | - | Ubuhlungu ikhanda |
| Brain | - | Ingqondo |
| Mental illness | - | Isifo sengqondo |
| Nerve | - | Umuzwa (singular) & Imizwa (plural) |
| Eye | - | Iso |
| Blind | - | Ukungaboni |
| Ear | - | Indlebe |
| Deaf | - | Ukungezwa |
| Nose | - | Ikhala |
| Mouth | - | Umlomo |
| Tooth | - | Izinyo |
| Teeth | - | Amazinyo |
| Throat | - | Umphimbo |
| Throat pain | - | Ubuhlungu bomphimbo |
Arm |
- |
Ingalo |
| Hand | - | Isandla |
| Finger | - | Umunwe |
| Thumb | - | Isithupha |
| Nail | - | Uzipho noma uzwane |
Chest |
- |
Isifuba |
| Heart | - | Inhliziyo |
| Blood vessel | - | Umthambo |
| Lung | - | Iphaphu |
| Chest pain | - | Ubuhlungu besifuba |
| Chest infection / Pneumonia | - | Isishiso samaphaphu |
| Cough | - | Khwehlela |
| Sputum | - | Isikwehlela |
| Breast | - | Amabele |
Abdomen |
- |
Isusu |
| Gut / Bowel / Intestine | - | Ithumbu |
| Abdominal pain | - | Ubuhlungu besisu |
| Diarrhoea | - | Sheka |
| Constipation | - | Ukuqumbelana |
| Vomiting | - | Uyahlanza |
| Hernia | - | Isibhono (Esp: Umbilical hernia) |
| Stool | - | Amakaka |
| Liver | - | Isibindi |
| Urinary tract | - | Phayipi lomchamo |
| Kidney | - | Izinso |
| Bladder | - | Isinye |
| Urine | - | Umchamo |
Back |
- |
Umhlane |
| Neck | - | Intamo |
| Waist | - | Ukhalo |
| Buttock | - | Izinqe |
Bottom / Back passage / Anus |
- |
Ingqada |
| Haemorrhoids / Piles | - | Imizoko |
| Sexually transmitted disease | - | Isifo socansi |
Penis |
- |
Umthondo |
| Scrotum | - | Isikhwama samasende |
| Testis | - | Amasende |
Vagina |
- |
Isibumbu |
| Vulva | - | Umlomo wenhlunu |
| Ovary | - | Isizalo |
| Pregnancy | - | Ukukhulelwa |
| Contraception | - | Ukuvikela ukukhulelwa |
| Labour / Labour pains | - | Umhelo |
| Parturition / Birth | - | Ukuteta |
| Caesarian | - | Ukubelethe ngokuhlinzwa |
| Womb / Uterus | - | Isizalo |
| Menses / Menstruation | - | Isikhathi ("The time") |
| Placenta | - | Umzanyana |
| Umbilicus / Cord | - | Inkaba |
| Foetus | - | Ingane engakazalwa |
| Baby | - | Ingane |
| Cry | - | Ukukhala |
| Breast feeding | - | Ukuncelisa |
| Bottle feeding | - | Ukuncelisa ngebhodlela |
Thigh |
- |
Ithanga |
| Leg | - | Umlenze |
| Ankle | - | Iqakala |
| Foot | - | Unyawo |
| Toe | - | Uzwane |
Bone |
- |
Ithambo |
| Muscle | - | Umsipha |
| Joint | - | Ilunga / Indawo yokuhlangana kwamathambo |
| Broken | - | Ukuphuka |
| Dislocated | - | Ukubhinyilika |
| Arthritis | - | Isofo samalunga |
Skin |
- |
Isikhumba |
| Rash | - | Qubuka |
| Bruise | - | Gxoba |
| Itching / Pruritis | - | Kuyaluma |
| Cut | - | Ukusika |
| Scratch | - | Ukudwebeka |
| Bite | - | Luma |
Operation |
- |
Umthungo |
| Wound | - | Isilofida |
| Needle | - | Inalithi |
| Stitches / Sutures | - | Izitishi |
| Dressing | - | Ukuphopha isilonda |
| Plaster cast | - | Ukhonkolo |
Swelling |
- |
Ukuvuvukala |
| Spot / Macule / Papule | - | Ibala |
| Blister | - | Ibamuza |
| Cyst (A bag inside the body filled with fluid) | - | Isikhwama esikhulayo emzimbeni wumuntu siphethe into engamanzi |
| Abscess | - | Ithumba |
| Pus | - | Ubomvu |
To contact me : Email
My Website is at
http://www.jwolfe.clara.net.
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Last Modified : 14th June 1998