South Africa has 11 official languages. While English is commonly understood
across the country and is the language of business,
politics and the media,
it only ranks joint fifth out of the 11 official languages.
South African conversational English is littered with words and phrases
from its seductive menu of official languages,
so download
these useful greetings and phrases and don’t be shy to mix it up.
| English |
Hello, how are you? |
How much is this? |
Thank you |
| Afrikaans |
Hello, hoe gaan dit? |
Hoeveel is dit? |
Dankie |
| Zulu |
Sawubona, unjani? |
Imali? |
Ngiyabonga |
| Xhosa |
Molo, kunjani? |
Malini na? |
Enkosi |
| Ndebele |
Lotjhani, Unjani? |
Yimalini? |
Siyabonga kakulu |
| Sepedi |
Dumela, O kae? |
Ke bokae? |
Ke a leboga |
| Sotho |
Dumela, O kae? |
Ke bokae? |
Ke a leboha |
| Tswana |
Dumela, O kae? |
Ke bokae? |
Ke a leboha |
| Swati |
Sawubona, kunjani? |
Kubita malini loku? |
Ngiyabonga |
| Venda |
Ndaa, vho vuwa hani? |
Zwi ita vhugai? |
Ndi a livhuwa |
| Tsonga |
Avuxeni, Ku njhani? |
PXana i mali muni? |
ndzi khense ngopfu |
South Africa's national anthem - Nkosi sikelel' iAfrica (God bless Africa), is unique in that
it comprises five of the country's 11 official languages – Khosa, Sesotho, Zulu, Afrikaans and English.
The use of different official languages is symbolic of the country becoming
a unified nation.
